Tag Archives: Billboard Magazine

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.

RnB Soul Effect TV Celebrates Grammy Award Winning Music and Style Icon Jody Watley for Black History Month

Posted on by
Grammy Award Icon Jody Watley.

Via The RnB Soul Effect TV Black History Month Salutes : Grammy Award Icon Jody Watley

In 1988, she won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist (as a solo artist).

Trendsetting Pioneer In Music, Video, Fashion and style,singer, songwriter, record producer, and artist, whose music crosses genres including pop, R&B, jazz, dance, and electronic soul.

“Looking for A New Love” The single hit number two for four consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1987 and spent three weeks at number-one on the Billboard R&B chart.”Hasta la vista, baby.” It wound up on innumerable answering machines and was used by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1991 film Terminator 2: Judgment Day (see Hasta la vista, baby).

“Still a Thrill,” whose video was the first (and as yet unmatched) time a pop star flexed their skills at waacking, the underground Los Angeles dance that is a sibling to both breakdancing and voguing.

“Friends” The song was one of the first ever to feature a rap artist (Eric B. & Rakim) and a singer.The successful “Friends” formula would become a mainstay formula in commercial pop music and was added as a category at the Grammy’s under Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2002.

During the summer of 1989, the “Real Love” video, directed by Hollywood director David Fincher, was nominated for seven MTV Video Music Awards including Breakthrough Video, Best Art Direction, Best Dance Video and Best Female Video at the 1989 ceremony.

In 2008, she was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from Billboard magazine, and was also prominently featured in the historic black issue of Vogue Italia in 2008.

In December 2016, Billboard ranked her as the 21st most successful dance artist of all-time. and in 2017 Black Music Honors TV special recognized Watley as Crossover Music Icon Honoree for her groundbreaking achievements and influence.

In August 2018, Billboard ranked Jody Watley as one of the top female artists of all-time, at number 53 and included in Top 25 Dance Music Female Artists of All Time.

In March 2021, Jody Watley was named the First Ambassador of the National Museum of African American Music.

As a solo artist Best New Artist Grammy Winner Jody Watley: on Billboard 6 Hot 100 Top Ten Singles, 15 Top 40 Singles, 13 #1 Dance Singles, 2 #1 R&B, 1 Top 25 Smooth Jazz Single – spanning over 3 decades and counting along with multi-platinum success, in addition to being recognized as a trendsetting style and fashion icon beyond her music.

OTD. August 26 – Jody Watley, Eric B. and Rakim Make Pop Music History with “Friends”

Posted on by

On This Day: August 26, 1989

“Friends” 🎤💿

by GRAMMY® winner Jody Watley ft. Legends Eric B. & Rakim

Peaked at #9 on the @billboard Hot 100 chart!

Writers: J. Watley, A. Cymone, Rakim, Eric B.

Additional Chart® History

#3 Hot R&B

#7 Hot Dance Club Play

Wattage!

From Billboard:
First rap act with a guest credit on a top 10 hit: Eric B. & Rakim (Jody Watley’s “Friends,” 8/26/89)

Six years before Mariah Carey and Ol’ Dirty Bastard set the standard for pop-meets-rap crossovers with the “Fantasy” remix, late ’80s star Jody Watley invited hip-hop duo Eric B. & Rakim to guest on her Larger Than Life single “Friends.” It resulted not only in the first top 10-charting feature for a rap artist on any single, but it also marked the legendary rap act’s sole trip together to the top 40 — the duo only scored one Hot 100 hit as lead artists, the No. 96-peaking “Juice (Know the Ledge)” in 1992

https://www.okayplayer.com/music/what-were-the-first-rap-rb-collaborations.html

OTD. March 7, 1998 Jody Watley “Off The Hook” Peaks At Number 1 on Billboard Dance Chart.

Posted on by

Jody Watley 5th Billboard Dance Chart Topper. Remixes by MAW; Louie Vega, Kenny ‘Dope’ Gonzalez, D-Dot ft Rakim, Booker T, Soul Solution

OTD. Jody Watley- ‘Some Kind Of Lover’ Goes Number 1 Dance On Billboard.

Posted on by
Jody Watley. ‘Some Kind Of Lover’ Remix Cover Art.

#OTD February 13, 1988:

“Some Kind Of Lover” (Remix)

by GRAMMY® winner Jody Watley

Peaked at #1 on the Billboard Dance chart!

✍️🏽Written by: Jody Watley, A. Cymone

* Billboard Chart History *

#3 – Hot R&B

#10- Hot 100

In 2016 Billboard Magazine Listed Jody Watley in the Top 25 Greatest Dance Club Artists of All Time with 13 Number 1 Dance Hits.

Wattage ✨

In gratitude!

Jody Watley – Money Making Conversations With Rushion McDonald

Posted on by
A Must Listen. Jody Watley Talks With Multi-Faceted Emmy Winner Rushion McDonald

Jody Watley is a Grammy Awards-Winning pioneer in music & fashion! You can find her name on Billboard’s Hot 100 “Top 60 Female Artists of All Time.” Hear why Jody views going solo as a blessing and how she has recently found her sanctuary in the kitchen! – Rushion McDonald. Listen to her full interview at Money Making Conversations

Just In! Jody Watley Will Be On Fox 5 Atlanta September 24.

Posted on by

Tune In!

Music Monday. Jody Watley Appreciation Post on The Medium – Homage To Jody Watley

Posted on by

This is a really nice appreciation post from February 2020.

“Jody Watley laid the foundation for every hot girl in the hood. All praises due.”

Read Full Article Written by By Keka Araújo : The Medium

OTD. Jody Watley Music.

Posted on by

March 7, 1992 – 27 Years Ago Today: Jody Watley had the Hot Shot Debut at No. 73 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart with her single, “I’m The One You Need.” This was Watley’s 11th consecutive solo single to chart on the Hot 100 and it became her 7th Top 20 hit when it peaked at No. 19 on May 16, 1992. The single was written by Watley with Alec Chantzis and David Morales and was her 9th solo entry on the Billboard Dance Songs Chart where it peaked at No. 3. Please click the following link to view the accompanying video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFwPWHlN83I

March 7, 1987 – 32 Years Ago Today: Jody Watley debuted at No. 82 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart with her single, “Looking For A New Love.” This Jody Watley/Andre Cymone-penned single was her chart debut as a solo artist after serving as the female singer for the R&B-dance trio, Shalamar, from 1977-1983. “Looking For A New Love,” peaked at No. 2 for four weeks beginning May 2, 1987 stalled behind Cutting Crew’s “(I Just) Died In Your Arms” and U2’s “With Or Without You.” It was the first of 12 Hot 100 singles Watley scored between 1987-98 which included seven Top 40’s, six of which were Top Tens. Two of the singles, including “Looking For A New Love” were also No. 1 singles on the Billboard R&B Chart. Watley won the Best New Artist Grammy for 1987. Please click the following link to view the accompanying video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQL-B3PNkeI

Jody Watley On The List Of Top 60 Female Artists of All Time

Posted on by

While many of my fans noted I should be higher in the list with my influence notable in at least 3 in the Top 10, which are points I can’t disagree with.. it’s an honor nevertheless to be in the Top 60 Best Female Artists of All Time as Billboard celebrate their first 60 years.

Considering how many women release music and hope to have at least one hit and understanding no one expected much from me when I departed Shalamar this newest benchmark is again very special.

Having multiple hits, influence and most of all longevity with a happy spirit and always remaining true to myself as an artist is really everything.

Thank you to everyone still supporting me on this journey.

See the full list: Billboard 60 Best In 60 Years