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Jody Vanessa Watley (born January 30, 1959) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer and producer whose music crosses genres including pop, R&B, jazz, dance and electronic soul.Nathan, David (December 7, 1993), "Intimate Secrets: Jody Watley reveals the intimate secrets behind her new 'Intimacy' album", pp. 26–27, Blues and Soul.Paoletta, Michael (February 22, 2003), "Watley Relaxes In The Setting of The 'Midnight Lounge', Billboard magazine.Galloway, A. Scott (Feb 26, 2003) Urban Network: Startime "Jody Watley Midnight Lounge" Review. 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 Artist (as a solo artist) and 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,In August 2018, Billboard ranked her as the 53rd-most-successful female 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 Watley as one of the top female artists of all time, at number 53.
In March 2021, Watley was named the First Ambassador of the National Museum of African American Music.
In 2022, 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.
After leaving Shalamar in 1984, Watley moved to England, and while there she recorded a guest vocal with British Jamaican roots reggae group Musical Youth for their album, Different Style!. She also recorded with Gary Langan, Anne Dudley and J. J. Jeczalik (who later became Art of Noise). She had a brief stint with Phonogram Records where two singles were released (in the UK, Europe and Australia—though crucially not America) under the mononym "Jody": "Where the Boys Are" and "Girls Night Out". Also during this era, and after departing the group, she took part in Bob Geldof's Band Aid recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?", which included Bono, Boy George, Sting, George Michael, Phil Collins, Status Quo, Paul Weller, Bananarama and other prominent Irish and British artists.
At the 30th Annual Grammy Awards of 1988, Watley won the award for Best New Artist, and was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. That same year, she also received nominations for two MTV Video Music Awards and three Soul Train Awards. After Shalamar she had two singles released under the name of "Jody", without her last name even though adverts in UK pop magazine Smash Hits mentioned that she was "formerly of Shalamar". This "technicality" (no second name), allowed her controversially to be considered a "New Artist" at the Grammys, beating Breakfast Club, Cutting Crew, Terence Trent D'Arby and Swing Out Sister. Shortly after winning the Grammy, Watley was featured in Harper's Bazaar magazine photographed by Francesco Scavullo.Scavullo, Francesco. "Sultry Watley", Harper's Bazaar (September 1988), pp. 121–122
During the summer of 1989, the "Real Love" video, directed by Hollywood director David Fincher, was nominated for seven MTV Video Music Awards including MTV, MTV, MTV and MTV at the 1989 ceremony. That record was held until Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson's video "Scream" received 11 VMA nominations in 1995. The next year, she was nominated for two Soul Train Awards, an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist, and a Narm Award for Best Selling R&B Female Album. While riding high on her Larger Than Life World Tour, a remix album, titled You Wanna Dance with Me?, was released in October 1989 and achieved Gold status in America. 1989 also saw Watley featured in Harper's Bazaar "Ten Most Beautiful Women" issue, photographed by Matthew Rolston.McDowell, Anna (September 1989), "America's Ten Most Beautiful Women", Jody Watley, pp 180–184, Harper's Bazaar. That same year Watley appeared on the cover of the Japanese high-fashion magazine SPUR for its debut issue.Dixon, Philip (November 1989) "The Face", Jody Watley, SPUR Japan. Watley released the million-selling "Dance to Fitness"—a first for an African-American woman and artist.
The lead single, "I Want You," failed to crack the top 40, peaking at No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, though peaking at No. 5 on the U.S. R&B singles chart, and number 17 Dance. The second single, "I'm the One You Need", reached No. 3 Dance and peaked at No. 19 on the U.S. Hot 100. The final single was the ballad "It All Begins with You", her first single to miss the U.S. Hot 100. Watley earned an invitation by President George H. W. Bush in 1992 to perform this song at the White House. Watley used the opportunity to encourage the government to provide more support and funding for public schools. Watley recorded "It's All There" for the movie Switch with the composer Henry Mancini."AMG" Jody Watley Bio
Intimacy with its songs of "romance and angst" reached No. 164 on the U.S. Top 200 Album Chart and No. 38 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart. The first single was "Your Love Keeps Working On Me", barely scraped onto the Hot 100 at No. 100 and also peaked at No. 2 Dance and No. 26 R&B/Hip-Hop. Watley added video director to her résumé for the next single, the spoken-word tune "When a Man Loves a Woman". "When a Man Loves a Woman" reached No. 11 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop and U.S. No. 8 Dance. Although not a pop hit in the U.S. or UK as well, the BBG remix of this song topped the Dance charts in the UK. The album also contained the song "Ecstasy", produced by David Morales, which became an underground hit and later appeared on her Greatest Hits collection. Like its predecessor, "Intimacy" would not be a strong seller, but would continue to give Watley better critical success.
In November 1999, Jody Watley reactivated her independent label, Avitone, and released her seventh studio album via Universal Japan The Saturday Night Experience featuring Jody Watley Vol. 1, a collection of organic club music tracks, inspired by her newfound love of electronic music. It was released exclusively in Japan along with a single, "Another Chapter," with remixes by DJ Soma. Also included on the project was the drum and bass title song "Saturday Night Experience". As Watley told music historian David Nathan, " The Saturday Night Experience was intended to be a concept album, aimed at people looking for something different." Watley stated she had no desire to release the project in the U.S. The title song of the same name was licensed to Giant Step and included on their compilation "Giant Sessions, Volume 1 Mixed by Ron Trent". The following year, MCA released 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Jody Watley.
After achieving moderate success in its original release, Watley arranged for it to be released in the U.S. through her Avitone imprint in a short-term license deal with Shanachie Records on March 11, 2003. Midnight Lounge was Watley's first studio album released in the U.S. in eight years, reaching Top 20 status on the Billboard Top Electronic Albums chart. Roy Ayers appeared on the Masters at Work-produced "I Love to Love", and Junior Vasquez and several other producers contributed remixes to the single release of "Whenever", bringing the track to No. 19 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play Chart. One of the album's other singles, "Photographs", became notable in the underground club scene with mixes by Phil Asher and East West Connection. The music and growth of Watley would achieve critical acclaim for the project and Watley, noting she had successfully updated her sound over the years and evolved successfully into a soulful chanteuse."Jody Watley Midnight Lounge", Newton Daily News (March 15, 2003). Blues and Soul (September 22), "Single of The Week, Jody Watley, Photographs'.LF, Billboard (March 15, 2003), "Dance/Electronic Album Review: Jody Watley Midnight Lounge", Billboard.
In 2005, Watley made history on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play Chart when she re-released her 1987 hit "Looking For a New Love" on Curvve Recordings. The 2005 remix reached No. 1 on the Billboard Dance/Club Play chart, making her the first artist ever to take the same song to No. 1 in two different decades. Watley now has the distinction of being among the few artists who have been to No. 1 on Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in all of the past three decades (the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s). The same year, Watley was invited to participate in the Force of Nature Relief Concert to aid the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. During the trip Watley and others (including the Black Eyed Peas, Lauryn Hill and Jackie Chan) were invited to the Royal Palace to meet the King and Queen of Malaysia for a special tea reception in showing their gratitude for all involved with Force of Nature.
In 2007, Watley was listed as No. 5 in the Year-end Billboard Dance Play Artists. Her single "I Want Your Love" was No. 15 and "Borderline" No. 19 according to Billboard Year End Chart Review for 2007. Billboard Billboard Charts – Year-end Top Artists – Hot Dance Club Play Artists In January 2008, "I Want Your Love" topped the UK Dance Charts in January, giving her first UK mainstream dance hit in two decades.Jones, Alan (December 1, 2008), "Club Charts, Datafile, Jody Watley I Want Your Love", p. 8, Music Week UK. In 2008, she launched an online music store, while scoring another Top Five Billboard Dance Single, "A Beautiful Life," bringing the total of Top Five Singles for The Makeover to three. In May 2008, continuing over a decade of support for various charities dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS, Watley performed at Life Ball, Europe's largest gala for the cause held in Vienna, Austria.Kost, Jeremy (May 17, 2008) "Jody Watley Life Ball", Life . Retrieved July 28, 2010. In May 2009, Watley's Avitone signed a distribution deal with London-based Alternative Distribution Alliance Global.Mitchell, Gail (June 13, 2009), "Jody Watley Going Global", p. 36, Billboard.
In October 2009, an "International" version of "The Makeover' was released in the UK to positive reviews. Pete Lewis from Blues & Soul noted her evolution as an artist and performer as being showcased on the album. Further stating Watley being hailed by some, as exemplifying the 21st-century recording artist continuing to exercise her own creative path.Lewis, Pete (October 21, 2009), Jody Watley, "Three's A Crowd, Blues & Soul Magazine Retrieved Oct, 22, 2009. Distinguishable from the original release, The Makeover "International Edition" featured new cover art and track listing. New inclusions featured the bossa-soul rendering of Bob Marley's "Waiting in Vain", a sparsely arranged version of Carole King's 1960s ballad "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", Erasure's anthem "A Little Respect", and a reworking of the Diana Ross dance classic "Love Hangover". Replacing the downtempo ambient version found on the 2006 "The Makeover", Watley recorded the new arrangement originally suggested by songwriter Pam Sawyer, for Ross.Nathan, David (October 2009) Jody Watley, The Makeover International, Soul Music.Com Retrieved October 22, 2009 Reg Dancy from Basic Soul would write that Watley was able to handpick songs and make them seem as if they had been written for her.Dancy, Reg (October 9, 2009), Jody Watley, Review, The Makeover "International" Retrieved October 22, 2009 Added to the lineup of producers which included King Britt, Mark de Clive-Lowe, 4Hero, DJ Spinna and longtime co-collaborator Rodney Lee, are remixer/producers Marco Zappala from Brazil and Craig C. from the UK.
In February 2010, Watley joined Jamie Foxx onstage at a post-Grammy event for a duet performance of her signature hit "Looking For a New Love"Donnelly, Matt (February 1, 2010) Blame it On The Grammys. Latimesblogs.latimes.com, Retrieved March 13, 2010. and also appeared in the VH1 documentary Soul Train: The Hippest Trip In America.Greenblatt, Leah (February 5, 2010) Soul Train Documentary The Hippest Trip. Music-mix.ew.com, Retrieved March 13, 2010. On October 27, 2012, Watley starred in the one time international humanitarian musical event Loving the Silent Tears with performers from 16 countries and cultures, created by Al Kasha, directed by Vincent Paterson and choreographed by Bonnie Story at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles
Watley recorded collaborations with the electro pop duo French Horn Rebellion on singles titled "Cold Enough" and "Dancing Out" also featuring Young Empires in December 2012 and June 2013. Watley added high-profile summer concerts including Grammy All-Stars in Chengdu, China at Chengdu Sports Centre and Essence Music Festival in July 2013.
Watley released a new single "Nightlife", in 2013. The song, which marked a return to disco dance, was a Top 5 British Urban Single, Top 10 Commercial Pop Single Music Week and Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Top 20 Single in 2014.
Also in 2014, Watley, a well-documented original member of Shalamar, became the legally registered owner, although not without challenge. Watley would state that the term "Reloaded" was to make sure the public knew this was not a reunion with past members, and that she found the challenge exciting to rebrand the group, bringing it to a new generation while finally finding a way to bring both catalogs together for a dynamic concert experience. Watley also launched a new online boutique devoted to Shalamar merchandise, in tandem with her own longstanding Jody Watley Boutique, founded in 1999. A string of new American Tour Dates in support of Paradise and introducing the newly reloaded Shalamar included Oakland, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, San Jose, Washington, D.C. Sacramento, Atlantic City and more. media blitz to introduce the members that included television in major markets and concerts expanding in and outside of the United States and included Brazil, the Netherlands and the UK. The reloaded version of the group features renowned choreographer Rosero McCoy and newcomer Nate Allen Smith an Ohio native singer, dancer, choreographer Shalamar Reloaded released a promotional single titled "SlowDance" on July 17, 2015, through Watley's Avitone label. The single was subsequently picked up by independent label Spectra Music Group and released on October 20, 2015, along with a new video directed by Damien Sandoval. Jody Watley and the new trademarked Shalamar was also featured in a SIRIUSXM Special "In The Groove with B.K Kirkland which aired in July 2015."New Music Alert! Shalamar Reloaded with Jody Watley releases 'SlowDance'". Shalamar Reloaded, Jody watley Release Slowdance, Patrik Henry-Bass July 20, 2015, Essence.com The SRL trio with Nate Smith and Rosero McCoy also made television appearances on Chicago's WGN Morning News debut performance"Jody Watley Returns To Chicago With a Revamped Shalamar", Retrieved November 18, 2015. and KTLA Morning New with Sam Rubin It was also announced that the ever eclectic Watley would be a guest vocalist on highly acclaimed funkster Dam-Funk's second album "Invite The Light" via Rolling Stone. Jody Watley and Shalamar Reloaded continue to add touring dates in the United States. They have also had festival appearances in the United Kingdom including Let's Rock London. Jody has also taken to Shalamar Reloaded to Japan, Brazil and Netherlands and added them to Superfreestyle arena dates in America as of 2015 and 2016 announcements. In 2016, Watley made the choice to redirect her efforts to the now formed Shalamar Reloaded, wanting a fresh start for her new group without the negativity and baggage. Shalamar Reloaded continue a quest to build a new base releasing their second single and video "O.R.I.G.IN.A.L" in May 2016, "The Mood" and continued adding a series of critically well-received concerts. In 2017, Shalamar Reloaded changed their name and all social media to a simple moniker of SRL in concerts and promotions with plans to release a debut album "Bridges". In 2017, Watley rebranded her music collective once again, opting for Jody Watley & SRL (Soul Revolution Love). All previous releases were removed from digital outlets and social media pages updated or removed completely. Re-releasing the song "The Mood" at the start of 2018 with a remix by Italian Producer Alex Di Cio "The Mood" became a Number 2 UK Soul Chart Single The follow-up "The Passion" also reached the UK Soul Chart Top 3. In the midst of that, Watley released the Bob Marley jazzy makeover of the classic "Waiting In Vain" making her first entry into Billboard magazine's Top 25 and Smooth Jazz Top 10.Smooth Jazz Hot 100 Week of May 26, 2018.
In the same year, she contributed a jazzy rendition of "After You, Who?" the compilation album "Red Hot + Blue", an AIDS-awareness charity recording of songs by Cole Porter produced by the Red Hot Organization. Watley was photographed by Victor Skrebneski, for the Saks Fifth Avenue Defining Style Fall Catalog, where she appeared in a 15-page high-fashion layout in 1996.Skrebneski, Victor (1996) "Saks Fifth Avenue Definitive Style Fall", Jody Watley, pp. 81–96 Saks Fifth Avenue Fall Catalog. In 2006, Watley would walk the runway with designer Kevan Hall for LA Fashion Week.Fashion Week News, (October 21, 2006 Los Angeles Fashion Week: Kevan Hall The style icon is also noted as an influence on contemporary designer Malan Breton, contemporary A.Potts whose Spring/Summer 2021 collection was inspired by Watley and countless uncredited trends in contemporary style.
Selena was influenced by Watley's song "Looking for a New Love" as the reason she wanted to crossover to the English-language market. Selena has also performed this song in concert which was notably documented in her . Jody Watley is an influencer who brought high fashion mixed with street style, along with her signature hoop earrings to the mainstream, fashion magazine features, ad campaigns, a million-selling fitness video, the first Black woman on the cover of a Japanese fashion magazine and a style of branding an image now common in the music industry.
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