Macy Gray

Macy Gray

Macy Gray is an American singer and actor from Canton, United States. Born Natalie Renée McIntyre in 1967, she works in contemporary R&B, neo soul, pop soul and soul, and is known for a distinctive raspy voice and a vocal style shaped by Billie Holiday.

Career

Gray studies scriptwriting at the University of Southern California and begins writing songs for a friend while at university. When the intended singer does not appear at a demo session, she records the songs herself. She later forms bands, writes original material and teaches herself to sing after joining a friend’s jazz band.

While working as a cashier in Beverly Hills, she meets songwriter and producer Joe Solo. The two record a set of songs, and the demo leads to performances at jazz venues in Los Angeles. She signs to Atlantic Records but leaves the label before completing her debut album after personnel changes. She returns to Ohio and resumes her career in 1997, when Jeff Blue of Zomba Label Group signs her to a development deal. In 1998 she signs with Epic Records.

Breakthrough and albums

Gray’s breakthrough comes with the 1999 single “I Try”, from her debut studio album On How Life Is. The single reaches number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and wins the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. It also receives nominations for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. On How Life Is also includes “Do Something”, “Still” and “Why Didn’t You Call Me”, and becomes a multi-platinum success in the United States and the United Kingdom.

She releases The Id in 2001. The album reaches number eleven on the Billboard 200 and number one on the UK Albums Chart, and features guest appearances by John Frusciante and Erykah Badu. Its single “Sweet Baby” is co-written with Joe Solo. Her third album, The Trouble with Being Myself, follows in 2003, with “When I See You” becoming a US radio hit and reaching the UK top forty. The record becomes her third consecutive top twenty album in the UK.

Gray’s releases continue with the compilation The Very Best of Macy Gray and the live album Live in Las Vegas in 2004 and 2005. Big follows in 2007 and includes “Finally Made Me Happy”, “Shoo Be Doo” and “What I Gotta Do”, the last of which appears on the soundtrack to Shrek the Third. The album features Natalie Cole, Fergie, Justin Timberlake and will.i.am, with will.i.am also serving as co-executive producer. It reaches number 39 on the Billboard 200.

In 2010 she releases The Sellout, whose lead single “Beauty in the World” appears in the final episode of Ugly Betty. She signs with 429 Records in 2011 and releases the covers album Covered in 2012, led by a version of Eurythmics’ “Here Comes the Rain Again”. That year she also records her own full interpretation of Stevie Wonder’s 1972 album Talking Book, marking its 40th anniversary. The Way follows in 2014, and she later releases the jazz-influenced Stripped through Chesky Records in 2016; the album reaches number three on the Billboard Jazz Chart. Her tenth studio album, Ruby, follows in 2018.

Collaborations and related work

Gray appears on “Love Won’t Wait” from the Black Eyed Peas’ debut album Behind the Front. She also collaborates with Fatboy Slim, the Black Eyed Peas and Slick Rick. In 2002 she contributes a remix of “My Nutmeg Phantasy” to the soundtrack of Spider-Man and appears in the film itself. She works with Santana on “Amoré (Sexo)” for the album Shaman, takes part in the tribute compilation Red Hot and Riot on “Water No Get Enemy” with D’Angelo, the Soultronics, Nile Rodgers, Roy Hargrove and Femi Kuti, and records “Like the Sun (From Out of Nowhere)” with Zucchero, featuring Jeff Beck. Her song “Time of My Life” appears on the soundtrack to 8 Mile, and she records “Don’t Forget Me” for Confessions of a Shopaholic. In 2016 she appears on Ariana Grande’s “Leave Me Lonely” from Dangerous Woman.

Film, television and stage appearances

Alongside her recording career, Gray acts in films including Training Day, Spider-Man, Scary Movie 3, Lackawanna Blues, Idlewild, For Colored Girls and The Paperboy. She also makes her acting debut in Training Day. She appears on the PBS concert series Soundstage and performs at the Brazilian edition of Live Earth in Rio de Janeiro in 2007. In 2012 she appears as a guest performer at the Sanremo Music Festival alongside Gigi D’Alessio and Loredana Bertè.

Recognition and public life

Gray has five Grammy Award nominations and one win. She is inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2014 in Canton, Ohio. Her performances and public appearances also draw attention at times, including a pro football exhibition game where she forgets the lyrics while singing the United States national anthem, and a concert in Barbados where she apologises after using profanity in a place where it is prohibited by law.

She has spoken about struggles with drug abuse and the pressures of sudden fame. She also launches the alter ego Nemesis Jaxson in 2008 with the single “Slap a Bitch”.