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

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!

Grammy Winning Music and Style Icon Jody Watley Joins Sheryl Lee Ralph For Divas Simply Quarantined! Fabulous In Isolation

SAVE THE DATE ::

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 27th!!!

Grammy Award Winning Musical Icon JODY WATLEY joins SHERYL LEE RALPH for an ALL-NEW episode of DIVAS Simply Quarantined!

This intimate and uplifting conversation is not one to miss! Sunday, Sept 27th 7pm EST/4pm PST. This series supports Project Angel Food feeding 1,000’s in L.A. – Text DIVAS to 76278 to give!

Jody Watley. Happy Music Anniversary 32 to My Solo Debut.

Happy Music Anniversary to my solo debut “Jody Watley” released on February 23, 1987! “you know it’s funny.. funny how times flies..as I watch days turn into years..” and decades – still me..keeping it new! Thanks to those who still rock and roll with me and my music in all of it’s continued incarnations beyond my debut into the NOW!

Eternal thanks to all involved who helped me execute my vision and exceed all expectations.

It’s not years of life of music – it’s the life in living life and good music which has no expiration date and continues to be discovered and appreciated.

Wattage!

Jody Watley Billboard Live Tokyo 2018 In Concert Photos

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.

New Additions To The Jody Watley Art Gallery

Jody Watley Solo Debut Performance by Suzy Umman – 2018

Jody Watley Warhol Inspiration by Shawn West

Jody Watley pencil sketches from 1986 by Aaron Stoney King posted to Facebook January 2018.

World AIDS Day. Red Hot and Blue Looking Back

It’s interesting to look back on this monumental and important project and remember how my label was so against my being a part of it because of the perceived notion that being a part of HIV and AIDS education and awareness was a bad thing and the mentality of what people would think especially in the Black (urban) community, which one of the reasons I really fought to be a part of this no matter what people thought- it was necessary.

#Repost Via Red, Hot Organization

#redhotandblue TV special aired in over 30 countries in #1990. #coleporter songs, which NO ONE was even thinking about covering yet, seemed to speak poignantly to the early days of the #plague #Ivegotyouundermyskin #everytimewesaygoodbye to name a few were poetic reminders of the importance of love, romance, empathy and desire, in an era when people were afraid to even touch one another. We had numerous fights w/the network and sponsors in order to be able to speak directly about #AIDS and #SafeSex. The show featured music videos of nearly every song on the album as well as PSAs and interludes that spoke powerfully to dispell the fear, stigma and hysteria around the epidemic. These amazing #motiongraphics were produced in London, this was when doing any kind of moving graphics was incredibly labor intensive and complicated. The music is #whowantstobeamillionaire by #thompsontwins – for some reason they were the only band to not have a music video in the show, so they were featured here!!

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#worldaidsday2017 #worldaidsday #neverforget #fightaids #endaids #safesex #safesexishotsex #redhot #redhotorganization #1990 #lovewins #AIDSactivism #silenceequalsdeath #actup #lgbtq

Flashback. Jody Watley Japanese Feature

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Jody Watley. Japanese music magazine feature.

Japan has always been a strong market for me since my solo debut. I look forward to going over next month, October for something new – this time Best Hits 80’s Meets  Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.

 

Jody Watley. Looking For A New Love.

 

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I’m so thankful to have experienced this – thankful for my blessings and continued journey. I thank all of you who continue to show me love, support my music and encourage me each day!! — On January 6, 1987, January 6. My solo debut single “Looking For A New Love” was released (a Rihanna/Jody fan just told me on Instagram and I looked it up, love social media for things like this).. Of course it was a monumental debut, my first #1 single and a touchstone in music and pop culture, not many artists get to experience this smile emoticon
Facts:
The single hit number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1987 besting the chart peak of her group Shalamar Top 10 “The Second Time Around.” “Looking For A New Love” spent four weeks at number-one on the Billboard R&B chart another notable achievement. The single was kept out of the top spot of the Hot 100 by Cutting Crew’s “(I Just) Died in Your Arms” and U2’s “With or Without You”. It ranked number 16 on Billboard’s year-end chart for 1987. The single would also reach #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Play Chart.

In 1988 the song was nominated for two Soul Train Music Awards for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video, and Best R&B/Soul Single, Female. She was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, winning the The GRAMMYs for Best New Artist.

One of the song’s key phrases became a popular saying: “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.

2005 Reissue
In 2005, Jody Watley re-recorded and released “Looking for a New Love” on Water Music Records in conjunction with her own Avitone label, Curvve Recordings, and Peace Bisquit. The reissued classic was remixed in various styles: house, electro, breakbeat. The newly imagined “Looking for a New Love” proved to be a historic undertaking for Watley, as it peaked at #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, making her the first artist ever to take the same song to No. 1 in two decades.
Written by Andre Cymone and Jody Watley (lyrics and melody). Produced by David Z. and Andre Cymone.
Photography: Victoria Pearson / Art Direction: Jody Watley / Lynn Robb

Everlasting gratitude to Jheryl Busby, Louil Silas Jr. (RIP) and to all of the MCA Records team at that time including A.D. Washington, Ernie Singleton, Alonzo Miller, Sarah Melendez..who made it happen despite the usual obstacles along the way. I thank Jheryl for believing in me and signing me as well as giving me the freedom to be myself and make a mark – understanding what I wanted to do as an artist and writer, not just a girl..but a woman with a vision.

Always believe in yourself – no matter how many people are trying to bring and tear you down..keep on keeping on. God and the universe always has it’s way.

http://www.jodywatley.net

Jody Watley Classic Photo of The Day. LAEyeworks.

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Meet Jody Watley At First Ever Rupaul’s DragCon Convention

I’ll be signing autographs and shilling Jody Watley merchandise! Come say hello. Always cool to be part of ‘first ever’ events – always celebrating individuality and creativity! I’ll be there May 16, 2015. Get your tickets – Here

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