Black Music Month Rewind: Jody Watley Makes Impact 1987

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Magazine cover of Jet featuring Jody Watley, smiling and wearing a black crop top with a silver belt, showcasing a stylish pose.
Jody Watley – JET Magazine 1987 Cover – Photography Isaac Sutton

On June 22, 1987, Jody Watley appeared on the cover of JET Magazine, one of the most influential publications in Black culture and media.

The feature arrived during a landmark year for the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter as her self-titled debut solo album established her as one of the most exciting artists in contemporary music. Released earlier that year on MCA Records, Jody Watley delivered a series of hit singles that showcased her distinctive blend of R&B, pop, dance music, fashion, and innovation.

The album produced multiple Billboard Top 10 hits, including the No. 1 R&B and No. 1 Dance smash “Looking For A New Love,” along with “Still A Thrill,” “Don’t You Want Me,” and “Some Kind Of Lover.” The success of the project demonstrated Watley’s creative vision as an artist, songwriter, and trendsetter, helping to redefine the possibilities for women in popular music.

At a time when a JET Magazine cover represented an important cultural milestone, the feature recognized a rising star whose influence extended beyond music into fashion, style, and contemporary culture.

The cover captured a pivotal moment in a career that would continue to break barriers and set new standards. Nearly four decades later, Jody Watley remains celebrated for her artistry, innovation, and enduring impact on music and culture.

Her newest release is “The Dawn” #1 Record of the Week on UK Soul Radio.

#OnThisDay #JodyWatley #JETMagazine #MusicHistory #BlackMusicMonth

About The Artist: Jody Watley

Producer • Songwriter • Creative Entrepreneur • Independent Music Pioneer

GRAMMY® Award-winning recording artist, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Avitone Recordings.

For more than four decades, Jody Watley has built a career defined by innovation, creative independence, and cultural influence. As a pioneering solo artist, she helped redefine the intersections of music, fashion, visual storytelling, and popular culture while earning multi-platinum success, chart-topping hits, and industry recognition including induction into the Women’s Songwriters Hall of Fame and inclusion in Billboard’s lists of the Top Female Artists, Top Dance Artists, and Top Black Solo Artists of All Time.

In 1995, Watley founded Avitone Recordings, establishing an independent platform focused on artistic ownership, strategic partnerships, and creative freedom. Through Avitone, she has continued to develop new music, multimedia projects, brand collaborations, and innovative approaches to audience engagement while maintaining a global presence across streaming, digital media, live performance, and content creation.

Today, Jody Watley remains committed to creating forward-thinking music spanning dance, electronic, soul, and pop while championing authenticity, innovation, and long-term artistic sustainability.

Revisit and Discover her Ongoing Discography; https://jodywatley.net/discography/

Jody Watley’s The Dawn: Record Of The Week Recognition

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Image promoting Jody Watley's song 'The Dawn' (Alex Di Ció Remix) which is ranked #1 on the UK Soul Chart Breakers as of June 15, 2026. The chart includes other artists and their tracks including Drake

Jody Watley’s “The Dawn (Alex Di Ciò Remix)” Reaches No. 1 UK Soul Chart Breaker & Earns Record Of The Week Honors (June 15, 2026) . Continuing an iconic legacy rooted in quality music and style.

Additional UK radio support this week:

Record Of The Week — Starpoint Radio (UK)

Record Of The Week — Sunshine Radio (UK)

Written by Jody Watley.and Mark de Clive Lowe

Produced & Mixed by Alex Di Ciò. Another independent release via Avitone Recordings

“The Dawn (Alex Di Ciò Remix)” is available now on all major digital music platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon Music, Beatport, TIDAL, and YouTube Music.

Thank you to DJs, radio programmers, music lovers, and fans worldwide for the continued support.

Support the music:

Stream

Download

Share

Add to Your Playlists

Add to Your Jody Watley Collection: Here

A smiling individual with curly hair wearing a yellow t-shirt featuring an image and text of Jody Watley.
Jody Watley – The Dawn T-shirt

Podcast Episode: Jody Watley New Single ‘The Dawn’ Out Now

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Pip: The Official Jody Watley Website is where a five-decade career keeps moving forward — and right now, it is moving at dance-floor speed.

Mara: Admin has the full story on the new single, the label behind it, and what this release means in the context of a catalog that just keeps building. Let’s start with the music itself.

Jody Watley’s New Single ‘The Dawn’ Is Out Now

Pip: The question here is straightforward: what does a new Jody Watley single in 2026 actually represent — a moment, or a momentum?

Mara: The post frames it as the latter. The setup is that this release follows back-to-back chart successes, and the post puts it plainly: “The Dawn is the latest in the singer songwriting, producer’s ongoing discography of feel good blend of soulful rhythms and dance-floor energy.”

Pip: So this is not a one-off. It is the next step in a streak — a number-one iTunes USA and Amazon Music UK Dance and Electronic album in 2025, a number-two UK Soul Chart single in 2024 — and now a new remix produced by Alex Di Ciò landing on every major platform worldwide.

Mara: The release comes through Avitone, her independent label established in 1995 with the stated mantra of “Fueling Quality Music.” That label context matters — this is not a major-label rollout. It is a deliberate, multi decades-long independent operation.

Pip: Thirty years of independent operation, and the singles keep charting. That is not luck, that is infrastructure.

Mara: The post also grounds the release in a much longer arc. Watley is listed in Billboard as one of the Top 60 Female Artists of All Time, Top 25 Dance Artists of All Time, and Top 100 Black Solo Artists of All Time — a GRAMMY Award-winning Best New Artist and three-time nominee whose catalog spans R&B, pop, dance, hip-hop, jazz, and electronic music across more than five decades, going back to her Shalamar years beginning in 1978.

Pip: The bio closes with a phrase that earns its place: “Still Thriving. Still Creating. Still Evolving on her own terms independently.” At this point in the discography, that reads less like marketing and more like a statement of fact.

Mara: “The Dawn” is available now on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and SoundCloud.

Pip: Five decades in, a new single, a thriving independent label — the arc here is genuinely long.

Mara: And it keeps moving. More to come from this catalog, no question.

Jody Watley New Single ‘The Dawn’ Out Now

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Album cover for 'The Dawn' by Jody Watley featuring a close-up portrait of her in a sequined top with colorful light reflections.

NEW MUSIC ALERT:

GRAMMY winning artist and Icon Jody Watley’s new single “The Dawn” Remix Produced by Alex Di Ciò and written by Watley is OUT NOW on digital music platforms worldwide from her longtime independent label Avitone, established in 1995 with a mantra of “Fueling Quality Music.”

Following the success of the #1 iTunes USA and Amazon Music UK Dance/Electronic album “Let’s Dance Vol. 1 – Hit Them Beats” in 2025, 2024’s single “EVERLASTING” #2 UK Soul Chart and #2 iTunes Top Dance / Electronic albums, Jody keeps the groove moving forward.

“The Dawn” is the latest in the singer songwriter, producer’s ongoing discography of feel good blend of soulful rhythms and dance-floor energy. 

Listen Now! iTunes / Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Soundcloud + Check out Jody Watley’s Youtube Channel Message: Here

About The Artist:

Jody Watley is a GRAMMY® Award–winning Best New Artist and 3x nominee, multi-platinum singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur, and style icon. 

Renowned as one of the most defining female artists of the 80s and 90s Watley is listed in Billboard as one of the Top 60 Female Artists of All Time, Top 25 Dance Artists of All Time and Top 100 Black Solo Artists Of All Time. The recipient of Crossover Music Icon from Black Music Honors 2017  with an ongoing diverse music discography spanning R&B / Pop / Dance /Hip Hop / Spoken Word/Electronic / Jazz / Adult Contemporary 80s, 90s, 2000s-Present  with Top 10 hits including the iconic “Looking for a New Love,” “Don’t You Want Me,” “Friends” ft. Eric B. & Rakim, and the gold-certified “Real Love,” she has built a multi-decade career of over 5 decades of genre-spanning, critically acclaimed catalog including disco (from her Shalamar days from 1978 to 1983), and then on to her iconic solo for over 4 decades evolution finds her -Still Thriving. Still Creating. Still Evolving on her own terms independently.

Jody Watley New Music Alert June 2026

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Promotional image featuring Jody Watley with the release date of her remix 'The Dawn' on June 12, surrounded by colorful, vibrant graphics.

New Music & Merch Alert! 

The new Jody Watley single “The Dawn” arrives JUNE 12 on digital music platforms worldwide.

Following the success of “Let’s Dance Vol. 1 – Hit Them Beats” in 2025 #1 iTunes USA Top Dance Electronic Albums and Amazon Music UK. The acclaimed 2024 single “EVERLASTING” with mixes by Alex Di Ciò & Dam-Funk + dance remixes that reached #2 iTunes Top Dance Electronic Albums Chart, the Jody Watley Discography continues to evolve.

“The Dawn” is the latest preview from the forthcoming EP “Just Groove”—a feel-timeless blend of soulful rhythms.

New Merchandise Available too!

A black t-shirt featuring an album cover design with a portrait of a woman wearing a shimmery top, titled 'THE DAWN' by Jody Watley, along with the text 'ALEX DJ REMIX'.

https://direct.distrokid.com/jodywatley

Watch New Message: Here

About The Artist

Jody Watley is a GRAMMY-winning, multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer and style icon. Named Best New Artist in 1988, she’s one of Billboard’s Top 60 Female Artists of All Time, with 6 Top 10 Hot 100 hits, 13 No. 1 Dance singles, 2  R&B #1s and genre-spanning success across R&B, Pop, Dance, Downtempo Electronica and Jazz-80s, 90s, 2000-Present.

A visionary in music and fashion, Watley helped pave the way for Black women to break boundaries. Honored as a Crossover Music Icon by Black Music Honors, an inductee in Women’s Songwriters Hall of Fame + more; her influence continues and goes back as far as her days as a teenager as one of the show Soul Train’s most popular and trendsetting artists—5 decades strong as an artist, she remains an inspiration to many. 

Jody Watley – New Single ‘The Dawn’ Coming June 12

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Digital album cover featuring Jody Watley, highlighting her face with long eyelashes and soft makeup. She is wearing a shiny, sequined top. The text includes 'THE DAWN' and 'ALEX DI CIO REMIX' in stylized fonts with colorful light flares.

 Kicking off Summer and Black Music Month!

Arriving June 12, 2026: “The Dawn” (Alex Di Ciò Remix) — the groove-heavy new single from GRAMMY® Award-winning music icon Jody Watley.

Experience a fresh evolution of rhythm, soul, and dance-floor energy as Jody Watley and acclaimed producer/remixer Alex Di Ciò deliver the perfect soundtrack for the season. The song is another Jody Watley composition. “It’s a tough time for a lot of people, and also quite a bit of negativity in the world. I think it’s always important to have songs that keep people motivated and in a positive mindset – to let go of worries and stress, My music is always a vessel for that.”

Dawn definition: Dawn is the period of the day when the first light appears in the sky, marking the transition from night to morning before the sun breaks the horizon at sunrise.Metaphorically, it refers to the beginning, emergence, or advent of something new (e.g., “the dawn of a new era”) “the dawn of a new day”

About The Artist:

Jody Watley is a GRAMMY-winning, multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer and style icon. Named Best New Artist in 1988, she’s one of Billboard’s Top 60 Female Artists of All Time, with 6 Top 10 Hot 100 hits, 13 No. 1 Dance singles, 2  R&B #1s and genre-spanning success across R&B, Pop, Dance, Downtempo Electronica and Jazz. Her career longevity spans 5 decades in the music industry.

A visionary in music and fashion, Watley helped pave the way for Black women to break boundaries. Honored as a Crossover Music Icon by Black Music Honors, an inductee in Women’s Songwriters Hall of Fame + more; her influence continues—decades strong and she remains an inspiration to many. Her most recent album “Let’s Dance Vol. 1 – Hit Them Beats” released July 9, 2025 vaulted to #1 on the iTunes Top Dance Electronic Albums and Amazon Music UK on July 11, 2025.

“The Dawn” Cover Art by Shawn West and Jody Watley. Logo Design: Ray Easmon.

SUPREME SIRENS Iconic Women In Music -Jody Watley Spotlight

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Grammy Award-winning music icon Jody Watley is among the many esteemed trailblazing female artists featured in SUPREME SIRENS: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Music, the celebrated 2024 release by acclaimed author and style expert Marcellus Reynolds.

Released on January 23, 2024 through  Abrams Books, SUPREME SIRENS is the first-ever photography book dedicated to honoring Black female singers and musicians whose artistry, innovation, resilience, rebellion, and cultural impact transformed music history and popular culture.

The stunning collection celebrates generations of influential Black women in music through powerful imagery and storytelling — making it an essential addition for music historians, photography enthusiasts, style aficionados, and coffee table book collectors alike.

From groundbreaking artistry to enduring influence in music and fashion, Jody Watley continues to be recognized as a visionary creative force whose impact spans decades across music, style, culture, and entertainment.

Close-up of a smiling woman with short hair and shimmering eye makeup, featured in a black and white photography setting along with text highlighting 'Jody Watley' and her discography.

Book Details:

SUPREME SIRENS: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Music

By Marcellus Reynolds

Published by  Abrams Books

Release Date: January 23, 2024

ISBN-10: 1419769014

ISBN-13: 978-1419769016

#JodyWatley #SupremeSirens #BlackWomenInMusic #MusicHistory #MarcellusReynolds #AbramsBooks #WomenInMusic #BlackMusicHistory #StyleIcon #PhotographyBook #Trailblazer #GrammyWinner #IconicWomen #CoffeeTableBooks #MusicLegends

Join Jody Watley on the Ultimate Disco Cruise 2027

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GRAMMY-winning music icon Jody Watley will make a rare live concert appearance at sea aboard The Ultimate Disco Cruise and BEYOND 2027.

A woman with a large, curly hairstyle poses in a denim jacket, holding a disco ball close to her face with a playful expression, showcasing vibrant makeup including bold red lips and blue eyeshadow.

It’s the ultimate party experience for fans of Disco, Dance, R&B/Soul and Funk music – all on one unforgettable cruise experience sailing from Ft. Lauderdale aboard the Celebrity Silhouette sailing to Grand Turk, Puerto Plata Dominican Republic, concerts, celebrity hosted activities and more.

Catch Her Outside! Join Jody Watley at Sea – It’s Paradise!

Jody Watley fans – Use Promo code JODYFAN for special cabin savings.

Let’s Do This! Let’s Dance! Get your groove and disco glam on!

More Info: https://UltimateDiscoCruise.com

Promotional graphic for the Ultimate Disco Cruise featuring singer Jody Watley, along with artists like Kool & The Gang, Gloria Gaynor, and more. Event dates are February 21-26, 2027, in various locations including Fort Lauderdale, Grand Turk, and Puerto Plata.

Have you heard Jody Watley’s covers of the CHIC classic “I Want Your Love” a #1 single for Watley in 2008 and Diana Ross’ “Love Hangover” from her #1 2025 iTunes Top Dance Album “Let’s Dance Vol. 1- Hit Them Beats”? If not head to your favorite digital music platform.

Jody Watley New Spring Drop – Let’s Dance

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A person with long curly hair wearing oversized sunglasses and a sequined jacket, posing for a selfie while showcasing a T-shirt featuring a photo of a smiling woman and the text 'CODY WATLEY' and 'LET'S DANCE.'
Jody Watley. Let’s Dance Vol. 1 T-shirt – Make it Your Own!

Jody Watley’s latest album Let’s Dance Vol. 1 – Hit Them Beats energy isn’t just an album—it’s a mindset and a mantra to keep it moving. From adding to your playlists to your personal style statements, celebrate the spirit of Let’s Dance Vol. 1 (Hit Them Beats) in your own way.

The official collection is all about expressing your connection to the music, showing support for Grammy winning Icon Jody Watley and her sustained independence 40 plus years as a solo artist and entrepreneur—navigating the dance of life, perseverance and business.

Wear it. Share it. Dress it up or down!

A smiling woman with long, curly hair wearing a dark t-shirt featuring a graphic of a famous singer, against a light background.
Jody Watley – Let’s Dance Unisex T. Dress it Up or Down. Make it Your Own.

Explore the collection:

https://direct.distrokid.com/jodywatley

And if you haven’t yet—press play, add 2025’s #1 iTunes and Amazon Music UK Dance Electronica Album Let’s Dance Volume 1 – Hit Them Beats, released via her Avitone label celebrating the 30th Anniversary of forming the label; to your playlist. Keep the music in motion.

Just Push Play for a Non Stop Mix. Jody Watley “Let’s Dance Vol. 1 – Hit Them Beats”

Exploring Jody Watley’s RIAA Gold Video Classics Vol. 1

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A VHS tape of Jody Watley's 'Video Classics, Volume 1' with a colorful cover featuring Watley in a yellow top and blue jeans, posing with her arms raised.

Explore the lasting impact of Jody Watley’s Video Classics, Vol. 1 (1991), the RIAA Gold-certified music video collection that helped redefine the MTV era. From groundbreaking visuals and high-fashion imagery to iconic hits like “Looking for a New Love” and “Friends,” discover how Watley became a pioneering force in music video history and visual storytelling.

Long before visual albums became the norm, Jody Watley was setting the standard. 

Jody Watley helped transform the intersection of music and fashion with Video Classics, Vol. 1. This retrospective highlights the cultural significance, visual artistry, and enduring influence of one of the first major music video compilations released by a Black female artist.

Jody Watley: Video Classics Vol. 1 (1991) is an RIAA Gold Certified music video compilation, groundbreaking as one of the first by a Black female artist.

Released via MCA Records on VHS and Laser Disc, it featured music videos from her early multiplatinum solo albums, including iconic hits like “Looking For A New Love” “Friends” featuring Eric B & Rakim, and the 6 time MTV VMA nominated video “Real Love” alongside insightful interviews discussing her visual style and video inspirations specific to each director and filming on location in London, England and Paris, France.

  • Tracks Included: “Looking for a New Love,” “Still a Thrill,” “Don’t You Want Me,” “Some Kind of Lover,” “Most of All,” “Real Love,” and “Friends”.

  • Impact: Validated Watley as a visual innovator in the MTV era and highlighted her collaborations with directors.

  • Significance: Showcased her transition from Shalamar to a pioneering solo dance-pop artist with high-fashion imagery.

Revisit the videos or discover for the first time on The Official Jody Watley Youtube Channel.

About The Artist:

Jody Watley is a GRAMMY-winning artist, multi-platinum singer, songwriter, producer, and global style icon.

Named Best New Artist in 1988, she ranks among Billboard’s Top 60 Female Artists of All Time, with six Top 10 Hot 100 hits – including iconic hits “Looking For A New Love,” “Don’t You Want Me,” “Friends” featuring Eric B. & Rakim, and “Real Love” and more.

She’s also earned seven No. 1 Dance hits, two No. 1 R&B singles, and success across R&B, pop, dance, electronica, and jazz—building a genre-spanning catalog that continues to evolve.

A true visionary in music and fashion, Watley broke barriers for Black women globally—becoming the first artist and woman of color to appear on the cover of a Japanese fashion magazine, and among the first artists to merge music, branding, and lifestyle with her Dance To Fitness movement.

Recognized by Vogue, People, and Harper’s Bazaar, her influence extends beyond music through iconic campaigns for GAP, LA Eyeworks, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Her honors include Black Music Honors’ Crossover Music Icon Award, induction into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame, and multiple nominations from the American Music Awards, MTV VMAs and NAACP Image Awards.

A pioneer of independence, she founded her own label, Avitone, in 1995—well ahead of today’s artist-owned movement.

Decades into her career, Jody Watley continues to thrive with critically acclaimed, chart-topping releases. Her latest album, Let’s Dance Vol. 1, reached No. 1 on iTunes Dance and Amazon UK charts.

Her influence endures—timeless, trailblazing, and still setting her own standard – authentically, independently.