Jody Watley Net Worth - Pulptastic
What is Jody Watley’s Net Worth?
Jody Watley, an American singer, songwriter and record producer, has a net worth of $6 million. She rose to fame in the 1980s and is considered an iconic artist of that era. Watley started her professional career on the TV dance show “Soul Train” at just fourteen years old. She later became a member of the R&B group Shalamar before embarking on a successful solo career.
Watley’s debut album, released in 1987, sold over a million copies and produced three US Top 10 hits. She won a Grammy award for Best New Artist that same year. Her subsequent albums, including “Larger Than Life,” achieved gold status and featured hit songs like “Real Love” and “Friends.”
In 1995, Watley launched her own record label, Avitone Records, and continued to release successful albums. She is known for setting trends in dance, style, music, and video, and was the first to include a rapper on a specialized verse/bridge in a commercial Pop/R&B/Hip-Hop song with her collaboration on “Friends” featuring Eric B. & Rakim.
Early Life and Career
Jody Watley was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1959. She began performing at a young age, making her first stage appearance at the age of eight with singer Jackie Wilson, who was a friend of the family and her godfather. At 14, she appeared on the television dance show “Soul Train.” Watley attended Dorsey High School, where she was voted the “best dancer” in her senior class poll.
Jody Watley’s Career Highlights
After being selected as an original member of the R&B group Shalamar, Jody Watley left the group in 1983 due to disagreements and unpaid payments. She then worked with various artists in England before signing with MCA Records and releasing her debut solo album, “Jody Watley,” in 1987. The album achieved Gold certification and the lead single, “Looking for a New Love,” became a hit. At the 1988 Grammy Awards, Watley won the award for Best New Artist.
Watley’s second album, “Larger Than Life,” released in 1989, was another success and achieved Gold status. She received various nominations for awards such as Soul Train Awards and NAACP Image Award. In 1991, she released her third studio album, “Affairs of the Heart,” which addressed social concerns and received positive critical reviews. In 1995, she started her own label, Avitone Records and released her fifth album, “Affection.”
Watley continued to release albums, collaborate on projects, and receive awards over the next decade. In 2008, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the “Billboard” Music Awards and was prominently featured in the historic black issue of “Vogue Italia.” In March of 2021, she was named the First Ambassador of the National Museum of African American Music. The following year, she received an honorary doctorate in business and the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Joe Biden. She was also inducted into the Women’s Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Jody Watley’s Family Life
Jody Watley, the American singer, has a daughter named Lauren with her former fiancé and music producer Leon Sylvers III. She also has a son with her ex-husband, Andre Cymone. Additionally, her younger sister, Michele Watley, who is professionally known as Midori, is also a singer.
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