Grammy Winning Music & Style Icon Jody Watley 2022.
Atlanta is celebrating iconic singer Jody Watley with Jody Watley Day event inside the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, June 2, 2022 from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The legendary singer will also be publicly recognized for her time, effort, and dedication to humanity in the form of the prestigious Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremony. She is confirmed to attend the event.
“We are so excited to designate June 2nd as Jody Watley Day in Atlanta, Georgia,” says Georgia Assemblyman Billy Mitchell,” “She is truly the epitome of grace, excellence, class, and a gifted songstress and songwriter.”
The Iconic Singer Will Be Honored at Special Event and Receive the Prestigious 2022 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award
Atlanta is celebrating iconic singer Jody Watley with Jody Watley Day event inside the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, June 2, 2022 from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Dr, Jody Watley Day In GAJody Watley. Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award
For Immediate Release – Pamela Broussard The BNM Publicity Group May 12, 2022
The Iconic Singer Songwriter will be honored at a special event and receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at Georgia State Capital. June 2, 2022.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – UNITED STATES, – Atlanta is celebrating iconic singer Jody Watley with Jody Watley Day event inside the Georgia State Capitol onThursday, June 2, 2022 from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The legendary singer will also be publicly recognized for her time, effort, and dedication to humanity in the form of the prestigious Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award at the ceremony. She is confirmed to attend the event.
“We are so excited to designate June 2nd as Jody Watley Day in Atlanta, Georgia,” says Georgia Assemblyman Billy Mitchell,” “She is truly the epitome of grace, excellence, class, and a gifted songstress and songwriter.”
Dr. Jacqueline Mohair, founder of Trinity International University of Ambassadors adds, “There is not a more deserving recipient to receive this honor than Dr. Watley who have paved the way for so many others.”
Former representative Dr. Dee Dawkins-Haglier and candidate for Georgia Secretary of State who will be providing remarks at the ceremony says, “Dr. Watley is a music icon whose music has blessed and inspired millions.” “It is a joy to recognize her in the State of Georgia.”
With over forty years in the music industry, the iconic singer, songwriter, producer, and businesswoman, is one of the architects of 21st century pop who continues to be a solid and stellar fixture in entertainment. Her enchantingly smooth voice and memorable favorites can be heard all over the world.
From her groundbreaking marriage of rap & R&B (1989’s “Friends,” a collaboration with hip-hop legends Eric B. & Rakim pairing that is the first to crossover R&B/Hip-Hop, Pop and Dance into the Billboard Top 10 “Friends,” 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.
As a solo artist, the pop and R&B singer has 6 Billboard Hot 100 Top Ten Singles, 13 Number 1 Dance Singles, 2 R&B Number 1’s, 15 Top 40 Singles, Gold and Platinum albums, 2007 Billboard Dance Lifetime Achievement, 2017 recipient of the Black Music Honors Crossover Music Icon Award and 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. Her timeless series of hit songs such as “Looking For a New Love,” “Real Love,” “Still A Thrill,” “Some Kind of Love,” “Everything,” and “Friends ft. Eric B & Rakim,” are favorite classics still today played on the airwaves. Ms. Watley was also named as First Ambassador in 2021 to the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville and in 2022, she received her first Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business.
“I am truly honored for this recognition from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris,” says Dr. Jody Watley. “I am also grateful to Representative Billy Mitchell and Dr. Jacqueline Mohair for nominating me for this prestigious award.”
About Jody Watley
Dr. Jody Watley, singer, songwriter, producer, businesswoman, and motivational speaker is one of the architects of 21st century pop. From her groundbreaking marriage of rap & R&B (1989’s “Friends,” a collaboration with hip-hop legends Eric B. & Rakim pairing that is the first to crossover R&B/Hip-Hop, Pop and Dance into the Billboard Top 10 “Friends,” 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.
As a solo artist, the pop and R&B singer has 6 Billboard Hot 100 Top Ten Singles, 13 Number 1 Dance Singles, 2 R&B Number 1’s, 15 Top 40 Singles, Gold and Platinum albums, 2007 Billboard Dance Lifetime Achievement, 2017 recipient of the Black Music Honors Crossover Music Icon Award and 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. Ms. Watley was named as First Ambassador in 2021 to the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville and in 2022, she received her first Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business.
About The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards
The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards are an annual event held to honor those in our nation who exhibit outstanding character, worth ethic, and dedication to their communities. The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards has rapidly become recognized as an immense honor and highly anticipated annual event. In 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the President’s Volunteer Service Award to honor outstanding citizens giving their time to volunteering and helping their communities.
Welcome Spring! Wishing everyone the best of the season. May we all continue to bloom, blossom and grow.
Wattage!
Photography, Paul Gobel, InFashion Magazine 1988.
I love this image taken during the promotion of my solo debt, which of course 2022 marks the 35th Anniversary of the release – this photo could have been taken today – truly timeless!
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!
Debuted on the Billboard Hot R&B chart – it would go on to reach #1
Written by: Jody Watley, Andre Cymone
Additional Chart History: #1 Dance, #2 Hot 100
Produced by Andre Cymone
Photography: Steven Mesiel
One of the biggest Pop & R&B singles of 1989!
The David Fincher directed video remains one of the most nominated in MTV history with 6, another solo milestone! Watch the Video : YouTube – Here – Walk it Out!
Jody Watley. 1990 People Magazine. Photography Tony Costa
Along the way in my solo career, of many benchmarks and firsts that I’ve experienced – this feature was very special to be included in this issue of People Magazine. To my quote, my bottom teeth are still crooked though not as much with time.
I’ve considered getting them straightened in recent years. I think it’s ok to do whatever makes you feel better and of course I’m not opposed to procedures, though understanding that cosmetics don’t fix the inside though and perfection is impossible. Our imperfections make us all unique and we must love who we are regardless of the shell we are in.
Thirty-five years ago, Jody Watley’s debut album kickstarted the career of one of dance-pop’s most entertaining and consistent performers.
In the mid-1980s, MTV largely defined pop music, so the charts were ruled by telegenic singers who often acted as spokesmodels for their albums. So the charts were ruled by telegenic singers who often acted as spokesmodels for their albums. Dance hits were churned out like products on an assembly line, many quickly forgotten after their fleeting moments in the spotlight. But there were also real stars who made their mark (primarily due to a combination of charm, talent, and charisma).
One of the most significant figures to emerge from this period was Jody Watley, who inarguably announced her reign as a dance-pop queen with 1987’s self-titled first record. Her smokey yet supple voice, unerring pop instincts, and supermodel looks made her the perfect pop star, and Jody Watley was a fantastic introduction to .. Read full feature on PopMatters
Jody Watley Solo Debut Feature – Rolling Stone Magazine 1987Written by Anthony DeCurtis.
In celebrating the 35th Anniversary Solo Debut of the breakout “Jody Watley”album. Sharing archives of content that precedes the internet and social media.. Though firmly rooted in the now – the 35th seems worthy to note on such a timeless pivotal project – the video, photo’s, and highlighting the fact that breaking through into some of these publications was so rare for a black artist at that time, there were only a few.
This is my first Rolling Stone Magazine feature. It’s interesting to look back and see the context of the write-ups, how they framed it ( I was never trying to replicate anyone – rather, create my own fashionable and unique lane – no choreography, never tons of dancers in sync because from my point of view Michael and Janet Jackson had that on lock and were owning it. These articles inevitable contain errors (such as I left Shalamar in 1983 not 1984..)
It was a priority for me to establish myself as Jody Watley – solo entity, not a former member of.. to highlight the fact that I was no ones ingenue came with a strong vision, writing songs – very focused and strong willed.
Women are still often written about in a rather marginalizing manner, decades later. I continue to strive to be my own person focused on my art, business of Jody Watley and of course my happiness along the way – with style and grace.
