Siedah Garrett facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siedah Garrett
Garrett in October 2011
Background information
Birth name	Deborah Christine Garrett
Born	(1960-06-24) June 24, 1960 (age 64) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Origin	Compton, California, U.S.
Died	Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day
Genres	R&B
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter composer
Instruments	Vocals piano keyboards
Years active	1977–present
Labels	Qwest FFRR
Associated acts	Brand New Heavies Michael Jackson Quincy Jones Madonna Tevin Campbell

Deborah Christine "Siedah" Garrett (born June 24, 1960) is an American singer and songwriter. She has written songs and sung background vocals for many famous artists. These include Michael Jackson, the Pointer Sisters, Brand New Heavies, Quincy Jones, Tevin Campbell, Donna Summer, Madonna, and Jennifer Hudson.

Siedah Garrett has been nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Original Song. She won a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media for co-writing "Love You I Do". This song was performed by Jennifer Hudson for the 2006 movie Dreamgirls. Garrett also co-wrote Michael Jackson's huge hit song "Man in the Mirror". This song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Record of the Year.

About Siedah Garrett

Siedah Garrett was born on June 24, 1960, in Los Angeles. She grew up in Compton. She started singing when she was a child. Her birth name was Deborah Christine Garrett. When she was 13, she decided to change it. She didn't like that people always shortened her name to "Deb" or "Debbie." She chose the name Siedah, which means "shining and star-like."

Garrett went to Dorsey High School. As a teenager, she was in a band called Black Velvet & Satin Soul. They played popular songs in different clubs. A singer named D.J. Rogers heard her sing. He asked her to be a background singer on his 1977 album, Love, Music and Life.

Siedah's Music Career

1980s: Early Hits and Michael Jackson

In 1980, Siedah Garrett appeared on the TV show Password Plus. Later, she joined a band called Plush. They released their album in 1982. Soon, she started her own solo career.

She had several hit songs. "Don't Look Any Further" with Dennis Edwards was a big R&B hit in 1984. "Do You Want It Right Now?" from the Fast Forward movie soundtrack was a dance hit in 1985. "K.I.S.S.I.N.G." became a number one dance song in 1988. She also toured and recorded with Sergio Mendes.

In 1987, Garrett worked on Michael Jackson's famous album Bad. She sang a duet with Jackson called "I Just Can't Stop Loving You". They even recorded it in French and Spanish. She also co-wrote his number one hit song "Man in the Mirror".

Garrett said she wanted to give Michael a song with a strong message. She knew it couldn't be just another love song. It had to have meaning. She sent the song to Quincy Jones first. If Quincy didn't like it, Michael would never hear it. It was a huge honor when Quincy approved it.

Garrett was surprised when she found out she would be singing a duet with Michael. She thought she was just going to be a background singer. She saw sheet music with parts labeled "Michael" and "Siedah." Her work with Jackson led her to sing on many of Quincy Jones's albums. Her 1988 solo album Kiss Of Life included a song called "Baby's Got It Bad." This was a new version of an unreleased Michael Jackson song.

In 1989, she tried acting in a TV show pilot called "Wally and the Valentines."

1990s: Touring and New Bands

In 1990, Siedah Garrett became the host of the show America's Top 10.

From 1992 to 1993, Garrett toured with Michael Jackson on his Dangerous World Tour. She sang background vocals and performed their duet "I Just Can't Stop Loving You." She also helped write the song "Keep the Faith" on Jackson's Dangerous album. You can see her in the concert film "Michael Jackson Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour."

In 1996, she joined the band Brand New Heavies. She worked on their 1997 album Shelter. She co-wrote their hit song "Sometimes". She also had a smaller hit with a cover of "You've Got A Friend." Garrett left the band in 1998 to focus on writing her own songs.

2000s: Dreamgirls and Madonna

Garrett performing with Madonna during the latter's Re-Invention World Tour (2004)

In 2004, Garrett sang background vocals and danced for Madonna on The Re-Invention Tour. She had worked with Madonna before, singing on albums like True Blue (1986) and Who's That Girl (1987).

In 2006, Garrett wrote lyrics for two new songs in the movie Dreamgirls. One of her songs, "Love You I Do," was sung by Jennifer Hudson. This song earned Garrett a nomination for the 2007 Academy Award for Best Original Song. She also won a Grammy Award for it at the 50th Grammy Awards.

She sang "I Know I Can" at the opening ceremony of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games. She also sang "Better City, Better Life" at the opening of Expo 2010 Shanghai China. She co-wrote both songs with Quincy Jones.

2010s: Rio and Awards

Garrett co-wrote four songs for the 2011 movie Rio. She also sang on the soundtrack song "Funky Monkey." The song "Real In Rio," which she co-wrote, was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song.

In 2011, she appeared on American Idol. She sang "Man in the Mirror" with contestant Jacob Lusk.

Her song "Keep On Lovin' You" was released in 2012. It was a tribute to Michael Jackson and an answer to their duet "I Just Can't Stop Loving You."

In 2017, Siedah Garrett received a Lifetime Achievement Award from The National R&B Music Society. In 2019, she attended Kingvention, a Michael Jackson convention in London. She talked about her time with Michael Jackson and performed "Man In The Mirror."

2020s: New Projects

In 2022, Garrett was honored by being inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Garrett is currently writing the lyrics for a new Broadway musical called Black Orpheus. It is based on the 1959 film Black Orpheus. She is also part of the songwriting team for the 2023 movie The Color Purple.

Personal Life

In 2017, Siedah Garrett shared that she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). This is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. She announced this at an event called "Race to Erase MS."

Music Releases

Studio Albums

• Kiss of Life (1988)
• Siedah (2003)

Collaboration Albums

• Plush (with Plush) (1982)
• Shelter (with the Brand New Heavies) (1997)

Singles

Brand New Heavies Singles

• "Sometimes" (1997)
• "You Are the Universe" (1997)
• "You've Got a Friend" (1997)
• "Shelter" (1998)
• “Crying Water” (1997)

Film and TV Appearances

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

• Grammy Award 2008 Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media – "Love You I Do" from Dreamgirls (songwriter) (Won)
• Academy Award for Best Original Song – "Love You I Do" from Dreamgirls (2007) (Nominated)
• Academy Award for Best Original Song – "Real in Rio" from Rio (2012) (Nominated)
• Satellite Awards: Best Original Song – "Love You I Do" from Dreamgirls (2006) (Nominated)

Images for kids

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  Garrett in October 2011

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  Garrett performing with Madonna during the latter's Re-Invention World Tour (2004)

See also

In Spanish: Siedah Garrett para niños

• List of Billboard number-one dance club songs
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart