Jully Black - Life & Career

Life & Career

Black was born Jullyann Inderia Gordon, in Toronto, Ontario of Jamaican heritage. She grew up in the Jane and Finch area of Toronto.

Black had a Top 40 hit on the Canadian charts in 1998 with "Rally'n". She has had subsequent hits with singles such as "You Changed" and "Between Me and U". She had also been invited to contribute to Rascalz' groundbreaking hip hop single "Northern Touch" in 1998, but was unable to participate due to other commitments.

Her solo debut album was originally scheduled for release in 2003 on MCA Records, under the title I Traveled. However, it was heavily delayed, MCA eventually folded in 2003, and the album was shelved.

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, the international music industry body, there were "2.8 million illegal file swapping requests for her music in the first two weeks of her album's release in 2005".

Also during that year, Black played in the theatre production of "Da Kink in My Hair" at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto. A play created and written by Trey Anthony, Jully played the part of the Preacher. The play was a critical success as it sold out all of its 106 performances during its run at the Princess of Wales Theatre and being extended 5 times. This acclaimed accomplishment eventually lead to the play being developed into a weekly televised series on Global TV which Black sang the opening credit theme song and was a featured character in a couple of episodes.

In summer 2007, a new single entitled "Seven Day Fool" was released, eventually 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 in Calgary on April 6, 2008, at which she was the closing act on the telecast performing "Seven Day Fool".

Black was a correspondent on the sixth season of Canadian Idol. She also hosted the 2008 Canadian Radio Music Awards. In addition to her career as a recording artist, Black has been a celebrity reporter for CTV's daily entertainment magazine etalk.

In 2009, Black, with YoungPete Alexander and Kellis E. Parker, wrote and released her third studio album The Black Book. Following the release of The Black Book, Black kicked off a country wide tour in Vancouver at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.

In 2010, a new song by Black, "At the Roncies" (about the Roncesvalles Avenue neighborhood of Toronto, Ontario), was the song chosen by listeners to represent the province of Ontario in CBC Radio2's Great Canadian Song Quest.

In 2011, Black and YoungPete created a new production team by welcoming the talents of choreographer and songwriter Luther Brown, collectively known as The Officials. Together they've written and produced songs on the soon to be released album (8)ight.

Black has been selected to perform and open for Celine Dion at the 2012 Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival honouring Jamaica’s 50th Anniversary of Independence.

Jully is also a featured weekly guest panelist on CTV's talk show - The Marilyn Denis Show and has been a multiple presenter at both the 2010 & 2011 P&G Beauty & Grooming Awards

It was recently announced that Jully has been nominated for a 2012 Juno Award for 'Best R&B/Soul Recording' for her song "Set It Off" featuring Kardinal Offishall.

Summer 2012 Jully released a Mixtape including a range of different styles to fans for free. Black named the Mixtape "Dropping W(8). She mentioned that she had these songs and felt a weight on her shoulders with them and wanted to "drop the weight". The title also reference "wait", as fans have waited for and anticipated new music. Around the same time, Jully recruited interns from all over the country to help get the word out of "Dropping W(8)".

Jully is currently working in studio on "(8)ight" and performing concerts.