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'Grace Jones' (born 'Grace Mendoza' on May 19, 1948, in Spanish Town, Jamaica) is a model, singer and actress.
Early life
The daughter of a preacher, her parents took Grace and her brother Christian (now Bishop Noel Jones), to relocate to Syracuse, New York. Before becoming a successful model in New York and Paris, Grace studied theatre at Syracuse University.
Musical career
Jones secured a record deal with Island Records in 1977, which resulted in a string of dance club hits and a large gay following. The three disco albums she recorded — ''Portfolio'' (1977), ''Fame'' (1978), and ''Muse'' (1979) — generated considerable success in that market. These albums consisted of pop melodies such as "All on a Summer's Night" and "Do or Die" set to a disco beat as well as standands such as "What I Did for Love", "Autumn Leaves", and "Send in the Clowns". The latter song had been a hit twice with versions recorded by folk singer Judy Collins and jazz singer Sarah Vaughn.
During this period, she also became a muse to Andy Warhol, who photographed her extensively. Jones also accompanied him to famed New York City nightclub Studio 54 on many occasions.
Towards the end of the 1970s, Jones adapted the emerging New Wave music to create a different style for herself. Still with Island, and now working with producers Alex Sadkin and Chris Blackwell, she released the acclaimed albums ''Warm Leatherette'' (1980) and ''Nightclubbing'' (1981). These included re-imaginings of songs by Sting, Iggy Pop, The Pretenders, Roxy Music, Flash and the Pan, The Normal, Ástor Piazzolla and Tom Petty.
Parallel to her musical shift was an equally dramatic visual makeover, created in partnership with stylist Jean-Paul Goude, whom she eventually married and by whom she had a son. Jones adopted a severe, androgynous look with square-cut hair and angular, padded clothes. The iconic cover photographs of ''Nightclubbing'' and, subsequently, ''Slave to the Rhythm'' (1985) exemplified this new identity. To this day, Jones is known for her unique look at least as much as she is for her music. Her collaboration with Sadkin and Blackwell continued with the dub reggae-influenced album ''Living My Life''.
In the mid 1980s, she worked with Trevor Horn for the conceptual musical collage ''Slave to the Rhythm'' and with producer Nile Rodgers for ''Inside Story'' (1986) - her first album after leaving the Island Records label. The well-received ''Slave to the Rhythm'' consisted of several re-workings of the title track (the single of which hit #12 in the UK) while ''Inside Story'' produced her last Billboard Hot 100 hit to date, "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect For You)," one of several songs she co-wrote with Bruce Woolley.[1] ''Bulletproof Heart'' (1989) spawned the #1 U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play hit "Love on Top of Love - Killer Kiss," produced by C+C Music Factory's David Cole and Robert Clivilles. Although she has yet to become a truly mainstream recording artist in the United States, (with the exception of her featured work on the Arcadia hit single ''Election Day)'', much of her musical output is still popular on the Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play and Hot Dance Airplay charts and many of her songs are regarded as classics to this day. Jones was able to find mainstream success in the United Kingdom, scoring a number of Top 40 entries on the UK Singles Chart. To date, she has released 43 singles (commercial and/or promotional), including several non-album tracks.
Voice
Grace Jones is a contralto vocalist. While her image became more notable than her voice, she is in-fact a highly stylized vocalist. She sings in two modes; her monotonous speak-sing as in songs like "Private Life", "Walking in the Rain" and "The Apple Stretching" and in an almost soprano mode in such songs as "La Vie en Rose" and "Slave to the Rhythm".[2] Her vocal range spans two-and-a-half octaves. She contributed significant vocals to Arcadia's 1985 song and video, "Election Day", from the album ''So Red the Rose''.
Style and image
Grace Jones' masculine attire, height (5' 10½" (1.79 m)) and manner was a clear influence on the 'power dressing' movement of the 1980s, and on musical artists such as Annie Lennox of Eurythmics and Claudie Fritsch-Mentrop of Desireless. She would also exemplify the "box" haircut style in the 1970s, which would be worn by many black men all over America throughout much of the next decade. She maintained parallel recording and acting careers and her acting roles and modelling work often overshadowed her musical output. Her strong visual presence extended to her concert tours. In her performances, she adopted various personas and wore outlandish costumes, particularly during her years with Goude. One such performance was at the Paradise Garage in 1985, wherein she collaborated with visual artist Keith Haring for her costume. Haring painted her body in tribal patterns and fitted her with wire armor.[3] The muralist also painted her body for the video to "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)".
Recent career
Jones recorded two albums during the 1990s but they remain unreleased thus far. In 1994 she was due to release an electro album titled ''Black Marilyn'' with artwork featuring the singer as Marilyn Monroe. In 1998 she was scheduled to release an album entitled 'F'orce of Nature''.
In 2000, Grace Jones cut "The Perfect Crime", an up-tempo song for Danish TV written by the composer duo Floppy M.
On May 28, 2002, Jones performed onstage with Italian opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti during Pavarotti's annual "Pavarotti and Friends" concert to support the United Nations refugee agency's programmes for Angolan refugees in Zambia. The concert was held in Modena, Italy and Jones and Pavarotti were accompanied by the 70-strong Orchestra Sinfonica Italiana, conducted by Jose Molina.[1]
In November 2004, Jones sang her hit "Slave to the Rhythm" at a tribute concert for Trevor Horn at Wembley Arena. She received rave reviews, despite having been absent in the music scene for some time. In February 2006, Jones was the celebrity runway model for Diesel's show in New York.
On October 20 2006, the 3-CD boxed set ''The Ultimate Collection'' was released in Europe by the CCM label, in a limited edition. On November 3 2006, Jones took part in a gathering of people sharing the surname, performing "Slave to the Rhythm" and "Pull up to the Bumper" to a large crowd of Joneses. 1,224 people were gathered that day at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, breaking the previous record for the largest surname-based gathering.[4]
Producer Ivor Guest has confirmed that Jones has completed recording of her new album, due out in 2007.[5] Nick Hooker has directed the first video from the upcoming album.[6] Other participants on the new album are Sly and Robbie, Brian Eno, Wally Badarou, Tricky, Uzziah 'Sticky' Thompson, Mikey 'Mao' Chung, Barry Reynolds, John Justin, Martin Slattery, Philip Sheppard, Paulo Goude, Robert Logan, Don-E and Tony Allen, with recording engineering duties by Cameron 'Engine' Craig.
In April 2007, Version2 listed "Corporate Cannibal" as the new video directed by Nick Hooker for Grace Jones.[7] On June 22, 2007, Jones performed in Copenhagen at Tivoli Gardens theme park. Tivoli's website mentioned the title of her new album as ''Corporate Cannibal''. However, a release date has not been set.[8]
Grace Jones live at the Tivoli Gardens, 2007.
Film career
In 1973, Jones played the role of Mary, a drug courier in Harlem in the film ''Gordon's War''. Jones' work as an actress in mainstream film began with the role of Zula, the amazon in the 1984 film ''Conan the Destroyer'' alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain. Before this she appeared in low-budget films, often with sexually explicit content. She next landed the role of May Day, in the 1985 James Bond movie ''A View to a Kill''.
She appeared in a number of other motion pictures including the 1986 vampire film, ''Vamp'' (wherein she used her Keith Haring body paint as part of her role as a vampiric exotic dancer) as well as Helen Strange in the Eddie Murphy film ''Boomerang'' - for which she recorded the title song, 7 Day Weekend - in 1992. In 2001, she appeared alongside Tim Curry in ''Wolf Girl'' (aka ''Blood Moon''), as a transvestite circus freakshow performer named Christoph/Christine. She also appeared in an episode of the ''Beastmaster'' television series as the Impatra Warrior.
Awards and nominations
Grace Jones is a three time Saturn Award nominee, a Grammy nominee and Razzie Award nominee:
'Saturn Awards'
★ 1985: Best Supporting Actress for ''Conan the Destroyer'': Nomination
★ 1986: Best Supporting Actress for ''A View to a Kill'': Nomination
★ 1987: Best Supporting Actress for ''Vamp'': Nomination
'Razzie Awards'
★ 1988: Worst Supporting Actress for ''Siesta'': Nomination
'Grammy Awards'
★ 1984: Best Long Form Music Video for her One Man Show: Nomination
'MTV Video Music Award'
★ 1986: Best Female Video for "Slave to the Rhythm": Nomination
Controversies
In 1981, Grace Jones slapped chat show host Russell Harty across the face live on air after he turned to interview other guests. This topped a 2006 BBC poll of the most shocking TV chat show moments.[9]
She was featured in the September 1987 issue of ''Playboy'' magazine with Dolph Lundgren.
In September 1998, Jones was banned from all Disney properties worldwide after baring her breasts in a concert at Walt Disney World.[10]
In April 2005, Jones was accused of verbally abusing a Eurostar train manager in a quarrel over a ticket upgrade and was either escorted off the train or left of her own accord, later saying she was mistreated. [11]
Personal life
Jones dated both the Swedish bodybuilder/actor Dolph Lundgren and Danish bodybuilder/actor Sven-Ole Thorsen in the 1980s. In February 1996, Jones was married to a bodyguard named Atila Altaunbay. She has a son named Paulo from her previous relationship with Jean-Paul Goude; Paulo is a member of French pop group La Gouache. As of 18 August 2006, she was engaged to Ivor Guest, the 4th Viscount Wimborne.
Discography
Albums
★ ''Portfolio'' (Island) 1977 US #109/R&B #52/ Dance top ten
★ ''Fame'' (Island) 1978 US #97/R&B #57/ Dance Top Ten
★ ''Muse'' (Island) 1979 US #156/ Dance Top 20
★ ''Warm Leatherette'' (Island) 1980, US #132, US Dance chart #20 / UK #45
★ ''Nightclubbing'' (Island) 1981 US #32/ R&B #9 / UK #35
★ ''Living My Life'' (Island) 1982 US #86/ R&B #19 / UK #15
★ ''Slave to the Rhythm'' (Manhattan/Island) 1985 US #73/ R&B #25 / UK #12
★ ''Island Life'' (Island) 1985 - compilation US #161 / UK #4
★ ''Inside Story'' (Manhattan) 1986 US #81/ R&B #26 / UK #61
★ ''Bulletproof Heart'' (Capitol) 1989
★ ''The Ultimate'' (Island) 1993 - compilation the Netherlands
★ ''Island Life 2'' (Universal International) 1996 - compilation France
★ '' (Island) 1998 - compilation
★ '' (Island) 2003 - compilation
★ ''The Universal Masters Collection'' (Universal) 2003 - compilation
★ ''The Collection'' (Spectrum) 2004 - compilation
★ ''The Grace Jones Story'' (Island Cat # 9833286) 2006 - compilation
★ ''Colour Collection'' (Universal) 2006 - compilation
★ ''Ultimate Collection'' (CCM) 2006 - box set compilation
★ ''Corporate Cannibal'' (Palm Pictures) 2007- New Studio Album
Singles
★ "I Need a Man" 1975, Hot 100 #83, US Dance chart #1
★ "Sorry" 1976, Hot 100 #71, US Dance chart #7
★ "That's the Trouble" 1976, Hot 100 #71, US Dance chart #7
★ "La Vie en Rose" 1977, US Dance chart #10, UK#1, Holland #1, Europe #1, Denmark #1 (Single certified Gold)
★ "Do or Die" 1978, US Dance chart #3
★ "Fame" 1978, US Dance chart #3
★ "Anema e Core" 1978
★ "Comme un Oiseau Qui S'envole" 1978
★ "Autumn Leaves" 1978
★ "On Your Knees" 1979, US Dance chart #28
★ "Private Life" 1980 UK #17
★ "Warm Leatherette" 1980 US Dance #20
★ "A Rolling Stone" 1980
★ "Breakdown" 1980
★ "Love Is the Drug" 1980 UK #35
★ "Pars" 1980
★ "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" 1980 R&B #87
★ "She's Lost Control" 1980
★ "Pull up to the Bumper" 1981 #12 UK, #2 US Dance
★ "Feel Up" 1981
★ "Demolition Man'' 1981
★ "I've Seen That Face Before'' 1981
★ "Use Me'' 1981
★ "Walking in the Rain" 1981
★ "My Jamaican Guy" 1982 #56 UK
★ "Nipple to the Bottle" 1982 #2 US Dance, #17 R&B
★ "The Apple Stretching" 1982 #50 UK
★ "Cry Now, Laugh Later" 1983 #33 US Dance, #64 r&B
★ "Living My Life" 1983
★ "Slave to the Rhythm" 1985 #12 UK, #1 US Dance, #20 R&B
★ "Jones the Rhythm" 1985
★ "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect For You)" 1986, #69 US, #4 US Dance, #56 UK
★ "Party Girl" 1986 #19 US Dance, #82 UK
★ "Victor Should Have Been a Jazz Musician" 1986
★ "Crush" 1986 #32 US Dance
★ "Election Day" 1986, Arcadia Featuring Grace Jones, US #6, UK #7
★ "Love on Top of Love" / "Killer Kiss" 1989, #1 US Dance
★ "Amado Mio" 1990, US Dance chart #11, UK #96
★ "7 Day Weekend" 1992
★ "Evilmainya" 1993
★ "Sex Drive" 1993, US Dance chart #1, Hot Dance Sales #31
★ "Slave to the Rhythm" 1994, 2 original + 8 new remixes, UK #28
★ "Love Bites" 1996
★ "Storm" 1998
★ "Cradle to the Grave" 1998
★ "The Perfect Crime" 2000
★ "Pull up to the Bumper" 2000 remix by Funkstar De Luxe, US Dance chart #4, UK #60
★ "Libertango (I've Seen That Face Before)" 2005 remix by DJ Hell
Non-album singles
"Anema E Core"
★ IT 7" single (1978)
#"Anema E Core"
#"Autumn Leaves"
"Comme Un Oiseau Qui S'envole"
★ CA 7" single
#"Comme Un Oiseau Qui S'envole" - 3:10
#"All On A Summers Night" - 4:17
"She's Lost Control"
★ UK 12" single (1980) 12WIP6629
#"She's Lost Control" (Long Version) - 6:42
#"Private Life" (Long Version) - 6:17
★ GE 12" single (1980)
#"She's Lost Control" (Long Version) - 6:42
#"Private Life" (Long Version) - 6:17
"Living My Life"
★ UK 12" promo (1983) 12IS118DJ
#"Living My Life" - 4:15
#"Living My Life" (Dub Version) - 4:15
★ PG 12" single (1983) 12IS118
#"Living My Life" - 4:15
#"Living My Life" (Dub Version) - 4:15
"7 Day Weekend"
★ US 12" promo (1992) 73008-24040-1
#"7 Day Weekend"
#"7 Day Weekend" (Club Remix)
#"7 Day Weekend" (Remix Instrumental)
#"7 Day Weekend" (Remix Radio Edit)
"Evilmainya"
★ IT 12" single (1993) NMX1100
#"Evilmainya" (Club Mix) - 4:23
#"Evilmainya" (Original Edit) - 3:37
#"Evilmainya" (Other Mix) - 5:47
#"Evilmainya" (Extended Mix) - 4:40
"Sex Drive"
★ US 12" single (1993) 1625355001
#"Sex Drive" (Hard Drive Mix) - 5:08
#"Sex Drive" (Sex Pitch Mix) - 7:17
#"Sex Drive" (Dominatrix Mix) - 5:36
#"Typical Male" (The Real Mix) - 5:48
★ US 12" promo (1993) 12PR5500
#"Sex Drive" (Sex Pitch Mix) - 7:17
#"Sex Drive" (Sexstrumental Version) - 6:36
#"Sex Drive" (Hard Drive Mix) - 5:08
★ US CD single (1993) 5355002
#"Sex Drive" (Hard Drive Mix) - 5:08
#"Sex Drive" (Sex Pitch Mix) - 7:17
#"Sex Drive" (Dominatrix Mix) - 5:36
#"Typical Male" (The Real Mix) - 5:48
★ UK 12" single (1993)
#"Sex Drive" (Hard Drive Mix) - 5:08
#"Sex Drive" (Sex Pitch Mix) - 7:17
#"Sex Drive" (Dominatrix Mix) - 5:36
#"Typical Male" (The Real Mix) - 5:48
★ UK CD single (1993) CID582
#"Sex Drive" (Hard Drive Mix) - 5:08
#"Sex Drive" (Sex Pitch Mix) - 7:17
#"Sex Drive" (Dominatrix Mix) - 5:36
#"Typical Male" (The Real Mix) - 5:48
★ GE CD single (1993) 74321 168212 2
#"Sex Drive" (Hard Drive Mix) - 5:08
#"Sex Drive" (Sex Pitch Mix) - 7:17
#"Sex Drive" (Dominatrix Mix) - 5:36
"Love Bites"
★ UK 12" promo (1996) GRACE007´
#"Love Bites" (12" Fright Night Mix) - 8:21
#"Love Bites" (7" Fright Night Mix) - 3:40
#"Love Bites" (12" Dark Night Mix) - 7:35
#"Love Bites" (12" Deep Into The Night Mix) - 6:40
★ UK CD promo (1996) GRACECD007
#"Love Bites" (7" Fright Night Mix) - 3:40
#"Love Bites" (12" Dark Night Mix) - 7:35
#"Love Bites" (12" Fright Night Mix) - 8:21
#"Love Bites" (12" Deep Into The Night Mix) - 6:40
#"Love Bites" (7" Fright Night Instrumental) - 3:52
#"Love Bites" (7" Deep Into The Night Mix) - 3:45
"Storm"
★ GE CD promo (1998) 3333-00090-2
#"Storm"
#''non-Grace Jones track''
#''non-Grace Jones track''
"Cradle To The Grave"
★ UK 12" promo (1998)
#"Cradle To The Grave" (Hurricane Mix #1) - 9:56
#"Cradle To The Grave" (Hurricane Mix #2) - 7:54
Filmography
★ ''Gordon's War'' (1973)
★ ''Let's Make a Dirty Movie'' (1976)
★ ''Colt 38 Special Squad'' (1976)
★ ''Army of Lovers or Revolution of the Perverts'' (1979) (documentary)
★ ''Deadly Vengeance'' (1981)
★ ''Made in France'' (1984) (documentary)
★ ''Conan the Destroyer'' (1984)
★ ''A View to a Kill'' (1985)
★ ''Vamp'' (1986)
★ ''Straight to Hell'' (1987)
★ ''Siesta'' (1987)
★ ''Superstar: The Life and Times of Andy Warhol'' (1990) (documentary)
★ ''Boomerang'' (1992)
★ ''Cyber Bandits'' (1995)
★ ''McCinsey's Island'' (1998)
★ ''Palmer's Pick Up'' (1999)
★ ''No Place Like Home'' (2006)
Television work
★ ''A One Man Show'' (1982)
★ ''Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special'' (1988)
★ ''Wolf Girl'' (2001)
★ ''Shaka Zulu: The Citadel'' (2001)
Appearances in popular culture
★ Chicago electronic duo Microfilm mention Grace Jones in lyrics to their 2007 song "Paris". The lyrics "Tour Eiffel/You wear it well/Like Grace Jones/I think I fell...for you" refer to Jones' role in the Bond film ''A View to a Kill'', where her character parachutes off the Eiffel Tower.
See also
★ List of number-one dance hits (United States)
★ List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
References
1. Relief Web: Pavarotti and friends to stage concert for Angolan refugees.
External links
★
★ Zang Tuum Tumb Records
★ Grace Jones official website
★ - Largest Grace Jones Fan Group on Yahoo
★ Grace Jones fan tribute @ Fotolog
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psst.. try this: add to faves
