Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell Ndegeocello
Ndegeocello performing in 2016
Background information
Birth name	Michelle Lynn Johnson
Also known as	Meshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakur Me'Shell Ndegéocello
Born	(1968-08-29) August 29, 1968 (age 55) Berlin, Germany
Origin	Washington, D.C., United States
Genres	Funk soul neo soul jazz hip hop reggae rock progressive soul[1]
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, Naïve, Blue Note
Website	www.meshell.com

Meshell Ndegeocello (/mɪˈʃɛl ənˈdeɪɡeɪoʊˌtʃɛloʊ/ mish-EL ən-DAY-gay-oh-CHEL-oh;^[2] born Michelle Lynn Johnson on August 29, 1968) is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, and bassist. She has gone by the name Meshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakur which is used as a writing credit on some of her mid-career work.^[3] Her music incorporates a wide variety of influences, including funk, soul, jazz, hip hop, reggae and rock. She has received significant critical acclaim throughout her career,^[4][5] being nominated for eleven Grammy Awards, and winning two.^[6] She also has been credited for helping to "spark the neo-soul movement".^[7]

Biography

Ndegeocello was born Michelle Lynn Johnson in

Ndegeocello adopted her surname, which she says means "free like a bird" in Swahili. Early pressings of Plantation Lullabies were affixed with stickers to help pronounce her name. The spelling has changed in the hands of record labels a few times during her career; the correct spelling of her stage name as of 2001 is Meshell Ndegeocello.^[8]

Career

Ndegeocello honed her skills on the D.C.

Her biggest hit is a duet with John Mellencamp, a cover version of Van Morrison's "Wild Night", which reached No. 3 on the Billboard charts. Her only other Billboard Hot 100 hit besides "Wild Night" has been her self-penned "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)", which peaked at No. 73 in 1994. Also in 1994, Ndegeocello collaborated with Herbie Hancock on "Nocturnal Sunshine," a track for the Red Hot Organization's compilation album, Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool. The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS epidemic in relation to the African American community, was heralded as "Album of the Year" by Time magazine.

She had a No. 1 dance hit in 1996 with a

Ndegeocello was also a judge for The 2nd, 12th, 13 and the 2015 14th Annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.[10]

Her song "Tie One On" was chosen as the Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week on February 23, 2010.^[11][12]

In 2016, she provided the theme song, "Nova", for the Oprah Winfrey-produced show Queen Sugar.^[13] She also collaborated with French-Cuban duo Ibeyi in the song "Transmission/Michaelion" for the album Ash reciting a poem by Frida Kahlo.

In December 2016, the world premiere of Ndegeocello's Can I Get a Witness? The Gospel of James Baldwin, a new theatrical music and art work, was held in Harlem, New York.^[14]

In June 2021,

Ndegeocello joined the Blue Note label with the debut release of her 13th studio album The Omnichord Real Book (2023). The title refers to a set of lead sheets from songs from funk, soul, gospel and more influenced by her father as if a compilation of standards like a real book in jazz repertoire.^[18]

Activism

In 2002, Ndegeocello collaborated with

In June 2010, she contributed a cover of U2's "40" to the Enough Project and Downtown Records' Raise Hope for Congo compilation. Proceeds from the compilation fund efforts to make the protection and empowerment of Congo's women a priority, as well as inspire individuals around the world to raise their voice for peace in Congo.

In 2010, Ndegeocello contributed to the essay anthology

• 1994:
  Warner Bros.
  )
• 1994: Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool: "Nocturnal Sunshine" (with Herbie Hancock)
• 1995: Higher Learning (soundtrack): "Soul Searchin' (I Wanna Know If It's Mine)" (Epic)
• 1995:
  Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality: Guru
  feat. Meshell Ndegeocello "For You" (Chrysalis)
• 1995:
  White Man's Burden
  : "Time Has Come Today" (Chrysalis)
• 1995:
  Panther (soundtrack): "Freedom (Theme from Panther)
  " (Mercury)
• 1997: Love Jones (soundtrack): Marcus Miller feat. Meshell Ndegeocello – "Rush Over" (Columbia)
• 1997: Money Talks (soundtrack): "The Teaching" (Arista)
• 1997: Batman & Robin (soundtrack): "Poison Ivy" (Warner Bros.)
• 1997: My Melody: Queen Pen feat. Meshell Ndegeocello "Girlfriend" (Interscope)
• 1998: How Stella Got Her Groove Back (soundtrack): "Let Me Have You" (Flyte Tyme/MCA)
• 1998: Down In The Delta (soundtrack): "My Soul Don't Dream" (Virgin)
• 1999: Anomie & Bonhomie: Scritti Politti "Die Alone" (Virgin)
• 1999: The Best Man (soundtrack): "Untitled" (Sony)
• 1999: A Day In The Life: Eric Benet feat. Meshell Ndegeocello "Ghetto Girl" (Warner Bros.)
• 2000: Love & Basketball (soundtrack): "Fool of Me" (New Line)
• 2002:
  Gov’t Mule
  "Hammer & Nails" (ATO Records)
• 2003:
  The Blind Boys Of Alabama
  Special Guest Vocals and Piano – "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" (Real World)
• 2005: Momentum (Joshua Redman album) bass guitar (track 7)
• 2007: Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur: "Imagine" (John Lennon cover) (Warner Bros.)
• 2007: Talk to Me (soundtrack): "Compared to What" (featuring Terence Blanchard) (Atlantic)
• 2012:
  Robert Glasper Experiment
  feat. Meshell Ndegeocello: "The Consequences of Jealousy"
• 2014: All Rise: A Joyful Elegy for Fats Waller: Jason Moran (Blue Note): producer and vocals
• 2020: From This Place: Pat Metheny Special Guest Vocals – "From This Place" (Nonesuch)
• 2022: SHIFT (Bad Hombre Vol. II) : Antonio Sanchez Special Guest – Comet, Come To Me (Warner Bros.)

References

1. ^ Green, Tony (March 2002). "Joi: Star Kity's Revenge (Universal)". Spin. p. 129. Retrieved January 23, 2021 – via Google Books.
2. ^ Meshell Ndegeocello on "First Look" with Don Was of Blue Note Records. Blue Note Records. June 16, 2023. Event occurs at 00:00. Retrieved July 18, 2023 – via YouTube.
3. ^ Layman, Will. "Me'Shell Ndegeocello: The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidels < PopMatters". Popmatters.com. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
4. ^ Lecaro, Lena (October 24, 2002). "Head, heart and soul". Los Angeles Times. pp. E–12. Retrieved February 28, 2009.
5. ^ "Grammy Nominations For J J Cale, Bettye LaVette and Meshell Ndegeocello – Just Announced". News, December 2007. The Rosebud Agency. December 6, 2007. Archived from the original on December 26, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2009.
6. ^ "Meshell Ndegeocello to Perform at 'You Rock My Soul' GMHC Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall on November 11th". NY Rock. August 14, 2002. Archived from the original on April 8, 2009. Retrieved February 28, 2009.
7. ^ Yarbrough, Kenya (August 9, 2002). "Me'Shell Ndegeocello: One Tough "Cookie"". EURweb. Rabercom Enterprises. Archived from the original on April 7, 2009. Retrieved February 28, 2009.
8. ^ "FreeMyHeart.com". FreeMyHeart.com. March 3, 2001. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
9. ^ Wiltz, Teresa (June 19, 2005). "Meshell Ndegeocello Breaks Step With Pop". The Washington Post. pp. N01.
10. ^ "Past Judges". Independent Music Awards. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
11. ^ Heringer. "Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week – Meshell Ndegeocello – Tie One On". Mark-heringer.com. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
12. ^ Heringer. "Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week list". Mark-heringer.com. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
13. ^ "Queen Sugar Soundtrack". What-song.com. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
14. ^ "Harlem Stage to present the world premiere of Meshell Ndegeocello's 'Can I Get a Witness? The Gospel of James Baldwin,' December 7–11". The Stage Review. November 29, 2016.
15. ^ ^{a b} PR Newswire (June 1, 2021). "Celebrate Black Music Month on SiriusXM, Pandora, and Stitcher with Exclusive Music Channels, Streaming Stations, and an Original Podcast". Associated Press. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
16. ^ ^{a b} ""A Shot of Rhythm and Blues: Exploring The Beatles and Black Music" on The Beatles Channel". TheBeatles.com. Archived from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
17. ^ ^{a b} "Explore the connection between The Beatles & Black music during a new SiriusXM series". Sirius XM. June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
18. ^ "Album: Meshell Ndegeocello – The Omnichord Real Book". Theartsdesk.com. June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
19. ^ Zwerin, Mike (February 23, 1994). "Me'Shell - Debut on Madonna Label - NYTimes.com". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
20. ^ DiGuglielmo, Joey (November 10, 2011). "Meshell's magic". Washington Blade. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
21. ^ "Billboard". Books.google.com. November 19, 1994.
22. ^ [1] ^{[dead link]}
23. ^ "GLAAD noms announced". Variety.com. January 18, 2000.
24. ^ "Playbill News: 14th Annual GLAAD Media Award Winners Include the Goat and Zanna, Don't!". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on May 4, 2003.
25. ^ "15th Annual GLAAD Media Award Nominees Include Avenue Q, Taboo and Angels in America; Cherry Jones a Special Honoree". Web.archive.org. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
26. ^ "Me'shell Ndegeocello | Artist". Grammy.com.
27. ^ "Meshell Ndegeocello Wins The First-Ever GRAMMY For Best Alternative Jazz Album At The 2024 GRAMMYs". Grammy.com.
28. ^ "MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) (1994)". IMDb.
29. ^ "Soul Train Awards (1995)". IMDb.
30. ^ "Soul Train Awards (1997)". IMDb.
31. ^ "Meshell Ndegeocello: US". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
32. ^ "Meshell Ndegeocello: US R&B". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
33. ^ "Meshell Ndegeocello: US Jazz". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
34. ^ ^{a b} Peaks in Australia:
    • Peace Beyond Passion and "Wild Night": "Me'shell Ndegéocello – Peace Beyond Passion (Album)". Australiancharts.com. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
    • Plantation Lullabies and "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)": Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 199.
35. ^ "Meshell Ndegeocello: Belgium". Ultratop. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
36. ^ "Discographie Meshell Ndegeocello". Lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
37. ^ "Discographie Meshell Ndegeocello". Swiss Hitparade. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
38. ^ ^{a b} "Meshell Ndegeocello: UK". Official Charts Company. February 12, 1994. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
39. ^ "Meshell Ndegeocello: US". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
40. ^ "Meshell Ndegeocello: US R&B". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
41. ^ "Meshell Ndegeocello: US Dance". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2021.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Meshell Ndegeocello.

• Official website
• Meshell Ndegeocello discography at Discogs
• Extensive audio interview on public radio program
  The Sound of Young America