Sultry-toned Chicago-born singer/songwriter, producer and Grammy Award Winning Artist - Jody Watley, constantly challenges her own artistic vision and reinvents herself with each new album and generation. Though some may remember her in her youth as an original member of the group Shalamar, Jody Watley has continued to pave her own unique path. A stellar live performer, Watley continues to shine with sold out concerts, from jazz festivals to intimate venues. With millions of records sold in her solo career, 6 Top Ten Pop Hits, 15 Top 40 R&B Hits, 13 Dance Hits. 9 #1 Singles. (be it Pop, R&B or Dance - 80’s, 90’s 00’s), Watley continues to evolve as she broadens her musical scope.
Affectionately referred by her longtime fans as "The Queen of Cool," she remains a relevant and influential innovator in the worlds of urban-fuelled pop, R&B, and dance. Her ingenious, stylish videos raised the standards for female artists around the globe. This venerable artist participated in Bob Geldof's historic "Do They Know It's Christmas" in addition to the first global HIV/AIDS Awareness projects, RED, HOT and BLUE, where she performed the Cole Porter jazz classic 'After You'. In America she's received nominations for the MTV VMAs, NAACP Image Awards and American Music Awards. Featured in Vogue, Italian Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Rolling Stone, and once named one of America's Most Beautiful People by People Magazine,. Watley transferred her influence from the recording studio to magazines, billboards and other diverse media. She was the first black woman to appear on a Japanese fashion magazine cover, specifically Japan's most elite, Spur. Among other notable benchmarks, Beyonce Knowles and Destiny's Child recorded one of Watley's compositions 'Sweet Sixteen'. Jody Watley has also worked with Roy Ayers, 4Hero, Rahsaan Patterson, and George Michael. She also has the distinction of recording one of the first crossover collaborations in music history blending rap with R&B/Pop with hip hop legends Eric B. and Rakim on her groundbreaking hit single 'Friends'. In 2007 Watley scored her 13th #1 single with her reinvention of the CHIC dance classic 'I Want Your Love', and also reached #2 on the Billboard Dance Charts with 'Borderline', also from 'The Makeover'. The same year, Jody Watley received a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' from Billboard Magazine, during the Billboard Dance Summit.
Quietly always at the forefront, recognizing the new and shifting paradigms in the industry. "The Makeover" was initially released via her own label Avitone in an exclusive partnership with The Virgin Megastore chain in 2006. 'The Makeover' debuted as the chains #1 seller, over all major label releases. 'The Makeover' remained in the top ten for weeks at Virgin Megastores, as well as at iTunes Top Electronic Releases. She isn't garnering tabloid headlines, but Jody Watley celebrates three decades in the music business by remaining one of the few female artists to so boldly carve such a diverse and distinct niche. Singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur.
