Grace Jones is a popular American singer, model, talented actress. She is still a style icon to this day. In the 80s, she was in the spotlight due to her eccentric behavior, bright outfits and catchy make-up. The American singer shocked the androgynous dark-skinned model in a bright way and was not afraid to go beyond the generally accepted.
Her work is interesting because Jones is one of the first singers who tried to “mix” disco and punk aggression in her musical works. How well she did it is for the fans to judge. But one thing is for sure - she has enough "fans".
Childhood and youth
She was born in the southeast of Jamaica, in Spanish Town. The celebrity's date of birth is May 19, 1948.
The parents of the future star had nothing to do with creativity. The head of the family worked as a church preacher, and his mother realized herself as a politician. Little Jones was raised by her grandparents, as her parents were forced to go to work in America.
She has the most unpleasant childhood memories. It's all the fault of a strict grandfather. The man beat the children with rods for any, even the smallest pranks. Three times a week, Grace Jones, along with her family, was forced to attend church.
Grace has always had a non-standard vision of the world. She fantasized a lot and could enjoy the beauty of her area for hours. She was distinguished from her peers by her tall stature and thinness. For classmates, the growth of a dark-skinned girl became an occasion to mock. She had practically no friends, and the only consolation was sports.
As a teenager, together with her family, she moved to Syracuse (Syracuse). With the move, she seemed to exhale. Grace graduated from high school and here she entered a higher educational institution at the Faculty of Linguistics.
The exotic appearance contributed to the fact that the drama professor became interested in the girl. He offered an inexperienced student a job in Philadelphia. From this moment begins a completely different biography of the artist.
At 18, she ended up in colorful New York. During this period of time, she signs a contract with Wilhelmina Modeling agency. Grace gained popularity and became independent. After 4 years, she ended up in France. Her photos graced the covers of glossy magazines Elle and Vogue.
The creative path of Grace Jones
On the territory of New York, not only the modeling, but also the musical career of Grace Jones started. She had a masculine appearance, so the first performance of the artist started at the sites of the top gay clubs in NY. Jones' homosexual image impressed local visitors. Representatives of the Iceland Records label became interested in her person. Soon she signed a contract with the company.
She fell into the hands of Tom Moulton. An experienced producer knew exactly how to make a star with Grace Jones. Soon the singer expanded her repertoire with her debut LP. The disc was called Portfolio. The work was warmly received not only by fans, but also by authoritative music critics.
In the early 80s of the last century, the premiere of Grace's second studio album, Nightclubbing, took place. The presented longplay became a turning point in the creative biography of the American singer. He marked a new direction, and turned Jones herself into an international star.
On the tracks that topped the record, she moved from disco to reggae and rock styles. Fans rejoiced, and critics filled Jones with flattering reviews.
The piece of music I've seen that face before, which was written for the singer by the composer Piazzolla, became the studio's top track. The composition climbed to the very top of the music charts, a video was shot for the track.
The popularity of the singer
On the wave of popularity, Jones presents another album. The compilation Living My Life, which was released in 1982, did not repeat the success of the previous album, but still left a mark on the musical field. In support of the new collection, Grace went on tour.
The singer did not stop there. Soon her discography was replenished with LPs Slave to the Rhythm, Island Life, Inside Story and Bulletproof Heart. She "stamped" the albums at an ordinary speed, but we have to admit that every time the tracks turned out to be just as bright and original.
In the early 90s, The Ultimate was released. Years of silence followed. Only in 2008 she pleased the "fans" with the release of the Hurricane compilation.
In the "zero" she became an icon to follow. She was followed by newly minted stars - Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Annie Lennox, Nile Rogers. In 2015, she published the book Never Will I Write a Memoir.
Details of the artist's personal life
Grace has been married twice. She has always been the center of attention. Large "fish" were interested in her person, but the artist did not use her position, guided by emotions and feelings.
In the late 80s, she married producer Chris Stanley. This marriage did not last long. The relationship of the couple could not be called ideal. Grace, as a creative person, could not be in a toxic relationship, so the marriage broke up.
This was followed by a series of relationships, which again did not lead to anything serious. In the mid-90s, she married her bodyguard Atila Altonbey. However, this alliance was not strong.
Stylist and photographer Jean-Paul Goude played a big role in the artist's life. He developed the style of the star, which helped Grace stand out from the rest of the celebrities. Young people were in a romantic relationship for a long time, but it never came to a wedding. Despite this, it is Jean-Paul Goude that she calls the most important man in her life.
In the early 90s, she was in a relationship with actor Sven-Ole Thorsen. The couple lived under the same roof, so journalists began to talk about the fact that Grace would soon try on a wedding dress. Alas, 17 years of relationship did not result in anything serious. The couple broke up.
Grace Jones: An affair with an actor
This was followed by an affair with actor D. Lundgren. It turns out that Grace met a man back in the early 80s of the last century. Then almost no one knew about him, and the singer was already an international star. Acquaintance and close cooperation began with the fact that Grace offered the young man a job as a bodyguard. A working relationship turned into a love one. They looked great together.
In an interview, Lundgren admitted that he adored and loved his Grace, but he felt completely uncomfortable. At that time, she had already taken place as a model and singer, while for most he remained just a young man Grace Jones. The 4-year romance soon ended. The partners stopped feeling happy and both came to the conclusion that it is better to end this relationship.
Grace Jones: interesting facts
- She has publicly renounced gender boundaries.
- Grace became the muse of Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani and Karl Lagerfeld.
- She could easily get naked at her concerts. Grace was not shy about talking about sex and sexuality.
- The artist has become a gay icon in a difficult time for society.
Grace Jones: Our Days
To feel the biography and lifestyle of the American singer, model and actress, you should definitely watch the film Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami (2017).
Grace continues to appear for glossy magazines, although she leads a more moderate lifestyle. The singer presented her last album back in 2008, and, judging by the artist's comments, she does not plan to visit a recording studio in the near future.
