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Me'shell NdegeOcello
Michelle Lynn Johnson (born August 29, 1968),
better known as Me'shell Ndegéocello, is a
German-born American singer, songwriter,
rapper, bassist, and multi-instrumentalist.
She has been hailed in the music press as a
redeemer of soul music. Her music
incorporates funk, soul, hip hop, reggae,
R&B, rock, and jazz. She has been nominated
for nine Grammy Awards.
Early life
Ndegeocello was born in Berlin to army
lieutenant and saxophonist father Jacques
Johnson and her mother, Helen. She was raised
in Washington, D.C.. In early press releases
from Maverick Records her birth year was
mistakenly listed as 1969. The 1968 birth
date has been confirmed through a previous
manager/lifelong friend.
Meshell Ndegeocello is pronounced MEE-shell
n-deh-GAY-o-chel-o. Early pressings of
Plantation Lullabies were stickered with the
instructions. The correct spelling of her
stage name at this time is Meshell
Ndegeocello, without apostrophes or any
unusual capitalizations.[1] Although named
Michelle Lynn Johnson at birth, Ndegeocello
has had numerous name changes. She adopted
the surname Ndegeocello, which means "free
like a bird", while still in her teens. Some
outlets also state her birth name as "Mary
Johnson".[2]
[edit] Career rise
Ndegeocello honed her skills on the D.C.
go-go circuit in the late 1980s, and
unsuccessfully tried out for Living Colour's
bassist position, vacated in 1992 by Muzz
Skillings. Going solo, she was the first
artist signed 1993 to Maverick Records/Sire
Records with her debut, Plantation Lullabies.
This recording presented a distinctly
androgynous persona.
Ndegeocello is bisexual, and was a former
long time lover of writer Rebecca Walker, but
the relationship ended in 2003. She sang
background vocals on the song "I'd Rather be
Your Lover" by Madonna, on her album Bedtime
Stories.
Her biggest hit is a duet with John Cougar
Mellencamp, a cover version of Van Morrison's
"Wild Night", which reached #3 on the
Billboard charts. Her only other Billboard
Hot 100 hit besides "Wild Night" has been "If
That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last
Night)", which peaked at #73 in 1994. She had
a Dance #1 in 1996 called "Who Is He (and
What Is He To You?)" as well as Dance Top 20
hits with "Earth", "Leviticus: Faggot",
"Stay" and the aforementioned "...Boyfriend".
Her music has been featured in a number of
film soundtracks including How Stella Got Her
Groove Back, Batman and Robin, and Down In
the Delta. She has appeared on recordings by
Basement Jaxx, Indigo Girls, The Blind Boys
of Alabama, and The Rolling Stones' 1997
album Bridges to Babylon, playing bass on the
song "Saint Of Me". She can also be seen in
the documentary movie Standing in the Shadows
of Motown, singing The Miracles' "You've
Really Got A Hold On Me". In the late 1990s
she toured with Lilith Fair.
[edit] Discography
Plantation Lullabies (Maverick) -- 1993
Peace Beyond Passion (Maverick) -- 1996
Bitter (Maverick) -- 1999
Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape
(Maverick) -- 2002
Comfort Woman (Maverick) -- 2003
The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidel
(Shanachie) -- 2005
The Article 3 EP (EmArcy) -- 2006
The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams
(Kuzcek Records) -- 2007
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