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Whenever people think of the defining Pop/Dance/R&B female artists of the 80's Madonna, Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston are the three that comes to mind most of the time. However another defining female artist of the 80's that does not get the same recognition is Jody Watley. Watley is credited for being an innovative Pop/R&B music maker and a style forging pioneer in damce, video, and fashion.

Soul Train and Beginning Influence.

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As a teenaged dancer on the iconic show Soul Train, Ebony Magazine’s “The New Generation” Issue from August 1978 the article noted Watley as a trend-setter to young girls who watched the show in an article spotlighting “The Outrageous Waack Dancers” of which she was a part of. The article noted the freestyle dance that was gaining popularity. People tuned in to Soul Train to see what to wear, to learn the latest dance moves, see the funky clothes and to hear the best in soul music.

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Shalamar

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Watley also started her professional recording career before Madonna, Jackson, and Houston in 1977 as an original member of Shalamar along with her fellow Soul Train alumni Jeffrey Daniel were a part of hits ‘Take That To The Bank’, ‘A Night To Remember’, ‘The Second Time Around’ and ‘ ‘(This Is) For The Lover In You.’ Watley’s distinct tones, design, dance and style would contribute to Shalamar through various line-ups which included male lead vocalists Gary Mumford (1977), Gerald Brown (78-79) and Howard Hewett during her tenure. Watley co-penned the songs “Full of Fire”, “Help Me”, “Work it Out”, and “Talk To Me” for the group. After 6 years, Watley quit Shalamar abruptly in 1983 while on promotional tour in England due to lack of payments of advances, royalties, disagreements with Solar Records founder Dick Griffey as well as prolonged ego clashes within the group which were documented in the British press at the time and in 2009′s TV-One documentary Unsung: Shalamar.

Breakout Debut Album

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Jody Watley officially launched her solo career in 1986 upon returning to America with a plan and vision for the next phase of her life and career, eager to make a distinct mark free of label and group constraints. Signed by renowned music executive Jheryl Busby to MCA Records, Watley’s breakout debut would garner her the prestigious GRAMMY Award for Best New Artist and featured production from Minneapolis’ former Prince bassist Andre Cymone whom Watley shared co-writing on the bulk of the album. Legendary producer of CHIC and Power Station, in addition to Patrick Leonard were also on board having been picked by Watley. The debut album also featured a duet with music superstar George Michael. . In an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, Watley would say that she wanted to showcase her voice against "really funky hard dance tracks."The album's lead single, "Looking for a New Love", became a smash hit with an instant catch-phrase "hasta la vista, baby", and was certified gold. The album peaked at #10 on the US Billboard Top 200 Album Chart, number-one on the Billboard Hot R&B Albums Chart, and sold two million copies in the US, and a total of four million copies worldwide.

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the first Pop/R&B singer to include a rapper on song

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One of the defining artists of the 80′s, Watley’s “Friends” was the first multi-format crossover hit to introduce and pair the custom and specialized 16 bar verse with a rapper and singer in Pop music in 1989. The formula became such a popular mainstay in the commercial mainstream The GRAMMY’s added the “Rap/Sung” Category in 2002

Watley’s collaboration ‘Friends’ with Eric B and Rakim was the first to popularize the 16 bar rap solo coupled with Pop/R&B. This formula became a staple in contemporary music: Icons of Hip-Hop Culture: An Enclyclopedia of the Movement, Music, Culture, Vol. 1 2007 Greenwood Press by Mickey Hess ISBN-10: 0313339031

Career Accomplishments

With an amazing 32 Top Ten Singles and 13 #1 Singles in the Pop, Dance and R&B music genres over the past three decades, 6 Hot 100 Top Ten Singles, 15 Top 40 R&B Singles from 9 albums as a solo artist; Watley’s multi-format hit singles include such classics as “Looking For A New Love,” with it’s popular sardonic catch-phrase “Hasta La Vista Ba-by” later used by Arnold Schwarzenegger in blockbuster movie Terminator; “Don’t You Want Me” and her groundbreaking collaboration with Eric B and Rakim “Friends”, Watley is widely regarded as one of Pop/R&B’s pioneering icons. 2006′s “The Makeover,” Watley’s last full length was released as an exclusive with former retailer The Virgin Megastore in a forward thinking strategic partnership; debuting as their top seller in-store where it remained for 5 weeks at #1. “The Makeover”debuted at #3 in The Top Electronic Albums at iTunes; producing 3 Top 5 Billboard Hot Dance Singles. Her cover of the CHIC classic “I Want Your Love” reached #1 in the U.S. In the U.K. the single also achieved #1 chart status on Music Week’s Commercial Pop Chart. (Click Avitone link on the page to read more). In 2001, she released the critically acclaimed “Midnight Lounge” heralded by the UK’s Blues and Soul as ‘the best album of her career,’ an ambient electronic opus continuing her less commercial leanings into the new millennium with her distinctly bold creative progression as an artist, songwriter and producer.

Along with Janet Jackson and Madonna, she ranks as one of MTV Video Music Awards most nominated female artists ever, with seven nominations for her ‘Real Love’ video.

Another first for the artist was releasing a million selling video “Dance to Fitness", which had not been achieved by a black woman or musician

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First African American woman to play role of Rizzo on in the hit musical GREASE took Watley to Broadway in 1995.

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Jody’s list of accomplishments and achievements is indeed impressive: she’s received Billboard Magazine’s ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’, nominations for the MTV VMA’s (where ‘Real Love’ remains one of the most nominated videos with 7), NAACP Image Awards, American Music Awards and Soul Train Awards. She’s been featured in VOGUE, ITALIAN VOGUE (including the Historic “The Black Issue), Harper’s Bazaar, Rolling Stone, Essence and has been named one of America’s Most Beautiful People by People Magazine and has received songwriting honors from BMI. Watley’s “Sweet Sixteen” originally featured on her full length ‘Flower’ was covered by mega girls group Destiny’s Child on their “Writings On The Wall’. Watley’s publishing catalog via Jody Watley Music contains an diverse range of titles.

She is one of the first already established artists to embrace the shifting paradigms in the music business and digital platforms embracing the entrepreneurial side releasing music independently and social networking since the mid 90′s.

Humantarian Efforts

Performing by special invitation at The White House during the first Bush administration and receiving another invitation by former President Jimmy Carter to be a part of Habitat For Humanity and meeting former First Lady and current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are amongst treasured experiences in her journey.

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Force of Nature’s Tsunami Relief in Malaysia welcomed Watley and a host of other international artists including The Black Eyed Peas, Boys II Men, The Backstreet Boys, American Idol’s Paula Abdul and jazz musician Diana Krall and more. The participants subsequently had the honor to meet the King and Queen of the country.

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Part of one of the first global HIV/AIDS awareness projects “Red, Hot & Blue” for which she performed the Cole Porter jazz classic “After You Who” the project included a diverse global cast of musicians including Annie Lennox, Iggy Pop, Debbie Harry, David Byrne and U2; Watley continues to work with charities promoting tolerance, as well as prevention and care for those living with HIV and AIDS in addition to involvement mentoring young girls and working to inspire underprivileged youth.

Fashion Icon

Watley has the distinction of being included in the first celebrity driven ad campaigns “Individuals of Style” for GAP and the famed “A Face Is Like a Work of Art” for LA Eyeworks. Watley established the trend of high fashion, mixed with street chic, and individuality raising the bar for the next generation of young black Pop/R&B artists decades before the industry would embrace cross marketing and branding in the mainstream.

Before Beyonce and Rihanna graced the cover of some of the most prestiges magazine covers, Watley was the first to be recognized in VOGUE, VOGUE Italia, Harper’s Bazaar, Rolling Stone, Essence and Vanity Fair in addition to being named one of People Magazine’s Most Beautiful People.

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Jody Watley also helped usher in a new era in the merge of music, fashion and celebrity appearing in the first celebrity ad campaign for GAP.

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Jody Watley was the first black woman to appear on the cover of a Japanese high fashion magazine cover. Dubbed “The Face” her appearance on the launch of ”SPUR” in Japan was accompanied by television commercials and billboards in major cities in the country.

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BLENDING FASHION, STYLE, MUSIC & POP CULTURE INFLUENCE:

Jody Watley: Pop’s Fashionista Godmother: Miles Marshall

“The Icon Muses on her Past, Her Comeback Plans and Why Rihanna Owes Her a Debt of Gratitude”, April 16, 2012

http://www.ebony.com/ente...ody-watley

Watley’s reputation has rested on a rebellious fashion sense and a taste for uptempo.. “Affairs of The Heart” marks a shift in emphasis..” – Alan Light

source: http://jodywatley.net/jodywatleybio/

Absolutely love her! Classy, sexy a great dancer and a true icon! People should talk about her more. I see some of her influence in Solange but Jody is waaay cooler and original.

such a huge fan of Jody Watley..I loved what she represented

another major talent brought down by the pop ascension wave

Love the amazingly Beautiful Jody...She favors Diana Ross but Jody's Beauty is more captivating....Video-wise Jody was probably the BEST lip syncer in the bizness..Her Lips didn't miss a beat..You see that Video above was 5 freaking minutes? Did the Music Stations/Record labels shorten the video time in the early 90's or late 90's?

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Back in the day I think it was Sheryl Crow that said on either Arsenio or some show that she was afraid of the Best new Artist GRAMMY curse. She said "Look at Jody Watley"...That was a serious Dig even though she smiled & laughed if I recall correctly...

Happy Person Great Topic and Info! Overlooked is SPOT ON....

I love her, I have mentioned here several times that she was the one that gave me a pass with my parents to dress punk in the ghetto. She was my black Madonna, I had Jody, Cyndi and Madonna plastered everywhere.

My favorite song is Some Kind of Lover...the opening note on top of the beat WHHHAAAATTT!

My Favorite video Still A Thrill....cuz it reminds me of Prince and Jody was killing it in that video! Those outfits, the way it was shot, the dancing, the voguing, the low singing register ...Jody is sexy and is fully clothed!!!!! Just know I went out and copied that legging outfit.

Totally overlooked and it's criminal. Jody was the ish

Madly underrated. I love Jody so much, she is phenomenal.

DAV123 said:

Bad bitch fo sho. That "Still a Thrill" video is STILL the bizzness, 26 years later. She was the one who really brought voguing to the forefront.

SEANMAN said:

I absolutely adore Jody. She had a nice run of hits in the '80s and early '90s, but she also made excellent albums.

I particularly love "Intimacy". "When a Man Loves a Woman" should have been a smash but perhaps was too ahead of its time.

SEANMAN said:

Bad bitch fo sho. That "Still a Thrill" video is STILL the bizzness, 26 years later. She was the one who really brought voguing to the forefront.

Jody & Tyrone wherent voguing they where WAACKING.. something they did a lot on SOUL TRAIN

[Edited 6/7/13 19:41pm]

Guess I'm the oddball here. I like her, but I hardly think she's an icon. Her songs are catchy though she wasn't really a good singer and her dancing seemed generic, IMO.

[Edited 6/8/13 6:18am]

HAPPYPERSON said:

the first Pop/R&B singer to include a rapper on song

James Brown made a record called Unity with Afrika Bambaataa a few years before Friends. Then, Melle Mel was on I Feel For You (Chaka Khan), Kurtis Blow on Save The Love (Rene & Angela) and Roxanne Shante on Loosey's Rap (Rick James). Tecnically, you could count Force MDs Meet The Fat Boys although the Force MDs were like The Sequence and New Edition and did both singing & rapping. There's also King Holiday and Sun City with multiple singers and rappers and records with singers doing the hook on a rap song like Gary Byrd's The Crown (Stevie Wonder), The Fat Boys' Wipe Out (Beach Boys) & The Twist (Chubby Checker), Kurtis Blow's Street Rock (Bob Dylan), and Run DMC's Walk This Way (Steven Tyler).

This thread serves as proof that words like icon and genius in a pop music context

have both lost their original meaning.

*

*
Well, not their "original meaning" but clearly this shows how words can be used

so often that their meanings can begin to change!

[Edited 6/8/13 9:32am]

alphastreet said:

Love this woman, she is so underrated! Real love was my jam as a kid. Also I agree that people are quicker to give Janet credit over her when she put out a fabulous solo debut and w's an innovator in dance and fashion on the longest running tv show.

I wonder if that perception might be a generational thing. Older people who remember seeing her on Soul Train and with Shalamar would have a different perspective of someone younger who came of age in the 90's. At that time Jody's pop music career was losing steam while Janet's was going full speed ahead. While Janet's success with Control might have eased Jody's way into solo recording contract to an extent, I think Jody would have still been signed up as a solo artist even if Janet had decided to put music on the back burner instead of going with Jam & Lewis. As far as vocal abilities go, I'd put Jody about halfway between Whitney and Janet. Obviously not a powerhouse singer like Whitney in her prime, but definitely has a voice with a bit more oomph than Janet's.

[Edited 6/8/13 20:38pm]

missfee said:

Guess I'm the oddball here. I like her, but I hardly think she's an icon. Her songs are catchy though she wasn't really a good singer and her dancing seemed generic, IMO.

[Edited 6/8/13 6:18am]

I agree here. Her first album was very good. Second not so much and the third

was okay but then fell off with mediocre material thereafter.

Her voice wasn't great but it complemented Howard Hewett's in Shalamar pretty

well. Make no mistake about it Howard was the straw that stirred the drink in Shalamar.

[Edited 6/8/13 20:45pm]

She won a Grammy for Best New Artist, right?

scriptgirl said:

She won a Grammy for Best New Artist, right?

Yep, she did. Other nominees for that award were Terrence Trent D'Arby, Swing Out Sister, Cutting Crew and Breakfast Club (which had Madonna as an former member).

[Edited 6/9/13 4:47am]

UnderMySun said: