Catching Up With ... Jody Watley

By Bridget Bland, BlackVoices.com

On Feb. 8, a new crop of performers will be awarded the most prestigious honor in American music at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards.

To mark the occasion, BlackVoices.com caught up with Grammy Award-winner and pop music icon Jody Watley to get her thoughts on who should take home the Recording Academy's gold.

"Grammy night was one of the most memorable nights of my life. In fact, that entire week leading to it," shared Watley of 1988, the year she won best new artist and was nominated for best female R&B vocal performance.

For the Chicago native, winning a Grammy for her solo work -- which yielded the platters 'Looking for a New Love' and 'Don't You Want Me?' -- allowed her to come out of the shadows of her popular R&B group Shalamar and into her own. The win, previously held by Natalie Cole, Bette Midler and Sade, cemented Watley as a 1980s dance-music diva and a style icon, to boot.

She credits the award with giving her a stamp of approval as an artist and hopes that for her favorite nominees, such as British newcomers Adele, Leona Lewis and Estelle and American pop stars Rihanna, Ne-Yo and Jennifer Hudson, the title "Grammy winner" provides a long career in music.

"There is a definite difference between chart domination and longevity," she explained. "There are times where both can co-exist, but it's more the exception than the rule."

'If you establish a loyal fan base regardless of how big or small, an artist can work for as long as they want," she added. "You develop into a career artist once chart or pop culture domination wanes. The work is still there. I'm sure all of these artists will figure that out."

Mel B Pictures

In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl "Mel B" poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**

In this undated image released by Oxfam Tuesday Sept. 23, 2008, British singer Mel B participates in the 'In My Name' global campaign calling for action against poverty and demanding world leaders keep their promises on millennium development goals. (AP Photo/Oxfam, HO) ** NO SALES **

In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl Mel B, left, serves as the emcee at a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. Mel B wears a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. The woman at right is unidentified. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Ultimo Scottish designer lingerie brand founder Michelle Mone (L) and pop singer Melanie Brown pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and singer Aubrey O'Day (R) poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown, Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard, singer Aubrey O'Day and TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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Though she notes the best new artist category this year will be "a tough fight," Watley is rooting for the Academy Award-winning 'Dreamgirls' star Jennifer Hudson ("no doubt everyone will be pulling for her to triumph") and the voluptuous British export Adele ("'Chasing Pavements' has gained momentum, having been featured in promos for television and film").

Watley, who just celebrated the big 5-0 last weekend, is working hard on a new album titled 'Chameleon' and continues to record new material. She's also proud of her loyal fan base's acceptance of her diverse catalog of music.

"Winning the Grammy is the highest critical accolade, which says your peers respect what you've achieved. For me, it meant I was now free to explore and grow. I always smile and say, 'I'm still here, not in the mainstream radar, but you need to catch up to me.'"

Her new single, 'Candlelight,' will be available exclusively on iTunes on Feb. 10.

Watley also appears on the forthcoming Time Life Music project 'Songs 4 Worship Soul,' featuring chart-toppers from yesteryear doing their renditions of spiritual standards. Her version of 'Heaven Help Us All' is one of the standouts of the collection, which also features Melba Moore, Teddy Pendergrass, Deniece Williams, Freddie Jackson and Evelyn "Champagne" King. Co-executive produced by black music industry expert David Nathan, the 14-track collection is set for release on March 3.

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