Al Jourgensen
Cuban-American musician
Jody Watley is an acclaimed American singer, songwriter, and producer known for her versatile music spanning genres like pop, R&B, jazz, dance, and electronic soul. She rose to fame as a member of the hit R&B/funk band Shalamar in the late 70s and early 80s, and later won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1988. Watley has been recognized for her groundbreaking achievements and influence, including being ranked among the top female artists of all time by Billboard.
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About the Jody Watley
Jody Vanessa Watleyis an American singer, songwriter and producer whose music crosses genres including pop, R&B, jazz, dance and electronic soul. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, she was a member of the R&B/funk band Shalamar, who scored many hits, notably in the UK. In 1988, she won the Grammy Award for Best New Artistand has been nominated for three Grammy awards.
In 2008, she was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from Billboard magazine, and was also prominently featured in the historic black issue of Vogue Italia in 2008.
In December 2016, Billboard ranked her as the 21st-most-successful dance artist of all time, and in 2017 Black Music Honors TV special recognized Watley as Crossover Music Icon Honoree for her groundbreaking achievements and influence.
In August 2018, Billboard ranked Jody Watley as one of the top female artists of all time, at number 53.
In March 2021, Jody Watley was named the First Ambassador of the National Museum of African American Music.
In 2022, Jody Watley received an honorary doctorate in business and Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from Joe Biden at Jody Watley Day at Georgia State Capitol, and was inducted into Women Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In 2023, Sirius XM Satellite Radio launched “The Jody Watley Show”, a monthly life, music and culture show featuring celebrity guests and classic R&B hits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jody Watley was born on January 30, 1959.
Jody Watley’s music crosses genres including pop, R&B, jazz, dance, and electronic soul.
In 1988, Jody Watley won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist as a solo artist.
In 2008, Jody Watley was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from Billboard magazine.
In 2016, Billboard ranked Jody Watley as the 21st-most-successful dance artist of all time, and in 2018, Billboard ranked her as one of the top female artists of all time, at number 53.
In March 2021, Jody Watley was named the First Ambassador of the National Museum of African American Music.
In 2022, Jody Watley received an honorary doctorate in business and a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from Joe Biden, and was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame.
15 Quotes by Jody Watley
- 1.
Eventually you can get into the nuts and bolts of reality: nurturing, caring, and getting along.
Jody WatleyAmerican singer
- 2.
Right now I’m single. Single, and loving it.
Jody WatleyAmerican singer
- 3.
The music business is very hard on women over 22. You really have to prove yourself every time you make a record. Are you as vibrant as you used to be? Are you as sexy? So I really want to prove that a woman in her 30s can be all those things and more.
Jody WatleyAmerican singer
- 4.
If I’ve learned anything in this business, it’s that you have to be fearless.
Jody WatleyAmerican singer
- 5.
Maybe with your emotions and your feelings, someone else can say it in a different way than you would, which brings new life to the way you might sing it.
Jody WatleyAmerican singer
- 6.
I wanted to do Playboy to get across the same ideas I’m singing and writing about these days. It’s all about proving that a woman can defy stereotypes.
Jody WatleyAmerican singer
- 7.
I always make this joke that I know you were expecting to see the big skirts and the hoops. But that was a long time ago. Artists aren’t always seen as real people. If you start out as a teenager, sometimes people want to keep you locked as that. But I’m a woman now.
Jody WatleyAmerican singer
- 8.
Flower was a good metaphor for growth. The song is obviously about sexual responsibility, so that was the main metaphor. Also, it’s like knowing who someone has been and remembering and appreciating that, but really appreciating what they are now even more.
Jody WatleyAmerican singer
- 9.
Passion has always been important to me. That won’t change. What changes in a woman’s perspective. I mean, I have two kids now. I’m a single parent balancing motherhood and my career. That changes the equation.
Jody WatleyAmerican singer
- 10.
There’s one more thing I want to say. It’s a touchy subject. Black beauty. Black sensuality. We live in a culture where the beauty of black people isn’t always as celebrated as other types. I’d like to help change that if I can!
Jody WatleyAmerican singer
- 11.
In some cases I feel like they haven’t appreciated enough that growing up doesn’t mean boring and old and not full of life. I like to talk about that also.
Jody WatleyAmerican singer
- 12.
When you’re a girl, passion can dominate the equation, but as you grow up relationships evolve. Mad passion can grab you at first, but it can’t last forever.
Jody WatleyAmerican singer
- 13.
The time was ripe for Flower. The vibe was right.
Jody WatleyAmerican singer
- 14.
I’ll put candles all over the room, then light then, and get to it. I call it my ‘vibe in a bag.’
Jody WatleyAmerican singer
- 15.
I used all that doubt as fuel for my own music, fuel for my drive to succeed.
Jody WatleyAmerican singer