Jully Black (born Jullyann Inderia Gordon Black, November 8, 1977) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, producer and actress. She has collaborated and written for many artists, including
Nas
Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones.
Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to:
Aviation
* Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea
* National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia
** Nas Air ...
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final line-up comprised Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Houston, Texas. After years of limited ...
, and
Sean Paul
Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques OD (born 9 January 1973) is a Jamaican rapper and singer who is regarded as one of dancehall's most prolific artists.
Paul's singles " Get Busy" and "Temperature" topped the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in the ...
.
She was chosen by
CBC Music
CBC Music (formerly known as CBC FM, CBC Stereo and CBC Radio 2) is a Canadian FM radio network operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It used to concentrate on classical and jazz. In 2007 and 2008, the network transitioned towards a ...
as one of "The 25 Greatest Canadian Singers Ever" and has been dubbed "Canada's Queen of R&B" by her fans and peers.
Early life
Jullyann Inderia Gordon Black was born to Jamaican immigrants. She is the youngest of nine children, she grew up in the
North York
North York is one of the six administrative districts of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located directly north of York, Old Toronto and East York, between Etobicoke to the west and Scarborough to the east. As of the 2016 Census, it had a po ...
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
. After her parents divorced when Black was a child, she was raised in a strict
Pentecostal
Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a Protestantism, Protestant Charismatic Christianity, Charismatic Christian movementWarner/Chappell Music who immediately signed her. Shortly after, she was courted by
Universal Music Canada
Universal Music Group owns, or has a joint share in, many of the record labels listed here.
According to UMG official site, the main labels are Abbey Road Studios, Bravado, Capitol Music Group, Decca Records, Def Jam Recordings, Deutsche Grammopho ...
where she was offered a deal to help propel her career. Black capitalized on these opportunities, which saw her garnish her first
Juno Award
The Juno Awards, more popularly known as the JUNOS, are awards presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music. New members of the Canadian Music Hall o ...
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
Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones.
Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to:
Aviation
* Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea
* National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia
** Nas Air ...
,
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final line-up comprised Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Houston, Texas. After years of limited ...
,
Sean Paul
Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques OD (born 9 January 1973) is a Jamaican rapper and singer who is regarded as one of dancehall's most prolific artists.
Paul's singles " Get Busy" and "Temperature" topped the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in the ...
Top 40
In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or "cont ...
hit on the Canadian charts with 1998's "Rally'n". Subsequent singles also charted, such as "You Changed" and "Between Me and U". In the same year, she was invited to contribute to Rascalz' groundbreaking hip hop single, " Northern Touch", but was unable to participate due to other commitments. In 1999, she appeared on 2Rude's single "Dissin Us", which won the MuchMusic Video Award for Best R&B/Soul Video in 2000.
Black's debut album was originally scheduled for release in 2014 on
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group.
Pre-history
MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 w ...
, under the title ''I Traveled''. 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
"Sweat of Your Brow" was the second single from Jully Black's debut album ''This Is Me (Jully Black album), This Is Me''. Released in 2005, the single featured a rap by Demarco (musician), Demarco, and was a significant airplay and video hit in Ca ...
" 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 in the same year, Black played the Preacher in the theatre production of "
Da Kink in My Hair
''Da Kink in My Hair'' is a play by Trey Anthony, which debuted at the Toronto Fringe Festival in 2001.
The play's central character is Novelette, the Caribbean Canadian owner of Letty's, a Toronto hair salon. Novelette is forced to confront her g ...
" 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
The Global Television Network (more commonly called Global, or occasionally Global TV) is a Canadian English-language terrestrial television network. It is currently Canada's second most-watched private terrestrial television network after C ...
, with Black singing the opening theme and featured two episodes.
In Summer 2007, her 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 the
CTV
CTV may refer to:
Television
* Connected TV, or Smart TV, a TV set with integrated internet
North America and South America
* CTV Television Network, a Canadian television network owned by Bell Media
** CTV 2, a secondary Canadian televisio ...
reality competition show ''
Canadian Idol
''Canadian Idol'' is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show '' Pop Idol''. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Do ...
'' and hosted the 2008 Canadian Radio Music Awards. She has also been a celebrity reporter for the CTV daily entertainment news magazine program, etalk. 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, alongside 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
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. ...
at the
2010 Winter Olympics
)''
, nations = 82
, athletes = 2,626
, events = 86 in 7 sports (15 disciplines)
, opening = February 12, 2010
, closing = February 28, 2010
, opened_by = Governor General Michaëlle Jean
, cauldron = Catriona Le May DoanNancy Greene Wayne G ...
. 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
Roncesvalles Avenue is a north–south minor arterial street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It begins at the intersection of Queen Street West, King Street West and the Queensway running north to Dundas Street West. At its southern starting poi ...
neighbourhood of Toronto), was the song chosen by listeners to represent the province of Ontario in
CBC Radio 2
CBC Music (formerly known as CBC FM, CBC Stereo and CBC Radio 2) is a Canadian FM radio network operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It used to concentrate on classical and jazz. In 2007 and 2008, the network transitioned towards a ...
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion ( ; born 30 March 1968) is a Canadian singer. Noted for her powerful and technically skilled vocals, Dion is the best-selling Canadian recording artist, and the best-selling French-language artist of all time. Her ...
at the 2012 Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival honouring Jamaica's 50th Anniversary of Independence in 2012.
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. In the same year, Black released an EP, ''Dropping W(8)'', a reference to her having these songs and feeling a weight on her shoulders.
In 2020, Black performed on ''
CBC Arts
CBC Arts (french: Radio-Canada Arts) is the division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that creates and curates written articles, short documentaries, non-fiction series and interactive projects that represent the excellence of Canada's div ...
, July 30, 2020.
In 2022, Black was announced as a competitor in the eighth season of ''
The Amazing Race Canada
''The Amazing Race Canada'' is a Canadian adventure reality game show based on the international ''Amazing Race'' franchise. Following the premise of other versions of the format, the show follows teams of two as they race across Canada and ar ...
Toronto Star
The ''Toronto Star'' is a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper. The newspaper is the country's largest daily newspaper by circulation. It is owned by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation and par ...
'', June 22, 2022.
Discography
Albums
* 2000: ''I Travelled'' (unreleased)
* 2005: '' This Is Me''
* 2007: '' Revival''
* 2009: '' The Black Book''
* 2012: ''8ight''
* 2015: ''Jully Black''
* 2022: ''Three Rocks and a Slingshot''
Official mixtapes
* 2012: Dropping W(8)
Singles
Soundtracks
* 2010:
George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight
''George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight'' (originally known as ''The Hour'') is a Canadian television talk show hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos that aired on CBC Television from 2005 to 2014.
As ''The Hour'', the show was so named, as it was a dai ...
– Episode #7.24 (performer: "At The Roncies")
* 2008: Saving God (performer: "I Travelled")
* 2007:
Da Kink in My Hair
''Da Kink in My Hair'' is a play by Trey Anthony, which debuted at the Toronto Fringe Festival in 2001.
The play's central character is Novelette, the Caribbean Canadian owner of Letty's, a Toronto hair salon. Novelette is forced to confront her g ...
(composer: theme music - 5 episodes)
* 2006: Words to Music: The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (TV film) (performer: "Put Your Hand in the Hand")
* 2004: You Got Served (performer: "Heaven")
* 2003: The Fighting Temptations (writer: "I Know")
* 2002: Brown Sugar (performer: "You Changed")
Sweat of Your Brow" (Tricky Moreira
ust BE Remix UST or Ust may refer to:
Organizations
* UST (company), American digital technology company
* Equatorial Guinea Workers' Union
* Union of Trade Unions of Chad (Union des Syndicats du Tchad)
* United States Television Manufacturing Corp.
* UST Grow ...
(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: MuchMusic Video Award Viewers Choice for Best Canadian Collaboration or Group, "The Day Before" (NOMINATION)
* 2002: MuchMusic Video Award for "Best Rap Video", "Light It Up" (NOMINATION)
* 2001: Juno Award for "Best Rap recording", "Money Jane" (NOMINATION)
* 1999: MuchMusic Video Award for "Best R&B/Soul Video". "Rally'n" (NOMINATION)
* 1999: Juno Award for "Best R&B/Soul Song". "Rally'n" (NOMINATION)
* 1998: MuchMusic Video Award for "Best Rap Video", "360" (NOMINATION)
* 1997: Juno Award for "Best Rap Recording", "What It Takes" (WINNER)
Canada Day
Canada Day (french: Fête du Canada), formerly known as Dominion Day (french: Fête du Dominion), is the national day of Canada. A federal statutory holiday, it celebrates the anniversary of Canadian Confederation which occurred on July 1, 18 ...
Celebration (
O Canada
"O Canada" (french: Ô Canada, italic=no) is the national anthem of Canada. The song was originally commissioned by Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Théodore Robitaille for the 1880 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day ceremony; Calixa Lavallée composed the ...
/Seven Days Fool)
* 2010:
CTV
CTV may refer to:
Television
* Connected TV, or Smart TV, a TV set with integrated internet
North America and South America
* CTV Television Network, a Canadian television network owned by Bell Media
** CTV 2, a secondary Canadian televisio ...
's " Juno Awards", Presenter/Performer
* 2010: CTV's Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies
* 2004: CBC's NHL Awards
* 2004: CBC's Tonya Lee Williams Gospel Jubilee
* 2004: Show Time/Soul Food Productions Presents "We Plan" Episode #064. Role, Jully Black
* 2004:
MuchMusic
Much (an abbreviation for its full name MuchMusic) is a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by BCE Inc. through its Bell Media subsidiary that airs programming aimed at teenagers and young adults.
MuchMusic launched on August 31, ...
Presents "Behind the Threads" an up-close look at the women of the Garment industry. Jully Black travels to Dhaka, Bangladesh to cover the story
* 2003: Toronto 1 Live Performance
* 2003:
MTV
MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
's "Break Out"
* 2003: CTV's "Juno Award Presentation". Presented Shania Twain the "Artist of the Year" Award
* 2001: Citytv's New Years Celebration
* 2001: MuchMusic's "9/11" Music Tribute and Fund Raiser
* 2001: MuchMusic's "Da Mix" Final Episode
* 2001: CBC's "Juno Award Presentation"
* 2000: MuchMusic's "Da Mix" Tenth Year Anniversary Special
* 1999: MuchMusic's "Da Mix" Black History Celebration
* 1998: Citytv's "Electric Circus"
* 1997: Citytv's "Breakfast Television"
Television and film appearances
* 2022:
The Amazing Race Canada 8
''The Amazing Race Canada 8'' is the eighth season of ''The Amazing Race Canada'', a Canadian reality competition show based on the American series ''The Amazing Race (American TV series), The Amazing Race''. Hosted by Jon Montgomery, it featured ...
George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight
''George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight'' (originally known as ''The Hour'') is a Canadian television talk show hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos that aired on CBC Television from 2005 to 2014.
As ''The Hour'', the show was so named, as it was a dai ...
– Episode #7.24 (2010) … Herself - Performer
– Episode dated December 2, 2009 (2009) … Herself
* 2009: etalk, Correspondent
– Episode dated March 18, 2009
– Episode dated March 20, 2009
– Episode dated April 3, 2009
– Episode dated April 23, 2009
– Episode dated April 27, 2009
– Episode dated August 17, 2009
– Episode dated August 19, 2009
– Episode dated August 20, 2009
– Episode dated August 27, 2009
– Episode dated September 3, 2009
– Episode dated September 10, 2009
– Episode dated October 12, 2009
– Episode dated October 16, 2009
– Episode dated December 2, 2009
– Episode dated January 28, 2010
– Episode dated April 7, 2010
– Episode dated April 28, 2010
– Episode dated June 29, 2010
* 2009: CTV's "Interview with Jay-Z", Interviewer
* 2008:
Canadian Idol
''Canadian Idol'' is a Canadian reality television competition show which aired on CTV, based on the British show '' Pop Idol''. The show was a competition to find the most talented young singer in Canada, and was hosted by Ben Mulroney. Jon Do ...
, Mentor
* 2008: CTV's "Jammin in Jamaica with Jully Black", Host
* 2008: Saving God, character: Aunt Essie
* 2007: 'Da Kink in My Hair, character: Veronika
* 2007: My Gift Is My Song: George Canyon Christmas (TV film), Musical guest
* 2006: Words to Music: The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame 2006 (TV film)
* 2005: Video on Trial
– Episode #1.28 (2006) … Herself
– Episode #1.9 (2005) … Herself
– Episode #1.2 (2005) … Herself