Kym Mazelle
Kym Mazelle | |
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Born | Kymberly Grigsby 10 August 1960 Gary, Indiana, US |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1986–present |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Instruments |
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Labels | |
Website | www |
Kym Mazelle (born Kymberly Grigsby; 10 August 1960) is an American singer-songwriter.[1] She is regarded as a pioneer of house music in the United Kingdom and Europe.[2][3] Her music combines R&B, soul, funk, house music, disco, and pop.[4] She is credited as "The First Lady of House Music".[2][5]
Biography
Early life
Mazelle was raised in Gary, Indiana. She lived on the same street as the Jackson family and knew Michael Jackson's mother and uncle.[6] In 1981, she attended Mundelein College in Chicago. In 1982, she transferred to Columbia College Chicago, where she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Arts and Entertainment Media Management in 1986.[7] During college, she worked part-time as an intern and secretary at Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Career
In 1987, she worked with record producer Marshall Jefferson on the single "Taste My Love", released on Police Records label.[6] In 1988, she released the single "Useless (I Don't Need You Now)", a hit on the club charts which reached at No. 53 on the UK singles chart.[8] Her next release, "Wait," a duet with Robert Howard from The Blow Monkeys in 1989, peaked at No. 7 in the UK.[8] In 1989, Mazelle's debut album Crazy was released in the UK and featured the single "Love Strain".[8] With the single "Was That All It Was" returned Mazelle to the UK Top 40 and "Useless (I Don't Need You Now)" was remixed by Norman Cook.[9]
In 1990, Mazelle joined British music group Soul II Soul. Her lead vocals on the single "Missing You" on their second album Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade achieved major success worldwide. She also toured with the group throughout the year and their concert DVD A New Decade: Live from Brixton Academy was released in September 1990. In 1991, Parlophone Records repackaged Mazelle's debut album as Brilliant!! with remixes of her singles, two new tracks and remixes of "No One Can Love You More Than Me" and "Crazy 'Bout The Man."[10][11] Mazelle also appeared as "Pattie Roman" on the show Trainer, a sitcom founded in Great Britain.[12]
In 1994, she scored a No. 13 hit in the UK with a cover on "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)", with Jocelyn Brown. Two years later, in 1996, Mazelle released a cover version of the song "Young Hearts Run Free", which appeared in the 1996 Baz Luhrmann film William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet and also appeared on the director's remix album Something for Everybody.[13] The soundtrack went triple platinum in the United States of America.[14] The success of the single re-invited Mazelle to perform on Top of the Pops.[15]
She has appeared on two live albums by Maceo Parker, Life on Planet Groove and My First Name is Maceo. Mazelle released her second album The Pleasure Is All Mine in June 2004 and undertook a tour in the UK.[16] The album spawned two singles: "Love Magic" and "On My Own".[17][18] In 2005, Mazelle took part in the British version of the reality TV show, Celebrity Fit Club. In April 2007, she appeared in the Ray Charles's tribute show "I Can't Stop Loving You".[19]
In July 2010, Mazelle joined the cast of UK theatre production of "Smokey Joe's Cafe".[20][21] She also appeared on the BBC Television series, Celebrity MasterChef. In September 2010, she released an extended play titled Destiny.[22]
She headlined Liverpool Pride on 6 August 2011.[23] On 3 November 2011, she headlined Prince Charles's Prince's Trust Ambassador Ball in Glasgow and helped to raise £93,000.00 for the charity on the night. On 6 April 2013, her appearance on The Voice UK was broadcast on the BBC.[24] In 2017, Mazelle embarked on her 30th Anniversary Tour, celebrating thirty years in the music industry.
Discography
Albums
- Crazy / Brilliant! (1989)
- The Pleasure Is All Mine (2004)
- Destiny (2010)
Compilations
- Brilliant!! (1991) – European remix compilation, with 3 new tracks
- The Gold Collection (1996)
Singles
Solo singles
Single | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [25] |
US Dance [26] |
AUS [27] |
BEL [28] |
FRA [29] |
GER [30] |
NED [31] |
NZ [32] |
UK [8] | |||
"Useless (I Don't Need You Now)" | 1988 | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 53 | Crazy (UK/EUR) Brilliant! (US/CAN) |
"Wait!" (duet with Robert Howard) |
1989 | — | — | — | 20 | — | 26 | 32 | — | 7 | |
"Got to Get You Back" | — | — | — | — | — | 57 | — | — | 29 | ||
"Love Strain" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 52 | ||
"Was That All It Was" | 1990 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 33 | |
"Don't Scandalize My Name" | — | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Useless (I Don't Need You Now)" (Norman Cook Remix) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 48 | Brilliant! (European remix compilation) | |
"No One Can Love You More Than Me" (Boilerhouse Remix) | 1991 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 62 | |
"Woman of the World" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Trainer — OST | |
"Love Me the Right Way" (with Rapination) |
1993 | 97 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | Non-album single |
"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" (duet with Jocelyn Brown) |
1994 | — | — | 48 | 46 | — | — | — | — | 13 | |
"Gimme All Your Lovin'" (duet with Jocelyn Brown) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | ||
"Love Me the Right Way '96" (with Rapination) |
1996 | — | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 55 | |
"Young Hearts Run Free" | — | — | 11 | — | 29 | 88 | — | 16 | 20 | Romeo + Juliet — OST | |
"Have a Nice Day" | 1997 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single |
"A Place in My Heart" | 1998 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Love Magic" | 2004 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Pleasure Is All Mine |
"On My Own" | 2005 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Here Comes the Light" | 2010 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Destiny |
Can You Feel It" (with Junior and Sinitta) [33] |
2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | non album single |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released. |
As featured artist
Single | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US R&B [34] |
US Dance [35] |
IRE [36] |
NED [37] |
UK [8] | |||||||||||||
"Taste My Love" (House to House featuring Kym Mazelle) |
1987 | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||||||||||
"Missing You" (Soul II Soul featuring Kym Mazelle) |
1990 | 29 | 39 | 24 | 74 | 22 | Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade | ||||||||||
"Love Me or Leave Me" (Kamasutra presents Kym Mazelle) |
1995 | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||||||||||
"Searching for the Golden Eye" (Motiv-8 and Kym Mazelle) |
1996 | — | — | — | — | 40 | |||||||||||
"Free, Gay & Happy" (Paradise People featuring Kym Mazelle) |
1997 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||
"Truly" (Peshay featuring Kym Mazelle) |
2000 | — | — | — | — | 55 | Miles from Home | ||||||||||
"Perhaps" (Sunray featuring Kym Mazelle) |
2001 | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||||||||||
"Dance Little Dreamer" (Infinito featuring Kym Mazelle) |
— | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
"Feel Like Dancin'" (House Bros. featuring Kym Mazelle) |
2003 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||
"Change" (Yann Vedra featuring Kym Mazelle) |
2014 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||
"Lovin'" (David Morales presents The Face featuring Kym Mazelle) |
2015 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released. |
Filmography
Television
Year | Title | Role | Episode | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | Trainer | Pattie Roman | "A Question of Loyalty" | [12] |
"Business or Pleasure" | [12] |
Tours
- A New Decade Tour (1990) (with Soul II Soul)
- 25 Year Anniversary Tour (2011–12) (with Soul II Soul)
- Kym Mazelle 30th Anniversary Tour (2017)
References
- ^ "Kym Mazelle | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- ^ a b Kym Mazelle biography, Telegraph UK. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
- ^ Kym Mazelle | Famous Hoosiers. The NWI Times. Retrieved on 19 December 2016
- ^ Running free with Kym Mazelle. Voice Online. Retrieved on 14 February 2016
- ^ Kym Mazelle biography, DamnGoodVoices. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Biography by Ron Wynn". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
- ^ Kym Mazelle '86 – Alumni – Columbia College Chicago. Columbia College Chicago. Retrieved on 28 September 2018
- ^ a b c d e "Kym Mazelle – UK Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
- ^ "Kym Mazelle – Useless (I Don't Need You Now)". Discogs. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
- ^ Published by ABC Consumer Magazines. (1990). Kym Mazelle. InMusic, Volume 1—2, Page 31. Retrieved from https://books.google.com
- ^ Brilliant! — Kym Mazelle. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 8 October 2017
- ^ a b c Read, M. (30 September 2014). Seize the Day. Biteback Publishing. Retrieved from https://books.google.com
- ^ Romeo + Juliet — Original Soundtrack. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 8 October 2017
- ^ Romeo + Juliet | Gold & Platinum Database. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on 8 October 2017
- ^ Kym Mazelle — Young Hearts Run Free. BBC Online – Top of the Pops' Video Archive. Retrieved on 28 March 2017
- ^ Kym Mazelle – The Pleasure Is All Mine. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 5 January 2017
- ^ Kym Mazelle – Love Magic. Discogs. Retrieved on 5 January 2017
- ^ Kym Mazelle – On My Own. Discogs. Retrieved on 5 January 2017
- ^ Mazelle's still got the magic. Manchester Evening News. Retrieved on 8 October 2017
- ^ BWW Interviews: SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE's Kym Mazelle. Broadway World. Retrieved on 8 October 2017
- ^ Disco Diva Kym Mazelle Set for Landor Theatre's SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE, 7/13-7/25. Broadway World. Retrieved on 8 October 2017
- ^ Kym Mazelle – Destiny. Discogs. Retrieved on 5 January 2017
- ^ Thousands take to the streets for Liverpool Pride 2017. The Guide Liverpool. Retrieved on 8 October 2017
- ^ Soul singer Kym Mazelle falls at the first hurdle as The Voice auditions continue. Metro News UK. Retrieved on 8 October 2017
- ^ "Kym Mazelle – US Hot 100". billboard.com. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ^ "Kym Mazelle – US Dance Club Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
- ^ "Kym Mazelle – Australian Chart". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
- ^ "Kym Mazelle – Flemish Chart". ultratop.be. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
- ^ "Kym Mazelle – French Chart". lescharts.com. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
- ^ "Kym Mazelle – German Chart". germancharts.de. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
- ^ "Kym Mazelle – Dutch Chart". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
- ^ "Kym Mazelle – New Zealand Chart". charts.nz. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
- ^ "Can You Feel It - single". Apple Music. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- ^ "Soul II Soul – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ^ "Soul II Soul – Dance Club Songs". billboard.com. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ^ "IRE Charts Search > Soul II Soul". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ^ "Featuring Kym Mazelle – Dutch Chart". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
External links
- Kym Mazelle official website
- Kym Mazelle discography at Discogs
- 1960 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American women singers
- 21st-century American women singers
- African-American women singer-songwriters
- American women singer-songwriters
- American dance musicians
- American expatriates in the United Kingdom
- American women pop singers
- American house musicians
- American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters
- American soul singers
- American women in electronic music
- Capitol Records artists
- Columbia College Chicago alumni
- Musicians from Gary, Indiana
- The Voice UK contestants
- Songwriters from Indiana
- 20th-century American singers
- 21st-century American singers
- 20th-century African-American women
- 20th-century African-American people
- 21st-century African-American women
- 21st-century African-American people