Jully Black
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Jullyann Inderia Gordon Black (born November 8, 1977) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She has released 4 studio albums, and 2 remix EPs. She has collaborated and written for many artists, including Nas, Saukrates, Choclair, Kardinal Offishall, Destiny's Child, and Sean Paul.
She was chosen by CBC Music as one of "The 25 Greatest Canadian Singers Ever"[1] and has long been dubbed the "Canada's Queen of R&B" by fans and industry peers alike.[2][3][4]
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 district in the neighbourhood of Jane and Finch in Toronto, Ontario.[5] After her parents divorced, she was raised in a strict Pentecostal 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 where she was offered a deal to help propel her career. Black capitalized on these opportunities, which saw her garner her first Juno Award 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, Destiny's Child, Sean Paul, Kardinal Offishall, and many others.[6]
Black had a Top 40 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.[7] In 1999, she appeared on 2Rude's single "Dissin Us", which won the MuchMusic Video Award for Best R&B/Soul Video in 2000.[8]
Black's debut album was originally scheduled for release in 2003 on MCA Records, under the title I Traveled,[9] but 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" 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" 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, 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 and hosted the 2008 Canadian Radio Music Awards. She has also been a celebrity reporter for the CTV daily entertainment news magazine program, etalk.[10] 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 at the 2010 Winter Olympics.[11] 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 neighbourhood of Toronto), was the song chosen by listeners[12] to represent the province of Ontario in CBC Radio 2's Great Canadian Song Quest.
Black was selected to perform and open for Celine Dion at the 2012 Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival honouring Jamaica's 50th Anniversary of Independence in 2012.[13]
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.[14] 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.[15]
In 2022, Black was announced as a competitor in the eighth season of The Amazing Race Canada 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.[16]
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.[17] She was later honoured by the Assembly of First Nations for this action.[18][19] In the same year she participated in an all-star recording of Serena Ryder's single "What I Wouldn't Do", which was released as a charity single to benefit Kids Help Phone's Feel Out Loud campaign for youth mental health.[20]
In 2024 she narrated the television documentary series Paid in Full: The Battle for Black Music.[21]
In 2025, with Jason "Redz" Reynolds as her manager, Jully embarked on a 14 date headlining tour, her first in 17 years.[22][23]
Discography
Albums
- 2005: This Is Me
- 2007: Revival
- 2009: The Black Book
- 2022: Three Rocks and a Slingshot
Official mixtapes
- 2012: Dropping W(8)
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| CANScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". [24] | |||
| 1998 | "Rally'n" (with Saukrates)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 12 | I Travelled |
| 2000 | "Say No More" | — | |
| 2002 | "Between Me and You" (featuring Saukrates)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | — | |
| 2005 | "Stay the Night" | — | |
| "Sweat of Your Brow" (featuring Demarco)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 16 | This Is Me | |
| "5x Love"/"Material Things" (featuring Nas)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 30 | ||
| 2006 | "I Travelled" | 66 | |
| "Gotta Let You Know (Scream)" | — | ||
| 2007 | "Seven Day Fool" | 9 | Revival |
| "DJ Play My Song" | — | ||
| 2008 | "Until I Stay" | 33 | |
| "Queen" | — | ||
| 2009 | "Running" | 40 | The Black Book |
| 2010 | "Need You" | — | |
| "Can U Feel It?" | — | DROPPING W(8) | |
| "Pushin'" | — | ||
| 2011 | "Set It Off'" (featuring Kardinal Offishall)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | — | |
| 2012 | "Fugitive" | — | rowspan="5" Template:Non-album single |
| 2014 | "Here 2 Love U" | — | |
| 2015 | "Fever" | — | |
| 2019 | "Follow Your Love (Remix)" | — | |
| 2020 | "Mi No Fraid" | — |
Soundtracks
- 2010: George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight – 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 [Just 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 (Duet with Donny Parenteau, Alright With Me)
- 2012: The Marilyn Denis Show (Fugitive)
- 2012: CBC's Canada Day Celebration (O Canada/Seven Days Fool)
- 2010: CTV'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 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'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
- 2023: Pretty Hard Cases, 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
– 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, 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
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- ↑ Canadian hip hop gets the Northern Touch Script error: No such module "webarchive"., NOW, June 4, 1998.
- ↑ "Jully Black" Script error: No such module "webarchive".. The Canadian Encyclopedia, January 19, 2016.
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- ↑ "Watch now: FreeUp! Emancipation Day 2020, a CBC special celebrating Black Canadian artists" Script error: No such module "webarchive".. CBC Arts, July 30, 2020.
- ↑ "Jully Black hits the road for this summer’s edition of ‘The Amazing Race Canada’" Script error: No such module "webarchive".. Toronto Star, June 22, 2022.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ Brent Furdyk, "Feel Out Loud: Alessia Cara, Serena Ryder & More Canadian Artists Collaborate On New Single Promoting Youth Mental Health Initiative" Script error: No such module "webarchive".. Entertainment Tonight Canada, March 2, 2023.
- ↑ "Black artists have been exploited for decades. A new series explores the fight for fair pay in music". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, September 21, 2024.
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- ↑ Jully Black Chart History Script error: No such module "webarchive". Billboard.com
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External links
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- Jully Black at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
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- Pages with script errors
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- 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 singer-songwriters
- Canadian Idol
- Canadian infotainers
- Canadian Pentecostals
- Canadian people of Jamaican descent
- Alternative R&B musicians
- 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