Jodie Connor
Jodie Connor | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jodie Melanie Connor[1] |
| Born | May 8, 1981[2] |
| Genres | R&B Soul Neo soul Dance-pop Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer/Lyricist Dancer Fashion model Goodwill Ambassador |
| Instrument | Spinto/Mezzo-soprano |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | Polydor Records (UK) (2010-present)[3] Takeover Entertainment Ltd (Worldwide) (2010-present)[4] |
| Website | JodieConnorMusic.com |
Jodie Melanie Connor[1] (/[invalid input: 'icon']ˈdʒoʊdi/ /[invalid input: 'icon']ˈmɛləni/ /[invalid input: 'icon']ˈkɒnər/ JOH-dee MEL-ə-nee KON-ər) (born May 8, 1981[2]) is an Barbadian British R&B and soul recording artist, lyricist, fashion model and goodwill ambassador for Charles, Prince of Wales's The Prince's Trust.[5][6]
Connor rose to fame in 2010 after featuring as a guest vocalist on Roll Deep's number-one single "Good Times".[7] She was later signed by Polydor Records and Takeover Entertainment Ltd and released her debut solo single "Now or Never" on 16 January 2011, which peaked at number 14.[8] A second single, "Bring It" featuring Tinchy Stryder was released on 20 February 2011 following its first play on BBC Radio 1 and debuted at number 11 on the UK R&B Chart.[9][10]
Music career
Early career
Early in Jodie Connor's career, she attended Saddleworth School for her high school education before attending The Oldham College where she studied Performing arts and graduated.[11] Connor worked as receptionist in a sports club by day[12] and gigged and performed in the evenings and on weekends. In 2003, Connor appeared as a contestant on the second series of the hit British television talent show Pop Idol. She was an early favourite of the judges, and made it to the final fifty of the competition,[13] earning her the chance to perform live to the nation, but was eliminated after failing to finish in the top two in her group, instead placing fourth of ten.[14] Connor was given a second chance by the judges, and was invited back for the Wildcard round,[15] but again was unsuccessful in making it through to the next round, and was eliminated for good.[16]
2010-present: Breakthrough and first studio album
Connor returned to spotlight in 2010, when she featured on grime collective Roll Deep's comeback single "Good Times"; which she helped to co-write.[17] On 2 May 2010, the single debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 1,[7] where it remained for three consecutive weeks.[11] The single not only marked Connor's first chart performance, but also Roll Deep's first top 10 hit. Connor then continued her breakthrough, appearing on videos "Electric Boogaloo (Find a Way)" and "Higher State" by Wiley and Bailey respectively. Following the success of Connor's breakthrough, she was signed to Polydor Records and Takeover Entertainment Ltd,[3][18] spending the remainder of 2010 recording material for her debut album. On 16 January 2011, Connor released her debut single, "Now or Never" featuring Wiley, in the UK, which debuted at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart[8] and number 6 on the UK R&B Chart.[19] On 20 February 2011, Connor released her second single, "Bring It" featuring Tinchy Stryder, also in the UK, which debuted at number 11 on the UK R&B Chart[9] following its first play on BBC Radio 1.[10]
In December 2010, Connor announced that she is to be spending time between Los Angeles and New York City working in the studio with Roc Nation-Songwriter's Makeba Riddick and James Fauntleroy II on her debut album, and that the album would be scheduled for release in the first-quarter of 2012.[4]
Other ventures
In February 2011, Jodie Connor was signed to be the new face of Tinchy Stryder's Star in the Hood (company) female clothing line.[5] In March 2011, Connor was appointed as a goodwill ambassador for Charles, Prince of Wales's The Prince's Trust.[5]
Personal life
Jodie Connor is an Barbadian British singer-lyricist who was born on Friday, May 8, 1981 in Oldham, Greater Manchester, northern England. Connor's family are of Afro-Barbadian/White Barbadian[20] and half-English descent, her mother is named Kathleen, and she has three sisters who are named Becky, Leoni and Sofie.[6] Connor lived in Shaw and Crompton.[12]
Discography
Albums
- TBA (2012)
Singles
- As lead artist & As featured artist
| Year | Single | Chart positions |
Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [8] |
UK R&B [19] |
SCO [21] | |||||
| 2011 | "Now or Never" (featuring Wiley) |
14 | 6 | 11 | TBA | ||
| "Bring It" (With Tinchy Stryder) |
37 | 11 | 32 | ||||
| 2012 | "Take You There" (featuring Busta Rhymes) |
TBR | |||||
| As featured artist | |||||||
| 2010 | "Good Times" (Roll Deep featuring Jodie Connor) |
1 | — | 1 | Winner Stays On | ||
| "—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
Guest appearances
| Year | Single | Chart positions |
Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | |||||||
| 2008 | "Love Of My Life" (Dawood & Knight featuring Jodie Connor) |
— | Single only release | ||||
| 2010 | "Electric Boogaloo (Find A Way)" (Wiley featuring J2K & Jodie Connor) |
— | Single only release | ||||
| "Higher State" (Bailey featuring Jodie Connor) |
— | Higher State | |||||
| "—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
Music videos
| Title | Year | Director | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Electric Boogaloo (Find A Way)" (with Wiley & J2K) | 2010 | Charles Henrie Belleville | [22][23] |
| "Good Times" (with Roll Deep) | Rock Jacobs | [24] | |
| "Now or Never" (with Wiley) | 2011 | Johny Mourgue | [25] |
| "Bring It" (with Tinchy Stryder) | Luke Biggins & Yasha Malekzad | [26] |
Cameo appearances
| Title | Year | Director(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| "In My System" (Tinchy Stryder) |
2010 | Kwasi Danquah III & Emil Nava | [27] |
| "Gangsta?" (Tinchy Stryder featuring Tinie Tempah) |
Kwasi Danquah III & Adam Powell | [28] |
References
- ^ a b "england & wales births 1837-2006 search results (Jodie Melanie B Connor)". Findmypast.com. Retrieved Thursday, September 22, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b "Jodie Connor — Magical urban popstress". FHM. Retrieved Thursday, September 22, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b Artists – Jodie Connor. Polydor Records.
- ^ a b Jodie Connor (No 925). The Guardian. Thursday, December 7, 2010. Retrieved Thursday, September 14, 2011.
- ^ a b c Jodie Connor interview: The good times roll. Daily Mirror. Friday, April 1, 2011. Retrieved Thursday, September 15, 2011.
- ^ a b Pop dreams hang in the balance. Oldham Advertiser, 17 September 2003.
- ^ a b Roll Deep claim first ever UK number one. Digital Spy, 2 May 2010.
- ^ a b c Jodie Connor Singles. Chart Stats.
- ^ a b "Archive Chart". (UK R&B Chart). The Official Charts Company. April 16, 2011. Retrieved Thursday, September 22, 2011.
- ^ a b Corner, Lewis (Wednesday, March 30, 2011). "Bring It Interview - Jodie Connor". Digital Spy. Retrieved Thursday, September 22, 2011.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b Ex-Pop Idol contestant Jodie Connor set for chart success eight years on. Oldham Advertiser, 5 January 2011.
- ^ a b ‘My pop bubble’s not burst!’. Oldham Advertiser, 17 September 2003.
- ^ Jodie’s hit the Good Times. Chronicle Online, 11 May 2010.
- ^ Another two through to Idol's top twelve. Digital Spy, 20 September 2003.
- ^ Second time lucky for Pop Idol Jodie?. Manchester Evening News, 14 October 2003.
- ^ Sam, Susanne complete Idol's final lineup. Digital Spy, 18 October 2003.
- ^ Jodie Connor: 'No.1 raises the bar'. Digital Spy, 14 January 2011.
- ^ 1stBlog. jodieconnormusic.com , 2 December 2010.
- ^ a b Jodie Connor Singles (UK R&B Chart). The Official Charts Company (UK-Rhythm and blues).
- ^ Jodie Connor Interview With Mitch and Suave. YouTube. Saturday, January 15, 2011. Retrieved Thursday, September 15, 2011. (Note - Fastforward the interview to, 07:00 minutes, for the announcement of Jodie Connor's Barbadian ethnicity.).
- ^ Jodie Connor Singles (Scottish Chart). The Official Charts Company (Scotland).
- ^ Wiley feat. Jodie Connor and J2K – Electric Boogaloo (Find A Way). MUZU TV. Retrieved Tuesday, September 20, 2011.
- ^ Wiley feat. Jodie Connor and J2K – Electric Boogaloo (Find A Way). www.elitestyles.co.uk. May 26, 2010. Retrieved Tuesday, September 20, 2011.
- ^ Roll Deep’s Good Times by Rock Jacobs. www.promonews.tv. Wednesday, March 17, 2010. Retrieved Tuesday, September 20, 2011.
- ^ Jodie Connor’s Now Or Never featuring Wiley by Johny Mourgue. www.promonews.tv. Monday, November 22, 2010. Retrieved Tuesday, September 20, 2011.
- ^ Jodie Connor Bring It feat Tinchy Stryder over 1mln views already!. www.jacuzzifilms.com. February 25, 2011. Retrieved Tuesday, September 20, 2011.
- ^ Tinchy Stryder’s In My System by Emil Nava. www.promonews.tv. Wednesday, July 7, 2010. Retrieved Tuesday, September 20, 2011.
- ^ Tinchy Stryder - Gangsta? (Game Over feat. Tinie Tempah). tinchystrydertv/YouTube. Video uploaded on May 26, 2010. Retrieved Monday, October 10, 2011.