Me'Shell NdegeOcello
Funk-rocker Me'Shell NdegeOcello has been receiving attention
since the early '90s for her provocative mix of R&B and pop.
NdegeOcello was born 30 years ago today in Berlin and was
raised in Washington, D.C. "NdegeOcello" (pronounced
N-day-gay-O-chello) means "free like a bird" in Swahili. She
studied jazz at Duke Ellington School of the Arts and at
Howard University.
NdegeOcello, a bassist, has worked with Steve Coleman,
Caron Wheeler, Lenny White, Toshinobu Kubota, the Black
Rock Coalition and Arrested Development.
In the late '80s, NdegeOcello played with such bands as Little
Bennie and the Masters and Rare Essence in Washington,
D.C. In 1990 she won in three categories at the Washington
Area Music Awards.
NdegeOcello relocated to New York in the early '90s when Alan
Douglas, Jimi Hendrix's producer, chose her to cover songs
from the Hendrix catalog. The project has yet to be released,
but many record-label executives noticed her talent, leaving
NdegeOcello a large choice. She selected Maverick Records,
feeling that a new label would offer artistic and creative
freedom.
NdegeOcello's debut, Plantation Lullabies (1993), was critically
hailed and featured the singles "I'm Diggin' You (Like an Old
Soul Record)" and the minor hit "If That's Your Boyfriend (He
Wasn't Last Night)." The latter received Grammy nominations
in 1994 for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Vocal Performance
by a Female.
Plantation Lullabies was nominated for Best R&B Album and
NdegeOcello and John Mellencamp were nominated for Best
Pop Vocal Collaboration for their top-10 cover of Van Morrison's
"Wild Night" that appeared on Mellencamp's Dance Naked
(1994).
Peace Beyond Passion (1996) 霠which featured Wendy
Melvoin (of Prince fame) and Billy Preston 霠examined
NdegeOcello's psyche on such tracks as "Deuteronomy:
Niggerman," "Ecclesiastes: Free My Heart" and "Leviticus:
Faggot" (RealAudio excerpt). The LP also included a take on
Bill Withers' "Who Is He and What Is He to You."
Last week NdegeOcello released her third LP, Bitter, featuring
"Satisfy," the single "Grace" (which was initially released via
the Internet radio service Spinner.com) and a cover of Hendrix's
"May This Be Love."
NdegeOcello, who shaves her head completely, recently did
club gigs to support the LP, and performed at several Lilith Fair
dates.
She said: "Playing the Lilith Fair last year was great 霠having
the opportunity to perform with people like Bonnie Raitt and the
Indigo Girls. ... The 'heads' are all women, and everyone follows
that lead. There isn't a competitive attitude. We were truly
enjoying ourselves."
Other birthdays: Dick Halligan (Blood, Sweat and Tears), 56;
Chris Copping (Procul Harum), 54; Dave Jenkins (Pablo
Cruise), 52; Michael Jackson, 41; Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau
Twins), 36; A+, 17; Sterling Morrison (Velvet Underground),
1942-1995; and Dinah Washington, 1924-1963.
--
gender is just an excuse, relationship shouldn't just be an excuse,
love is often an excuse, although sometimes these excuses are all
we have to hold onto,
death is the reason and living is the celebration
- Beth Orton
--
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