Meshell Ndegeocello

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Meshell Ndegeocello
Meshell Ndegeocello performing in Washington, D.C., 2007
Meshell Ndegeocello performing in Washington, D.C., 2007
Background information
Birth name Michelle Lynn Johnson
Also known as Meshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakur
Born August 29, 1968 (1968-08-29) (age 39)
Berlin, Germany
Origin Washington, D.C., United States
Genre(s) Funk, soul, R&B, hip hop, reggae, rock, jazz
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, rapper, bassist, multi-instrumentalist
Instrument(s) Singing, bass guitar
Years active 1993–present
Label(s) Maverick, Shanachie, EmArcy, Universal
Website www.theworldhasmademethemanofmydreams.com

Michelle Lynn Johnson (born August 29, 1968 in Berlin, Germany), better known as Meshell Ndegeocello, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, bassist, and multi-instrumentalist. The music press has hailed her as a redeemer of soul music. Her music incorporates funk, soul, hip hop, reggae, R&B, rock, and jazz. She has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Ndegeocello was born in Berlin, Germany, to army lieutenant and saxophonist father Jacques Johnson and health care worker mother Helen. She was raised in Washington, D.C. where she attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Oxon Hill High School. In early press releases from Maverick Records her birth year was mistakenly listed as 1969. The 1968 birth date has been confirmed through a previous manager and lifelong friend.

Although named Michelle Lynn Johnson at birth, Ndegeocello has had numerous name changes. She adopted the surname Ndegeocello, which means "free like a bird", while still in her teens. Some outlets also state her birth name as Mary Johnson.[1] Meshell Ndegeocello is pronounced MEE-shell n-deh-GAY-o-chel-o. Early pressings of Plantation Lullabies were stickered with the instructions. She has changed the spelling of this name a number of times during her career; however, the correct spelling of her stage name is now Meshell Ndegeocello, without apostrophes or any unusual capitalizations.[2]

[edit] Career rise

Ndegeocello honed her skills on the D.C. go-go circuit in the late 1980s with the bands Prophecy, Little Bennie and the Masters and Rare Essence.[3] She unsuccessfully tried out for Living Colour's bassist position, vacated in 1992 by Muzz Skillings. Going solo, she was the first artist signed to Maverick Records, where she released her debut album, Plantation Lullabies. This recording presented a distinctly androgynous persona.

Her biggest hit is a duet with John Cougar Mellencamp, a cover version of Van Morrison's "Wild Night", which reached #3 on the Billboard charts. Her only other Billboard Hot 100 hit besides "Wild Night" has been "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)", which peaked at #73 in 1994. She had a Dance #1 in 1996 with a Bill Withers cover called "Who Is He (and What Is He To You?)" as well as Dance Top 20 hits with "Earth", "Leviticus: Faggot", "Stay" and the aforementioned "...Boyfriend". Ndegeocello sang background vocals on the song "I'd Rather be Your Lover" by Madonna, on her album Bedtime Stories.

Her music has been featured in a number of film soundtracks including How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Lost & Delirious, Batman and Robin, Love Jones, Love & Basketball, The Best Man, Higher Learning and Down in the Delta. She has appeared on recordings by Basement Jaxx, Indigo Girls, The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Rolling Stones' 1997 album Bridges to Babylon, playing bass on the song "Saint Of Me", and Alanis Morissette's 2002 album Under Rug Swept, playing bass on the songs "So Unsexy" and "You Owe Me Nothing in Return". She can also be seen in the documentary movie Standing in the Shadows of Motown, singing The Miracles' "You've Really Got A Hold On Me". In the late 1990s, she toured with Lilith Fair.

[edit] Personal life

Ndegeocello is bisexual, and was a longtime lover of writer Rebecca Walker[4]; their relationship ended in 2003. Ndegeocello suffers from photosensitive epilepsy and is susceptible to seizures induced by flash photography when she is performing live.

[edit] Discography

[edit] References

  1. ^ Sullivan, Jim (November 21, 2005). The Feel: Meshell Ndegeocello. Berklee College of Music.
  2. ^ FreeMyHeart.com
  3. ^ Wiltz, Teresa (June 19, 2005), “Meshell Ndegeocello Breaks Step With Pop”, Washington Post: N01, <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/17/AR2005061700715_pf.html> .
  4. ^ O'Neill, Heather A. (2007-04-18). Across the Page: Bisexual Books. AfterEllen.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-19.

[edit] External links

Persondata
NAME Ndegeocello, Meshell
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Johnson, Michelle Lynn
SHORT DESCRIPTION American singer, songwriter, rapper, and multi-instrumentalist
DATE OF BIRTH August 29, 1968
PLACE OF BIRTH Berlin, Germany
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH