Grace Jones

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Grace Jones
Birth name Grace Mendoza
Born May 19, 1948 (1948-05-19) (age 60)[1]
Origin Spanish Town, Jamaica
Genre(s) Disco New Romantic, Urban, Soul, Dance-pop, New Wave, Dance, Dancehall
Occupation(s) Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Supermodel
Instrument(s) Vocals
Years active 1973 - present
Label(s) Island Records, Manhattan Records, Capitol
Associated acts Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare

Grace Jones (born May 19, 1948)[1] is a Jamaican–American model, singer and actress.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Jones was born Grace Mendoza in Spanish Town, Jamaica, the daughter of Marjorie and Robert W. Jones, who was a politician and Apostolic clergyman.[2][3][4] Her parents took Grace and her brother Christian (now Bishop Noel Jones), to relocate to Syracuse, New York in 1965. Before becoming a successful model in New York City and Paris, Jones studied theatre at Syracuse University.

[edit] 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 standards such as "What I Did for Love", "Autumn Leaves", and "Send in the Clowns".

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, with 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.[5] Bulletproof Heart (1989) spawned the #1 U.S. Hot Dance 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 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 45 singles (commercial and/or promotional), including several non-album tracks.

[edit] 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 monotone 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".[6] 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.

[edit] Style and image

 This section needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2008)

Grace Jones' masculine appearance, height (5' 10½" or 1.79 m) and manner influenced the cross-dressing movement of the 1980s. She would also exemplify the "Flat Top", a popular late-80s hairstyle for Afro-Americans, which she displayed on the cover of her first non-disco album, 1980's Warm Leatherette.

She maintained parallel recording and acting careers, and modeling 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.[7] The muralist also painted her body for the video to "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)".

[edit] 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 Force of Nature. Also in 1998 she sang the title track for the film remake of cult TV series The Avengers. The song "Storm" was written and produced by Bruce Woolley, Chris Elliott and Marius DeVries and was performed with The Radio Science Orchestra.

In 2000, 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.[8]

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.[citation needed] 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.[9]

Producer Ivor Guest has confirmed that Jones has completed recording of her new album in 2007.[10] Nick Hooker has directed the first video from the upcoming album.[11] Other participants on the new album are Sly and Robbie, Brian Eno, Bruce Woolley, 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.[12]

In April 2007, Version2 listed "Corporate Cannibal" as the new video directed by Nick Hooker for Grace Jones.[13] 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.[14]

Grace Jones live at the Tivoli Gardens, 22 June 2007
Grace Jones live at the Tivoli Gardens, 22 June 2007

Grace Jones is performing for VIP invite only guests at the relaunch of Elandra Resort in Mission Beach, QLD. Taking place on June 28th 2008 the event will be her first performance in Australia in years. Fans who are unable to attend this VIP event are hoping for a national tour once the new album is released in September.

The new album has a release scheduled for September 2008 on Wall Of Sound/PIAS Records. She will tour the UK and headline the Secret Party Festival (July 24 through 27) to coincide with the album's release.

Grace Jones has been added to the line-up for Massive Attack's Meltdown at the Southbank Centre in London. The event takes place from Saturday 14th June - Sunday 22nd June. Massive Attack are playing on the opening and closing nights. Grace will perform on Thursday 19th June.

Grace Jones will be performing at the relaunch of Elandra Resort in Mission Beach, Cairns QLD. It is a V.I.P. Invite only event, taking place on June 28th, 2008. It is the first time Grace Jones has performed in Australia after years absent. Fans of the singer who are unable to attend this V.I.P. event are hoping for a National Tour once the new album is released in September.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Awards and nominations

Jones is a three time Saturn Award nominee, a Grammy nominee and Razzie Award nominee:

Saturn Awards

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

[edit] Controversies

In 1981, 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 British TV chat show moments.[15]

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.

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.[16]

[edit] 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 married a bodyguard named Atila Altaunbay, though they later divorced. 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 music producer Ivor Guest, the 4th Viscount Wimborne, though the relationship with Lord Wimborne, 20 years her junior, was described as "on/off" in the British press.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

[edit] Compilations

[edit] Singles

Main article: Grace Jones singles discography

[edit] Non-album tracks

Main article: Grace Jones B-Sides and Non-Album Tracks

[edit] 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)

[edit] Television work

Appeared on "Hercules" as well

[edit] Appearances in popular culture

  • Chicago electronic duo Microfilm[17] 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.
  • On the reality TV series America's Next Top Model, cycle 2, the models dressed as famous celebrities for a photo shoot. Jones was one of them, modeled by Xiomara Frans.
  • Spitting Image parodied Grace Jones in music video, portraying her as unsubtly post-modernist and pretentious (In is a kind of out. Sure is a kind of doubt. Goldfish is a kind of trout. Garbage is what this song's about...)
  • On the sketch comedy TV show In Living Color, Kim Wayans parodied Grace Jones as an extremely physical enthusiast of any activity, whether it be fighting an alligator for her dinner or pro wrestling, while regularly asking "Do you find me sexy?".

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "THE SCURRA", The Mirror, 2002-05-21. Retrieved on 2007-12-10. 
  2. ^ Gadoua, Renee K.. "CRUSADE TO SEEK CNY "UNCHURCHED'; TWO-DAY REVIVAL WITH TWO WELL-KNOWN PREACHERS HOPES TO DRAW 14,000 TO ONCENTER", The Post-Standard, 2003-04-20. Retrieved on 2007-12-10. 
  3. ^ Yakir, Dan. "Tough roles come easy to Grace Jones; Imposing artist leaves menacing mark on 'Vamp'", Chicago Sun-Times, 1986-07-13. Retrieved on 2007-12-10. 
  4. ^ Grace Jones Biography (1952?-)
  5. ^ HFA’s Songfile &reg
  6. ^ YouTube - Grace Jones - La Vie en Rose (2006)
  7. ^ Grace Jones
  8. ^ Relief Web: Pavarotti and friends to stage concert for Angolan refugees.
  9. ^ http://www.jones.tv/Default.aspx?lc=English
  10. ^ MySpace.com - Ivor Guest - London - Autre - www.myspace.com/ivorguest
  11. ^ nick hooker
  12. ^ Ask Billboard
  13. ^ Pr Feed
  14. ^ Fødselsdagskoncert
  15. ^ Jones slap tops TV chat show poll, BBC News, 22 January 2006.
  16. ^ Grace Jones denies train fracas, BBC News, 6 April 2005.
  17. ^ microfilm

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Grace Jones
Studio albums
Portfolio (1977) | Fame (1978) | Muse (1979) | Warm Leatherette (1980) | Nightclubbing (1981) | Living My Life (1982) | Slave to the Rhythm (1985) | Inside Story (1986) | Bulletproof Heart (1989) | Corporate Cannibal (2008)
Compilations,
anthologies
and reissues
Singles
Songs
Filmography
Gordon's War | Let's Make a Dirty Movie | Army of Lovers or Revolution of the Perverts | Deadly Vengeance | Made in France | A One Man Show | Conan the Destroyer | A View to a Kill | Vamp | Straight to Hell | Siesta | Boomerang | Cyber Bandits | McCinsey's Island | Palmer's Pick Up | Shaka Zulu: The Last Great Warrior | Wolf Girl
Persondata
NAME Jones, Grace
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Mendoza, Grace
SHORT DESCRIPTION Jamaican American singer, model
DATE OF BIRTH May 19, 1948
PLACE OF BIRTH Spanish Town, Jamaica
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH