Jully Black

Jully Black
Black in February 2012
Background information
Birth name	Jullyann Inderia Gordon
Born	(1977-11-08) November 8, 1977 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Origin	Toronto, Ontario
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.ca

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.

She was chosen by CBC Music as one of "The 25 Greatest Canadian Singers Ever" and has been dubbed "Canada's Queen of R&B" by fans and peers.

Early life

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

Musical career

Black performing at Luminato in June 2010

At age 21, Black was discovered by Warner/Chappel Publishing who immediately signed her. Shortly after, she was courted by Universal Music Canada where she was offered a deal to help propel her career. Black capitalized on these opportunities, which saw her garnish her first Juno Award 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 with 1998's "Rally'n". Subsequent singles also charted, such as "You Changed" and "Between Me and U". That same year, she was invited to contribute to Rascalz' groundbreaking hip hop single, "Northern Touch", but, was unable to participate due to other commitments.^[3]

Her debut album was originally scheduled for release in 2003 on MCA Records, under the title I Traveled.^[4] however, was shelved after MCA folded that same year.

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 there were "2.8 million illegal file swapping requests for her music in the first two weeks of her album's release".

Also that year, Black played the Preacher in the theatre production of "Da Kink in My Hair" at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Downtown Toronto. The play was a critical success as it sold out all of its 106 performances, being extended 5 times. This led to the weekly TV series on the Global Television Network, with Black singing the opening theme and featured two episodes.

In Summer 2007, a new single, "Seven Day Fool", was released, 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, where she performed the song live.

Black was a correspondent on the sixth season of reality competition show Canadian Idol and hosted the 2008 Canadian Radio Music Awards. She has also been a celebrity reporter for the CTV daily entertainment news magazine program, etalk.^[5] Black is also a featured weekly guest panelist on the CTV daytime talk show, The Marilyn Denis Show, and has been a multiple presenter at both the 2010 and 2011 P&G Beauty & Grooming Awards.

In 2009, Black, with YoungPete Alexander and Kellis E. Parker, wrote and released her third studio album, The Black Book. Following its release, Black kicked off a country-wide tour in Vancouver at the 2010 Winter Olympics.^[6] In 2011, Black and YoungPete created a new production team known as "The Officials". Together, they've written and produced songs on upcoming album, tentatively titled: Made In Canada.

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

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]

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.^[9] That same year, Black released an EP, Dropping W(8), a reference to her having these songs and feeling a weight on her shoulders.

Discography

Awards and nominations

• 2013: Juno Award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year "Fugitive" (NOMINATION)
• 2012: Juno Award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year "Set It Off" f. Kardinal Offishal (NOMINATION)
• 2010: Juno Award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year "The Black Book" (NOMINATION)
• 2008: Single of the Year, "Seven Day Fool" (NOMINATION)
• 2008: R&B/Soul Recording of the Year, "Revival" (WINNER)
• 2006: Juno Award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year, "Sweat of Your Brow" (NOMINATION)
• 2006: Gemini Award for Best Performance or Host in a Variety Program or Series for: Words to Music: The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame 2006 (NOMINATION)
• 2005: Canadian Urban Music Award (CUMA) for Dance/Electronic Recording of the Year, "Sweat of Your Brow" (Tricky Moreira [Just BE Remix]) (WINNER)
• 2004: Gemini Award for Best Performance or Host in a Variety Program or Series for: Tonya Lee Williams: Gospel Jubilee (NOMINATION)
• 2003: Juno Award for "Best R&B/Soul Song", "You Changed" (NOMINATION)
• 2002: Much Music Video Award Viewers Choice for Best Canadian Collaboration or Group, "The Day Before" (NOMINATION)
• 2002: Much Music Video Award for "Best Rap Video", "Light It Up" (NOMINATION)
• 2001: Juno Award for "Best Rap recording", "Money Jane" (NOMINATION)
• 1999: Much Music Video Award for "Best R&B/Soul Video". "Rally'n" (NOMINATION)
• 1999: Juno Award for "Best R&B/Soul Song". "Rally'n" (NOMINATION)
• 1998: Much Music Video Award for "Best Rap Video", "360" (NOMINATION)
• 1997: Juno Award for "Best Rap Recording", "What It Takes" (WINNER)

Recognitions and achievements

• 2008: CRIA Certified Gold, Revival
• 2004: CRIA Certified Platinum "Women & Songs 7"
• 2003: RIAA Certified Platinum "God's Son" Nas
• 2001: CRIA Certified Platinum, "All Stars 2001"
• 2001: CRIA Certified Double Platinum, Sugar Jones "Sugar Jones"
• 2001: CRIA Certified Gold, Baby Blue Sound Crew Private party Vol. 2
• 2000: CRIA Certified Gold, Baby Blue Sound Crew Private party Vol. 1
• 2000: CRIA Certified Triple Platinum, "All Stars 2000"
• 1999: CRIA Certified Gold, Choclair's "Ice Cold"
• 1999: CRIA Certified Double Platinum, "Dance Hits"

Filmography

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jully Black.

• Official website
• Jully Black on IMDb