She might arguably be known as one of the BEST SINGERS, but she is defiantly the Most INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN MUSIC.
Mary Jane Blige more commonly known as Mary J. Blige
Blige was born on January 11, 1971, in The Bronx, New York. She is the second of four children born to parents Cora (a nurse), and Thomas Blige (a jazz musician) Blige was taught to sing by her father (who would beat her mother). When Blige was four, her father abandoned the family. Blige spent her early years in Savannah, Georgia, where she sang in a Pentecostal church.She later moved to Schlobohm Houses in Yonkers, New York, where she lived with her mother, older sister, five cousins and two aunts. At the age of five, Blige was sexually abused by a family friend. She dropped out of school in eleventh grade. When she was 17, Blige recorded an impromptu cover of Anita Baker's "Caught Up In the Rapture" at a recording booth in the Galleria Mall in White Plains, New York. Her mother's boyfriend at the time later played the cassette for Jeff Redd, a recording artist and A&R runner for Uptown Records. Redd then sent it to the president and CEO of the label, Andre Harrell. Harrell met with Blige and, in 1989, she was signed to the label; becoming the company's youngest and first female artist.
DISCOVERY:
Upon signing to Uptown, Blige's early years there were dormant, as the label continued to focus most of its attention on its more established acts. During this time, Blige occasionally did session work as a background singer for her label mates. In 1990, she was introduced as a background singer for Redd, during a performance at the Apollo Theatre. The same year she sang the hook on "I'll Do 4 U" by rapper and label mate Father MC, appearing in the concert-themed music video of the same name; In 1991, she was spotted on the syndicated show, Showtime at the Apollo, singing back up for Jeff Redd. In early Fall of 1992, Blige guest spotted with Grand Puba with his single, Check It Out. Blige's first national debut appearance was in the summer of 1992 when she appeared on MTV
What's the 411? and the Remix album
Production for Blige's debut album began in 1991, with Sean "Puffy" Combs, at the time an A&R executive at Uptown, largely overseeing the project.
On July 28, 1992, Uptown Records released What's the 411?. "You Remind Me", the album's lead-off single, peaked chart and number one on the R&B singles chart that summer. The second single, "Real Love", was released in the fall. It too topped the R&B singles chart, and became Blige's first top ten Hot 100 single, peaking at number seven. Both singles were certified gold.
More What's the 411? singles followed into 1993, including "Sweet Thing", a cover of Rufus's "Sweet Thing", and "Love No Limit". By the end of the year, What's the 411? had sold three million copies. Blige, meanwhile, released a hip hop single "You Don't Have to Worry". After the success of What's the 411, Sean "Puffy" Combs hailed the singer as "the queen of hip-hop soul", a title that she has since retained. She later confessed that, at the time, she believed the title to be nothing more than a marketing tool. The name of her album, What's the 411? stems from her previous job as Directory Assistance operator.[10] The album's success spun off What's the 411? Remix, a remix album released in December that was used to extend the life of the What's the 411? singles on the radio into 1994, as Blige recorded her follow up album.
My Life
On November 29, 1994, Uptown Records released Blige's second album, My Life. Darker, moodier, and slightly less uptempo than its predecessor—the set was again overseen by Combs (despite his having recently left the label), who co-produced all but one of the albums tracks, and took over as Blige's manager. Unlike What's the 411?, Blige co-wrote a large body of the material, basing it on her personal life.
"Be Happy", the album's single, peaked at number 29 and number six on the Hot 100 and R&B singles chart, respectively. In early 1995, it was followed up with a cover of Rose Royce's 1976 hit "I'm Goin' Down", which became her first top 20 hit in the UK, peaking at number 12. Other My Life singles included: "You Bring Me Joy" and "I Love You." "Mary Jane (All Night Long)" and "My Life" received heavy radio play, despite never being officially released as singles apart from the UK, where "Mary Jane (All Night Long)" became Blige's second top 20 hit from the album there. My Life was eventually certified triple platinum. In spite of its success and her growing fame, Blige later admitted that she was simultaneously dealing with long time bouts of drug addiction, alcoholism, and depression, as well as an abusive relationship with then-boyfriend K-Ci Hailey of Jodeci. Blige involved herself in several outside projects, recording a cover of Aretha Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" for the soundtrack to the FOX series New York Undercover, and "Everyday It Rains" (co-written by R&B singer Faith Evans) for the soundtrack to the hip hop biopic, The Show. That summer she dueted with rapper Method Man on his song, "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" (which sampled Marvin Gaye's "You're All I Need to Get By", and for which she won a Grammy award.) Later in the year, she recorded the Babyface-penned and produced "Not Gon' Cry", for the soundtrack to motion picture Waiting to Exhale. The platinum-selling single rose to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in early 1996, and became her biggest commercial hit at the time. Blige won her first Grammy Award – 'Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group' for her collaboration with Method Man.
>>>an its this area and why she is the most influential WOMEN IN MUSIC. Blige is the FIRST ARTIST ever to sing on an HIP/HOP BEAT... then later so with METHOD MAN and it sold million. Making "YOUR ALL I NEED" The most know #1 DUET in the 90's.Mary has also done something that no other artist has done.She's the reason why you know have the HIP/HOP & RnB chart on BILLBOARD.
She might not be the BEST SINGER,but she's damn sure the MOST POWERFUL as Rolling Stone magazine said earlier this 2009 year.Naming MARY #1 out of 99 other amazing talents.
REASON:Well many thought is was so much of singing, well nahh Its because NO1 in the last 30 years in music, VOCALS can touch you like hers can. Yeah true enough we have the WHITNEYS,MARIAHS,BEYONCES,MONICAS,KELLY PRICE,JAZMINE SULLIVANS etc.Yeah they might keyword->SOUND SOULFUL but you don't always feel that soul. But MARY J BLIGE you'll always feel that SOUL. That's how many of the LEGENDS did it. Aretha,Patti,Tina,Gladis,Chuka you FELT & heard those lady's soul and emotion.
WELL HMM YOU ASK.If those LEGENDS you felt theirs,then how she was yet #1.
ANSWER: Because HIP/HOP MUSIC is the #1 music in the WORLD.The era of the 90's is when MARY took off.She touched so many WORLDWIDE having them to adapt to modern day RnB music.. Not to mention the #1 TREND SETTER . After Mary rocked the tom boyish style in the early 90's You later had EnVoge,SWV,Xscape,Monica,Aaliyah,Brandy,Brownstone,TLC and all the other amazingly talent ladys then rocking it. The BLOND HAIR also.
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What MARY did to a music 18years ago, is yet living on & well another 100 years from now in MUSIC.
SO ALL YOU PEOPLE WHO DO MUSIC. & DO RAP/SINGER DUETS. REMEMBER MARY J BLIGE IS THE PERSON WHO STARTED THAT.
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MARY has the highest first week sales by any women in modern day music. & to be an RnB singer she sells equally and sometimes more than a POP or RnB POP artist. THATS ALSO BIG. & earned respect itself.
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With 8 albums and yet relevant. And might I add each album from the first one, until her recent material. You can listen from start to end. Mary is one of the very few who delivers an solid LP each time. Her music is timeless.
LET'S NOT FORGET HER MY LIFE ALBUM.. One Word ......WOW!
This is said to be MARY'S Best album to date, but even one of the BEST RNB ALBUMS ever.
pure CLASSIC
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Mary in modern day time been opening up more, and doing more things OUT SIDE OF MUSIC.
Such As->ACTING,BUSINESS WOMEN,HUMANITARIAN,
Philanthropy
Blige was a spokesperson for the M·A·C AIDS FundBlige lent her voice to the 2008 song, Just Stand Up. The proceeds benefited Stand Up to Cancer. As a result of SU2C fundraising endeavors, the SU2C scientific advisory committee, overseen by the American Association for Cancer Research was able to award 73.6 million dollars towards novel, groundbreaking cancer research.
On May 9, 2008, the Mary J. Blige and Steve Stoute Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now, Inc. (FFAWN) was announced at Roosevelt High School in Yonkers. According to the foundation's website, "FFAWN is an organization founded by Mary J. Blige to inspire women from all walks of life to reach their individual potential. Through scholarships, grants, and programs that foster strong self-esteem, career development, and personal growth, FFAWN is intended to help women gain the confidence and skills they need to achieve success. FFAWN will initially focus its efforts in Yonkers and surrounding communities in Westchester and then expand its scope to include the Greater New York area and, eventually, the entire country."
Business endorsements
She is a spokesperson and investor for Carol's Daughter beauty products. She has her own record label called Matriarch Records, which is distributed through Geffen.
Blige has had major endorsements with several companies including Reebok, Air Jordan, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Gap, Target, American Express, AT&T, M·A·C, Apple Inc. and Chevrolet. Blige was a Citibank spokesperson with Nickelback for their 2008 holiday promotion
Personal life
Blige had a very public and tumultuous six-year relationship with Jodeci frontman Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey, which ended in 1997. Following the run of their union, despite having been linked with singer Case, rappers Ghostface Killah and Nas and producer/singer Malik Pendleton, she has kept many of her relationships private.
In 2000, Blige began a relationship with record industry executive Martin Kendu Isaacs (known simply as "Kendu"), who is now her manager. Blige has credited Isaacs for helping her overcome her addictions to drugs and alcohol. The two were married on December 7, 2003 in a small private ceremony at Blige's home attended by 50 guests (none of whom were media).
In a 2006 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Blige said that she was molested at the age of five.
On March 27, 2008 it was reported that Mary J. Blige, along with her husband bought a 12.3 million dollar house, with a movie theater and a basketball court.
In 2008, Mary J. Blige was among the celebrities listed as People magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People.
2009–present:
Blige performed "Lean On Me" at the Presidential Inauguration Committee's, "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial". Blige performed "Just Fine" with a new intro at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball after Barack Obama was sworn in as the first black president on January 20, 2009.Blige was honored at the 2009 BET Honors Ceremony and was paid tributes and honors by Anita Baker and Monica.
While Blige toured with Robin Thicke in 2008, she worked on her upcoming ninth album titled Stronger. The first single, "The One", which features the Canadian rapper Drake, was released for airplay on June 5, 2009, and was officially and digitally released on July 21, 2009. She recently performed the single at Hot 97's 2009 Summer Jam Concert. Blige recently appeared in an AT&T Shedding Styles commercial. Stronger is expected to be released on November 24, 2009 along with the premiere of her reality show on BET. The title track, "Stronger", which is the lead single from the soundtrack to the basketball documentary "More Than a Game", was originally supposed to double as the album's official second single, but the next single was recently changed to "Good Love" featuring T.I.. Blige was featured on T.I.'s single, "Remember Me". However, the second single was once again changed to "Said and Done" in late September 2009. The single is due for a November, 2009 release.
Blige played the role of Tanya in the 2009 Tyler Perry movie, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, where she performed the song, "I Can Do Bad All By Myself". Blige has been announced as a guest judge on the 2010 series of American Idol.
THE UNDISPUTED QUEEN, QUEEN OF HIP/HOP & RNB MARY J BLIGE no matter which artist we admire, or like in music. We must RESPECT Mary an her impressive resume as an Music Artist.
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nes spoke to this columnist for a cover story for the men's magazine Smooth about then being happy about having her breasts enhanced.
