I became the legal and registered trademark owner of SHALAMAR in May of 2014 after a thorough and lengthy process by the USPTO. The acquisition was prompted in part to gain control by the ongoing use and misuse of my likeness and the continued commerce generated from the foundation I helped to create decades ago. There are former members currently trying to confuse the public giving the impression there are two groups brazenly seeking to undermine my rights. My trademark attorneys are handling this matter.
Becoming owner allows me to revive the name for a new audience, to not get stuck in the safety net of nostalgia because I’m not interested in doing what I’ve already done. There’s new merchandise for fans to purchase, with plans for new music and other exciting projects in the pipeline. We have already begun building a social media presence beginning with a verified page on Facebook/ShalamarOfficial.
Joining me for the newly reloaded SHALAMAR are singer/dancer/choreographers Rosero McCoy (Usher, Beyoncé, America’s Next Best Dance Crew, Shake it Up, The Sing Off) and breakout young Ohio talent Nate Allen Smith. Our dynamic stage show to which we’ve already been playing to sold-out audiences in the United States and Japan, with other scheduled concerts in the UK and Brazil breathes new life into classics “A Night To Remember,” “Take That To The Bank,” and “The Second Time Around” in a set that includes signature Jody Watley solo hits like “Friends,” “Looking For a New Love,” and “Don’t You Want Me,” as well as music from Paradise. The album’s first single “Nightlife” was the 19th Billboard Top 20 Dance hit; a UK Top 10 Commercial Pop and UK Top 5 soul hit. This is a new era for SHALAMAR and Jody Watley, artist and entrepreneur. Visit the Official SHALAMAR website: http://www.shalamarofficial.com