Jully Black

Jully Black
Background information
Birth name Jullyann Inderia Gordon
Also known as JB
Born November 8, 1977
Origin Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres R&B, Soul, Reggae, Pop
Occupation(s) Singer–songwriter, producer, actress
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1995–present
Labels Jully Black Entertainment Inc. - Universal Music Canada
Associated acts Nas, Kardinal Offishall, Saukrates, Choclair, Toya Alexis, Sean Paul
Website JullyBlack.com/mic

Jully Black (born Jullyann Inderia Gordon; November 8, 1977) is a Canadian R&B singer–songwriter and actress. She has collaborated and written for many artists, including Nas, Saukrates, Choclair, Kardinal Offishall, Destiny's Child and Sean Paul.

Black has a dynamic personality, inexhaustible talent, and uncompromising style. She was chosen by CBC Music as one of "The 25 Greatest Canadian Singers Ever." She has been dubbed as "Canada's Queen of R&B" by fans and peers.

Early life

She was born Jullyann Inderia Gordon in Toronto, Ontario. The youngest of seven children born to Jamaican immigrants, she grew up in the Jane and Finch area of Toronto.[1] She was raised in a strict Pentecostal household by her single mother, Aretha, after her parents divorced when Black was young.

Musical career

At the age of 21, Black was discovered by Warner/Chappel Publishing who immediately signed her and shortly after that she was courted by Universal Music Canada where she was offered a deal to help propel her career. Jully capitalized on these opportunities, which saw her garnish her first Juno nomination in 1997 and continue to be nominated almost every year thereafter as well as having the opportunities to collaborate with and/or write for other well-known artists such as Nas, Destiny’s Child, Sean Paul, Kardinal Official, and many others.[2]

Black had a Top 40 hit on the Canadian charts in 1998 with "Rally'n". She has had subsequent hits with singles such as "You Changed" and "Between Me and U". She had also been invited to contribute to Rascalz' groundbreaking hip hop single "Northern Touch" in 1998, but was unable to participate due to other commitments.[3]

Her solo debut album was originally scheduled for release in 2003 on MCA Records, under the title I Traveled.[4] However, it was heavily delayed, MCA eventually folded in 2003, and the album was shelved.

In summer 2005, a newly recorded album, This Is Me, was released by Universal Music Canada. The album included the hit singles "Sweat of Your Brow" and "5x Love". According to a piracy report by IFPI, the international music industry body, there were "2.8 million illegal file swapping requests for her music in the first two weeks of her album's release in 2005".

Also during that year, Black played in the theatre production of "Da Kink in My Hair" at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto. A play created and written by Trey Anthony, Jully played the part of the Preacher. The play was a critical success as it sold out all of its 106 performances during its run at the Princess of Wales Theatre and being extended 5 times. This acclaimed accomplishment eventually lead to the play being developed into a weekly TV series on the Global Television Network which Black sang the opening credit theme song and was a featured character in a couple of episodes.

In summer 2007, a new single entitled "Seven Day Fool" was released, eventually becoming Black's first Top 10 hit in Canada. Her second album Revival was released on October 16, 2007 and was awarded the Juno for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year in Calgary on April 6, 2008, at which she was the closing act on the telecast performing "Seven Day Fool".

Black was a correspondent on the sixth season of Canadian Idol. She also hosted the 2008 Canadian Radio Music Awards. In addition to her career as a recording artist, Black has been a celebrity reporter for CTV's daily entertainment magazine etalk.[5]

Black performing in June 2010

In 2009, Black, with YoungPete Alexander and Kellis E. Parker, wrote and released her third studio album The Black Book. Following the release of The Black Book, Black kicked off a country wide tour in Vancouver at the 2010 Winter Olympics.[6]

In 2010, a new song by Black, "At the Roncies" (about the Roncesvalles Avenue neighborhood of Toronto, Ontario), was the song chosen by listeners[7] to represent the province of Ontario in CBC Radio 2's Great Canadian Song Quest.

In 2011, Black and YoungPete created a new production team by welcoming the talents of choreographer and songwriter Luther Brown, collectively known as The Officials. Together they've written and produced songs on the soon to be released album Made In Canada.

Black was selected to perform and open for Celine Dion at the 2012 Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival honouring Jamaica’s 50th Anniversary of Independence in 2012.[8]

Jully is also a featured weekly guest panelist on CTV's talk show The Marilyn Denis Show and has been a multiple presenter at both the 2010 & 2011 P&G Beauty & Grooming Awards.[9]

In 2012, Black was nominated for a 2012 Juno Award for 'Best R&B/Soul Recording' for her song "Set It Off" featuring Kardinal Offishall.[10]

In Summer 2012, Jully released an EP including a range of different styles to fans for free. Black named the EP "Dropping W(8)". She mentioned that she had these songs and felt a weight on her shoulders with them and wanted to "drop the weight". The title also reference "wait", as fans have waited for and anticipated new music. Around the same time, Jully recruited interns from all over the country to help get the word out of "Dropping W(8)".

Jully is currently working in studio on "Made In Canada", her much anticipated fourth album with plans to release it internationally and promote it across Canada and the U.S. with plans for a tour throughout Europe.

Musical Influences

Black cites Etta James and Tina Turner as her musical influences.

Personal life

Black is a Pentecostal Christian.

Discography

Albums

Official mixtapes

FanMade mixtapes

Singles

Year Single Chart Positions Album
CAN
1998 "Rally'n" (with Saukrates) — I Travelled
2000 "Say No More" —
2002 "Between Me and You" (featuring Saukrates) —
2005 "Stay the Night" —
"Sweat of Your Brow" (featuring Demarco) 16 This Is Me
"5x Love"/"Material Things" (featuring Nas) 30
2006 "I Travelled" 66
"Gotta Let You Know (Scream)" —
2007 "Seven Day Fool" 9 Revival
"DJ Play My Song" —
2008 "Until I Stay" 33
"Queen" —
2009 "Running" 40 The Black Book
2010 "Need You" —
"Can U Feel It?" — DROPPING W8
"Pushin'" —
2011 "Set It Off'"(featuring Kardinal Offishall) -

Remixes

Feature tracks and additional singles

Soundtracks

Awards and nominations

Recognitions and achievements

Opening act/international performance history

Network television performances

Television and film appearances

– Episode #2.79 (2012) … Herself – Episode #2.44 (2011) … Herself – Episode #1.15 (2011) … Herself

– Episode #7.24 (2010) … Herself - Performer – Episode dated 2 December 2009 (2009) … Herself

- Episode dated 18 March 2009 - Episode dated 20 March 2009 - Episode dated 3 April 2009 - Episode dated 23 April 2009 - Episode dated 27 April 2009 - Episode dated 17 August 2009 - Episode dated 19 August 2009 - Episode dated 20 August 2009 - Episode dated 27 August 2009 - Episode dated 3 September 2009 - Episode dated 10 September 2009 - Episode dated 12 October 2009 - Episode dated 16 October 2009 - Episode dated 2 December 2009 - Episode dated 28 January 2010 - Episode dated 7 April 2010 - Episode dated 28 April 2010 - Episode dated 29 June 2010

– Episode #1.28 (2006) … Herself – Episode #1.9 (2005) … Herself – Episode #1.2 (2005) … Herself

Vocal training

Vocal history

References

[13]

  1. ↑ GeoBiography submitted by the artist to CBC Radio 2's Great Canadian Song Quest http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/songquest/artists/jully_black.html
  2. ↑ http://www.reverbnation.com/artist_960826/bio
  3. ↑ Canadian hip hop gets the Northern Touch, NOW, June 4, 1998.
  4. ↑ Travellin’ woman: Jully Black
  5. ↑ http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060314/jully_black_profile_060321/20060322?s_name=junos2006&no_ads=
  6. ↑ Patrick, Ryan Questionnaire: Jully Black at Exclaim! February 2010.
  7. ↑ 2010 CBC Great Canadian Song Quest - Ontario http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/songquest/provinces/ontario.html
  8. ↑ 2012 Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival lineup http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/12/prweb9059516.htm
  9. ↑ http://en.pgbeautyandgroomingawards.ca/index.html
  10. ↑ 2012 Juno Awards Nominees http://junoawards.ca/nominees-winners
  11. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/until-i-stay-remix-bundle-ep/id274894668
  12. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/seven-day-fool-remix-bundle/id262840620
  13. ↑ This page was revised and approved by the artist herself (Jully Black)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jully Black.