After two and a half years in England, Watley returned to America and secured a recording deal with MCA Records, eager to establish her own identity.

British soul singer Pauline Henry ( former lead vocalist of " The Chimes ") recorded a contemporary version of the track in 1995 ( released as a single ); singer Jody Watley recorded a downtempo version for her 2006 album, The Makeover ; while Australian singer-songwriter Tina Arena recorded a version in 2007 for her album Songs of Love & Loss.

Watley, however, found it challenging to get songs she had written onto Shalamar albums ; having limited success getting songs she wrote recorded.

Her album Jody Watley was released in March 1987, and she co-wrote six of the album's nine songs.

In an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, Watley would say that she wanted to showcase her voice against " really funky hard dance tracks.

Watley was photographed by famous photographer, Victor Skrebneski, for the popular Saks Fifth Avenue Defining Style Fall Catalog, where she appeared in a 15 page high fashion layout in 1996.

Watley would state that she was eager to change her musical range and image, and no longer wanted to be seen as just a dance diva.

Apparently undeterred by disappointing sales, Watley would say she was more concerned with broadening her creative boundaries than in just having huge record sales.

Watley herself acknowledged that the songs she wrote were always personal statements.

Watley was photographed by famous photographer, Victor Skrebneski, for the popular Saks Fifth Avenue Defining Style Fall Catalog, where she appeared in a 15 page high fashion layout.

It was during the time she was unable to record, that Watley says she was inspired by 4Hero whose 1998 album Two Pages exposed her to the underground electronic dance music out side of the mainstream ; she credits this inspiration for not retiring after the disappointment of how Flower was handled.

The Saturday Night Experience, as told to music historian David Nathan, Watley stated she had no desire to release the project in the U. S.

The music and growth of Watley would achieve critical acclaim for the project and Watley, noting she had successfully updated her sound over the years and evolved successfully into a soulful chantese.

In 2005, Watley made history on the Billboard Hot Dance Music / Club Play Chart when she re-released her 1987 hit " Looking For a New Love.

Watley was also one of the few American singers to perform on the original Band Aid record recorded by mostly British singers in November 1984.

Watley recorded " It's All There " for the movie " Switch " with legendary composer Henry Mancini.

Replacing the downtempo ambient version found on the 2006 " The Makeover ", Watley recorded the new arrangement originally suggested by songwriter Pam Sawyer, for Ross.

Thompson appeared with numerous artists such as Jody Watley, Madonna ( on her 1984 album Like A Virgin ), Rod Stewart, Robert Palmer, Adam Ant ( on his unreleased Persuasion album ), Mick Jagger, and David Bowie ( on his 1983 Let's Dance album and subsequent Serious Moonlight tour ).

Leonard has worked with a wide variety of artists, including late-period Pink Floyd and solo Roger Waters, as well as Boz Scaggs, Deborah Blando, Peter Cetera, Bryan Ferry, Elton John, Anna Vissi, Jody Watley, Rod Stewart, Madonna, Jewel, Blue October, and up and coming artist Rachel Loy.

Their first hit was the 1975 Motown-inspired production " Uptown Festival ," and released on Soul Train Records the success of which inspired Griffey and Don Cornelius to replace session singers with popular Soul Train dancers Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel to join original Shalamar lead singer Gary Mumford.

The " classic " lineup of Shalamar ( Hewett, Watley, and Daniel ) scored a total of three gold albums in the US with Big Fun, Three for Love ( which eventually went platinum ) and Friends.

Jody Watley launched her own influential solo career in 1987, winning the Grammy Award for Best New Artist Her hits include " Looking for a New Love ," " Real Love ," and " Friends " featuring Eric B & Rakim ( noted to be the first Pop / R & B crossover single to include a rapper with the customized 16 bar verse, later becoming a popular formula in commercial music ).

Along with Janet Jackson and Madonna, Watley ranks as one of MTV Video Music Awards most-nominated female artists.

In 1996, Watley rejoined with Hewett and Daniel, plus LL Cool J, on Babyface's million-selling single " This Is for the Lover in You "; a cover of a hit single from Shalamar's 1980 album Three for Love.

Winbush and former partner Rene Moore also shared the distinction for being one of the first R & B acts to prominently feature a rap act in a R & B song sharing that distinction with Jody Watley, Chaka Khan and funk band Cameo.

Jody Watley is also noted as being the first Pop / R & B singer to include a rapper on the specialized verse / bridge with their collaboration on " Friends " featuring Eric B.

Influenced by Diana Ross, Watley made her first stage appearance at 8 years old with family friend and godfather Jackie Wilson.

Watley remained with the group from 1977 to 1984.

Also included on her debut album Jody Watley was the duet with George Michael, " Learn To Say No ", produced by Bernard Edwards.

In 1990, Watley would continue to be involved with fashion.

In 2006, Watley would walk the runway with designer Kevan Hall for LA Fashion Week.

Jody Watley photographed with President George H. Bush, First Lady Barbara Bush, 1992.

Having parted ways with MCA Records, Watley took an independent path and started her own label, Avitone Records, and released her fifth solo album, Affection, in July 1995.

As the year wound to a close, Watley took a hiatus from her own Avitone label, and signed with Big Beat / Atlantic Records.

The same year MCA Records released a Greatest Hits album with Watley ’ s recordings for MCA.

After spending most of 1997 in the recording studio crafting her sixth studio album, Flower, Watley was back in early 1998 with its lead singles " Off The Hook " and " If I'm Not In Love.

A previously unreleased song featuring Watley with George Duke titled " Baby Love " was included as a bonus track on The Best of George Duke The Electra Years in 1997.

Geldof called many of the most popular British and Irish performers of the time ( Kool & The Gang and Jody Watley were the only Americans present at the original recording ), persuading them to give their time free.

Two former dancers, Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel, enjoyed years of success as members of the R & B group Shalamar after they were chosen by Soul Train talent booker / record promoter Dick Griffey and Cornelius to replace the group's original session singers in 1978.

The group took a knock when Watley and Daniel separately left the band over conflicts within the group and other issues.

Shalamar was featured in a segment of TV One's series Unsung, in which Watley, Daniel and Hewett shared their stories about the creation of the group, the lack of payment and royalties from Solar Records, success, egos, and the breakup of the classic lineup.

As popular stand-outs on the television show, Watley and fellow Soul Train dancer Jeffrey Daniel were selected to join Gary Mumford and become original members of the R & B group Shalamar by show creator Don Cornelius.

The single also featured LL Cool J and Watley ’ s former Shalamar bandmates Howard Hewett and Jeffrey Daniel, essentially reforming the group for the single.

The group also began working with other well-known names such as " Little " Louie Vega, Barbara Tucker, Jody Watley, and Full Intention.