Jody Watley Keeps It Real On New Access Hollywood Interview

Music Icon, trendsetter Grammy winner Jody Watley on Access Hollywood – Watch it Now!

Jody Watley Classic Images Of The Day. Harper’s Bazaar 1989

JODY WATLEY. Photography Matthew Rolston

Jody Watley, Harper’s Bazaar 10 Most Beautiful Issue (Women from 21 to 48 Talk About Their Looks and Lives), September 1989

I was in great company as the ‘The Top 10’ list also featured Academy Award winning actress Jodie Foster on the cover, other inclusions were Faye Dunaway, Whitney Houston, Susan Sarandon, Kelly LeBrock, Julia Roberts, Melanie Griffith, and Anjelica Houston.

Clothing – Rifat Ozbek

Photography Matthew Rolston

For me – though having a strong visual presentation and identity as an artist is important – your looks never define who you are as a person nor have anything to do with substance, character, talent, tenacity and perseverance. One must have something going on beyond what’s on the outside. Over the decades I’ve found in some ways with women physical appearance when others consider you ‘beautiful’ can work against you too, you almost have to work double to be taken seriously not to mention those that may resent what they see and some to their own personal biases, misperceptions and so on – it’s a double edged sword. That said, looking back it’s special to have broken through some of the barriers that often exist for black women and artists in the lexicon of beauty and fashion opening the door a bit wider for others that have followed. This was my second of 3 features in Harper’s Bazaar.

No matter what – don’t forget to be awesome not matter what you look like!

Wattage!

OTD. Jody Watley “I Want You” Goes Top 5 R&B On Billboard Charts 1992

OTD February 8, 1992

“I Want You” Click to watch the video

Peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot R&B Chart

Written by: Jody Watley and Andre Cymone

Produced by Andre Cymone

“I Want You” is from Jody’s the relationship themed “Affairs Of The Heart.”

Grammy Winning Artist Jody Watley On The Cross Connection With Tiffany Cross – Celebrating 50th Anniversary of Don Cornelius’ Soul Train TV Show.

In case you missed it – here’s the link to Watch It Now on MSNBC : https://www.msnbc.com/cross-connection/watch/iconic-tv-show-soul-train-turns-50-122588741958

Get In Here! Go Behind The Scenes With Jody Watley and The Dodgers National Anthem Experience.

Watch it now – Click Share – Click Subscribe!!

Wattage!

Jody Watley – LGBT Music Festival Vanguard Award Honoree 2019

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Gregory Douglas Presents LGBT Music Festival. Fabulous Memorial Day Weekend destination event and Vanguard Award ceremony presented on All White Wear Night – perfect for the oceanside setting.

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Arrival  – hotel lobby.

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Morning arrival

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..and the eagle continues to soar.. love this capture.

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In the distance..a rainbow you just have to pay attention and look – just like life!

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Enjoying an oceanside mimosa – just taking it all in.

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A positive affirmation  – getting morning coffee.

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Jody Watley – Saying hello to contemporary R&B artist Monifah.

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Jody Watley with renowned choreographer (En Vogue, Beyonce, and more) Frank Gatson – we had such a great time talking and hanging out oceanside.

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Met so many wonderful people – and received nothing but love.

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Jody Watley with – Honoree Designer and former stylist Ty Hunter, author and host Patrick L. Riley and Honoree Shanice Wilson ready for evening of fashion.

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Ty Hunter and Jody Watley, LGBT Music, Culture & Arts Festival 2019. Cancun, Mexico.

Fashion and Music Night, snippets of  Frank Gatson’s June’s Diary and Frenchie Davis.

 

Vanguard Awards Night.

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Frank Gatson, Keke Palmer Gregory Douglas Presents, Frenchie Davis, Shanice Wilson, TS Madison, Jody Watley, Ty Hunter, Host and Author Patrick Riley

 

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Two authentic spirited and talented Chicagoans – Honorees Jody Watley and KeKe Palmer after Vanguard Awards.

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Host and Los Angeles Event Producer Ivan Daniel, Jody Watley and Frank Gatson

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Honorees Frank Gatson and Jody Watley

 

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From Monifah who presented my Vanguard Woman of Excellence Award in her Instagram post:  “With the iconic & legendary @jodywatley  What an honor to present her with the 2019 Women of Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award this year! We MUST give OURS their flowers while they can enjoy them in this life!! Musically, she is an integral part of most of my generation’s childhood and teen years! From her intro on the music scene as  one-third of the legendary R&B group Shalamar to becoming a Grammy award-winning, multi-platinum selling, cultural style icon solo artist who used her massive platform to shine light on the issues of a marginalized and underrepresented community. She was an advocate for and an ally of the LGBT community, human rights, AIDS awareness when it wasn’t easy or fashionable to do so. Thank you @jodywatley for your indelible contribution to music, fashion & advocacy. We love & honor you!! #lgbtmusicfest #vanguardawards #jodywatley #monifah #cancunmexico ”

 

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I lost my other earring.. but didn’t notice it being in the moment -enjoying to evening breeze.

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Living my life like it’s golden – and always in gratitude!

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Jody Watley “Woman of Excellence” – Honoree Vanguard Award – LGBT Music Festival Cancun 2019

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Video of full speech to come for my YouTube Channel Friday post  – it was truly a night to remember full of real love!

Thanks again to Gregory Douglas and the LGBT Film Festival for the honor, author host Patrick L. Riley, Monifah who presented the award as well and congratulations to all of honorees; as well to the LGBT community who have always been my strongest supporters. As I wrote in the 90’s in my song “Affection” – “..it don’t matter if you’re young or old, it don’t matter if you’re straight or gay – everybody needs to feel loved.”

 

“…always find and live in your best light your inner Wattage..and encourage others to do so as well..” – Jody Watley

 

The fight for equality will continue amidst a climate of division and hate, and hate crimes on the LGBT community and often overlooked black LGBT community.

 

Jody Watley A Monumental Look Back To Still A Thrill

The gears below the Paris Opera House (Le Palais Garnier)

Being the first artist or entity at all to be allowed to film a video in the then called Opera de Paris (Palais Garnier) in Paris, France for my video “Still A Thrill” in 1989 is something that was quietly monumental at the time – and probably beyond my devoted fans few know this. When most “urban” artists were primarily relegated to basic in studio videos. I thought about the significance as Beyonce made headlines with her video filmed at the prestigious Louvre museum another landmark in Paris. As one of my fans noted..”if you released this today, you would have broken the internet..it was ahead of the times.” I agree.

Directed by Brian Grant, the 2nd of 3 videos we filmed together – I sashayed all over the streets of Paris (thank you to my former label for supporting my vision) – I worked the historic setting with no choreography or rehearsals. There’s also a scene in one of the night shots on the streets of Paris where graffiti notes “Gay Color, Say Cool Say What?” that makes it’s own statement and my support of the LGBTQ community without batting a cat-eyed eyelash that I’ve never been asked about.

This included the basement so to speak working the gears with Tyrone “The Bone” Procter, former ST alum like me – freestyle, waacking, just making it up as we went along. I styled myself (a bit of Jean Paul Gaultier mixed in) as well as Tyrone (in a Jean Paul Gaultier T-shirt).  It was about the edgy style against the opulent setting and getting in the music. Creating art outside the box especially for a black girl at the time dealing with industry politics among other things – quietly opening doors and raising the bar for myself and others to follow has always been important to me – before social media.

You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing-that’s usually how artists make a mark.

Classic.

Paris By Night was the theme and concept of the video – totally enjoyed collaborating and working with Brian Grant.

 

Jody Watley’s Latest Music Triumph

Venerable Grammy Award Winning Artist, Style Icon and Trailblazer Jody Watley’s latest music triumph is her stunning jazz turn of the Bob Marley classic “Waiting In Vain.” Watley continues to delight and surprise – with decades of hits under her belt in various genres she broke new ground with a Top 10 in the Smooth Jazz field on the heels of being ranked as one of Billboard Magazines Greatest Dance Club Artists of All Time.

A truly timeless artist, songwriter and renaissance woman.

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Jody Watley Makes Gains With Jazz Hit “Waiting In Vain”

One of music’s most unpredictable and venerable artist’s Jody Watley’s newest triumph comes on the heels of her new group Jody Watley & SRL’s UK Soul Hit “The Mood” Alex Di Cio Remix, Watley scores another hit in the jazz or radio format ‘smooth jazz’. Check the latest radio and chart updates below.

 

 

Updates:

Billboard 26 to 25* : BDSRadio Charts April  28, 2018

America’s Music Charts : MediaBase : 37 to 28*

Smooth Jazz Network  Top 20 : 15 to 14*

Smooth Jazz.com  40 to 38*

Smooth Jazz Indie  28 to 26*

Indie Soul Chart #6

Billboard Airplay

KSBR-HD/Los Angeles, CA (Orange County)

WNWV/Cleveland, OH

WFSK/Nashville, TN

KUNV/Las Vegas, NV

WVAS/Montgomery, AL

Smooth Jazz Network (affiliates below)

WCLK/Atlanta, GA

WVST/Richmond, VA

WSBZ/Panama City, FL

WEIB/Springfield, MA

KJLU/Jefferson City, MO

Specialty Show Airplay

WWDM/Columbia, SC

CKSJ/St Johns, Canada

WAGH/Columbus, GA

KQXT/San Antonio, TX (Jazz show on A/C station)

WMJY/Biloxi, MS

WCLZ/Portland, ME

KBEM/Minneapolis, MN

WWDM/Columbia, SC

Smooth Jazz Airplay

KOKY/Little Rock, AR
TheVibeSmoothGrooveRadio.weebly.com

WNAA/Greensboro, NC
BlogTalkRadio.com

JazzBayRadio.com

WCHG/Hot Springs, VA

WOWE/Flint, MI
HTRJazzy.com

Smooth Jazz “In The Mix” Online Radio

SmoothJazzOnTheRocks.net
KYTE/Newport, OR

TheSourceSmoothJazzRadio.com

JazzMoodsRadio.com

RadioSeagull.com

RadioWinchCombe.co.uk

StrawberryJazz.com

SmoothJazz905.com
WWUS/Key West, FL

KBEM/Minneapolis, MN

WSJRDBRadio.com

1000SmoothHits.de

TM Studios

Jazz-City.com

KCSW/Phoenix, AZ

SmoothJazzAndMore.com

Smooth Jazz Florida Plus HD
Love Smooth Jazz
Love Jazz Florida
Love Smooth Jazz Music
Smooth Jazz Mix New York
Smooth Jazz New York

Smooth Jazz NYC

Smooth Jazz Planet

Smooth Jazz Zone

A1 Smooth Jazz

Smooth Jazz Oasis

Smooth Jazz Smooth Wave

South Florida Smooth Jazz

Smooth Jazz Tampa Bay

Smooth Jazz CD101.9 New York

KKFI/Kansas City, MO

CoolNights.co.uk

GrooveSuite.com

KRWV/Phoenix, AZ

CJazzChannel.com

WHCJ/Savannah, GA

WTCC/Springfield, MA

WRTC/Hartford, CT

WQTQ/Hartford, CT

AccuRadio.com (Smooth Jazz Chicago)

Smooth Grooves Radio/UK

SmoothJazzFlorida.com

SmoothJazz.com

WUSB/Long Island, NY
WJAB/Huntsville, AL

WSNC/Winston-Salem, NC
KUR/Reading, PA

KSHK/Kauai, HI

Smooth Jazz Network Airplay

iHeart Radio – Smooth Jazz Channel
WAEG-FM North Augusta, GA
WCHD-HD2 Dayton, OH
KWDR-FM Kennewick, WA
WKSC HD-2 Chicago, IL
KDXA HD-2 Des Moines, IO
KSOF HD-2 Fresno, CA
WSRW HD-2 Grand Rapids, MI
WMAG HD-2 Greensboro, NC
WLRQ HD-2 Melbourne, FL
WUBT-HD2 Nashville, TN
WMGF-HD2 Orlando, CA
KKCW HD-2 Portland, OR
WSNE HD-2 Providence, RI
WBTJ HD-2 Richmond, VA
KFBK-HD2 Sacramento, CA
KMJM HD-2 St. Louis, MO
KODJ HD-2 Salt Lake City, UT
KISC-HD2 Spokane, WA
COOL-FM Panama
KCCB-AM Corning, AR
WVSU-FM Birmingham, AL
KKLI-FM Colorado Springs, CO
WAJD-FM Gainesville, FL
WBHQ-FM Beverly Beach, FL
WSBZ-FM Walton Beach, FL
WUCR-FM Butler, FL
WCLZ-FM Portland, ME
WRMO-FM Bangor, ME
WHFC-FM Bel Air, MD
WLDR-FM Traverse City, MI
WVLY-FM Sundbury, PA
KQXT-FM San Antonio, TX
SmoothJazzFlorida.com
Smooth Jazz Florida Plus HD
Smooth Jazz Tampa Bay
Smooth Jazz Nox Miami
Smooth Jazz Tampa
Smooth Jazz Wave Boca Raton
Smooth Jazz CD101.9 New York
Smooth Jazz Mix New York
Radio Indigo Bangalore/Goa India 99.1
Aramco Saudi Arabia
CJCV-FM Winnipeg
Boracay Beach Radio – 97.3 FM Philippines

Smooth Jazz Top 20 Show Airplay
iHeart Radio – Smooth Jazz Channel
CD101.9 New York
KCCB 1260AM Corning, AR
KDXA HD-2 Des Moines
KKCW HD-2 Portland
KKLI 106.3 FM Colorado Springs
KODJ HD-2 Salt Lake City
KSOF HD-2 Fresno
KWDR-FM  93.5 and 102.3 Kennewick, WA
KZIZ-AM 1560 AM Seattle, WA
Radio Indigo Bangalore/Goa India 99.1
WAEG-FM 92.3 North Augusta, GA
WBHQ-HD-3 Beverly Beach, FL
WBTJ HD-2 Richmond
WCHB 1200 AM/ 99.9 FM  Detroit, MI
WCLZ 98.9 FM Portland, Maine
WHFC91.1 FM Bel Air, Maryland
WKSC HD-2 Chicago
WLDR HD-2 Traverse City, MI
WLRQ HD-2 Melbourne
WMAG HD-2 Greensboro
WMJM HD-2 St. Louis
WRMO 93.7 FM Bangor Maine
WSJF-DB  Smooth Jazz Florida
WSNE HD-2 Providence
WSRW HD-2 Grand Rapids
WUCR 107.9 FM Lake Butler, Florida
WVLY 100.9 FM Sundbury/Selinsgrove, PA
WXCT 98.3 FM Grand Rapids, MI
ARAMCO Saudi Arabia
Boracay Beach Radio-97.3 FM Philippines
CJCV 99.1 FM Winnipeg, Canada
COOL-FM Panama

Jody Watley on Decades TV Network

The feature was rebroadcast on the Decades TV Network, Here’s a short preview: