Jody Watley

Jody Vanessa Watley was born on January 30, 1959, in Chicago, Illinois. Her early life was influenced by her parents, a choir singer mother, Rose Watley, and a radio evangelist father, John Watley, whose itinerant ministry meant frequent moves. The family home often hosted famous musicians, including Sam Cooke and Joe Tex, and Jackie Wilson became her godfather. At age eight, Wilson brought a young Watley on stage during a performance. By age eleven, living in Kansas City, she organized a dance trio called “Black Fuzz.” In 1974, upon moving to Los Angeles and attending Dorsey High School, she became a dancer on the popular urban dance TV show, ‘Soul Train’, becoming a regular in 1975 and later gaining recognition with dance partner Jeffrey Daniel.

Watley’s professional music career began in 1977 as part of the original lineup of the R&B group Shalamar. With Shalamar, she contributed to hits such as “The Second Time Around,” “A Night to Remember,” and “Dead Giveaway.” After recording several successful albums, including ‘Big Fun’ (1979) and ‘Friends’ (1982), and earning gold certifications, Watley departed the group in 1983. In 1986, she signed with MCA Records and released her self-titled solo debut album, ‘Jody Watley,’ in March 1987. This album became a commercial success, reaching number 10 on the Billboard 200 and topping the Top Black Albums chart, eventually selling over four million copies worldwide. The album featured hit singles like “Looking for a New Love,” “Don’t You Want Me,” and “Some Kind of Lover.” Her solo breakthrough culminated in a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1988.

Watley continued to build her solo career with the 1989 album ‘Larger Than Life,’ which included the successful singles “Real Love,” “Friends” (featuring Rakim), and “Everything.” “Friends” is notable for being one of the first pop hits to integrate a 16-bar guest rapper. Beyond music, Watley extended her influence into fashion, appearing in ‘Harper’s Bazaar’ and ‘SPUR’ magazine, and releasing a fitness video, ‘Dance to Fitness.’ She founded Avitone Records in 1995, embracing an independent approach to her music career. In the 2000s, Watley explored genres such as electronic music, releasing albums like ‘Midnight Lounge’ and ‘The Makeover.’ In 2023, she began hosting ‘The Jody Watley Show’ on Sirius XM Satellite Radio, a monthly program featuring R&B music and celebrity guests. Her enduring impact has earned her a Billboard Dance Lifetime Achievement Award, a Crossover Music Icon honor at the Black Music Honors, and induction into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2022.