Grammy winning artist Jody Watley was ranked by Billboard Magazine in 2016 as one of the Greatest Dance Club Acts of All Time and hailed by Wax Poetics’s Dean Van Nguyen as one of music’s prominent visionaries.Jody Watley’s groundbreaking career as solo artist kicked off with her debut album “Jody Watley” whose chart-topping lead single “Looking for a New Love” launched the Watley-penned catch phrase “Hasta la vista, baby,” into pop culture vernacular, garnered the prestigious “Best New Artist” award and countless nominations and hits that have followed over the course of decades in her career. January 2017 marks the 30th Anniversary of the debut release single and self titled album. “Who knew writing a song about a guy who had done me wrong would turn out be the beginning of such an incredible journey..” she states.Since her days as the original female lead vocalist of the R&B trio Shalamar departing in 1983; Jody Watley emerged as always ahead of the pop culture curve. As quiet as it’s sometimes kept, Jody Watley has been at the forefront of some of the most groundbreaking trends and movements in modern pop culture and serves as the style template for today’s women in contemporary music. Jumbo hoop earrings, cutting edge hi low street style, layouts in popular magazines, fashion forward video’s and messages of self empowerment; call it the Jody Watley effect. She made political statements and early LGBTQ and HIV awareness before it was trendy and accepted, music and music video innovation in her own distinct style and message of individuality, she is the place where all those tracks meet. An award winning songwriter, producer and businesswoman owning her label formed in 1995 Avitone this venerable artist continues to create her own unique path.The video for her 1987 hit “Still a Thrill” was the first time a major pop star showcased waacking, the underground freestyle dance (an even more beat-driven cousin to voguing) that is now a worldwide phenomenon; her classic 1989 cut “Friends” carved the template for both R&B/hip-hop and pop/hip-hop fusions to come, being the first time a rapper (the legendary Rakim, of Eric B. & Rakim) wrote original verses for an R&B/ pop song and it’s video fusing club culture with b-boys, club kids, transgender and drag queens with fashionista’s; long before making his mark as a film director, David Fincher (Se7en; Fight Club; Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) cut his artistic teeth on Miss Watley’s sleek music video for 1989’s smash hit “Real Love,” premiering a signature visual style that he would later impart to other pop divas and fine tune for his films; in honor of her visionary fusion of fashion, music, and music videos, Jody Watley was featured in VOGUE Italia’s groundbreaking “Black Issue” in 2008 as an homage to opening the door for acceptance between music and fashion in the mainstream with early appearances in starting with her debut in VOGUE, Harper’s Bazaar and Rolling Stone and countless magazines around the world.Jody Watley will bring her dynamic celebratory anniversary concert with a spotlight on decades of solo hits in various genres with a spotlight on new music from their forthcoming debut “Bridges” featuring her new group SRL with Nate Allen Smith and renowned choreographer Rosero McCoy is already garnering media attention and rave reviews and set to release their debut album in 2017.Jody Watley 30, the concert is a celebration of “Jody Watley” the debut and an enduring career that continues to evolve and surprise; showing no signs of slowing down.