Grace Jones

Grace Jones is a Jamaican singer, songwriter, model and actress. She is born in 1948 and is associated with disco, funk, new wave, pop and soul.

Early career in fashion

Jones begins her career as a model in New York, where she signs with Wilhelmina Models. She later works in Paris for fashion houses including Yves St. Laurent and Kenzo, and appears on the covers of Elle and Vogue Hommes. She is photographed by Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin and Hans Feurer, and becomes one of the most prominent Black models of the 1970s. Her androgynous appearance and distinctive features make her a reference point in discussions of gender expression.

Music career

Jones begins her music career in 1977 and signs with Island Records. She becomes associated with New York City’s Studio 54 disco scene. Her studio albums include Portfolio, Fame, Muse, Warm Leatherette, Nightclubbing, Living My Life, Slave to the Rhythm, Inside Story, Bulletproof Heart and Hurricane. Her UK Top 40 singles include “Private Life”, “Pull Up to the Bumper”, “Love Is the Drug” and “Slave to the Rhythm”.

Film, video and later work

In 1982, Jones releases the music video collection A One Man Show, directed by Jean-Paul Goude, which receives a nomination for Best Video Album at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards. As an actress, she appears in independent films before her first mainstream role as Zula in Conan the Destroyer. She plays May Day in A View to a Kill and appears as a vampire in Vamp, with all three roles earning Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress nominations. In 1992, she appears in Boomerang and contributes to its soundtrack.

Collaborations and recognition

Jones later collaborates with Gorillaz and Janelle Monáe. She also receives a Grammy nomination for her contribution to Beyoncé’s Renaissance. Her influence extends across music and fashion, and she is ranked 82nd on VH1’s 100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll, receives a Q Idol Award in 2008, and is ranked 40th on Billboard’s list of greatest dance club artists of all time.