Meshell Ndegeocello
Meshell Ndegeocello performing in Washington, D. C. , 2007
Background information
Birth name	Michelle Lynn Johnson
Also known as	Meshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakur
Born	August 29, 1968 (1968-08-29) (age 39) Berlin, Germany
Origin	Washington, D.C., United States
Genre(s)	Funk, soul, R&B, hip hop, reggae, rock, jazz
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, rapper, bassist, multi-instrumentalist
Instrument(s)	Singing, bass guitar
Years active	1993–present
Label(s)	Maverick, Shanachie, EmArcy, Universal
Website	www.theworldhasmademethemanofmydreams.com

Michelle Lynn Johnson (born August 29, 1968 in Berlin, Germany), better known as Meshell Ndegeocello, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, bassist, and multi-instrumentalist. Events 708 - Copper coins are minted in Japan for the first time (Traditional Japanese date: August 10, 708) Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Funk is an American musical style that originated in the mid- to late-1960s when African American musicians blended Soul music, Soul Soul music is a Music genre that combines Rhythm and blues and Gospel music, originating in the United States. Contemporary R&B (also known as R&B, urban) is a Music genre of western Popular music (predominantly American and Canadian Hip hop music, also referred to as rap music, is a Music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rap which is accompanied with Reggae is a Music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both Rapping (also known as emceeing, MCing, spitting, or just rhyming) is the Rhythmic spoken delivery of Rhymes wordplay and A bass player (bassist is a Musician who plays a Double bass, Bass guitar, keyboard bass or wind A multi-instrumentalist is a Musician who plays a number of different instruments The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, which is often contrasted with Speech. The electric bass guitar (also called electric bass, or simply bass; ˈbeɪs as in "base" is a Stringed instrument played primarily with the In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Maverick Recording Company, is an American Record label and the record company division of entertainment company Maverick. Shanachie Records was founded in 1976 by Richard Nevins and Dan Collins EmArcy Records is a Jazz record label founded in 1954 by Mercury Records and is today a European jazz label owned by Universal Music Group. Events 708 - Copper coins are minted in Japan for the first time (Traditional Japanese date: August 10, 708) Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A songwriter is someone who writes the Lyrics to songs the Musical composition (chords or Melody to songs or both Rapping (also known as emceeing, MCing, spitting, or just rhyming) is the Rhythmic spoken delivery of Rhymes wordplay and A bass player (bassist is a Musician who plays a Double bass, Bass guitar, keyboard bass or wind A multi-instrumentalist is a Musician who plays a number of different instruments The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument The music press has hailed her as a redeemer of soul music. Soul music is a Music genre that combines Rhythm and blues and Gospel music, originating in the United States. Her music incorporates funk, soul, hip hop, reggae, R&B, rock, and jazz. Funk is an American musical style that originated in the mid- to late-1960s when African American musicians blended Soul music, Soul Soul music is a Music genre that combines Rhythm and blues and Gospel music, originating in the United States. Hip hop music, also referred to as rap music, is a Music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rap which is accompanied with Reggae is a Music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s Contemporary R&B (also known as R&B, urban) is a Music genre of western Popular music (predominantly American and Canadian Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States She has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards. The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences

Biography

Early life

Ndegeocello was born in Berlin, Germany, to army lieutenant and saxophonist father Jacques Johnson and health care worker mother Helen. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. An army (from Latin Armata "act of arming" via Old French armée) in the broadest sense is the land-based Armed forces Lieutenant (abbreviated Lt or Lieut) is a Military, Naval, Paramilitary, Fire service, Emergency medical services The saxophone (commonly referred to simply as sax) is a conical- bored transposing Musical instrument considered a member of the Woodwind She was raised in Washington, D.C. where she attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Oxon Hill High School. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D The Duke Ellington School of the Arts is a High school located in Washington D Oxon Hill High School (OHHS is a public senior High school located in Oxon Hill, an unincorporated area in Prince George's County Maryland, United In early press releases from Maverick Records her birth year was mistakenly listed as 1969. Maverick Recording Company, is an American Record label and the record company division of entertainment company Maverick. The 1968 birth date has been confirmed through a previous manager and lifelong friend.

Although named Michelle Lynn Johnson at birth, Ndegeocello has had numerous name changes. Name change is a basic Legal act that is recognized in practically all legal systems to allow an individual the opportunity to adopt a Name other than the name given 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. ^[1] Meshell Ndegeocello is pronounced MEE-shell n-deh-GAY-o-chel-o. Early pressings of Plantation Lullabies were stickered with the instructions. Plantation Lullabies is the debut album by Me'shell Ndegeocello. She has changed the spelling of this name a number of times during her career; however, the correct spelling of her stage name is now Meshell Ndegeocello, without apostrophes or any unusual capitalizations. ^[2]

Career rise

Ndegeocello honed her skills on the D. C. go-go circuit in the late 1980s with the bands Prophecy, Little Bennie and the Masters and Rare Essence. Go-go is a subgenre of funk that originated in the Washington D The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. Rare Essence, is a Go-go band which grew from a relationship between four childhood friends Quinten "Footz" Davidson Andre "Whiteboy" Johnson Michael ^[3] She unsuccessfully tried out for Living Colour's bassist position, vacated in 1992 by Muzz Skillings. Living Colour is an American Funk metal band from New York City, formed in 1983 Muzz Skillings (St Albans New York was the original bass player with Living Colour. Going solo, she was the first artist signed to Maverick Records, where she released her debut album, Plantation Lullabies. Maverick Recording Company, is an American Record label and the record company division of entertainment company Maverick. Plantation Lullabies is the debut album by Me'shell Ndegeocello. This recording presented a distinctly androgynous persona. Androgyny is a term derived from the Greek words ανήρ ( anér, meaning man and γυνή ( gyné, meaning woman that can refer to either of two

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. John Mellencamp, previously known as John Cougar and then John Cougar Mellencamp, (born October 7, 1951, in Seymour Indiana) is a In Popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition ( Performance or Recording) of a previously recorded commercially released George Ivan Morrison OBE (generally known as Van Morrison) (born 31 August 1945 is a Grammy Award -winning Northern Irish Singer, " Wild Night " is a song written by Northern Irish Singer-songwriter Van Morrison and included on his 1971 album, Tupelo Honey See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry 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 with a Bill Withers cover 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 ". Bill Withers (born July 4, 1938) is an American Singer-songwriter who performed and recorded from 1970 until 1985 . . Boyfriend". Ndegeocello sang background vocals on the song "I'd Rather be Your Lover" by Madonna, on her album Bedtime Stories. Madonna Louise Ciccone Ritchie (born August 16 1958 known as Madonna, is an American Bedtime Stories is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on October 25, 1994 by Maverick

Her music has been featured in a number of film soundtracks including How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Lost & Delirious, Batman and Robin, Love Jones, Love & Basketball, The Best Man, Higher Learning and Down in the Delta. How Stella Got Her Groove Back is a 1998 Romance film, directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan. Lost and Delirious is a 2001 Canadian drama film directed by Léa Pool and loosely based on the novel The Wives Of Bath Love Jones is a 1997 Romantic drama film written and directed by Theodore Witcher. Love & Basketball is a 2000 Romantic drama film, written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. The Best Man is a 1999 romantic comedy - drama film, written and directed by Malcolm D Higher Learning is a 1995 Drama film, starring an Ensemble cast. Down in the Delta is a 1998 Drama film directed by Maya Angelou. She has appeared on recordings by Basement Jaxx, Indigo Girls, The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Rolling Stones' 1997 album Bridges to Babylon, playing bass on the song "Saint Of Me", and Alanis Morissette's 2002 album Under Rug Swept, playing bass on the songs "So Unsexy" and "You Owe Me Nothing in Return". Basement Jaxx are a critically acclaimed UK House duo comprising Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe that rose to popularity in the late 1990s Indigo Girls are an American Folk rock duo consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. The Blind Boys of Alabama are a gospel group from Alabama that first formed at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939. Bridges to Babylon is an album by The Rolling Stones and was released in 1997 Alanis Nadine Morissette (born June 1 1974 is a Canadian-born Singer-songwriter, Record producer, and Actress. Under Rug Swept is the sixth Album (fifth Studio album) by Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette. " So Unsexy " is a Pop rock song written by Alanis Morissette, and produced by her for her sixth album Under Rug Swept (2002 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". Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a 2002 Documentary film directed by Paul Justman The Miracles (known from 1965 to 1972 as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles) is an American Rhythm and blues group from Detroit Michigan, notable In the late 1990s, she toured with Lilith Fair. Lilith Fair was a Concert tour and traveling Music festival, founded by musician Sarah McLachlan, that consisted solely of female solo artists and female-led

Personal life

Ndegeocello is bisexual, and was a longtime lover of writer Rebecca Walker^[4]; their relationship ended in 2003. Rebecca Walker (born November 17 1969) is an American Feminist and writer Ndegeocello suffers from photosensitive epilepsy and is susceptible to seizures induced by flash photography when she is performing live. Photosensitive epilepsy is a form of Epilepsy in which Seizures are triggered by visual stimuli that form patterns in time or space such as flashing lights bold

Discography

• Plantation Lullabies (1993), Maverick
• Peace Beyond Passion (1996), Maverick
• Bitter (1999), Maverick
• Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape (2002), Maverick
• Comfort Woman (2003), Maverick
• The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidel (2005), Shanachie
• The Article 3 (2006), EmArcy, EP
• The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams (2007), Kuzcek

References

External links

• Official website
• Meshell Ndegeocello at MySpace
• Defined as the "definitive" website by Meshell herself