Jody Watley Sony Hall New York and Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre Recap.

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Jody Watley. Sony Hall. Sold-out. (fan photo).

Sony Hall New York, August 16, 2019 was phenomenal. New York is always a special place, my Mom is from Harlem,my son graduated college there and lives there. It’s also extra special to see him when I go there to work too.

I won my Best New Artist Grammy in New York’s legendary Radio City Music Hall, been inspired to write songs from the vibes of New York, filmed my ‘Friends’ video there to capture that real authentic vibe with Eric B & Rakim, club kids and beyond, trendsetting fashion shoots for Harper’s Bazaar, Saks – cover of Essence Magazine back in the day..you name it. I’ve performed in the Big Apple countless times over the span of my over 3 decade solo career and counting..this ranks as the best.

There are so many rave reviews pics and video on social media (especially Instagram) – here are two that really say it all!

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Via Instagram

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Via Twitter. Love!

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Jody Watley. Photography by Trudy Giordano

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Jody Watley. Photography by Trudy Giordano

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Jody Watley. Photography: Dara Seans

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Jody Watley and John ‘Havic’ Gregory – SRL.

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Jody Watley – A Music Journey, performing a few of my Shalamar classics with SRL.

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Fan photo capturing a moment, Sony Hall 2019.

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Real Love. Striking a pose.

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I  had not planned to do ‘Still A Thrill’ in this show. The setlist included rare gems like ‘Nightlife’ Soulpersonal Classic Soul mix, Saturday Night Experience, the current SRL hits, ‘Precious Love’ soul mix, ‘Skin Deep’ from ‘Midnight Lounge’ a piano and vocal only ‘Everything’, the jazz bossa nova of ‘Waiting In Vain’ and more along with classic hit staples. I ended up taking a few spontaneous requests resulting in a spirited a cappella section.  Video capture by Trudy Giordano.

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Jody Watley and Nate Allen Smith. Photography Trudy Giordano. Sony Hall 8.16.19

 

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Multi-talented Nate Allen Smith, male lead – SRL. Singer, songwriter, dancer, model.

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The soul collective. Jody Watley & SRL.

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Jody Watley. Wattage!

 

Thank you to the wattage crew and everyone who came, sold-out the venue (this means so much) and made it truly a magical night of music – a night to remember full of precious love.

 

After New York, we were off to Atlanta for the concert with Jeffrey Osborne.

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JFK Airport.

Beautiful outdoor setting. Older more reserved crowd than I’m accustomed to and as the case with older R&B audiences –  there’s always an initial sense of  sitting in judgment maybe skeptical of what Jody Watley was going to bring to the evening. My perception is this age demo are more of the upset I’m not longer with Shalamar though it’s been nearly 4 decades and I’ve been successfully putting it down solo for over three decades and counting – always evolving and getting better with time.

The skeptics always learn..I bring a first class, high quality soulful show with lots of style, heart and my brand of soul, full of positive messages and hits – including a couple from my Shalamar days.

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Jody Watley. Photo by Bill Coker.

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Photography: Norman ‘NV’ Johnson

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Jody Watley – Photography: Norman ‘NV’ Johnson

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Jody Watley & SRL. Mable House Barnes Amphitheater.

 

 

Up next and closing out summer 2019:

Saturday August 24, 2019 – Groove 99.3 and Pacific Concert Group Present – Summer Bash, Bakersfield, CA Stramler Park (multiple acts)  – Tickets

August 31, 2019 – WorldOne Concerts Presents Rewind Funk & Soul – Thunder Valley Outdoor Amphitheater – Tickets (Multiple acts)

September 7, 2019 – Blue Note Hawaii – Jody Watley ‘UnPlugged’ – Tickets

Jody Watley Goes Uptown.

© 2013 Isoul Harris and Uptown Magazine

© 2013 Isoul Harris and Uptown Magazine

It was a gorgeous New York day and appropriate to sit down with Editor and Chief of Uptown Magazine and host of the new “ICONIC” Uptown Unplugged Isoul Harris.

See what pearls I drop in this new interview – HERE

Nightlife. It’s In the Music. Worldwide.

Here are a few fan made “Nightlife” clips from different parts of the world. I’d been working on this song, performing it live, living with it, reflecting on it for 2 years before finishing, recording, and finally releasing it – probably more than any song I’ve ever written or recorded in my career. I’m glad I chose to do it this way, this time. It inspires me to see young people dancing to my new music and getting to know me through the dance, through ‘waacking’, through time and realizing the importance of patience even in the creative process.

 

New York.

Russia.

Hong Kong.

Jody Watley. New Interview with Patrick Riley.

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Jody Watley classic “Nightlife” in Vienna, Austria. Photo: Christos Garkinos Logo Design: Ray Easmon

Hot off the digital presses, here what I have to say about my new single “Nightlife” and more in my conversation with the always fabulous Patrick Riley’s “The Life of Riley” : Here

Conversations with My Mom Part One. Growing Up In Harlem

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My Mom Respectfully referred to by those that know and work with her as “Ms. Rose” Photo: Jody Watley (c) 2013

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My Mom has had such a fascinating life to me. Like most of us, full of trials tribulations and tales of woe – as well as overcoming those trials and tribulations (which includes overcoming decades of substance abuse and addiction) along with successes. Needless to say she has a life that preceded being married and giving birth. At this late stage in her life she is better than ever emotionally, although physically slowed by walking with the assistance of a cane after a near fatal car accident with a tour-sized bus several years ago. A miracle. She continued her work after recuperation with a facility in Los Angeles. Prior to the accident for the past decade with HealthRight360 (formerly Waldenhouse) working with those from the criminal justice system offering Re-entry Support (education, vocational services, employment resources, housing, family therapy) Behavioral Health Services, and more for those who have battled addiction and looking to turn their lives around – my Mom is a survivor and example that the overcoming can be done, no matter how long it takes. You just have to keep fighting. Though we certainly have had our moments, I look up to my Mom for all that she has gone through. I’ve empathized with her pain many times, even when I was angry or hurt with her, the empathy and desire to understand her journey; brought me back around to not alienate myself from her. I celebrate my mother not just today, but everyday because I understand that part of why I am me – is because of her.

RoseWatley_HealthRightRecently receiving an award for her service, made me want to do a blog about her recognition but later chose to go deeper. It’s my view her story can help other’s who have dealt with similar issues as well as the children of parents with similar issues – we are all impacted in different ways, but it doesn’t have to be a lifetime of negative outcomes. To my daughter and son, she’s always been “Grandmaaa” and now that they’re older simply “Grandma”  without pre-judgement. Her complete tumultuous past isn’t something that they’ve ever really known much about – that was by my choice. Of course, there have been some moments in the past where I had to find a way to explain certain behaviors and absence, however they’ve been able to know and love her  for who she is to them and who she has become – most of all.

Moms and Dads of course have lives that precede having children. More of us need to know our family history so that we can share it with our own children and generations to come in a family tree – if possible. My mother was given up by her own mother left with one lasting memory as a child and didn’t know her father ( these realties are still a sensitive spot though she’s now in her 70’s and were at the root of some the self destructive behavior and inner demons she faced feeling unloved ). My Mom was raised by her great aunt,  ‘Mama Mary’, in Harlem New York in the 40’s and 50’s.   I always enjoy hearing about her life and what society was like when she was younger. I decided to interview my Mom to share some of her story in her own words. This is Part 1 of a Q&A.

Question, (Jody Watley, Daughter): What were your early aspirations?

Answer, Mom (Rose Watley): I wanted to be a model, with a day job of being a secretary, office technician, which I did, didn’t make the professional model as I was too short, but shortly pursued photographer’s model. I  won a contest as 3rd place, was happy as a lark, just starting, gave me some sense of confidence.  However, little did I know marriage was in my Horizon…..

Question, (Jody Watley):  Tell me what you remember most about growing up in Harlem, New York at the time you did?

Answer, (Rose Watley, Mom):  Growing up in Harlem in the 40s to mid 50s was exciting, fascinating, hard to put it into words now to capture that time.  There was the Cushman’s a bakery on the corner of 125th & Lenox Ave., which is named after someone else now (if still there), ate many warm cinnamon freshly baked, and ½ apple pies for probably less than a quarter at the time. Father Divine had grocery stores where all his parishioners had natural hair and wore silk stockings, always said “Peace”.  He had a congregation in Harlem where he had a section called “Rosebud’s” all virgins.  He had large large gatherings when he came to Harlem as his Head Quarters were in Philly.  He also married a white woman, which was unheard of in those times.  He had restaurants where they cooked very soulful nourishing meals, all you could eat for 15 cent.

There was another fascinating minister called Daddy Grace, who had big parades every year, he sat on a Throne, my girlfriend Delores Coleman went up to his church on 125th & 8th Ave., and had the privilege of singing for him.  There is so much more to these great cultish type religious figures that is hard to try to capture their prominence. There was also Prophet Jones from Philadelphia who was flamboyant. He wore high heels like Prince would wear, mink stoles, jeweled beret hats. He would spin around at the high point in his sermons and hit the floor. Your Dad was influenced and took some of that although he was already charismatic and over the top as a preacher. People would be lined up around the block. There were ‘queens’ as flamboyant as those on Real Housewives of Atlanta in the early 50’s that wore wigs, high heels, lipstick and all that. Their ‘stroll was on 125th and 8th Avenue, it was something to see!

Also, the neighborhood ‘white’ grocery store owners would let families run up a grocery bill that would be paid off within the month.  It was running credit for groceries.  Try that now (smiles).

All rights reserved. No reproduction of this blog may be re-produced, distributed, excerpted without written permission of Avid Music Inc and Jody Watley.