If you’re on the 10 Freeway in the vicinity of Morongo Resort & Casino, Cabazon and Palm Springs be on the lookout for billboards for my upcoming concert there August 19 – Presented by 94.7 The Wave.
Get Tickets! Ticketmaster
I returned to the concert stage for the first time in over a year and a half at Blue Note Napa Concerts at the beautiful setting of The Charles Krug Winery. A wonderful time was had by all, still respectful of social distancing.
Wattage!
Up Next:
July 1 – Blue Note Hawaii
Tickets and Info : https://bluenapa.com
Don’t let the world and life get you down. We can only change that within our reach so don’t oversaturate your mind with bad news. Live life and cherish each day. Wattage!
Up next January – February, back to the music.
January 24- Gulfport,MS :: Island View Casino Special Guest with Lisa Lisa and Taylor Dayne
January 31-Westbury, NY :: Theatre at Westbury Special Guest with Lisa Lisa and Taylor Dayne
February 1 – Atlantic City:: Tropicana Showroom Special Guest with Lisa Lisa and Taylor Dayne
February 8 – Washington, D.C. :: The Howard Theatre
February 10-15 :: Ultimate Disco Cruise with SRL
I hope to see you!
Summer scene..enjoying the view in Waikiki – it was a work trip but I made it relaxing too!
Hopefully you found time to enjoy summer with some days off, chilling, enjoying your me time or family, traveling..whatever you made time to do. As time continues to move on make sure you are living life not just going through life. Learning to revel in the moment, learning to pat yourself on the back for overcoming obstacles or some days feeling like you’d like more rainbows than rain – you are here, we are here. That within itself is a blessing and time waits for no one and remember to appreciate the small things because one day they may very well be the big ones you reflect on. Don’t let anyone rob you of your joy.
Just as trees shed their dead leaves to bloom in new ones for spring..don’t be afraid of new growth while remaining solid like the tree!
Wishing everyone the best of the season.
Photography by Debra L. Rothenberg – Sony Hall NYC August 16 2019
Up Next :: September and October —
September 28 – Soul Fest Tulsa Guthrie Green a family friendly event with The Whispers
October 13 – SoundBoard Detroit, Motor City Casino with Tony! Toni! Tone!
October 19 – Jo Long Theater at Carver Community Cultural Center – Get Tickets
Be sure to subscribe as I continue to develop the channel – concert clips, behind the scenes, monthly inspirational vlog, new music videos and specially curated playlists! I really enjoyed this Unplugged concept, so pure. I look plan to bring it to a few other intimate venues in 2020.
I notice this in concert and always encourage people to put phone away and get in the moment. You can’t dance, clap your hands, enjoy the experience and who you came with if your focus is capturing the entire show in your phone. Get a few seconds, snippets and then get in the moment. Don’t miss life by trying to film every second. Just be.
I performed my first full Jody Watley “Unplugged” in the beautiful setting of Blue Note Hawaii. Each show had something slightly different and both audiences loved the show. There was candor, spontaneous humor, heart and soul.
There’s a purity to the Unplugged experience of vocals and the sparse instrumentation that gives a different vibe to the songs – still funky when needed, and emotional connections. In this concept I was able to share back stories and talk a bit more than I do in my more fast paced full show experience. The crowds sang along as I told them “pretend we are all at a campfire just singing songs..” That’s what we did, we also laughed, got reflective in moments and had a wonderful time.
The set list included my tribute to George Michael, my Top 10 Jazz makeover of Bob Marley ‘Waiting In Vain” many familiar Jody Watley classics, a few from my Shalamar days and the 2018 Top 2 UK Soul hit ‘The Mood’ joined by Nate Allen Smith of SRL. The Unplugged musicians were Roland Hamilton on piano and Naz Chambi from the Jody Watley & SRL music collective.
Jody Watley. Photography by Alan Fukushima.
Jody Watley. Photography by Alan Fukushima.
Nate Allen Smith and Jody Watley. Photography by Alan Fukushima.
Roland Hamiton, Naz Chambi – Jody Watley. Unplugged.
“Skin Deep” from ‘Midnight Lounge’
Deep in the groove at Sony Hall 8.16.19
Video snippet by Landis Page
Photography by Trudy Giordano: Jody Watley & SRL
Jody Watley & SRL Photography by Sean Jamar
Elevate The Frequency. Jody Watler Custom Coat Art by Imbeebles Brooklyn Allison Rohan. Photography Sean Jamar.
People often get upset when you have standards, especially women. “Who does she think she is?” As well, there’s a friction that occurs when you refuse to lower them to suit someone else, not to mention when the expectations that may be low to begin with.
What I continue to learn and believe –
“Always hold yourself to a higher standard than anyone expects from you- and exceed them.”
Photography: N.V. Johnson
Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre 8.17.19.