- Born
- Birth nameJody Vanessa Watley
- Height5′ 7″ (1.70 m)
- She's an innovative music maker, a style-forging pioneer: since the mid-90s, Grammy-winning multi-talented Jody Watley has led the way as an entrepreneur working in the independent music world as one of the few already-established female best-selling artists to produce, create and own her recordings.
Known for combining beauty and style as integral aspects of her career as a recording artist and dynamic live performer, 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 she remains one of MTV's most nominated artists), NAACP Image Awards, American Music Awards, and appearing on Broadway as Rizzo in the hit musical Grease!. 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. The first black woman to appear on a Japanese fashion magazine cover (specifically Japan's most elite, SPUR), Jody has performed by special invitation at The White House, participated in Bob Geldof's historic "Do They Know It's Christmas" recording session and video, Force of Nature's Tsunami Relief in Malaysia as well as working on one of the first global HIV/AIDS awareness projects, "Red Hot and Blue" for which she performed the 'Cole Porter' jazz classic "After You Who". Watley continues to work with charities promoting tolerance, as well as prevention and care for those living with HIV and AIDS.
Watley, the goddaughter of music legend Jackie Wilson, got her start on the hit TV show Soul Train (1971) at the age of fourteen. As documented by Ebony Magazine in 1977 as a part of "The New Generation", Jody Watley was one of the most popular on the show and recognized as a trendsetter. She was also noted as innovative and influential to teenaged girls all over the United States who copied her hair styles and dance moves. The article states that one of her innovations was to use fans in her dance routines, which were called "freestyle" and "Waack Dancing". Jody Watley is also an original former member of the group Shalamar (1977-1984).
With an amazing 32 Top Ten Singles and 13 No. 1 Singles in the R&B, pop and dance music genres over the past three decades as a solo artist - including such classics as "Looking For A New Love", "Don't You Want Me" and her groundbreaking collaboration with 'Eric B' and Rakim on "Friends" - Jody has consistently broken new ground in music, video and fashion: her 2006 album "The Makeover" benefited from an exclusive collaboration with the Virgin Megastore Music Chain that debuted as the No 1 nationwide store best-seller and No. 3 track on iTunes Electronic Chart.
'Beyonce Knowles' and Destiny's Child recorded one of Jody's compositions "Sweet Sixteen" on their best-selling "Writings on The Wall" album and Jody's special guest appearances have included work with Roy Ayers, 4Hero, Rahsaan Patterson and George Michael. An update of the Shalamar hit "For The Lover In You" by Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds featured Jody and LL Cool J.
Entrepreneur, label owner, recording artist, producer, songwriter and performer, actress; Jody Watley celebrates three decades in the world of entertainment carving her own destiny, very much her own woman, truly an inspiration for artists of today and beyond.- IMDb Mini Biography By: David Nathan
- SpouseAndre Cymone(April 29, 1990 - 1994) (divorced, 1 child)
- Goddaughter of Jackie Wilson.
- Was a Soul Train (1971) dancer.
- Was a founding member of the 1970s disco group Shalamar.
- Along with Janet Jackson and Madonna, ranks as one of MTV Video Music Award's most nominated artist ever, with ten nominations.
- Named One of America's Ten Most Beautiful Women by Harper's Bazaar Magazine along with Michelle Pfeiffer.
- [In 1993] There are a lot of romantic things that I like to talk about, too, and those things really talking about more intimate things, that's real hard sometimes, and you might want something--be afraid to ask.
- I wanted to be a singer when I was 5 years old. But when I was making a new album - kind of before, I listened to a lot of music from the 1970s and everything and every time I listen to albums that Marvin Gaye was going on, a lot of his records--like Stevie Wonder and Isaac Hayes, and I was thinking about the kind of music that James Brown was kind of making, not just to get up and do your thing, but, "Say it Loud and Proud - Stay in School, get an education!"
- When you say pioneer, I think cowboy boots, horse and covered wagons, but yeah I guess so.
- I'm an entertainer and I love to dance, but I've never done major choreography before. If I have a big fear, it's the hand jive routine.
- I don't want to be a singer who just makes dance records.
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