In March 2021, Jody Watley was named the First Ambassador of the National Museum of African American Music.
45 Facts About Jody Watley
2.
In 2022, Jody Watley received an honorary doctorate in business and Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from Joe Biden at Jody Watley Day at Georgia State Capitol, and was inducted into Women's Songwriters Hall Of Fame.
3.
Jody Watley made her first stage appearance at eight years old with family friend and godfather Jackie Wilson.
4.
Jody Watley got her start on the TV dance show Soul Train at the age of 14.
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Jody Watley recorded with Gary Langan, Anne Dudley and JJ Jeczalik.
6.
Jody Watley had a brief stint with Phonogram Records where two singles were released under the mononym 'Jody': "Where the Boys Are" and "Girls Night Out".
7.
Shortly after winning the Grammy, Jody Watley would be featured in Harper's Bazaar magazine photographed by Francesco Scavullo.
8.
That same year Jody Watley appeared on the cover of the Japanese high-fashion magazine SPUR for its debut issue.
9.
Jody Watley was inspired toward a more introspective approach for "Affairs Of The Heart", wanting to address social concerns.
10.
In December 1991, Jody Watley released her third album, Affairs of the Heart, described by Justin Kantor in Guide to Soul as an overlooked standout of her 1980s and 1990s output.
11.
Jody Watley used the opportunity to encourage the government to provide more support and funding for public schools.
12.
Jody Watley recorded "It's All There" for the movie Switch with the composer Henry Mancini.
13.
Apparently undeterred by disappointing sales, Jody Watley stated she was more concerned with broadening her creative boundaries than in having huge record sales.
14.
Jody Watley herself said that the songs she wrote were always personal statements.
15.
Jody Watley added video director to her resume for the next single, the spoken-word tune "When a Man Loves a Woman".
16.
Jody Watley aligned Avitone with the independent Bellmark Records for distribution.
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In 1996, Jody Watley played Rizzo in the musical Grease on Broadway theater in New York City, the first African-American woman to play the role.
18.
Jody Watley was photographed by Victor Skrebneski for the Saks Fifth Avenue Defining Style Fall Catalog, where she appeared in a 15-page high-fashion layout.
19.
That fall, Jody Watley appeared on the platinum-selling single "This Is For The Lover In You" by Babyface.
20.
In 2001, Jody Watley released her eighth studio album, Midnight Lounge in Europe and Japan.
21.
The music and growth of Jody Watley would achieve critical acclaim for the project and Jody Watley, noting she had successfully updated her sound over the years and evolved successfully into a soulful chanteuse.
22.
In 2007, Jody Watley was listed as No 5 in the Year-end Billboard Dance Play Artists.
23.
In May 2008, continuing over a decade of support for various charities dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS, Jody Watley performed at Life Ball, Europe's largest gala for the cause held in Vienna, Austria.
24.
In May 2009, Jody Watley's Avitone signed a distribution deal with London-based Alternative Distribution Alliance Global.
25.
Reg Dancy from Basic Soul would write that Jody Watley was able to handpick songs and make them seem as if they had been written for her.
26.
In February 2010, Jody Watley joined Jamie Foxx onstage at a post-Grammy event for a duet performance of her signature hit "Looking For a New Love" and appeared in the VH1 documentary Soul Train: The Hippest Trip In America.
27.
On October 27,2012, Jody Watley starred in the one time international humanitarian musical event Loving the Silent Tears with performers from 16 countries and cultures, created by Al Kasha, directed by Vincent Paterson and choreographed by Bonnie Story at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
28.
Jody Watley recorded collaborations with the electro pop duo French Horn Rebellion on singles titled "Cold Enough" and "Dancing Out" featuring Young Empires in December 2012 and June 2013.
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Jody Watley added high-profile summer concerts including Grammy All-Stars in Chengdu, China at Chengdu Sports Centre and Essence Music Festival in July 2013.
30.
Jody Watley collaborated with music new jack pop duo French Horn Rebellion.
31.
Also in 2014, Jody Watley, a well-documented original member of Shalamar, became the legally registered owner, although not without challenge.
32.
Watley launched a new online boutique devoted to Shalamar merchandise, in tandem with her own longstanding Jody Watley Boutique, founded in 1999.
33.
The SRL trio with Nate Smith and Rosero McCoy made television appearances on Chicago's WGN Morning News debut performance and KTLA Morning New with Sam Rubin It was announced that the ever eclectic Jody Watley would be a guest vocalist on highly acclaimed funkster Dam-Funk's second album "Invite The Light" via Rolling Stone.
34.
Jody Watley has taken to Shalamar Reloaded to Japan, Brazil and Netherlands and added them to Superfreestyle arena dates in America as of 2015 and 2016 announcements.
35.
In 2016, Jody Watley made the choice to redirect her efforts to the now formed Shalamar Reloaded, wanting a fresh start for her new group without the negativity and baggage.
36.
In 1988, Jody Watley filmed the video to "Looking for a New Love" and made a conscious decision to use fashion to help her express her vision, wearing clothes and accessories from designers such as Issey Miyake and Philip Treacy.
37.
In 1990, Jody Watley would continue to be involved with fashion.
38.
Jody Watley released a million-selling home video, Dance To Fitness.
39.
Jody Watley was featured in the first celebrity ad campaign for Gap LA Eyeworks and in magazines such as Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Vogue Italia, Rolling Stone, Essence and Vanity Fair.
40.
Jody Watley was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People of 1990 in People.
41.
Jody Watley was photographed by Victor Skrebneski, for the Saks Fifth Avenue Defining Style Fall Catalog, where she appeared in a 15-page high-fashion layout in 1996.
42.
In 2006, Jody Watley would walk the runway with designer Kevan Hall for LA Fashion Week.
43.
Selena was influenced by Jody Watley's song "Looking for a New Love" as the reason she wanted to crossover to the English-language market.
44.
Jody Watley is an influencer who brought high fashion mixed with street style, along with her signature hoop earrings to the mainstream, fashion magazine features, ad campaigns, a million-selling fitness video, the first Black woman on the cover of a Japanese fashion magazine and a style of branding an image now common in the music industry.
45.
Jody Watley has two children: a daughter, Lauren, with former fiance and music producer Leon Sylvers III and a son Arie, with ex-husband Andre Cymone.