Basic Facts
Born: August 29, 1968, Berlin, Germany
Type of Performer: Singer, songwriter, bassist
Genre: R&B, pop, rock & roll
About Meshell Ndegeocello
Michelle Lynn Johnson was born in 1968 in Berlin, Germany, but her family moved to Virginia shortly thereafter. Her father was in the military and played jazz saxophone, and Michelle was encouraged to explore her interest in music. As a teenager, she played gigs in Washington, D.C., and studied music at Howard before settling in New York City. She began to go by Meshell Ndegeocello, her last name Swahili for "free like a bird," and became one of the first artists to be signed to Madonna's record label, Maverick. Her debut album, Plantation Lullabies, was released in 1993 and earned three GRAMMY nominations.
Ndegeocello went on to release several other albums, with Ventriloquism (2018) as the most recent release. She has also collaborated with artists including Chaka Khan, John Mellencamp, and others from across the spectrum of genres. She recorded songs for the soundtracks of the movies "White Mna's Burden" and "Money Talks," and she has toured nationally and internationally to promote her albums. In 2012, she released an album honoring the legendary artist Nina Simone, called Pour une Âime Souveraine: A Dedication to Nina Simone. An accomplished bassist, she has appeared with The Rolling Stones and Madonna. She has received 10 GRAMMY nominations in total.
Listen
Outside Your Door
Smooth Operator
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