Jody Watley. Jo Long Theatre Recap.

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Admin

Near capacity crowd – lots of love in the house to kick off Jo Long Theatre at The Carver Community Cultural Center new season.

Sound and visuals check. Design by Ray Easmon.

Testing out new opening choreography with SRL Nate Allen Smith and John ‘Havic’ Gregory.

Jody Watley ft SRL 2019 Nate Smith John Gregory Jo Long Theatre

Jody Watley & SRL. The guys join me for a couple of my Shalamar classics our own 2018 UK Soul chart hits “The Mood” & “The Passion” and then return later to show off their dance skills in the Classic Jody Watley hits section.

I had to take off my heels and get in the audience for a twirl during a rousing version ‘Skin Deep’ from “Midnight Lounge” it was my favorite part of the show.

Jody Watley Real Love 2019 Jo Long Theatre

A ‘Real Love’ pose with John ‘Havic’ Gregory and Nate Allen Smith. Fan capture.

Jody Watley Live 2019 Jo Long Theatre Fan Pic

Fan capture, during finale.

Jody Watley Looking For a New Love 2019 Jo Long Theatre

Looking For A New Love. Fan capture.

Jody Watley & Lupe Ortiz who made the trip from Fort Worth and always shows a lot of love and support on social media too. Wattage!

Jody Watley Roses Sound Board After show

Always taking the time to smell the roses and the love from my fans and their generosity – beautiful bouquet from Lupe. I also received a beautiful owl scarf (I love owls) from one of my recent Cameo requests – I made sure they had backstage passes!

Wattage Thoughts of Well Wishes.

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Admin

A nice way to begin the week — Wattage!

Wattage Thoughts. Inspiration. A Bit of Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust.

Posted on October 16, 2019 by Admin

I’ve loved, collected and sent positive greeting cards since I was in junior high school.. this is a recent purchase to share with you, seen while in the art store – hopefully you appreciate the message too.

Wattage!!

Wattage Inspiration. Take Care of You.

Posted on October 9, 2019 by Admin

A reminder — “Take care of you everything and everyone can politely wait their turn.” Wattage!!

Jody Watley Upcoming Concerts October 2019 and More.

Posted on October 7, 2019 by Admin

A reminder of upcoming Jody Watley concerts for October and tickets on sale for two early 2020 events.

Catch me live October 13 in Detroit at SoundBoard, Motor City Casino with Tony! Toni! Tone! A few tickets remain: Here

San Antonio, Texas we are going in on October 19 for my first concert in this city in decades.

Tickets on sale now for The Howard Theatre, Washington D.C. – A Music Journey Hits and Beyond.

Tickets: The Howard Theatre

Sail with me on The Ultimate Disco Cruise : Enter Code JODY for special discount: Check out my Special Invite: Here

Jody Watley featuring Eric B and Rakim “Friends” Reach A Milestone and Ten Songs That Kicked Off R&B Rap Collaborations

Posted on October 7, 2019 by Admin

I’m doing this post for this Music Monday to drop some music history and knowledge behind my groundbreaking single “Friends.” A lot of misinformation and out right lack of knowledge; it’s my duty to not only always tell my own story but to make sure those who don’t know – learn it.

Excerpt from Okayplayer Ten Songs That Kicked Off Rap/Sung Collaborations in the 80’s. read full article : Okayplayer

“…The single was released in April 1989 and steadily rose up the charts. The video became popular on both BET and MTV, garnering a coveted spot on Donnie Simpson’s Video Soul Top 20… but the big news is “FRIENDS” with Jody Watley ft Eric B & Rakim managed to do WHAT NO PREVIOUS R&B/Rap collaboration had done before: crossover to the Hot 100 charts. “Friends” reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1989. When Jody Watley performed “Friends” on The Arsenio Hall Show, Eric B. & Rakim weren’t present but she performed Rakim’s verse effortlessly.

This monumental event in R&B/Rap collaboration history has largely gone overlooked close to 30 years after the fact.”

It’s definitely overlooked, and necessary to note. Saying it louder for those in the back – it was the first to crossover on three charts Top 10 and most significantly the Hot 100…paving the way for a new collaborations, easier access to Pop and R&B radio (eventually pushing out R&B – to become primarily all rap/hip-hop) previously had before balked at playing rap music at all, so a lot of the airplay initially had the no rap edit which is why many don’t realize the significance.

The video “Club Couture” was also notable.. my concept a real underground New York nightclub where everyone came to be fabulous, dance, perform – b-boys, and hop hop dancers getting their party on with voguers and ball kids, drag queens, transgender, mixed cultures all partying together.connected through music without hate being as you are – and fabulous as I came through in Gaultier couture from Paris – people weren’t ready. It’s still my hope. Everything I do comes from a place of being authentic – ‘Friends’ directed by Jim Sonzero was another example of that.

Wattage!

Jody Watley and Rakim Reunite at Book Signing for Sweat The Technique

Posted on October 6, 2019 by Admin

Arriving in style for the Rakim book signing..Rakim had no idea I was coming.

Initially I stood in live very low key with the other fans..the line continued to grow.

Eventually, I was taken in by Rakim’s manager as the word got out that I was in line..it was still a surprise though. Going back to choosing Eric B & Rakim to be on my single ‘Friends’ from my second solo album “Larger Than Life: which became a groundbreaking multi-chart Top 10 collaboration to working with him again in the 1998 ‘Off The Hook’ D-Dot Remix and video.. it was great say hi and let him know I was his fan back in the day and continue to be, to which Rakim told me “..you’re family..always will be.”

While standing in line I was also inspired and look forward to signing copies of my memoir in the near future.

Get the bestseller ‘Rakim: Sweat The Technique” life and writing manual.

Video of our reunion to follow in the meantime, here’s our classic ‘Friends’ Jody Watley featuring Eric B & Rakim.

Golden era Hip Hop, a couple of my personal favorites from Eric B & Rakim.

Jody Watley – October Greetings. Make Room.

Posted on October 2, 2019 by Admin

Jody Watley Classic Photo of The Day with 39th President Jimmy Carter.

Posted on October 1, 2019 by Admin

Welcome October! Wishing former President Jimmy Carter and Nobel Peace Prize winner a Happy 95th Birthday!

I had the honor of his invitation to work on Habitat for Humanity back in the 90’s. Both President Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter were super nice people, he’s a true humanitarian and man of the people.

My October greeting is on my Youtube Channel — Subscribe

Jody Watley Tulsa Soul Fest Recap

Posted on September 30, 2019 by Admin

The event, originally an outdoor event was moved indoors to the Cox Business Center. It was a beautiful thing to see a music event with major sponsors to make it a free city family friendly concert and also be in celebration of Tulsa’s own former NBA player and respected jazz musician Waymon Tisdale. I performed ‘Skin Deep’ in celebration of Tisdale because I’d done two Smooth Jazz Cruises around the time of the original release of “Midnight Lounge” – the message was appropriate as well.

It was really special to see The Whispers, my former label mates from back in my Shalamar, Solar Records years..Scotty with the classic response!

Hotel suite – on my way straight to stage.

SRL (Nate Allen Smith and John ‘Havic’ Gregory’) are ready too! A quick photo before heading to Cox Business Center.

I don’t throw ‘legendary’ around casually – this is pretty epic if you know the history of hits here. Jody Watley // Shalamar // Solar Galaxy of Stars Tour// The Whispers