Jully Black (born Jullyann Inderia Gordon Black, November 8, 1977) is a Canadian singer, songwriter and actress. She has released 4 studio albums, and 2 remix EPs. 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 (S ...

, Saukrates,

Choclair Kareem Blake (born March 27, 1975), better known by his stage name Choclair, is a Canadian rapper. He was one of the most successful rappers in Canada in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Choclair has been nominated for six Juno Awards, winning four ...

Kardinal Offishall Jason Drew Harrow (born May 11, 1976), better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall ( ), is a Canadian rapper and record producer. Often credited as Canada's "hip-hop ambassador", he has been regarded as one of the country's most prominent ...

Destiny's Child Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final lineup comprised Beyoncé, Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams (singer), Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Hou ...

, and

Sean Paul Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques (born 9 January 1973) is a Jamaican dancehall musician. Paul's first album, ''Stage One'', was released in 2000. He gained international fame with his second album, ''Dutty Rock'', in 2002. Its single "Get Busy ...

. 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 long been dubbed the "Canada's Queen of R&B" by fans and industry peers alike.

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 a former township and city and is now one of the six administrative districts of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the northern area of Toronto, centred around Yonge Street, north of Ontario Highway 401. It is bounded by ...

district in the neighbourhood of Jane and Finch in

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

. After her parents divorced, she was raised in a strict

Pentecostal Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a movement within the broader Evangelical wing of Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes direct personal experience of God in Christianity, God through Baptism with the Holy Spirit#Cl ...

household by her single mother, Agatha.

Musical career

At age 19, Black was discovered by Warner/Chappell Music who immediately signed her. Shortly after, she was courted by

Universal Music Canada Universal Music Group (UMG) owns, or has a joint share in, many of the record labels listed here. According to the UMG official website, the main labels are Abbey Road Studios, Capitol Music Group, Decca Records, Def Jam Recordings, Deutsche Gra ...

where she was offered a deal to help propel her career. Black capitalized on these opportunities, which saw her garner her first

Juno Award The Juno Awards (stylized as JUNOS), or simply known as the Junos, are awards presented by Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to recognize outstanding achievements in Canada's mu ...

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

, and many others. Black had a

Top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is a list of the 40 currently 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. "To ...

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 Rascalz are a Canadian hip-hop group from Vancouver, British Columbia. The group played a crucial role in the artistic and commercial development of Canadian hip hop as well as specifically for the Westcoast scene in Vancouver popularizing the te ...

' groundbreaking

hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...

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 The iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards were an annual awards show broadcast annually on Much (TV channel), Much from 1990 to 2018, and Fuse (TV channel), Fuse from 2010 to 2013 that honoured the year's best music videos. Originally debuting in ...

for Best R&B/Soul Video in 2000. Black's debut album was originally scheduled for release in 2003 on

MCA Records MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc. established in 1972, though MCA had released recordings under that name in the UK from the 1960s. The label achieved success in the 1970s through the 1980s, often by acquiring other ...

, under the title ''I Traveled'', but was shelved after MCA folded that same year. In Summer 2005, a newly recorded album, ''

This Is Me This Is Me may refer to: Albums * This Is Me (Heather Peace album), ''This Is Me'' (Heather Peace album), 2010 * This Is Me (Jully Black album), ''This Is Me'' (Jully Black album), or the title song, 2005 * This Is Me (Kierra Sheard album), '' ...

'', 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 The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a non-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland and founded in Italy in 1 ...

, 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" at the Princess of Wales Theatre in

Downtown Toronto Downtown Toronto is the main city centre of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located entirely within the district of Old Toronto, it is approximately 16.6 square kilometres in area, bounded by Bloor Street to the northeast and Dupont Street to the nor ...

. 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 A television show, TV program (), or simply a TV show, is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on a television set that is broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, and cable, or distributed digitally on streaming platf ...

'' on the

Global Television Network The Global Television Network (more commonly called Global, or occasionally Global TV) is a Television in Canada, Canadian English language, English-language terrestrial television, terrestrial television network. It is currently Canada's se ...

, with Black singing the opening theme and being featured in 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. "Seven Day Fool" and "Revival" also became her 1st solo song and album to hit 1 Million plays on Spotify, despite being released long before the platform's creation. Black was a correspondent on the sixth season of the CTV 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 The Canadian Radio Music Awards is an annual series of awards presented by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters that was part of Canadian Music Week The Departure Festival + Conference, formerly known as Canadian Music Week, is an industr ...

. 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 List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

at the

2010 Winter Olympics The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXI Olympic Winter Games () and also known as Vancouver 2010 (), were an international winter multi-sport event held from February 12 to 28, 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with ...

. In 2011, Black and YoungPete created a new production team known as "The Officials". Together, they've written and produced songs for an 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 (Toronto), King Street West and the Queensway running north to Dundas Street, Dundas Street ...

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 ...

's Great Canadian Song Quest. Black was selected to perform and open for

Celine Dion Céline Marie Claudette Dion (born 30 March 1968) is a Canadian singer. Referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Power Ballads", Dion's powerful, technically skilled vocals and commercially successful works have had ...

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

. 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 '' FreeUp! The Emancipation Day Special''."Watch now: FreeUp! Emancipation Day 2020, a CBC special celebrating Black Canadian artists"
.

CBC Arts CBC 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 diverse artistic communitie ...

, 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 reality competition show based on the American series ''The Amazing Race''. Following the premise of other versions in the ''Amazing Race'' franchise, the show follows teams of two as they race across C ...

'' and was eliminated on the first leg after she and her partner Kathy missed the entrance to the Rialto theater allowing the trailing Cedric & Tychon to catch up. In 2023, she sang the Canadian national anthem at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game. Black changed the lyrics from “our home and native land" to "our home on native land" as a mark of respect to the Indigenous groups within Canada. She was later honoured by the Assembly of First Nations for this action. In the same year she participated in an all-star recording of

Serena Ryder Serena Lauren Ryder (born December 8, 1982) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Born in Toronto, she grew up in Millbrook, Ontario. Ryder first gained national recognition with her ballad "Weak in the Knees" in 2007 and has released eight studio ...

's single "

What I Wouldn't Do "What I Wouldn't Do" is a song performed by Canadian singer-songwriter Serena Ryder, which was released as a single in November 2012. The song was written by Ryder and Jerrod Bettis for Ryder's fifth studio album, ''Harmony (Serena Ryder album), ...

", which was released as a charity single to benefit

Kids Help Phone Kids Help Phone () is a Canadian charitable organization that provides online and telephone counselling and volunteer-led, text-based support in English and French to youth across Canada. Kids Help Phone also provides information on how to acc ...

's Feel Out Loud campaign for youth mental health. In 2024 she narrated the television documentary series '' Paid in Full: The Battle for Black Music''."Black artists have been exploited for decades. A new series explores the fight for fair pay in music"

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (), branded as CBC/Radio-Canada, is the Canadian Public broadcasting, public broadcaster for both radio and television. It is a Crown corporation that serves as the national public broadcaster, with its E ...

, September 21, 2024. In 2025, with Jason "Redz" Reynolds as her manager, Jully embarked on a 14 date headlining tour, her first in 17 years.

Discography

Albums

* 2005: ''

'' * 2007: '' Revival'' * 2009: '' The Black Book'' * 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 (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")

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 ust 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: 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)

Filmography

Network television performances

* 2012:

Canada AM ''Canada AM'' is a Canadian morning television news show that aired on CTV from 1972 to 2016. Its final hosts were Beverly Thomson and Marci Ien, with Jeff Hutcheson presenting the weather forecast and sports. The program aired on weekdays, an ...

(Duet with Donny Parenteau, Alright With Me) * 2012: The Marilyn Denis Show (Fugitive) * 2012:

CBC CBC may refer to: Media * Cadena Baja California or Grupo Cadena, a radio and television broadcaster in Mexico * Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Canada's radio and television public broadcaster ** CBC Television ** CBC Radio One ** CBC Music ** ...

Canada Day Canada Day, formerly known as Dominion Day, is the national day of Canada. A Public holidays in Canada, federal statutory holiday, it celebrates the anniversary of Canadian Confederation which occurred on July 1, 1867, with the passing of the B ...

Celebration (

O Canada "O Canada" () 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 music, after which French- ...

/Seven Days Fool) * 2010: CTV's "

Juno Awards The Juno Awards (stylized as JUNOS), or simply known as the Junos, are awards presented by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to recognize outstanding achievements in Canada's music industry. The Grammy Awards are the United S ...

", Presenter/Performer * 2010: CTV's Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies * 2004:

'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 is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by BCE Inc. through its Bell Media subsidiary that airs programming aimed at teenagers and young adults. It is headquartered at 299 Queen Street West in what was o ...

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 (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...

's "Break Out" * 2003: CTV's "Juno Award Presentation". Presented Shania Twain the "Artist of the Year" Award * 2001:

Citytv Citytv (sometimes shortened to City, which was the network's official branding from 2012 to 2018) is a Television in Canada, Canadian television network owned by the Rogers Sports & Media subsidiary of Rogers Communications. The network consis ...

'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

* 2023: ''

Pretty Hard Cases ''Pretty Hard Cases'' is a Canadian police procedural crime comedy-drama television series that premiered on CBC Television on February 3, 2021. Originally announced with the working title ''Lady Dicks'', the series was created by Tassie Camero ...

'', season 3 episode 6 "Spin Me Round" as Leticia * 2023: '' Run the Burbs'', season 2, episode 6 "Phamily Budget" as herself * 2022: The Amazing Race Canada 8, Contestant * 2012: The Marilyn Denis Show, Panelist – Episode #2.79 (2012) … Herself – Episode #2.44 (2011) … Herself – Episode #1.15 (2011) … Herself * 2010:

– 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:

, 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

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Black, Jully 1977 births Living people 20th-century Black Canadian women singers 20th-century Canadian women singers 21st-century Black Canadian women singers 21st-century Canadian women singers Actresses from Toronto Black Canadian actresses Canadian contemporary R&B singers Canadian expatriates in Jamaica Canadian women pop singers Canadian women singer-songwriters Canadian Idol Canadian infotainers Canadian Pentecostals Canadian people of Jamaican descent Canadian soul singers Juno Award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year winners Singers from Toronto Canadian feminist musicians Participants in Canadian reality television series 20th-century Canadian singer-songwriters 21st-century Canadian singer-songwriters