Me’Shell NdegéOcello
@ the Love Supreme Jazz Festival
6 July 2024

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Biography

Michelle Lynn Johnson was born on August 29, 1968 in Berlin, Germany and raised in Washington D.C. As a teenager she adopted the name ‘Ndegéocello’ (meaning free like a bird in Swahili). Ndegéocello is self-taught on the bass, guitar, keyboards and drums. She attended the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and honed her skills performing on the D.C go-go circuit with bands such as Little Bennie and the Masters, Prophecy and Rare Essence.

Ndegéocello was the first female artist to be signed to Madonna’s Maverick Record Label in 1993. Her debut for Maverick “Plantation Lullabies” spawned the hit single “If That’s Your Boyfriend (He Wasen’t Last Night)” as well as three Grammy Nominations.

Ndegéocello’s 1996 sophomore, “Peace Beyond Passion” would be released to further acclaim and a wider audience. Though this album would not garner hit singles, it still earned Grammy nominations and is regarded as one of her finest albums by her loyal followers. After recording her third album “Bitter” (1999) Ndegéocello began to question Maverick’s support. Maverick did not feel that “Bitter” contained potential hit singles, so were initially reluctant to release it.

Ndegéocello’s funky live jam sessions consistently sell out venues worldwide. She defies convention and consistently releases groundbreaking, thought provoking music.

Ndegéocello’s writing and performing collaborations have included artists such as Prince, Chaka Khan, Eric Bennet, Madonna, Vanessa Williams, David Bowie, Marcus Miller, John Cougar Mellencamp, George Clinton, Herbie Hancock, The Blind Boys of Alabama and The Rolling Stones to name a few. Her music has appeared in various films such as ‘Batman & Robin’, ‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’, ‘Lost & Delirious’ and ‘Down in the Delta.’

Robin Francis
© Michael Valentine Studio