Classic Shalamar and Jody Watley Enter Goldmine Mine Hall of Fame

Jody Watley, Jeffrey Daniel, Howard Hewett 'Classic Shalamar'

EXCERPT:

By the time this Chicago singer/songwriter was awarded the 1987 Grammy for “Best New Artist,” she was a well-established star, having been a vital part of the top-selling group Shalamar. When your godfather is Jackie Wilson and you’re one of the most popular dancers on Don Cornelius’ Soul Train, how can you miss?

Well, certainly it would help if you could sing, too, and Jody Watley proved that to be another strength. With Shalamar, Watley recorded albums, three of which climbed into the top 40 of the Billboard Top 200, all but the first reaching the R&B top 20. Three climbed into the R&B top 10, 1982’s “Friends” topping the chart. That LP also reached #6 in the U.K. and its follow-up, “The Look,” ran to #7. Watley left for a solo career and Shalamar, which also had posted four R&B top 10 singles, including the #1 “The Second Time Around,” continued, but its success dwindled.

Her 1987 solo debut, “Jody Watley,” ran to the top of the R&B chart and climbed to #10 on Billboard’s Top 200, providing the impetus for her Grammy award. More on the honor:

Here

Goldmine Music is the Music Collector's Magazine since 1974.

SHALAMAR An Interview With Music Icon and Original Shalamar Member Jody Watley

Shalamar was the creation of Don Cornelius for Soul Train Records as many know. Former original member Jody Watley who has gone on the be one of music's influential female artists is interviewed for Soul Train website talking her new music, career, and of course Soul Train and Shalamar. Read and watch her debut performance as a solo artist on Soul Train in an exclusive video from Soul Train archives, click here

SHALAMAR Get Your Nightlife with Originals Jody Watley and Gerald Brown on Soulbounce

From respected blog music blog  Soulbounce: Jody Watley brought the noise, funk and attitude that dominated the late 70's and all of the 80's. First with Shalamar and then as as a solo act, she paved the war for many of the female acts who came after her..the exciting twist features the original Shalamar co-lead singer Gerald Brown.. read the rest after the jump on:  Soulbounce

Jody Watley and the concept of "Nightlife" helps keep the Shalamar name alive and relevant  into the 21st century and the first Shalamar duet since 1983. "Nightlife" debuts on Music Week at Number 20 in Great Britain, always a strong market for Shalamar.

SHALAMAR - Jody Watley 1979

SHALAMAR JODY WATLEY POSTER GIRL 1982

Shalamar's Jody Watley Cover Girl American Magazine RightON! SUPER SPECIAL Collectors Issue

Poster Book

SHALAMAR Jody Watley Beauty In Black and White Promotional Photo

JODY WATLEY, Three for love album promotional photo, 1980

Jody Watley went on to become Grammy winning solo artist with multiple top ten hits in Pop, R&B, and Dance Music.

SHALAMAR Threatens To Split. Black Beat Magazine 1983

Bulletin by Stephanie Ray, Black Beat Magazine January 1984 "Deep Dish" : 

By the time you read this (here we go again), it'll be common knowledge, but at press time, the word is in Hollywood is that the group SHALAMAR is no more. Apparently the differences of the three members, HOWARD HEWETT, JODY WATLEY and JEFFREY DANIELS - were simply too much to hold together. As this is printed, details are still sketchy, but we can only guess that the musical ideas of Hewett and Daniels probably had their final clash. Daniels is more interested in expanding into rock n roll, and while Howard can hang, he's far more comfortable with conventional pop/R&B. Daniels who has been living in London for sometime now, also heads up a dance troupe, (some of whom appeared in the 'Beat It' video).

Last we heard, Watley, whose future generally seems the most questionable, was also considering moving to London. Hewett, we're told, has been retained by the Solar label as a solo artist, while Daniels recording future remains to be seen.

It's ironic that at the time of the group's split, it was enjoying what may be their most successful album to date. This also makes the Shalamar feature in this issue of Black Beat one of the last Shalamar interviews. Curiously, Hewett's dissatisfaction could be detected even then.

As a footnote to the Black Beat Article original stating Jody Watley's future seemed the most questionable; Watley went on to become the break out star of Shalamar winning a Grammy Award as Best New Artist and racking up multiple hits (beginning with her #1 single "Looking For a New Love") in Pop, R&B/Soul and Dance making trending video's and appearing in fashion layouts. She is also noted for her groundbreaking single "Friends" with Eric B and Rakim.

Jody Watley, Solo Debut 1987 On Cover of Echoes

Howard Hewett went on to moderate success in R&B with "I'm For Real, "Stay" and the gospel "Say Amen." 

Jeffrey Daniel returned to Solar Records to release his solo debut "Skinny Boy" and worked with music legend Michael Jackson, as one of the teachers of the moonwalk (a street dance originated in bodypopping and backslide moves by the Electric Boog-a Loo' in Los Angeles), and co-choreographing the video's Bad and Smooth Criminal.