Jody Watley, singer/songwriter/producer/businesswoman, is one of the architects of 21st century pop. From her groundbreaking marriage of rap & R&B (1987’s “Friends,” a collaboration with hip-hop legends Eric B. & Rakim) to her vision-forward marriage of high fashion, street fashion and music in the ‘80s (long before it became the norm), to her fusion of jazz and underground club culture with keen pop instincts, and the ease with which she crossed and still crosses genre, Ms. Watley forged the template that is now everybody’s playbook.
Winner of the Best New Artist Grammy in 1987, Jody Watley’s entire career has been about looking forward, drawing inspiration from personal heroes like Grace Jones, David Bowie, Diana Ross and jazz great Nancy Wilson – iconoclasts who were always ten steps ahead of the pack. The Chicago native’s eclectic repertoire – R&B, hip-hop, House, jazz, pop, drum & bass, ambient, spoken-word – is built on a positive vision and a strong taste for artistic and aesthetic risk.
Her self-titled 1987 solo debut – a showcase for her vocal chops and songwriting skills – was a beats & grooves tribute to her club kid roots, from the underground spots she frequented as a teenager to her stardom (while still a teen) as one of the most popular dancers in the history of iconic TV show “Soul Train.” It yielded the chart topping hits “Looking for a New Love” (which launched the Jody-penned phrase “Hasta la vista” into popular vernacular, becoming so huge that Arnold Schwarzenegger jacked it for his signature line in the movie The Terminator), “Don’t You Want Me,” “Most of All,” “Some Kind of Lover” and “Still a Thrill,” whose video was the first (and as yet unmatched) time a pop star flexed their skills at waaking, the underground Los Angeles dance that is a sibling to both breakdancing and voguing.
1989’s Larger Than Life, her blockbuster sophomore album, yielded the hits “Real Love” (whose influential music video – nominated for seven MTV Video Music Awards – was her second collaboration with acclaimed film director David Fincher, the first being her sleek video for “Most of All”), “Friends,” and the sultry ballad “Everything.” They were all huge hits.
Like many artists who top the charts, Ms. Watley soon found herself stymied by the limited vision of her label, who wanted to shoehorn her into formula. The albums Affairs of the Heart (1991) and Intimacy (1993) displayed her deepening songwriting skills and singing prowess, as well as her assured experimentation with layered musical textures, but label support was missing in action. The powerful, beat-driven spoken-word track “When a Man Loves a Woman” from Affairs sparked controversy for addressing AIDS and domestic violence long before they were topics of national conversation, and her skittish label turned its back on the track and album. Though Ms. Watley’s artistry continued to deepen and grow, she was hamstrung by her label’s lack of support and their adherence to the same narrow definitions of success that saw her leave iconic R&B group Shalamar at the height of its popularity in 1983. Her own definition of success centered then and now on artistic growth and freedom, not simply replicating whatever was or is hot at the moment.
After breaking from the majors and starting her own label Avitone Recordings in 1995, Ms. Watley began collaborating with a Who’s Who of visionary producers and remixers, many of whom were longtime fans and jumped at the chance to work with her: 4 Hero, King Britt, Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez & Little Louie Vega, Mark de Clive Lowe, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Ron Trent, Moto Blanco, and Alex Di Ciò. Thanks to her non-stop touring, her global fan base remains as fervent as ever and they’ve made chart and club hits of Ms. Watley’s indie albums – Affection (1995), Flower (1998), The Saturday Night Experience (1999), Midnight Lounge (2001), and The Makeover (2006) – and her 2014 EP Paradise.
For the past five years, the ever multi-tasking Ms. Watley has focused on both her thriving solo career and the group project “Jody Watley featuring SRL.” Much like Prince had The Revolution, NPG, and Third Eye Girl (among many other projects and aliases) as extensions or branches of his music and creativity, Jody Watley feat. SRL allows Ms. Watley another outlet for her artistic expression. SRL members Rosero McCoy and Nate Allen Smith – gifted singers, dancers, and choreographers in their own right – bring their own cool style and vibe to Ms. Watley’s trademark high-energy, all-love live performances, and the trio’s critically acclaimed concerts draw SRO crowds around the world. With musical influences that include Kaytranada, Anderson Paak, and Little Dragon, they’ve released several chart-topping hit singles in Europe, including the Alex Di Ciò remix of “The Mood.” Their forthcoming album will be a seamless mix of dance grooves, funky beats, deep House, R&B, trap, rock, and ambient ballads accented with guitar flourishes.
Also in the works is Jody Watley: The Jazzy Sessions, a longtime dream project finally come to fruition. Fans were given a taste of what to expect from that forthcoming EP on the bossa nova tinged cover of Bob Marley’s “Waiting in Vain,” which shot to the top of the jazz charts within weeks of its release. A lilting, gorgeously melancholy take on the classic tune, the track simmers with tension between the longing of the lyrics and the lush, languid music and arrangement. Though some newer fans were pleasantly surprised that Ms. Watley pulled off a jazz tune, longtime fans saw it as simply the artistic thread being pulled forward from Ms. Watley’s show-stopping cover of Cole Porter’s classic song “After You,” from the landmark AIDS benefit recording project Red Hot & Blue, released in1990.
What links “Waiting” to the rest of Ms. Watley’s far-ranging and impossible to pigeonhole catalogue (which has seen her hit the charts in every decade of her career, from 1977’s Uptown Festival album with Shalamar to 2018’s “Waiting in Vain” single) is the sincerity and honesty from which it springs.
“Everything I’ve ever done has been to be distinctively Jody Watley,” says the pop icon herself, “from my first solo album through right now. Everything that I will ever do always has to be authentic to me, work that I can always be proud of first and foremost. It’s not so much about, ‘Oh, this is going to be popular,’ or ‘Oh, this is going to be a big hit.’ It’s always been so personal to me, everything that I do. And the fans can feel that. They connect with the honesty.”
Jody Watley Grammy winning music style icon, singer/songwriter/music producer was celebrated in 2017 as “Crossover Music Icon” on the television broadcast presentation Black Music Honors. As March kicks off Women’s History Month let’s take a look back at an everlasting honor. The delightful tribute performances by R&B stars Vivian Green and Sevyn Streeter are now viewable on YouTube if you missed the original airing. Watch it Here: OmazingTV
Crossover Music Icon Honoree – Jody Watley Black Music Honors 2017Crossover Music Icon Honoree Jody Watley with performers in tribute Sevyn Streeter and Vivian Green
Black Music Honors 2017: As quiet as it’s sometimes kept, Grammy award winning artist, songwriter, producer Jody Watley, one of Pop /R&B and Dance music’s most enduring pioneers has been at the forefront of some of the most groundbreaking trends and movements in modern pop culture – political statements, music and music video innovation, and the place where all those tracks meet. Check just a fragment of her résumé:
The video for her classic 1987 song “Still a Thrill” (from her Grammy-winning eponymous debut album of that same year) dazzlingly incorporates waacking, the underground freestyle dance (think of it as an even more beat-driven cousin to voguing), and is the first time a major pop star used their artistic platform to showcase this particular means of body expression. But Ms. Watley had actually brought the dance to widespread American attention a few years earlier as a teenage dancer on the iconic TV show Soul Train. Now, waacking has fans and practitioners around the globe, many of whom use the music of Ms. Watley in their routines as a show of respect for an OG who has kept the flame burning.
Jody Watley was the first black woman and artist to release a million selling fitness video in 1989. An early adapter to what was to come with artists taking control of their potential extensions in business as “brands” with her vision forward “Dance To Fitness” set to her own Pop/R&B hits from her first 2 albums.
Jody Watley was one of few black female artists selected to crossover into groundbreaking celebrity ad campaigns for GAP and l.e. Eyeworks 1988 and 1989. Later she would be featured in an unprecedented 15 pages in the prestigious Fall Catalog for luxury retailer Saks 5th Avenue in 1996.
Her groundbreaking 1989 cut “Friends” carved the template for both R&B/hip-hop and pop/hip-hop fusions to come, as it was the first time a rapper (the legendary Rakim, of Eric B. & Rakim) wrote original verses for an R&B/pop song.
The video for “Friends” was a landmark of subversive/progressive representation that has still not yet been matched – or given its due as a taboo-shattering cultural artifact. Set in an underground New York dance club, and featuring performances by Ms. Watley and Eric B. & Rakim, the club’s denizens are made of up straight, gay, and transgender folk, of all races, body shapes and sartorial aesthetics. B-boys jostle alongside drag queens, Rakim rocks the mic, and Jody serves face and fierceness. It’s a warm utopian vibe. The gathering is organic, and lacks the opportunistic marketing tactic of gay-friendly advocacy that is now on trend for pop divas.
The catchphrase “Hasta La Vista Baby” for her mega debut single “Looking for a New Love” became a pop culture phenomenon along with her signature jumbo hoop earrings and eclectic swag separating her from other artists; a freestyle girl mixing high, low funky couture with high end and vintage.
Long before making his mark as a film director, David Fincher (Se7en; FightClub) cut his stylistic teeth on Ms. Watley’s sleek, hugely influential music video for the 1989 smash “Real Love,” perfecting a signature visual look that he would later impart to other pop divas.
Unhappy with the constraints of being on a major label, she parted ways with her industry home and started her own label Avitone Recordings in 1995. Through it she has released four critically acclaimed CDs (Affection, 1995; The Saturday Night Experience, 1999; Midnight Lounge, 2001; The Makeover, 2006, Paradise, 2014) which have collectively spanned the genres electronica, ambient, R&B, and House. They’ve also reinforced her roots in and solidified her ties to the global dance underground, as everyone from 4Hero and King Britt to Masters at Work and Junior Vasquez jumped at the chance to work on these projects. She has also collaborated recently with Modern Funk Impresario Dam-Funk, and folk artist Peter Harper continuing to reflect an artist not confined to a stereotypical music boxes.
A fashion-forward visionary from her Soul Train days, Ms. Watley never used a professional stylist but, as a solo artist with a singular vision and keen instincts, carved her own look by weaving vintage clothing and contemporary street fashions from her own closet with high-end pieces from fashion designers who hadn’t yet caught the public or industry eye (Jean-Paul Gautier; Rifat Ozbek.) Photographers from the legendary Francesco Scavullo to firebrand Steven Meisel lined up to work with her. For her iconoclastic and influential eye, she was honored with a feature in VOGUE Italia’s groundbreaking “Black Issue” in 2008.
• • Jody Watley in 2016 was ranked by Billboard Magazine as one of the Greatest Dance Artists of All Time on a list that includes Madonna, Beyonce, Rihanna and Katy Perry. – Ernest Hardy
Jody Watley is a GRAMMY award winning multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer/entrepreneur. Some of her iconic Top 10 singles include “Looking For A New Love” “Don’t You Want Me” the groundbreaking “Friends” ft. Eric B & Rakim, and “Real Love”.
With a diverse music discography spanning R&B / Pop / Dance /Hip Hop / Electronic / Jazz / Adult Contemporary 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s, 20sJody Watley is recognized as a style icon and one of the architects of 21st century Pop/R&B/Dance music. Jody Watley was 2017 recipient of the Black Music Honors ‘Crossover Music Icon’ Award for her early cultural influence and impact as a solo artist; other accolades include 2007 Billboard Dance Lifetime Achievement Award, along with nominations from the American Music Awards, MTV Awards, NAACP Awards and Soul Train Awards.
In 2018 Billboard Magazine included Jody Watley in the Top 60 Hot 100 Female Artists Of All Time and Top 25 Top Female Dance Artists Of All Time. A 2022 Inductee into the Women’s Songwriters Hall of Fame, Watley has also been recognized by performing rights organization BMI (Broadcast Music). “I’m really most proud to have songwriter and producer be a part of my resume and legacy as an artist.”
JODY WATLEY self-titled solo debut album was released on February 23, 1987.
“It was her debut album, released by MCA Records although she had minor success in former group Shalamar, the impact of this album made Watley a cultural style icon in contemporary R&B, pop and dance music.
Its success culminated in Watley winning a GRAMMY Award for Best New Artist in 1988.
Jody Watley – Best New Artist 1988
The album also produced 3 iconic Top Ten singles on the US Billboard Hot 100 : “Looking for a New Love” (#2), “Don’t You Want Me” (#6) and “Some Kind of Lover” (#10), what’s more there were additional chart hit R&B and Dance “Still A Thrill” #8 Hot Dance Club Play #3 Hot R&B Hip/Hop, #56 Hot 100 & “Most Of All“ #11 R&B, #8 Hot Dance Club Play, #60 Hot 100
3 #1 Dance Singles “Looking For A New Love”, “Don’t You Want Me”, “Some Kind Of Lover”, #1 R&B Single “Looking For A New Love.”
Additionally, the album also features a duet with superstar George Michael “Learn To Say No”, in fact, she is one of only a handful of women and artists Michael recorded with.
Lastly, the Jody Watley solo debut album has now sold three million copies in the United States. Over four million copies have been sold to date worldwide. Watley co-wrote 6 of the 9 songs. Production by Andre Cymone & David Z., Bernard Edwards (CHIC, Robert Palmer & Power Station) and Patrick Leonard.
In addition, T-Boz from mega group TLC cites Jody Watley’s vocals on “Still A Thrill” as an influence on her finding her identity and singing in a lower register. The breakout single “Looking For A New Love” with it’s catchphrase “Hasta La Vista Ba-By” became a pop culture phenomenon after later being used by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1991’s “Terminator – Judgement Day.”
The album came in 3 hues, black & white, purple and blue.
Hear Jody Watley’s thoughts on the 38th anniversary. Share your favorites from this debut and memories of your life in 1987-88 from this release on the Youtube channel video: Here
Jody Watley has always mentioned the influence of Motown Records and so many great artists on the label from Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Temptations, The Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and beyond. Legend Smokey Robinson is one of those she has always admired. Smokey Robinson’s musical legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of American music, and his influence continues to inspire generations of artists.
“Smokey Robinson is one of the greatest songwriters of all time. On his 85th birthday, I want to send out the best wishes to him on this milestone. So many of his songs are a part of the soundtrack of my life, Growing up listening to those songs was such an inspiration for me to one day grow up to be an artist, songwriter and beyond myself.
I had the honor of meeting as well as being on a panel with Smokey Robinson back in 2010 at The Grammy Museum Celebrating The Hippest Trip In America: Soul Train 40th Anniversary- it was a surreal experience.
Jody Watley. Smokey Robinson. Grammy Museum 2010.Smokey Robinson, Jody Watley, Don Cornelius
Valentine’s Day is one holiday set aside in the calendar but for Jody Watley it’s year round. Encouraging followers on social media to encourage practicing ove every day including practicing self-love and more love into the world in these unpredictable times.
Sharing a classic photo from her groundbreaking hit “Friends” featuring Eric B & Rakim, Jody Watley shared her choice of her first tattoo – “I chose cupid, a cherub because love is what I’m all about and I knew getting this angel of love is something I’d never regret. A year later I added the word LOVE beneath it.
Engaging the fans, Watley asked to hear thoughts about favorite Jody Watley LOVE songs. If you missed out, you can share in the comments on the video posted on the Official Youtube Channel- Here
“The legendary Jody Watley has blessed our ears with another dynamic dose of sophisticated soul in the form of her new Winter Nights EP. Comprised of three core tracks—each given the remix sheen by her frequent collaborator Alex Di Ciò—and bookended by piano-driven “Winter Nights” instrumentals, Watley accurately describes the song set as “perfect for cozy winter nights to warm you up.” – Albumism
Jody Watley “Winter Nights” EP Turns 5 Years Old. Released on February 7, 2020 just before the pandemic and subsequent lockdown. It seems the world hasn’t been the same since. It’s always a comfort to have music to bring warmth to life, that’s what “Winter Nights” represents in many ways.
The EP was an instant favorite on UK Soul Radio vaulting to the #2 spot on the chart and Number 1 on various stations around the territory.
Devoted fans flocked to purchase the Exclusive Limited Edition CD Digipaks sold out via the online boutique. Nothing like a physical copy for your collection.
Stream or download the “Winter Nights” EP at the streaming platform of your choice. Your support is appreciated.
About the Artist:
Jody Watley is a GRAMMY award winning multi-platinum singer/songwriter/record producer/entrepreneur. Some of her iconic Top 10 singles include “Looking For A New Love” “Don’t You Want Me” the groundbreaking “Friends” ft. Eric B & Rakim, and “Real Love”.
Jody Watley was 2017 recipient of the Black Music Honors ‘Crossover Music Icon’ Award for her early cultural influence and impact as a solo artist; other accolades include 2007 Billboard Dance Lifetime Achievement Award, along with nominations from the American Music Awards, MTV Awards, NAACP Awards and Soul Train Awards.
In 2018 Billboard Magazine included Jody Watley in the Top 60 Hot 100 Female Artists Of All Time and Top 25 Top Female Dance Artists Of All Time. A 2022 Inductee into the Women’s Songwriters Hall of Fame, Watley has also been recognized by performing rights organization BMI (Broadcast Music). “I’m really most proud to have songwriter and producer be a part of my resume and legacy as an artist.”
Jody Watley. Photo courtesy of Avid Music All Rights reserved 2025.
Jody Watley, born January 30. Aquarius Season is January 20-February 18. I wish all born under this special astrological sign as I am, another happy rotation around the sun.
In these challenging and somewhat turbulent vitriolic times, it’s encouraged to protect your personal peace and space. These are unprecedented times right now. Stay informed but don’t over consume daily reports of doom, division, consider it an act of self-care. Do what you can do to be prepared. Manage what you can actually be in control of on a daily basis. Practice kindness and empathy for others, there’s too much hate going around.
Thanks so much to all subscribers of the website newsletter. The major platforms are full of fake pages, profiles with rhetoric designed to promote misinformation. Fact checking has been removed (as if it were ever really effective which isn’t just politics – it impacts artist profiles as well). Comment sections, if your page is actually seen anymore – are full of paid bots and people designed for the algorithms to engage you in what they want you to see. It’s called engagement farming to create of discourse with negative comments and/or mindless agreement of false information. I encourage you to be diligent and discerning of content.
This deception will only get worse with A.I. designed to further integrate fake profiles and information. An artist website is one of the remaining tools where you can actually follow and stay updated if you’re interested and it’s not at the mercy of these corporations and their intentions or people who just mindlessly scroll, like without reading comprehension nor discernment.
Though the Jody Watley social media pages remain active, we are reevaluating the frequency.
In addition to the site newsletter, be sure to subscribe to the Jody Watley YouTube Channel as well for additional content in video from be it archives or new uploads.
Love to all and always do what feels best and right for you.
Jody Watley compelled to spread awareness specifically Eaton Wildfire that isn’t receiving as much coverage in the midst of the devastating California Wildfires.
Encouraging empathy, compassion, support and donations for the working class diverse every day people, the elderly, single Moms, families, small businesses, schools and beyond in Altadena & Pasadena Families & Animal Shelters in need. Watch the video on the Jody Watley Youtube Channel – Here
Prayers go out to all who have been impacted by this.
A special 2025 New Year’s Greeting from Jody Watley.
All Photo Rights Reserved 2025, Jody Watley, Avitone Recordings.
Wishing you all the best of 2025 in whatever you choose to do, to triumph over obstacles, disappointments on the journey of life, to great health, joy, happiness, peace of mind, love and unexpected blessings and beyond. Thanks so much to all subscribers, and those who continue to support the music and endeavors of Jody Watley. If you missed the Best Of shared on social media, be sure to check some highlights on the Youtube Channel. Watch – Here
Remember to always let your light shine even through the darkness. Much Love!
Jody Watley has an eclectic genre defying discography spanning decades 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s, 20s. The Grammy winning artist shares insights on the significance of The Saturday Night Experience with Jody Watley album on the Official Jody Watley Youtube Channel.
The Saturday Night Experience with Jody Watley was originally released exclusively to Japan in partnership through her Avitone Recordings imprint and Universal Victor (a subsidiary of Universal Music Group).
The Saturday Night Experience with Jody Watley Vol. 1Jody Watley. 1999. Mood. The Saturday Night Experience. Happy 25th Anniversary.
Jody Watley opens up on disrupting and diversifying the dance floor and the fashion world for more than four decades…in the cover story for Canada’s IN Magazine’s November / December 2024 Issue “An Everlasting Icon”
Few singer-songwriters have been able to bridge the worlds of fashion and pop music in the way 65-year-old Jody Watley has. In the four decades she’s been recording, writing, singing, producing and performing, Watley’s Watley’s body of work has shaken zeitgeists, broken new ground and allowed us to understand the importance of understatement. Her upper hand is letting fierceness and coolness live together in harmony and verse. Any time Watley premieres a new song – such as her recently released “Everlasting” – she’s able to redefine our notions of what a diva means with her refined yet nonchalant vibe..
A Must Read! Check out the the full feature on Canada’s IN Magazine : Here
