Jody Watley

Biography

Jody Watley is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and artist known for her versatility across genres including pop, R&B, jazz, dance, and electronic soul. She gained prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a member of the R&B/funk band Shalamar, which achieved significant success, particularly in the UK. As a solo artist, Watley won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1988 and has received three Grammy nominations throughout her career. In 2008, she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Billboard magazine and was featured in Vogue Italia's historic black issue. Billboard recognized her as the 21st most successful dance artist of all time in 2016 and ranked her among the top female artists in 2018. In 2021, she was appointed the First Ambassador of the National Museum of African American Music, highlighting her influence and contributions to the music industry.