Tag Archives: 90s

Jody Watley Takes Control Of Her Own Destiny With New Label Avitone

Posted on by
-Billboard Magazine, The Rhythm & The Blues – J.R. Reynolds
June 1995 

A feature from the archives of Billboard Magazine, 1995.

“Watley Takes Control Of Her Own Destiny”

Jody Watley launched Avitone Records to release her own music, beginning with the album “Affection” (July 11, 1995). The debut single made waves at R&B radio while the album, co-written & produced by Watley and Derrick Edmonson, blended uptempo grooves with soulful intimacy and live instrumentation. Affection was manufactured, marketed and distributed by Bellmark owned by music veteran Al Bell. Al Bell is an American record producer, songwriter, and record executive. He is best known as having been an executive and co-owner of Stax Records Al Bell is an American record producer, songwriter, and record executive.

He is best known as having been an executive and co-owner of Stax Records. He later started his own label, Bellmark, whose releases included Tag Team’s single “Whoomp! (There It Is)” (1993) and Prince (1994 single) The Most Beautiful Girl In The World for Prince’s NPG label. 

“I’m an artist who likes to keep changing and developing. It was time to take another chance.” – Jody Watley

By year’s end, Billboard named:

#7 Top Indie R&B Label – Avitone

#8 Top Indie R&B Single – Affection

Do it yourself. Believe in your vision.

Fast forward 3 decades, we celebrate the milestone with Jody Watley – “LET’S DANCE Vol. 1 (Hit Them Beats)” 

The album vaulted to #1 iTunes US Dance Albums 7.11.25  and #1 Amazon Music U.K. Top Dance Electronic Albums. Let’s Dance becomes Jody Watley’s third #1 independent album release following “The Makeover” in 2006 and “Midnight Lounge” 2003 Top Dance Electronic Albums iTunes.

Let’s Dance Vol. 1 is a nonstop dance extravaganza featuring mixes by Craig C. Quentin Harris, Josh Peace, Mark de Clive-Lowe, John “J-C” Carr, Morgan Page, Love To Infinity, Jodie Harsh, Alex Di Ciò, Ron Trent, Brian Power.

Celebrate 30 years of Jody Watley’s Avitone Recordings label with “LET’S DANCE Vol. 1 (Hit Them Beats)” — a sizzling new album of indie dance gems, remastered Avitone club classics and chart-topping faves.

Available for streaming and download on all major digital platforms worldwide.

Feel free to Support | Download | Stream | Like | Share | Add to your Playlist.

About The Artist:

Jody Watley is a GRAMMY-winning, multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer and style icon. Named Best New Artist in 1988, she’s one of Billboard’s Top 60 Female Artists of All Time, with 6 Top 10 Hot 100 hits, 13 No. 1 Dance singles, and genre-spanning success across R&B, Pop, Dance, and Jazz. A visionary in music and fashion,

Watley helped pave the way for Black women to break boundaries. Honored as a Crossover Music Icon by Black Music Honors, her influence continues—decades strong.

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

Posted on by
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!

Jody Watley – Affairs Of The Heart. Happy 30th Anniversary.

Posted on by
Jody Watley. 1991.

Happy 30th Anniversary “AFFAIRS OF THE HEART” released on this day 12.3. 1991 featuring the hit singles “ I Want You”, “I’m The One You Need”, and the inspirational “It All Begins With You”


“..the new album celebrates love, togetherness, commitment and communication.” – Jody Watley


“Affairs Of The Heart” was released at a difficult time in my personal life and marriage as it began to unravel in addition to MCA being sold and morphing into Universal Music Group and a new regime at the top. It was very meaningful album in my catalog as artist and songwriter, not for everyone especially those who wanted the formula and vibe of my first two albums. Ever fearless, always thoughtful about my music, art and evolution – always me.

The reception was disappointing overall in many ways though 2 of the singles did well-not blockbusters but respectable. That said I don’t regret my creative choice and to this day don’t like the notion of being predictable, stagnant. Each album from my debut through today with my most recent reflect where I am and how I feel as opposed to what will sell the most – that is not really what being an artist is about, to me.

Billboard Magazine Full Page Ad.


Wattage!

Jody Watley Classic Photo of The Day. LA Eyeworks Ad.

Posted on by
Photography by Greg Gorman.

Jody Watley. Classic Images Of The Day. 1991 By GUZMAN

Posted on by

‘Affairs of The Heart’ – Commit to yourself and those you love.

Photography: Guzman

Hair: Peter Savic

Makeup: Paul Starr

Styling: Jody Watley

Wattage!

Happy 30th Anniversary- Red, Hot & Blue A Monumental First. The First Sensible Shame-Free Pop Culture Response To HIV/AIDS

Posted on by

Via The Red Hot Org on Instagram

Thanks Esquire for a beautiful & impressively deep highlight reel from Red Hot’s 30 years of making music, raising awareness to fight AIDS + promote Harm Reduction!!

Rolling Stone Magazine

Jody Watley – “After You,Who” Video Still. Red Hot & Blue

I’m proud to be a part of such a monumental and important project and moment in history- there were few artists at the time willing to speak on the subject of HIV & AIDS.. even fewer was black artists. My label didn’t want me to do it because they thought my participation would give the impression that I was either gay and or had the virus. Some things are worth fighting to be a part of and for me this was one and creatively I got to do jazz!

Jody Watley Classic Rewind. Everything Acoustic Performance on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee 1995

Posted on by

 

Probably my first acoustic performance on television. This TV appearance and performance occurred while  on Broadway doing the hit musical Grease! and to coincide with my Greatest Hits album. Wonderful interview. Rest In Peace Regis Philbin.

Jody Watley Classic Image of The Day. VOGUE Italia.

Posted on by

Jody Watley Vogue Italia 1991

Jody Watley VOGUE Italia, 1991.

Paving the way in my own way and style.

 

Wattage!

Happy 28th Music Anniversary – Jody Watley ‘Affairs of The Heart’

Posted on by

Jody_Watley-Affairs_Of_The_Heart

 

Jody Watley - Interview Magazine 1991

Jody Watley. Interview Magazine. “Affairs of The Heart” 1991.

 

Jody Watley-Affairs of The Heart - RnbSoulEffect Collage

Via RnB Soul Effect TV Twitter / Instagram / Facebook: December 3rd 1991  3rd album “Affairs Of The Heart” was released.

“I Want You” is the first single from Jody Watley’s third album Affairs of the Heart. The official music video, directed by Andy Morahan, was featured on an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210.

Producer – André Cymone
Songwriters – Jody Watley & André Cymone

Billboard Hot R&B Singles #5
Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play #17

“I’m the One You Need” is the second single from Jody Watley’s third album, Affairs of the Heart.

Produced by house music pioneer, David Morales, “I’m the One You Need” constitutes Watley’s initial foray into house music (though its “Affairs of the Heart” predecessor, “I Want You”, boasted a house version). “I’m the One You Need” was Watley’s seventh Top 20 pop single in the US, and sixth Top five dance single, charting at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #6 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts, respectively.

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #19
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles #23
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play #3

Producer – David Morales
Songwriters – Jody Watley, David Morales & Alec Shantzis

*Morales went on to have great commercial success with Mariah Carey.

“It All Begins With You” was the final single from Jody Watley’s third album, Affairs of the Heart. Reaching number eighty on the U.S. R&B chart.

** The single was a ‘commercial disappointment’ chart wise – however it was a success for me because I recorded it to honor my father, a minister in the Church of God and Christ and gospel on air personality – my first and biggest supporter when I was a little girl – he put it into the universe for me when he said his Princess Jody was going to be a star.

South Africa (RISA) #2
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks #48

Producer – Jody Watley
Songwriters – George Lyter, Michael OHara, Denise Rich

Executive producer: Jody Watley

_____

On a personal note..to listen to this album in full really brought tears to my eyes, proud that I was an remain true to myself no matter what – proud of the quality and growth. Yes, a big departure from my first two albums.

Despite marriage issues and record label woes of the time – I put together a very thoughtful and soulful record. It wasn’t what the masses wanted, or even my label as it was constructed by that point – but it was the record in my heart to write, conceptualize and record as an artist not a Hot 100 pop star doing predictable songs to feed the machine. The title song really says it all about who I am as an artist and a person who loves music. “..songs of love, songs of joy, songs of hope, songs of foreverness, songs of togetherness..”

Revisit this album if you missed it the first time around the maturity may not have vibed well with high school at the time – but now that you’ve done some living it just might.

Over the years it’s been interesting to see some artists get heralded for personal statement albums, being so ‘real’, growing, being fearless and so on… when the albums become blockbusters it’s all ‘bold and brave’ — well “Affairs of The Heart” was bold and brave though not a commercial blockbuster ..really no different in a way from quitting Shalamar when I did – never one for predictable choices.

“It’s all about the way you feel in your heart.” – Jody Watley

Available on all digital platforms.

 

 

Jody Watley Classic Images of The Day. Harper’s Bazaar Times Square 1991.

Posted on by

Jody Watley on location Times Square 1991 promoting “Affairs of The Heart.”

Tonight I’ll be in Times Square Sony Hall sharing the ongoing gift of music – Heart, Soul and Style.

See you there!