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A groupie is a person who seeks emotional and sexual intimacy with a musician or other celebrity or public figure. "Groupie" is derived from group in reference to a musical group,^[1] but the word is also used in a more general sense, especially in casual conversation. The word "groupie" is commonplace, a derisive term used to describe a particular kind of female fan assumed to be more interested in sex with rock stars than in their music.^[2]

Groupies became prominent in the music scene in the 1960s and 1970s. This was prior to the murder of John Lennon in December 1980, and before security levels for bands increased significantly. Female groupies in particular have a long-standing reputation of being available to celebrities, pop stars, rock stars and other public figures. Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant is quoted as distinguishing between fans who wanted brief sexual encounters, and "groupies" who traveled with musicians for extended periods of time, acting as a surrogate girlfriend or mother, often taking care of the musician's valuables, drugs, wardrobe, and social life.^[3] Nancy Spungen, who became the partner of Sid Vicious of The Sex Pistols, is one such example; women adopting this role are sometimes referred to as "road wives." Cynthia Plaster Caster and The GTOs ("Girls Together Outrageously"), with Pamela Des Barres, in particular, as de-facto spokeswoman, are probably the best known groupies of this type. The GTOs was organized by musician Frank Zappa in the late 1960s. The band consisted of 7 young women: Miss Pamela (Pamela Des Barres), Miss Sparky (Linda Sue Parker), Miss Lucy (Lucy McLaren), Miss Christine (Christine Frka), Miss Sandra (Sandra Leano), Miss Mercy (Mercy Fontentot) and Miss Cynderella (Cynthia Cale-Binion). Another type of groupie were the young teenage girls who dominated the backstage scene in the seventies, sometimes referred to as the "Baby Groupies" by certain musicians. These girls started going backstage when they were fourteen years old and set a precedent at the time. The best known of this group were Sable Starr, Lori Maddox, and Geraldine Edwards, who was the inspiration for Penny Lane, played by actress Kate Hudson, in Almost Famous.

A major characteristic that classifies one as a groupie is a promiscuous reputation. Connie Hamzy, also known as “Sweet Connie”, a prominent groupie in the 1960s argues in favor of the groupie movement and defends her chosen lifestyle by saying, “Look we’re not hookers, we loved the glamour” (Pop & Hiss). However, her openness regarding her sexual endeavors with various rock stars is exactly what has enhanced the negative connotations surrounding her type. For example the article “Pop & Hiss”, found in the Los Angeles Times,^[4] states, "Hamzy, unlike the other groupies, was never looking to build relationships. She was after sex, and she unabashedly shared intimate moments with virtually every rock star -- even their roadies -- who came through Arkansas." Hamzy is the epitome of a stereotypical groupie: a young woman who unashamedly slept with any man involved in the music business whenever they desired.

Aside from the sexual aspect of rock and roll that was accentuated by the groupie, the women also played a huge role in the amount of drugs and alcohol consumed by the artists. Chris O’Dell slept with rock stars such as Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, and Mick Jagger. O’Dell opens up about her life as a groupie to a representative from the magazine The Telegraph,^[5] “Predictably, the drug consumption soared when she moved to the Stones. O'Dell, who admits that her capacity for drugs was probably as much a factor as her easy-going personality in her popularity with rock stars, rose to the occasion. Keith Richards admiringly told her that she took drugs "'like a man'. Praise from the master.” O’Dell goes on to describe the years with the Rolling Stones as her lost years because she can hardly remember anything due to her drug consumption. She also admits that one of the reasons stars enjoyed her company so much is because she liked consuming drugs in large quantities all the time.

Des Barres, who wrote two books detailing her experiences as a groupie – I'm With The Band (1987) and Take Another Little Piece of My Heart: A Groupie Grows Up (1993) – as well as another non-fiction book, Rock Bottom: Dark Moments in Music Babylon, asserts that a groupie is to a rock band as Mary Magdalene was to Jesus.^[6] Her most recent book, Let's Spend the Night Together (2007), is a collection of wildly varied interviews with classic "old school" groupies including Catherine James, Connie Hamzy, Cherry Vanilla, DeeDee Keel, Margaret Moser, and Patti Johnsen as well as modern groupies like Mandy Murders, Lexa Vonn and the Plastics. Des Barres, who married rock star-actor Michael Des Barres, also persuaded cult actress Tura Satana, muse Bebe Buell, actress Patti D'Arbanville, and Cassandra Peterson, better known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark to talk about their relationships with musicians.

According to Des Barres' book, there is at least one verified male groupie, Pleather, who followed female celebrities such as Courtney Love and members of the 80s pop group The Bangles.

"Apple Scruffs", from George Harrison's album All Things Must Pass, refers to the Apple scruffs, a group of teenage girls who staked out The Beatles' Apple Corps offices, Abbey Road Studios, and Paul McCartney's home, often sleeping outside in rough weather, waiting for a glimpse of a Beatle. The Beatles' song "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" refers to the day a few Scruffs climbed into Paul McCartney's house through an upstairs bathroom window and raided his closet for a pair of trousers, which they took turns wearing. They also took a framed photograph, which they later returned at McCartney's request. The movie Almost Famous revolves around the life of groupies (although they call themselves 'band aids' in the film). The famous "band aid" comment originated from a statement that Bebe Buell made in an interview in the seventies. Cameron Crowe incorporated it into his screenplay. In 1970 Groupie Girl was released by American International Pictures and was written by director Derek Ford and Suzanne Mercer based on Mercer's experiences as a groupie.

Michael Jackson was known to say that his number one hit song Dirty Diana was written about a groupie.^[7]

Notes[link]

External links[link]

• Tales of a Rock-Star Love Affair: Slash's Wife Talks Groupie Antics, Finding Hubby in Rolling Stone
• Lust for Life: Memoirs of an Unrepentant Groupie by Margaret Moser
• USA Today Article about firefighter and police groupies after 9/11/01

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (April 2009)

Bob Sinclar
Background information
Birth name	Christophe Le Friant
Also known as	The Mighty Bop, Reminiscence Quartet, Yellow Productions, Chris The French Kiss, Bob From Paris, Desmond K
Born	(1969-05-10) 10 May 1969 (age 43)
Origin	Douarnenez, France
Genres	House, reggae fusion, raggamuffin, electro house, dance, french house, electronic, hip house
Occupations	Producer, DJ
Instruments	Turntables
Years active	1987–present
Labels	Yellow Productions Ministry of Sound Australia
Associated acts	Africanism All Stars
Website	www.bobsinclar.com

Bob Sinclar (born Christophe Le Friant, 10 May 1969), is a French record producer, house music DJ, remixer and the owner of the label Yellow Productions.^[1] He is known for popularising the "French touch" of house music with heavy use of sampled and filtered disco strings. He describes his musical style as inspired by "peace, love, and house-music".^[2]

Several of Sinclar's songs have became international hits, being particularly popular in Europe. Some of his most popular hits include "Love Generation" (with Gary Pine) and "World, Hold On" (with Steve Edwards).

Discography[link]

Singles[link]

as The Mighty Bop

• 1994 "Les Jazz Electroniques EP"
• 1995 "Messe Pour Les Temps"
• 1996 "Ult Violett Sounds EP"
• 1998 "Feelin' Good"
• 2002 "I Go Crazy"
• 2003 "Lady", with Duncan Roy

as Africanism

• 2000 "Bisou Sucré"
• 2000 "Do It", with Eddie Amador
• 2001 "Kazet"
• 2002 "Viel Ou La"
• 2004 "Amour Kéfé"
• 2004 "Kalimbo"
• 2004 "Steel Storm", with Ladysmith Black Mambazo
• 2005 "Summer Moon", with David Guetta
• 2006 "Hard", with The Hard Boys
• 2007 "Meu Carnaval", with Rolando Faria

as Bob Sinclar

most tracks are co-produced by Cutee B

• 1996 "A Space Funk Project"
• 1996 "A Space Funk Project II"
• 1997 "Eu Só Quero um Xodó", with Salomé de Bahia
• 1998 "Gym Tonic", with Thomas Bangalter
• 1998 "My Only Love", with Lee Genesis — #56 UK
• 1998 "Super Funky Brake's Vol. I"
• 1998 "The Ghetto"
• 1998 "Ultimate Funk"
• 2000 "I Feel for You", with Cerrone's Angels — #9 UK, #33 ITA
• 2000 "Darlin'", with James "D. Train" Williams — #46 UK
• 2000 "Greetings from Champs Elysées EP" — #125 UK
• 2001 "Freedom", with Gene Van Buren — #79 UK
• 2001 "Ich Rocke"
• 2001 "Save Our Soul"
• 2002 "The Beat Goes On", with Linda Lee Hopkins — #33 UK
• 2003 "Kiss My Eyes", with Camille Lefort — #67 UK, #22 US Hot Dance Club Play
• 2003 "Prego", with Eddie Amador
• 2003 "Slave Nation"
• 2004 "Sexy Dancer", with Cerrone's Angels
• 2004 "Wonderful World", with Ron Carroll
• 2004 "You Could Be My Lover", with Linda Lee Hopkins
• 2005 "Love Generation", with Gary Pine — #1 US Hot Dance Club Play Singles, #2 NL, #3 FR, #3 ITA, #1 AUS, #1 GER, #12 UK, #8 RU, #1 CZ, #11 US Hot Dance Airplay
• 2006 "Generación del Amor" (Spanish Version) — #1 ESP
• 2006 "World, Hold On (Children of the Sky)", with Steve Edwards — #1 ESP, #1 US Hot Dance Club Play Singles, #2 FR, #4 RU, #5 NL, #8 CZ, #9 UK, #10 US Hot Dance Airplay, #19 AUS, #48 US Pop Airplay
• 2006 "Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now)", with Dollarman and Big Ali — #2 US Hot Dance Club Play, #3 FR, #3 UK, #11 CZ, #7 AUS
• 2007 "Tennessee", with Farell Lennon — #21 ITA, #27 CZ
• 2007 "Everybody Movin'", with Ron Carroll — #3 GER, #1 ESP
• 2007 "Give a Lil' Love" — #10 ITA, #19 PL, #27 ESP
• 2007 "Sound of Freedom", with Gary Pine and Dollarman — #14 UK, #1 UK Indie, #24 CZ
• 2007 "What I Want", with Fireball #52 UK
• 2007 "Together", with Steve Edwards — #63 PL, #4 ROM
• 2008 "4 Minutes" (Space Funk Remix)
• 2008 "W.W.W. (What a Wonderful World)", with Axwell, The Chicago Superstars & Ron Carroll
• 2008 "New New New", with Cutee B, Dollarman & Big Ali
• 2009 "Lala Song", with Wonder Mike & Master Gee from Sugarhill Gang — #6 ITA
• 2009 "Love You No More", with Shabba Ranks
• 2010 "I Wanna", with Shaggy & Sahara (Costi Ionita and Andrea)
• 2010 "Tik Tok", with Sean Paul
• 2010 "Rainbow of Love", with Ben Onono
• 2011 "The Russian March"
• 2011 "Far l'Amore", with Raffaella Carrà — #6 ITA, #7 BE (Wallonia), #7 ESP, #15 BE (Flanders), #16 CH, #16 NL, #23 AT, #41 FR
• 2011 "Me Not a Gangsta" (feat. Mr Shammi & Colonel Reyel)
• 2011 "F*** With You" (feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
• 2011 "Rock the Boat (feat. Pitbull, Dragonfly & Fatman Scoop)
• 2011 "Wild Thing", with Snoop Dogg

^[3]

Hit singles[link]

Albums[link]

as Bob Sinclar

• 1998 Paradise
• 2000 Champs Elysées
• 2001 Cerrone by Bob Sinclar (Compilation of Cerrone remixes)
• 2003 III
• 2004 Enjoy
• 2005 In The House (Various Artists Mix CD)
• 2006 Western Dream
• 2007 Soundz of Freedom
• 2007 Bob Sinclar: Live at the Playboy Mansion
• 2008 Dancefloor FG Winter 2008 (Mixed by Bob Sinclar)
• 2008 DJ Bob Sinclar 08
• 2009 Born in 69
• 2010 Made in Jamaica
• 2012 Disco Crash

as The Mighty Bop (with Alain Ho)

• 1995 La Vague Sensorielle
• 1995 The Mighty Bop Meets DJ Cam & La Funk Mob, with DJ Cam and La Funk Mob
• 1996 Autres Voix, Autres Blues
• 2000 Spin My Hits
• 2002 The Mighty Bop

as Reminiscence Quartet (with Alain Ho and Sébastien Tellier)

• 1994 Ritmo Brasileiro
• 1995 Psycodelico
• 1999 More Psycodelico

as Yellow Productions (with Alain Ho and Cutee B.)

• 1994 A Finest Fusion Of Black Tempo

as Africanism (see all members on discogs.com)

• 2001 Africanism Allstars Vol. I, as Africanism
• 2004 Africanism Allstars Vol. II, as Africanism
• 2005 Africanism Allstars Vol. III, as Africanism
• 2006 Africanism Allstars Vol. IV, as Africanism

See also[link]

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart

References[link]

External links[link]

Main sites

• Bob Sinclar — official site
• Bob Sinclar — Twitter official site
• Bob Sinclar — MySpace official site
• Bob Sinclar discography at Discogs

Interviews and features

• Interview with Bob Sinclar
• Bob Sinclar on The Mag

Michel Berger, 1990.

Michel Berger (28 November 1947 – 2 August 1992), born Michel Jean Hamburger, was a very successful French singer and songwriter. He was a central figure of France's pop music scene for two decades both as a singer and as a songwriter for well-known French artists like his wife France Gall, Françoise Hardy and Johnny Hallyday. He was also romantically involved with singer songwriter Véronique Sanson in the early 1970s before he married France Gall.

He died of a heart attack at the age of 45.

Biography[link]

Berger was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, the son of the famous doctor Jean Hamburger and concert pianist Annette Haas.

Berger first became known to the French public in the 1960s as singer of hit song Salut les copains, after which he became record producer and songwriter for EMI and where he wrote amongst others Les Girafes for Bourvil in 1967. In the early 1970s, he moved to Warner Music where he produced the early albums of Véronique Sanson, and Allah once again in 1989. In 1973, he was responsible for producing the album Message personnel, the title track of which relaunched Françoise Hardy's career. He also produced the single Je suis moi for Hardy.

Berger started writing for France Gall in 1974, produced all her albums from 1975 on, and married her on 22 June 1976.

In 1978, he composed the musical: Starmania, with lyrics by Luc Plamondon. The musical starred France Gall, Claude Dubois, Daniel Balavoine, Diane Dufresne, Nanette Workman, Eric Estève and Fabienne Thibeault. It was a big success in France in the 1980s and 1990s. An English version, entitled Tycoon, was released in 1991 with lyrics by Tim Rice, but it did not achieve the success the original version had in France.

Unfortunately, the two musicals Berger worked on immediately after Starmania did not fare well. In 1980, Berger partnered with producer Jerome Savary and lyricist Luc Plamondon to produce the musical La Légende de Jimmy, inspired by the life of James Dean. However, this bombed. Berger's next musical project, Dreams in Stone, was conceived as an American musical, co-arranged with Michel Bernholc, and recorded in the United States, with lead vocals by singers Rosanne Cash, Bill Champlin, Lynn Carey, Jennifer Warnes, and Bill Withers among others. Though the show itself never saw the light of day, the album was nevertheless released in 1982. The album was a complete flop, and is not generally known outside of a few fansites.

In 1985, Berger produced Johnny Hallyday's album Rock 'n' Roll Attitude, as well as the show for his related tour.

In 1987, Berger produced France Gall's album Babacar, as well as the show for her related tour. Opening at Le Zénith, and then continuing throughout Europe, the successful show gave rise to France Gall's live album Le Tour de France '88.

Berger also scored several film projects over the years, which included Mektoub, a 1970 film by Algerian Director Ali Ghalem, Robert Benayoun's Sérieux comme le plaisir in 1975, Jean-Paul Rappeneau's Tout feu, tout flamme in 1982 and Rive droite, rive gauche the 1984 film by Philippe Labro. He is also known for his Orangina advertisement jingle.

Berger was one of a handful of French artists who participated readily and actively in humanitarian acts: in 1985, he worked exclusively for Action Écoles alongside France Gall, Richard Berry and Daniel Balavoine, then later for Ethiopia with Renaud (Chanteurs Sans Frontières) and for Les Restos du cœur with comedian Coluche.

Death[link]

On 2 August 1992, a few weeks after the release of his first album of duets with France Gall, Michel Berger suffered a fatal heart attack in the middle of a tennis match at Ramatuelle. His untimely death came as a shock to many people because he had been one of the most popular French singer-songwriters of the 1970s and 1980s. Moreover, unlike many pop stars, he came across as a nice and simple man, more interested in music and family life than in rock & roll excesses. As a matter of fact, his marriage with France Gall was remarkably stable. He is buried in Paris close in the cemetery of Montmartre with his daughter, Pauline, who died from cystic fibrosis in 1997. His son, Raphael, works for Marc Lumbroso and produces music for Remark Records.

Studio albums[link]

• Michel Berger (Le coeur brisé) (1973)
• Chansons pour une fan (1974)
• Que l'amour est bizarre (1975)
• Mon piano danse (1976)
• Beauséjour (1980)
• Beaurivage (1981)
• Dreams in Stone (1982)
• Voyou (1983)
• Différences (1985)
• Ca ne tient pas debout (1990)
• Double jeu (with France Gall) (1992)

Live albums[link]

• Michel Berger au Théâtre des Champs-Élysées (1980)
• Michel Berger en public au Palais des Sports (1983)
• Michel Berger au Zénith (1986)

Booklets[link]

• Plamondon & Berger : Full Text of the Rock Opera, La Légende de Jimmy, Éditions Le Cherche Midi, Paris, 1990, ISBN 2-86274-189-2
• Plamondon & Berger : Full Text of the Rock Opera, Starmania, 1995 Éditions Le Cherche Midi, Paris, ISBN 2-86274-357-7

Trivia[link]

• Berger, alongside fellow musicians Michel Fugain and Michel Sardou, appeared as extras (uncredited roles) in the 1966 René Clément film Paris brûle-t-il?, Berger as « Chef des explosifs »; Fugain and Sardou as student protestors.

References[link]

Biographies[link]

• Hugues Royer & Philippe Seguy : France Gall – Michel Berger, Deux destins pour une légende, Éditions du Rocher, 1994, ISBN 2-268-01873-3
• Jean-François Brieu & Éric Didi : Michel Berger – Quelques mots d'amour, Éditions Jean-Claude Lattès, 1997, ISBN 2-7096-1798-6
• Jacques Pessis : Michel Berger, Collection Les Lumières du Music-Hall – Éditions Vade Retro, 2001, ISBN 2-909828-80-8

Essays[link]

• France Gall & Jean Brousse : Michel Berger – Si Le Bonheur Existe, 2002 Éditions Le Cherche Midi, Paris, ISBN 2-7491-0012-7

External links[link]

• Biography of Michel Berger, from Radio France Internationale

Fansites[link]

• Si le bonheur existe, by Sébastien Kerroux
• Le paradis blanc by Oliver King
• Double Je Fansite
• Celui qui chante Fansite

Grace Jones
Grace Jones on her Hurricane Tour 2009
Background information
Birth name	Grace Jones
Born	(1948-05-19) 19 May 1948 (age 64)[1] Spanish Town, Saint Catherine, Jamaica
Origin
Genres	Pop, New Wave, reggae, rock, soul, R&B, electronic, house, dance, disco
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, actress, model
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1973–present
Labels	Island Records, Manhattan Records, Capitol Records, Wall of Sound, PIAS Recordings

Grace Jones (born May 19, 1948) is a Jamaican singer, actress and model.

Jones started out as a model and became a muse to Andy Warhol, who photographed her extensively.^[2][3] During that era she regularly went to the New York City nightclub Studio 54. Jones secured a record deal with Island Records in 1977, which resulted in a string of dance-club hits. In the late 1970s, she adapted the emerging electronic music style and adopted a severe, androgynous look with square-cut hair and angular, padded clothes. Many of her singles were hits on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play and Hot Dance Airplay charts, for example 1981 "Pull Up to the Bumper", which spent seven weeks at #2 on the U.S. dance chart.^[4] Jones was able to find mainstream success in Europe, particularly the United Kingdom, scoring a number of Top 40 entries on the UK Singles Chart. Her most notable albums are Warm Leatherette, Nightclubbing and Slave to the Rhythm, while her biggest hits (other than "Pull Up to the Bumper") are "I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)", "Private Life", "Slave to the Rhythm" and "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)".

Jones is also an actress. Her acting occasionally overshadowed her musical output in America; but not in Europe, where her profile as a recording artist was much higher. She appeared in some low-budget films in the 1970s and early 1980s. Her work as an actress in mainstream film began in the 1984 fantasy-action film Conan the Destroyer alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the 1985 James Bond movie A View to a Kill. In 1986 she played a vampire in Vamp, and both acted in and contributed a song to the 1992 film Boomerang with Eddie Murphy. In 2001, she appeared in Wolf Girl alongside Tim Curry.

Life and career[link]

Background and early career[link]

Grace Jones was born in 1948 in Spanish Town, Jamaica, the daughter of Marjorie and Robert W. Jones, who was a politician and Apostolic clergyman.^[5] Her parents took Grace and her brothers, Chris and Noel Jones (Bishop Noel Jones), and relocated to Syracuse, New York in 1965, where she studied theatre at Syracuse University.^[6] Before becoming a successful model in New York City and Paris, Jones studied theatre at Onondaga Community College. In the 1973 film Gordon's War, Jones played the role of Mary, a Harlem drug courier.

Jones secured a record deal with Island Records in 1977, which resulted in a string of dance-club hits and a large gay following.^[7] Her debut, disco-oriented album Portfolio was released in 1977 to a considerable success, and spawned hits "I Need a Man" and "La Vie en rose". Two next albums followed, Fame in 1978 and Muse in 1979, which generated more pop melodies set to a disco beat, such as "Do or Die" or "On Your Knees". Although popular in club market, her first three albums failed to break the mainstream sales charts. During that period, she also became a muse to Andy Warhol, who photographed her extensively.^[2][3] Jones also accompanied him to New York City nightclub Studio 54 on many occasions. The colourful artwork and design for Jones' three first albums and accompanying single releases were created by another of Warhol's longtime collaborators, Richard Bernstein, arguably best known for his many cover illustrations for Interview Magazine in the 1970s and early 1980s.^[8] In 1978, she appeared with the French model and singer Amanda Lear in the controversial six-episode Italian TV series Stryx.

Early 1980s: Compass Point Studios period[link]

At the beginning of the 1980s, Jones adapted the emerging New Wave music to create a different style for herself. Still with Island, and now working with producers Chris Blackwell, Alex Sadkin and the Compass Point All Stars, and recording at Blackwell's Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, she released the critically acclaimed album Warm Leatherette in 1980. This included re-imaginings of songs by The Pretenders ("Private Life"), Roxy Music ("Love Is the Drug"), Tom Petty ("Breakdown"), The Normal ("Warm Leatherette") and Smokey Robinson ("The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game"). The record met with even greater success than her previous disco albums and the song "Private Life" was her first to enter UK Singles Chart, and still remains one of her highest-charting singles in that country. Parallel to her musical shift was an equally dramatic visual makeover, created in partnership with stylist Jean-Paul Goude.^[9] Jones adopted a severe, androgynous look, with square-cut hair and angular, padded clothes. The cover photographs of Warm Leatherette and Nightclubbing exemplified this new identity.

1981 saw the release of Nightclubbing, a rapid follow-up to Warm Leatherette. Jones chose a number of well-known hits to reinterpret, including Iggy Pop's and David Bowie's "Nightclubbing" and Ástor Piazzolla's "I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)". The latter would become one of the Jones's most recognizable tunes and the self-penned, post-disco dance track "Pull Up to the Bumper" spent seven weeks at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, and became a Top 5 single on the U.S. R&B chart when released as a single in the fall of 1981.^[10] However, both Warm Leatherette and Nightclubbing albums also included a few tracks co-written by Jones herself, such as "A Rolling Stone" and "Feel Up". In the UK, Nightclubbing claimed the number one slot on music magazine New Musical Express' Album of the Year listing.^[11] In 1981, Jones, appearing alongside noted psychotherapist Sonja Vetter, caused a controversy by slapping chat show host Russell Harty across the face live on air after he turned to interview other guests and she felt she was being ignored.^[12][13] This topped a 2006 BBC poll of the most-shocking British TV chat show moments.^[14]

In 1981 and 1982, Jones toured the UK, Continental Europe, Scandinavia and the USA with her One Man Show, a performance art/pop theatre presentation devised by Jean-Paul Goude and Jones herself, in which she performed tracks from the albums Portfolio, Warm Leatherette and Nightclubbing dressed in elaborate costumes and masks – in the opening sequence as a gorilla – and alongside a series of Grace Jones lookalikes. A video version, filmed live in London and New York City and completed with some studio footage, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Long-Form Music Video next year.^[15] Her collaboration with Blackwell, Sadkin and the Compass Point All Stars continued with the dub reggae-influenced album Living My Life (1982), which featured the self-penned "My Jamaican Guy", sung in patois and a cover of "The Apple Stretching" by Melvin Van Peebles. In 1984, Jones' work as an actress in mainstream film began, with the role of Zula, the Amazon, in Conan the Destroyer alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and former NBA player Wilt Chamberlain. She next landed the role of May Day in the fourteenth James Bond movie A View to a Kill (1985).

Late 1980s and 1990s[link]

In the mid-1980s, she worked with Trevor Horn and Bruce Woolley for the conceptual musical collage Slave to the Rhythm, which was released in the fall of 1985. The well-received album consisted of several re-workings of the title track, which is arguably the most popular song ever delivered by Grace Jones. Although never charted in the Hot 100, the single did well on the R&B charts, dance charts, and in the UK, peaking at number 12.^[16] Slave to the Rhythm, together with Warm Leatherette and Nightclubbing albums, is now recognised as one of Grace Jones' best works.^[17][18] In December, her first retrospective album was released. Island Life collected most of the singles from her 1977 debut up to recent 1985 hits. It included new versions of "Love Is the Drug", which charted again, as so did "Pull Up to the Bumper". Her next studio release, the first album after leaving the Island Records label, was Inside Story (1986), on which she worked with Nile Rodgers. It 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.^[19] She appeared in the 1986 vampire film Vamp where she played a queen vampire.

Her ninth studio album, Bulletproof Heart (1989), spawned the Number 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 Clivillés. The second and the final single, "Amado Mio", was a cover version of the song used in 1946 film Gilda and originally performed by Rita Hayworth. Bulletproof Heart met with lukewarm reception. In 1992 Jones appeared in Eddie Murphy film Boomerang, for which she also contributed the song "7 Day Weekend" to its soundtrack, and released one more soundtrack single in 1993; "Evilmainya", recorded for the film Freddie as F.R.O.7. She recorded two albums during the 1990s, but they remain unreleased or unfinished thus far.^[20] In 1994, she was due to release an electro album titled Black Marilyn with artwork featuring the singer as Marilyn Monroe. "Sex Drive" was released as the first single, however, due to heavy disagreements with producers, the record was shelved. In June 1998, she was scheduled to release an album entitled Force of Nature, on which she worked with trip hop musician Tricky.^[21] The release of Force of Nature was cancelled due to a disagreement between them and only a white label 12" single featuring two dance mixes of "Hurricane (Cradle to the Grave)" was issued;^[22] a slowed-down version of this song became the title track of her comeback album released ten years later. Jones cut the song "Storm" in 1998 for the movie The Avengers. In 1999 she appeared in an episode of the Beastmaster television series as the Umpatra Warrior.

Recent career[link]

In 2000, Jones cut "The Perfect Crime"(to the show Crime Perfeito), an up-tempo song for Danish TV written by the composer duo Floppy M. aka Jacob Duus & Kåre Jacobsen. Also in 2000, Jones collaborated with rapper Lil' Kim, appearing on the song "Revolution" from her album The Notorious K.I.M..^[23] A year later, she appeared alongside Tim Curry in Wolf Girl (also known as Blood Moon), as a transvestite circus performer named Christoph/Christine. On 28 May 2002, she performed onstage in Modena, Italy with Italian opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti during his annual Pavarotti and Friends concert to support the UN refugee agency's programs for Angolan refugees in Zambia.^[24] Together they performed the aria "Pourquoi me réveiller?" from Jules Massenet's opera Werther. In November 2004, Jones sang her hit "Slave to the Rhythm" at a tribute concert for record producer Trevor Horn at London's Wembley Arena.^[25][26] In April 2005 Jones raised a controversy, when she was accused of verbally abusing a Eurostar train manager in a quarrel over a ticket upgrade, and she either was escorted off the train or left of her own accord, later saying that she had been mistreated.^[27] In February 2006, Jones was the celebrity runway model for Diesel's show in New York.

Grace Jones at Roskilde Festival 2009.

Producer Ivor Guest confirmed that he and Jones had completed recording her new album in 2007. Other participants on the album included the original Compass Point All Stars line-up, including Sly and Robbie, Mikey Chung and Wally Badarou, joined by Brian Eno, Bruce Woolley, Tricky and Tony Allen. The Hurricane album (initially to be titled Corporate Cannibal^[28]) was released on 27 October 2008, on Wall of Sound/PIAS Records, meeting with positive reviews.^[29][30][28] "Corporate Cannibal" became the album's lead single, with its music video directed by Nick Hooker.^[31] Jones embarked on a concert tour at the end of 2008 and beginning of 2009, and appeared at Secret Garden Party and Latitude Festival to promote the new album. The video for the second single, "Williams' Blood", used live footage from the Hurricane Tour. Grace Jones also collaborated with the avant-garde poet Brigitte Fontaine on a duet named "Soufi" from Fontaine's album Prohibition released in autumn 2009, and produced by Ivor Guest. On 26 April 2010 Grace Jones performed at Royal Albert Hall, receiving rave reviews.^[32] A One Man Show was released on DVD, as Grace Jones – Live in Concert, in 2010 with 3 bonus videoclips ("Slave to the Rhythm", "Love Is the Drug" and "Crush"). "Love You to Life" was the third commercial single off Hurricane. In 2011 Jones again collaborated with Brigitte Fontaine on two tracks from Fontaine's 2011 release entitled L'un n'empêche pas l'autre and performed at the opening ceremony of the 61st FIFA Congress.^[33] Autumn 2011 saw the release of the "dub" version of Hurricane.

Style, image and voice[link]

Grace Jones live in Copenhagen, Denmark.

In the late 1970s, Jones adapted the emerging New Wave music style and adopted a severe, androgynous look, with square-cut hair and angular, padded clothes, created in partnership with stylist Jean-Paul Goude.^[9] She would also exemplify the so-called "flat top" hairstyle in many of her concerts in the 1970s, which would become popular among black men in the 1980s. Her first album cover to feature this hairstyle was 1980's Warm Leatherette. Her strong visual presence was an advantage for her music videos and concert tours. In her concert 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, for which she collaborated with visual artist Keith Haring for her costume. Haring painted her body in tribal patterns and fitted her with wire armour.^[34] The muralist also painted her body for the video to "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)" and the 1986 vampire film Vamp. Grace Jones's striking appearance, height (5'10½" or 1.79 m), and manner influenced the cross-dressing movement of the 1980s. To this day, she is known for her unique look at least as much as she is for her music^[12] and has been an inspiration for numerous other artists, including Annie Lennox,^[35] Lady Gaga and Rihanna.^[36][37]

Jones is a contralto. Although her image became equally as notable as her voice, she is a highly stylised vocalist. She sings in two modes: in her monotone speak-sing as in songs such as "Private Life", "Walking in the Rain" and "The Apple Stretching" and in an almost-soprano mode in songs such as "La Vie en rose" and "Slave to the Rhythm". Her voice spans two and a half octaves.^[20][36]

Personal life[link]

At the turn of the 1970s and 1980s, Grace Jones had a relationship with Swedish actor Dolph Lundgren^[38] and with French graphic designer Jean-Paul Goude, with whom she has a son, Paulo, who is a member of the band Trybez, and through whom Grace has a granddaughter.^[36] Jones has been married twice; her first husband was producer Chris Stanley whom she married in 1989. She married second husband, bodyguard Atila Altaunbay in 1996.^[39] The couple later divorced.^[40] Her current boyfriend is music producer Ivor Guest.^[41]

Jones has been a subject of circulating stories about her alleged bisexuality,^[42] which she herself has never confirmed nor denied. She is believed to have slept with a model Janice Dickinson, while dating actor Dolph Lundgren, to whom she was engaged.^[43][39] In a 1985 interview for an Australian show Day by Day Jones stated: "I find women attractive. If I didn't, I wouldn't find myself attractive". Then, asked if that makes her bisexual, replied: "That doesn't make me anything".^[44]

Discography[link]

• 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)
• Hurricane (2008)

Filmography[link]

Movies[link]

• 1973: Gordon's War
• 1976: Let's Make a Dirty Movie
• 1976: Colt 38 Special Squad
• 1979: Army of Lovers or Revolution of the Perverts (documentary)
• 1981: Deadly Vengeance
• 1984: Made in France (documentary)
• 1984: Conan the Destroyer
• 1985: A View to a Kill
• 1986: Vamp
• 1987: Straight to Hell
• 1987: Siesta
• 1990: Superstar: The Life and Times of Andy Warhol (documentary)
• 1992: Boomerang
• 1995: Cyber Bandits
• 1998: McCinsey's Island
• 1999: Palmer's Pick Up
• 2006: No Place Like Home
• 2008: Falco – verdammt, wir leben noch!
• 2008: Chelsea on the Rocks

Television work[link]

• 1978: Stryx
• 1982: A One Man Show
• 1988: Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special
• 1999: Beastmaster
• 2001: Wolf Girl
• 2001: Shaka Zulu: The Citadel

Awards and nominations[link]

Jones is a three-time Saturn Award nominee, a Grammy nominee, an MTV Video Music Awards nominee, a Razzie Award nominee and a Q Awards winner. She has also ranked 82nd on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll.^[45]

Grammy Awards

• 1983: Best Long Form Music Video for her A One Man Show (Nomination)

MTV Video Music Award

• 1986: Best Female Video for "Slave to the Rhythm" (Nomination)

Q Music Award

• 2008: Q Idol (Winner)

Razzie Awards

• 1987: Worst Supporting Actress for Siesta (Nomination)

Saturn Awards

• 1985: Best Supporting Actress for Conan the Destroyer (Nomination)
• 1986: Best Supporting Actress for A View to a Kill (Nomination)
• 1987: Best Supporting Actress for Vamp (Nomination)

References[link]

External links[link]

Find more about Grace Jones on Wikipedia's sister projects:
	Images and media from Commons
	Quotations from Wikiquote

• Official Grace Jones website
• Official Grace Jones page at Facebook
• Official Grace Jones page at Twitter
• Official Grace Jones page and Official Grace Jones VEVO page at YouTube
• Official Grace Jones page at MySpace

Codie Prevost (born December 19, 1984) is a Canadian country music singer. Prevost has released one album, 2005's The Road Ahead, and one EP, 2008's Spin 6-Pak Vol. 1. In 2009, "Spin" was named Song and Single of the Year at the Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards. Prevost also won Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year (for Spin 6-Pak Vol. 1) at the 2009 SCMA's. In 2010 he was named the SCMA Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. His band was named the 2009 and 2010 Back Up Band of the Year.^[1]

In January 2011, Prevost was nominated for the category of Country Album for The 10th Annual Independent Music Awards.^[2]

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

Extended plays[link]

Singles[link]

Music videos[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Codie Prevost at CMT