jodywatley
@jodywatley
Jody Watley, singer/songwriter/producer/independent label owner, is one of the architects of 21st century pop. From her groundbreaking marriage of rap & R&B (1987’s “Friends,” a collaboration with hip-hop legends Eric B. & Rakim) to her vision-forward marriage of high fashion, street fashion and music in the ‘80s (long before it became the norm), to her fusion of jazz and underground club culture with keen pop instincts, and the ease with which she crossed and still crosses genre, Watley forged the template that is now everybody’s playbook. Listed as one of Billboard Magazine's Top Female Artists and Top Dance Artists of All Time in 2018; Winner of the Best New Artist Grammy in 1987, Jody Watley’s entire career has been about looking forward, drawing inspiration from personal heroes and iconoclasts always ten steps ahead of the pack. The Chicago native’s eclectic repertoire – R&B, hip-hop, House, jazz, pop, drum & bass, ambient, spoken-word – is built on a positive vision and a strong taste for artistic and aesthetic risk. As an original member and the distinct female sound of the legendary disco soul group Shalamar singing on all of the pinnacle hits; Watley's own definition of success centered then and now on artistic growth and freedom, not simply replicating whatever was or is hot at the moment. https://www.jodywatley.net
