Jody Watley, SRL, Shalamar Reloaded, Shalamar, Grammy, Style, Trendsetter, Music, Fashion, Celebrity, Entertainment, Official Jody Watley Website

A black and white portrait of a woman with long, flowing hair, posing thoughtfully while wrapped in a textured sweater. The name 'Jody Watley' is artistically written in red across the top.

OTD February 23, 1987 — A Cultural Reset in Pop & R&B

On this day, Jody Watley released her self-titled debut album, JODY WATLEY— a groundbreaking statement of independence, innovation, and style that redefined what a modern female pop & R&B artist could be.

More than a debut, this was a bold artistic rebirth.

Emerging from group success to claim her own creative vision, Watley delivered a genre-blending body of work that fused pop, R&B, dance, and fashion-forward imagery — helping shape the sound and visual language of late-’80s pop culture and the MTV era.

The album’s impact:

✨Winner of the 1987 Grammy Award for Best New Artist – Awarded in 1988

✨ 3 Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Hits:

• “Looking for a New Love” (#2)

• “Don’t You Want Me” (#6)

• “Some Kind of Lover” (#10)

✨ 3 #1 Dance Singles

✨ 1 #1 R&B Single

✨Certified Multi-Platinum (3 million U.S. / 4+ million worldwide) #1 R&B Album / #10 Top 200 Albums

The project also featured a duet with global superstar George Michael and production from production team including André Cymone, David Z., Bernard Edwards, and Patrick Leonard.

Even more significant — Watley co-wrote 6 of the album’s 9 tracks, establishing herself not just as a performer, but as a songwriter, visionary, and architect of her own image.

At a time when few Black women in pop were granted full creative authorship and fashion autonomy, Jody Watley stood at the intersection of music, high style (blending couture, vintage, custom designs) into her own Jody Watley Style, and most importantly empowerment to “Believe In Yourself” “Be Yourself” no matter what — influencing generations to come.

This wasn’t just a successful debut.

It was a breakthrough moment in pop history.

Jody Watley’s debut wasn’t just a moment.

It was and continues to be the mindset; decades into her ongoing progressive Solo career.

#JodyWatley #NewArtist #GrammyWinner #1987 #MusicHistory #BlackMusicExcellence #WomenInMusic #PopCultureIcon #RNB #DanceMusic

Discover. Revisit. Stream. Playlist add to decades of ongoing Jody Watley Music.

est New Arts

Grammy winner and 3-time Grammy nominee Jody Watley is a multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer and style icon. The Chicago native and recent inductee into the ‘Women’s Songwriters Hall Of Fame” and honoree as “Crossover Music Icon” by Black Music Honors television broadcast, is one of the architects of 21st century Pop/R&B/Dance music and cutting edge style. Jody Watley has sold millions of records worldwide with gold and platinum albums, singles, Greatest Hits Video compilation, as well as million selling workout video.

The current host of the popular monthly “Jody Watley Show” on SIRIUS XM’s The Groove, Ch. 51, Watley’s cascade of hits include “Looking For A New Love”, Don’t You Want Me” “Real Love” “Everything” and more. Jody Watley’s groundbreaking marriage of Rap/R&B with 1989’s “Friends,” collaboration with hip-hop legends Eric B. & Rakim – the first such pairing to crossover Top 10 on the Hot 100, Hot R&B & Dance on Billboard. 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; Watley forged the template
that is now in everybody’s playbook.

To date as a solo artist in the USA: 6 Hot 100 Singles, 15 Top 40 Singles, 13 #1 Dance Singles, 3 #1 R&B Singles. Jody Watley is ranked by Billboard Magazine as one of the Top 60 Hot 100 & Top 25 Female Dance Artists of All Time. “I like for people to leave my concerts feeling rejuvenated and inspired from long timers to newcomers!”

Jody Watley returns to rock the Live & Up Close Theater stage celebrating the 35th Anniversary of her second album “Larger Than Life” which featured now signature classic hits like “Real Love”, “Friends” ft. Eric B & Rakim and “Everything.” With her newest hit ‘EVERLASTING’ the evening promises to be an evening of great music and uplifting atmosphere. “I don’t do a lot of concerts anymore by choice, so when you have the opportunity to see me live now – I encourage you to not miss out, there’s nothing like a Jody Watley concert party and I love this venue.” – Jody Watley

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