Meshell Ndegeocello
Meshell Ndegeocello | |
|---|---|
 Ndegeocello performing in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michelle Lynn Johnson |
| Also known as | Meshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakur Me'Shell Ndegéocello |
| Born | August 29, 1968 Berlin,Germany |
| Origin | Washington, D.C.,United States |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, musician |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, bass, keyboards, drums, guitar |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels | Maverick/Reprise/Warner Bros,Shanachie,EmArcy,Decca/Universal,Mercer Street/Downtown,Naïve,Blue Note |
| Website | www |
Meshell Ndegeocello(/mɪˈʃɛlənˌdeɪɡeɪoʊˈtʃɛloʊ/mish-ELən-DAY-gay-oh-CHEL-oh;[2]bornMichelle Lynn Johnsonon August 29, 1968) is an American singer-songwriter, poet, and bassist. She has gone by the nameMeshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakurwhich is used as a writing credit on some of her mid-career work.[3]Her music incorporates a wide variety of influences, includingfunk,soul,jazz,hip hop,reggaeandrock.She has received significant critical acclaim throughout her career,[4][5]being nominated for elevenGrammy Awards,and winning two.[6]She also has been credited for helping to "spark theneo-soulmovement ".[7]
Biography
[edit]Ndegeocello was born Michelle Lynn Johnson inWest Berlin,Germany, to US ArmySergeant Majorand saxophonist father Jacques Johnson and health care worker mother Helen. She was raised in Washington, D.C., where she attendedDuke Ellington School of the ArtsandOxon Hill High School.
Ndegeocello adopted her surname, which she says means "free like a bird" inSwahili.Early pressings ofPlantation Lullabieswere affixed with stickers to help pronounce her name. The spelling has changed in the hands of record labels a few times during her career; the correct spelling of her stage name as of 2001 isMeshell Ndegeocello.[8]
Career
[edit]
Ndegeocello honed her skills on the D.C.go-gocircuit in the late 1980s with the bands Prophecy, Little Benny and the Masters, andRare Essence.[9]Going solo, she was one of the first artists to sign withMaverick Records,where she released her debut album,Plantation Lullabies.This recording presented a distinctlyandrogynouspersona.
Her biggest hit is aduetwithJohn Mellencamp,acover versionofVan Morrison's "Wild Night",which reached No. 3 on theBillboardcharts. Her only otherBillboardHot 100hit besides "Wild Night"has been her self-penned"If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)",which peaked at No. 73 in 1994. Also in 1994, Ndegeocello collaborated withHerbie Hancockon "Nocturnal Sunshine," a track for theRed Hot Organization's compilation album,Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool.The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS epidemic in relation to the African American community, was heralded as "Album of the Year" byTimemagazine.
She had a No. 1 dance hit in 1996 with aBill Witherscover songcalled "Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?"(briefly featured in the filmJerry Maguire) as well as Dance Top 20 hits with "Earth", "Leviticus: Faggot","Stay "and the aforementioned" If That's Your Boyfriend.. Last Night) ". Ndegeocello played bass on the song" I'd Rather be Your Lover "forMadonnaon her albumBedtime Stories.Ndegeocello was also tapped, at the last minute, to perform spoken word on the same song. This came after Madonna and producers decided to removeTupac Shakur's rap (which he did while he and Madonna were dating in 1994), after he had criminal charges filed against him. Ndegeocello also performed spoken word onChaka Khan's single "Never Miss the Water",from the albumEpiphany: The Best of Chaka Khan, Vol. 1,released in 1996. The song reached #1 on Billboard's Dance Club Play Chart and #36 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Chart.
Her music has been featured in a number of film soundtracks includingHow Stella Got Her Groove Back,Lost & Delirious,Batman & Robin,Love Jones,Love & Basketball,Talk to Me,Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls,The Best Man,Higher Learning,Down in the Delta,The Hurricane,Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom,Soul Men,andBiker Boyz.
She has appeared on recordings byBasement Jaxx,Indigo Girls,Scritti Politti,andThe Blind Boys of Alabama.OnThe Rolling Stones' 1997 albumBridges to Babylonshe plays bass on the song "Saint of Me".OnAlanis Morissette's 2002 albumUnder Rug Swept,she plays bass on the songs "So Unsexy"and" You Owe Me Nothing in Return ". Also that year, she appeared onGov’t Mule’s recordThe Deep End, Volume 2,playing on a cover of TheStaple Singers’ song "Hammer and Nails". And in 2009, she appeared onZap Mama's albumReCreation,playing bass on the song "African Diamond".
She can also be seen in the documentaryStanding in the Shadows of Motown,singingThe Miracles' "You've Really Got a Hold on Me"andThe Temptations' "Cloud Nine".In the late 1990s, she toured withLilith Fair.She also did a remake of the song "Two Doors Down"on the 2003 releaseJust Because I'm a Woman: Songs of Dolly Parton.
Ndegeocello was also a judge for The 2nd, 12th, 13 and the 2015 14th Annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.[10]
Her song "Tie One On" was chosen as theStarbucksiTunesPick of the Week on February 23, 2010.[11][12]
In 2016, she provided the theme song, "Nova", for theOprah Winfrey-produced showQueen Sugar.[13]She also collaborated with French-Cuban duoIbeyiin the song "Transmission/Michaelion" for the albumAshreciting a poem byFrida Kahlo.
In December 2016, the world premiere of Ndegeocello'sCan I Get a Witness? The Gospel of James Baldwin,a new theatrical music and art work, was held in Harlem, New York.[14]
In June 2021,The Beatles ChannelonSirius XM Radiobegan broadcastingA Shot of Rhythm and Blues: Exploring The Beatles and Black Music,a four-part series hosted by Ndegeocello.[15][16][17]The series explores the relationship between the English rock bandthe Beatlesand the black musicians that inspired them.[15][16][17]
Ndegeocello joined theBlue Notelabel with the debut release of her 13th studio albumThe Omnichord Real Book(2023). The title refers to a set of lead sheets from songs from funk, soul, gospel and more influenced by her father as if a compilation of standards like areal bookin jazz repertoire.[18]
Activism
[edit]In 2002, Ndegeocello collaborated withYerba Buenaon a track featuring Ron Black for theRed Hot Organization's tribute album toFela Kuti,Red Hot and Riot.Proceeds from the album went to variousAIDScharities, per the Red Hot Organization's mission.
In June 2010, she contributed a cover ofU2's "40"to theEnough ProjectandDowntown Records'Raise Hope for Congocompilation. Proceeds from the compilation fund efforts to make the protection and empowerment of Congo's women a priority, as well as inspire individuals around the world to raise their voice for peace in Congo.
In 2010, Ndegeocello contributed to the essay anthologyIt Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living,edited byDan Savageand Terry Miller in the vein of theIt Gets Better Project.
Personal life
[edit]Ndegeocello isbisexualand previously had a relationship with feminist authorRebecca Walker.Ndegeocello's first son, Solomon, was born in 1989.[19]Since 2005, she has been married to Alison Riley, with whom she has a second son.[20]
Awards and nominations
[edit]Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]| Year | Album | Chart positions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [33] |
US R&B [34] |
US Jazz [35] |
AUS [36] |
BEL [37] |
FRA [38] |
SWI [39] |
UK [40] | ||
| 1993 | Plantation Lullabies | 166 | 35 | — | 100 | — | — | — | — |
| 1996 | Peace Beyond Passion | 63 | 15 | — | 30 | — | — | 46 | 100 |
| 1999 | Bitter | 105 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2002 | Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape | 67 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 | Comfort Woman | 150 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2005 | The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidel | — | — | 9 | — | — | 127 | — | — |
| 2007 | The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams | 186 | 60 | — | — | — | 92 | — | — |
| 2009 | Devil's Halo | 185 | 64 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2011 | Weather | — | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2012 | Pour une Âme Souveraine: A Dedication to Nina Simone | — | 46 | — | — | 190 | 117 | — | — |
| 2014 | Comet, Come to Me | 161 | 22 | — | — | 194 | — | — | — |
| 2018 | Ventriloquism | — | — | — | — | 86 | — | 62 | — |
| 2023 | The Omnichord Real Book | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin | — | — | — | — | — | — | 67 | — |
Singles
[edit]| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [41] |
US R&B [42] |
US Dance [43] |
AUS [36] |
UK [40] | |||||||
| 1993 | "Dred Loc" | — | 86 | — | — | — | Plantation Lullabies | ||||
| "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)" | 73 | 20 | 23 | 79 | 74 | ||||||
| "Outside Your Door" | 113 | 41 | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1994 | "Call Me" | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
| "Wild Night" (withJohn Mellencamp) |
3 | — | — | 18 | 34 | Dance Naked(John Mellencamp) | |||||
| 1996 | "Who Is He and What Is He to You" | — | 34 | 1 | — | 80 | Peace Beyond Passion | ||||
| "Leviticus: Faggot" | — | — | 15 | — | — | ||||||
| "Never Miss the Water"(withChaka Khan) | 102 | 36 | 1 | — | 59 | non-album single | |||||
| 1997 | "Stay" | — | 67 | 15 | — | — | Peace Beyond Passion | ||||
| 1999 | "Grace" | — | — | — | — | — | Bitter | ||||
| 2002 | "Pocketbook" (featuringMissy Elliott,TweetandRedman) |
— | 116 | — | — | — | Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape | ||||
| "Earth" | — | — | 29 | — | — | ||||||
| 2006 | "The Article 3"(EP) | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | ||||
| "Exit Music – Songs with Raido Heads EP 2" | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2007 | "Lovely Lovely" | — | — | — | — | — | The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams | ||||
| 2014 | "Conviction" | — | — | — | — | — | Comet, Come to Me | ||||
| 2018 | "Tender Love" | — | — | — | — | — | Ventriloquism | ||||
| "Sometimes It Snows in April" | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "Waterfalls | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2019 | "True Vine" (featuring Justin Hicks and Kenita Miller) |
— | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 2023 | "Virgo" | — | — | — | — | — | The Omnichord Real Book | ||||
| "Vuma" (featuring Thandiswa andJoel Ross) |
— | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "The 5th Dimension" (featuring The HawtPlates) |
— | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "Clear Water" (featuringDeantoni Parks,Jeff Parker,Sanford Biggers) |
— | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "—" denotes a release that did not chart. | |||||||||||
Other appearances
[edit]- 1994 –Madonna,Bedtime Stories:"I'd Rather Be Your Lover" (Maverick/Sire/Warner Bros.)
- 1994 –Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool:"Nocturnal Sunshine" withHerbie Hancock
- 1995 –Higher Learning (soundtrack):"Soul Searchin' (I Wanna Know If It's Mine)" (Epic)
- 1995 –Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality:"For You" withGuru(Chrysalis)
- 1995 –White Man's Burden:"Time Has Come Today" (Chrysalis)
- 1995 –Panther (soundtrack):"Freedom (Theme)"(Mercury)
- 1997 –Love Jones (soundtrack):"Rush Over" withMarcus Miller(Columbia)
- 1997 –Money Talks (soundtrack):"The Teaching" (Arista)
- 1997 –Batman & Robin (soundtrack):"Poison Ivy" (Warner Bros.)
- 1997 –Queen Pen,My Melody:"Girlfriend" (Interscope)
- 1998 –How Stella Got Her Groove Back (soundtrack):"Let Me Have You" (Flyte Tyme/MCA)
- 1998 –Down in the Delta (soundtrack):"My Soul Don't Dream" (Virgin)
- 1999 –Scritti Politti,Anomie & Bonhomie:"Die Alone" (Virgin)
- 1999 –The Best Man (soundtrack):"Untitled" (Sony)
- 1999 –Eric Benét,A Day in the Life:"Ghetto Girl" (Warner Bros.)
- 2000 –Love & Basketball (soundtrack):"Fool of Me" (New Line)
- 2002 –Gov’t Mule,The Deep End, Volume 2:"Hammer & Nails" (Ato)
- 2003 –The Blind Boys of Alabama,Go Tell It on the Mountain:"Oh Come All Ye Faithful", vocals and piano (Real World)
- 2005 –Joshua Redman,Momentum:"Greasy G", bass (Nonesuch)
- 2007 –Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur:"Imagine"byJohn Lennon(Warner Bros.)
- 2007 –Talk to Me(soundtrack): "Compared to What" withTerence Blanchard(Atlantic)
- 2012 –Robert Glasper Experiment,Black Radio:"The Consequences of Jealousy"
- 2014 –Jason Moran,All Rise: A Joyful Elegy for Fats Waller:producer withDon Was,and vocals (Blue Note)
- 2020 –Pat Metheny,From This Place:"From This Place" (Nonesuch)
- 2022 –Antonio Sanchez,SHIFT (Bad Hombre Vol. II):"Comet, Come to Me" (Warner Bros.)
- 2022 –Robert Glasper,Black Radio III:"Better Than I Imagined" withH.E.R.(Lomo Vista)
References
[edit]- ^Green, Tony (March 2002)."Joi: Star Kity's Revenge (Universal)".Spin.p. 129.RetrievedJanuary 23,2021– viaGoogle Books.
- ^Meshell Ndegeocello on "First Look" with Don Was of Blue Note Records.Blue Note Records.June 16, 2023. Event occurs at 00:00.RetrievedJuly 18,2023– viaYouTube.
- ^Layman, Will."Me'Shell Ndegeocello: The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidels < PopMatters".Popmatters.com.RetrievedJuly 18,2011.
- ^Lecaro, Lena (October 24, 2002)."Head, heart and soul".Los Angeles Times.pp. E–12.RetrievedFebruary 28,2009.
- ^"Grammy Nominations For J J Cale, Bettye LaVette and Meshell Ndegeocello – Just Announced".News, December 2007.The Rosebud Agency. December 6, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon December 26, 2008.RetrievedFebruary 28,2009.
- ^"Meshell Ndegeocello to Perform at 'You Rock My Soul' GMHC Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall on November 11th".NY Rock.August 14, 2002. Archived fromthe originalon April 8, 2009.RetrievedFebruary 28,2009.
- ^Yarbrough, Kenya (August 9, 2002)."Me'Shell Ndegeocello: One Tough" Cookie "".EURweb.Rabercom Enterprises. Archived fromthe originalon April 7, 2009.RetrievedFebruary 28,2009.
- ^"FreeMyHeart.com".FreeMyHeart.com. March 3, 2001.RetrievedJuly 18,2011.
- ^Wiltz, Teresa (June 19, 2005)."Meshell Ndegeocello Breaks Step With Pop".The Washington Post.pp. N01.
- ^"Past Judges".Independent Music Awards. Archived fromthe originalon July 13, 2011.RetrievedJuly 18,2011.
- ^Heringer."Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week – Meshell Ndegeocello – Tie One On".Mark-heringer.com.RetrievedAugust 4,2022.
- ^Heringer."Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week list".Mark-heringer.com.RetrievedApril 12,2022.
- ^"Queen Sugar Soundtrack".What-song.com.RetrievedNovember 23,2016.
- ^"Harlem Stage to present the world premiere of Meshell Ndegeocello's 'Can I Get a Witness? The Gospel of James Baldwin,' December 7–11".The Stage Review. November 29, 2016.
- ^abPR Newswire(June 1, 2021)."Celebrate Black Music Month on SiriusXM, Pandora, and Stitcher with Exclusive Music Channels, Streaming Stations, and an Original Podcast".Associated Press.RetrievedJune 8,2021.
- ^ab""A Shot of Rhythm and Blues: Exploring The Beatles and Black Music" on The Beatles Channel ".TheBeatles.com.Archivedfrom the original on June 9, 2021.RetrievedJune 8,2021.
- ^ab"Explore the connection between The Beatles & Black music during a new SiriusXM series".Sirius XM.June 7, 2021.RetrievedJune 8,2021.
- ^"Album: Meshell Ndegeocello – The Omnichord Real Book".Theartsdesk.com.June 12, 2023.RetrievedJune 12,2023.
- ^Zwerin, Mike (February 23, 1994)."Me'Shell - Debut on Madonna Label - NYTimes.com".International Herald Tribune.RetrievedJuly 18,2011.
- ^DiGuglielmo, Joey (November 10, 2011)."Meshell's magic".Washington Blade.RetrievedJuly 10,2014.
- ^"Billboard".Books.google.com.November 19, 1994.
- ^https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/90s/1994/CB-1994-12-31.pdf[bare URL PDF]
- ^https://web.archive.org/web/20030729105533/http://www.qrd.org/qrd/orgs/GLAAD/general.information/media.awards-1997[bare URL]
- ^"GLAAD noms announced".Variety.com.January 18, 2000.
- ^"Playbill News: 14th Annual GLAAD Media Award Winners Include the Goat and Zanna, Don't!".Archived fromthe originalon May 4, 2003.
- ^"15th Annual GLAAD Media Award Nominees Include Avenue Q, Taboo and Angels in America; Cherry Jones a Special Honoree".Archived fromthe originalon October 18, 2012.RetrievedApril 12,2024.
- ^"Me'shell Ndegeocello | Artist".Grammy.com.
- ^FromRobert Glasper'sBlack Radio IIIfeaturingH.E.R.alongside Ndegeocello.
- ^"Meshell Ndegeocello Wins The First-Ever GRAMMY For Best Alternative Jazz Album At The 2024 GRAMMYs".Grammy.com.
- ^"MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) (1994)".IMDb.
- ^"Soul Train Awards (1995)".IMDb.
- ^"Soul Train Awards (1997)".IMDb.
- ^"Meshell Ndegeocello: US".Billboard.RetrievedSeptember 6,2021.
- ^"Meshell Ndegeocello: US R&B".Billboard.RetrievedSeptember 6,2021.
- ^"Meshell Ndegeocello: US Jazz".Billboard.RetrievedSeptember 6,2021.
- ^abPeaks in Australia:
- Peace Beyond Passionand "Wild Night":"Me'shell Ndegéocello – Peace Beyond Passion (Album)".Australiancharts.com.RetrievedOctober 10,2021.
- Plantation Lullabiesand "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)":Ryan, Gavin (2011).Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010(PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 199.
- ^"Meshell Ndegeocello: Belgium".Ultratop.RetrievedSeptember 6,2021.
- ^"Discographie Meshell Ndegeocello".Lescharts.com(in French). Hung Medien.RetrievedApril 20,2022.
- ^"Discographie Meshell Ndegeocello".Swiss Hitparade.RetrievedMarch 11,2022.
- ^ab"Meshell Ndegeocello: UK".Official Charts Company.February 12, 1994.RetrievedSeptember 6,2021.
- ^"Meshell Ndegeocello: US".Billboard.RetrievedSeptember 6,2021.
- ^"Meshell Ndegeocello: US R&B".Billboard.RetrievedSeptember 6,2021.
- ^"Meshell Ndegeocello: US Dance".Billboard.RetrievedSeptember 6,2021.
Further reading
[edit]- Morris, Wesley (August 1, 2024)."Meshell Ndegeocello Could Have Had Stardom but Chose Music Instead".The New York Times.RetrievedAugust 12,2024.
External links
[edit]
- Official website
- Meshell NdegeocelloatAllMusic
- Meshell Ndegeocellodiscography atDiscogs
- Meshell Ndegeocellodiscography atMusicBrainz
- Extensive audio interviewonThe Sound of Young America
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
- 1968 births
- Living people
- African-American women rappers
- African-American women singer-songwriters
- American women singer-songwriters
- African-American guitarists
- American contraltos
- American women guitarists
- American funk bass guitarists
- American funk singers
- American hip hop musicians
- American jazz bass guitarists
- American jazz singers
- American multi-instrumentalists
- American reggae musicians
- American rhythm and blues bass guitarists
- American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters
- American rock bass guitarists
- American women rock singers
- Bisexual feminists
- Bisexual singers
- Bisexual songwriters
- Bisexual women musicians
- EmArcy Records artists
- Grammy Award winners
- Progressive soul musicians
- American women bass guitarists
- American LGBTQ singers
- American LGBTQ songwriters
- African-American LGBTQ people
- American neo soul singers
- Musicians from Berlin
- Maverick Records artists
- American LGBTQ rights activists
- LGBTQ rappers
- Guitarists from Washington, D.C.
- 20th-century American bass guitarists
- 21st-century American rappers
- Naïve Records artists
- Shanachie Records artists
- 20th-century American LGBTQ people
- 21st-century American LGBTQ people
- 20th-century African-American women singers
- 20th-century American women singers
- 20th-century American singers
- 21st-century African-American women singers
- 21st-century American women singers
- Singer-songwriters from Washington, D.C.
- 21st-century American women rappers
- American bisexual writers
- Blue Note Records artists
- LGBTQ women singers