In 1987 after performing one of my hits from solo debut.. I think it was my second time from that album, chatting with Dick Clark on his American Bandstand. Music – Fashion – Jody Watley Style. I remember vividly Patti Labelle telling me at an American Music Awards “..a lot of people don’e get your style, but I do – It’s magazine baby, Magazine!”
Always be yourself whether people get you or not, has always been my thing.
Blessed to still be here – still a thrill being myself and doing what I love
Jody Watley, singer/songwriter/producer/businesswoman, 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) 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, Watley forged the template that is now everybody’s playbook.
In 2018 Watley was listed by Billboard Magazine as one of the Top Female Artists of All Time as well as Top Dance Artists of All Time. Winner of the Best New Artist Grammy in 1987, Jody Watley’s entire career has been about looking forward, drawing inspiration from personal heroes and iconoclasts always ten steps ahead of the pack. The Chicago native’s eclectic repertoire – R&B, hip-hop, House, jazz, pop, drum & bass, ambient, spoken-word – is built on a positive vision and a strong taste for artistic and aesthetic risk.
Watley will take the stage for Taste of Soul for a hit packed set that will also include her much buzzed about new group SRL with Nate Allen Smith and Rosero McCoy on the 94.7 The Wave Stage.
Dubbed Los Angeles’ largest street festival, The Taste of Soul Family Festival takes features a taste of all things “soulful” including food from local restaurants, live entertainment, displays from local artists, and exhibits from local businesses and organizations.
It’s always a joy to come to perform and share the love with everyone. I feel very blessed to have these opportunities. Billboard Live staff is fantastic as well which also makes everything go smoothly.
Chic and Disco Fabulous – Shalamar Act 3 Of Show
Jody Watley Solo Act 1 Of Show
Jody Watley and SRL. Photography courtesy of Billboard Live.
The venerable Grammy winning artist Jody Watley achieves another milestone as “Waiting In Vain” eases into the Top 10 after 11 weeks on the Smooth Jazz Network Charts with nearly 600 spins this week. Peaking at 25 on Billboard, Watley says “I do music for the love, and not charts especially at this point in my career..that said it’s nice to still be able to have new benchmarks of achievement and not simply rest on my past accomplishments.”
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DeLite Radio UK The A-List
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MediaBase:
^ 36 48 JODY WATLEY-Waiting In Vain (’18) (Avitone) 30 25 +5
^ 37 42 MICHAEL FIELDS JR-Lovette Road (Water From The Rock) 30 27 +3
^ 38 36 TAKE 6-Change The World (SoNo Recording Group) 30 30 0
^ 39 61 GROOVE FREQUENCIES-Imagine This (B2J) 29 19 +10
40 19 SADE-Flower Of The Universe (Epic) 29 41 -12
^ 41 30 MICHAEL J. THOMAS-My Love (Harbor Breeze) 28 8 +20
^ 42 58 D’LAURENT SMITH-Hand In Hand f/Boney James (—) 28 21 +7
^ 43 54 GREG ADAMS/EAST BAY SOUL-Look Book (Ripa) 28 22 +6
Mar 2, 1988: the 30th Grammy’s were held in New York City Radio City Music Hall. #80s U2’s Joshua Tree won Album of Year. I won won Best New Artist.
It’s special then and now. As well to this very week have the Number Two Soul Single in the UK with my new group SRLOfficial and a Most Added Smooth Jazz Single on Billboard and Top 25 already on the Smooth Jazz Network To have this longevity is amazing and takes so much determination, hard work, tenacity and faith-resting on laurels is never for me. I am of gratitude and an abundance of enthusiasm for the gift of life and music to share with you! I hope I inspire you all to keep going authentically in your path being who you want to be
Decades of hits, influence in style, fashion meets music in early celebrity ad campaigns, high profile editorial features, the first artist to introduce the rap/sung formula Pop/R and B, Dance with Hip Hop Rap on the groundbreaking multi format Crossover hot “Friends” featuring Eric B & Rakim – a formula that continues to dominate commercial music and ended up with a category of its own at The Grammys by The Recording Academy in the 90’s to being ranked by Billboard Magazine as one of the Greatest Dance Club Artists Of All Time in 2016 and still going strong – Jody Watley is not only one of the music s most enduring and versatile stars as well she is one of Grammys Best New Artist success stories.
As a former Best New Artist recipient and nominee in 1988, here I am at The Grammy Awards in 1993 to present Best New Artist. The winner that year was Toni Braxton.
I’m wearing a Jody Watley designed original as most of you know I’ve been primarily self styled over the years and designed many of my outfits.
My career has evolved and continued as an artist, songwriter, producer and entrepreneur. I’ve endured many challenges and obstacles while holding on to being as true to myself and as authentic as I can be — not easy in this industry. As I’ve always said, I never wanted to be stuck in a box, the pop box or machinery of the industry to maintain a certain level of ultra commercial appeal. My influence continues as reflected in my bio and the range in genres reflected from my discography..winning the Best New Artist Grammy has always seemed to be a controversial, maligned and marginalized by some – for me it remains a blessing an unlikely achievement that I remain proud of and thrilled to have received ..read some of what it meant to me at the time: Billboard
