Grace Jones Biography

She was born to Marjorie and Robert Jones in Spanish Town, Jamaica. Her father was a politician and an Apostolic clergyman. She was brought up in Jamaica by her grandparents while her parents worked in the United States.

She was a shy and skinny child and was often teased by her classmates. She found solace in sports in which she excelled.

She moved to New York when she was 13 and joined Syracuse University after completing her schooling. She was studying Spanish. However, she dropped out of college halfway to accompany a drama professor to Philadelphia to work with him on a play.

She signed with the Wilhelmina Modelling agency when she was 18. She was dark-skinned and had androgynous features—her unconventional looks ensured that she got ample opportunities to work with the likes of Yves St. Laurent, Claude Montana, and Kenzo Takada.

She released a number of singles during 1975-76 though none of them were big successes. In 1977, her debut album, ‘Portfolio’ was released. It contained her first big hit single, ‘La Vie en rose’.

The success of her first album prompted her to release her next album in quick succession. ‘Fame’ was out in 1978. The album’s lead single ‘Do or Die’ became a huge club hit on the U.S. and Canadian dance charts.

In 1979 she released the album ‘Muse’. The first side of the album contained a continuous medley of four songs and a narrative about someone who has sinned; the second side had disco songs.

The most successful album of her career, ‘Nightclubbing’ was out in 1981. It spawned the hits ‘Pull Up to the Bumper’ and ‘I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)’.

After the success of her previous album, she brought out in quick succession ‘Living My Life’ in 1982. It was a commercial success and reached the Top 20 in several countries.

After playing minor roles in low-budget movies, she landed her first substantial role as Zula in ‘Conan the Destroyer’ in 1984. It starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and was a big international success.

She appeared as May Day in the James Bond film ‘A View to a Kill’ in 1985. The movie was a commercial success though it did not receive favorable reviews.

Her 1985 album ‘Slave to the Rhythm’ was a concept album with music ranging from funk, R&B, and go-go beats. It was commercially a very big success and performed really well in German-speaking countries.

She made her first foray into production with her album ‘Inside Story’ in 1986. She explored several elements of jazz, gospel, and Caribbean sounds in the album. All the songs were written by Grace Jones and Bruce Woolley.

She did not release any albums during the 1990s. After a period of almost 20 years her album ‘Hurricane’ was released in 2008. It included a number of autobiographical songs including ‘This Is’, ‘William’s Blood’, and ‘Love You to Life’.

In 2009, she collaborated with Chris Cunningham for a photoshoot for ‘Dazed & Confused.’ She was also featured in Brigitte Fontaine’s song ‘Soufi’ from her album ‘Prohibition.’ The following year, she performed for the guests attending the Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Award Viewing Party.

In 2011, she starred in Brigitte Fontaine’s eighteenth studio album ‘L'un n'empêche pas l'autre.’ The same year, she also released the dub version of her album ‘Hurricane.’

In 2012, she performed at the Inspiration Gala held in São Paulo, Brazil. She was also seen performing at the ‘Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II’ and the ‘Lovebox Festival.’

She gave the song “Original Beast” to the official soundtrack of the 2014 film ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1.’ In September 2015, she released her memoir ‘I'll Never Write My Memoirs.’

In 2017, she made an appearance in the virtual band Gorillaz’s song “Charger” from their album ‘Humanz.’ In 2022, she went on to serve as the curator of the 27th edition of the Meltdown Festival.

She gave guest vocals in the song “Move” by Beyoncé. In July 2023, she starred as one of the headliners at the Bluedot Festival.

Her album ‘Nightclubbing’ was her career breakthrough and the biggest commercial hit. It had reggae-oriented re-interpretations of the songs by Flash and the Pan, Bill Withers, Iggy Pop, and Astor Piazzolla. The album appeared on the Top 5 charts in at least four countries.

She was nominated for the Saturn Awards for Best Supporting Actress thrice: Conan the Destroyer (1984), A View to a Kill (1985), and ‘Vamp’ (1986).

She was in a relationship with her long-term collaborator, Jean-Paul Goude, with whom she has a son. She is also a grandmother through this son.

She was once married to producer Chris Stanley and Atila Altaunbay. She has also been romantically involved with several other men.

Grace Jones was known for her striking androgynous look, often blurring the lines between traditional gender norms in her fashion choices and performances.

In addition to her successful music career, Grace Jones also dabbled in acting, appearing in films such as "A View to a Kill" and "Conan the Destroyer."

Grace Jones was a pioneer in the music industry, blending genres such as new wave, reggae, and disco to create her own unique sound that continues to influence artists today.

Despite her fierce and confident persona on stage, Grace Jones has been known to have a quirky sense of humor and has shown a more playful side in interviews and appearances.

Grace Jones is a multitalented artist who is also a skilled painter and has showcased her artwork in exhibitions around the world, demonstrating her creative abilities beyond music and film.