Whatever Happened to Grace Jones?

Recently I was reading about the days of Studio 54 and this got me to thinking...What ever happened to Grace Jones?  Remember her? The scarily sexy androgynous Jamaican-American singer, model and actress?

Born in Jamaica, she moved to New York in 1965 and became a successful model in the city but gained her fame as a clothes horse in Paris more so because her looks were considered 'too strong' for American magazines.

She also studied theatre in Syracuse and became an extremely capable actress which overshadowed her musical talents in America, but not in Europe where her status as a recording artist was much higher.  She made some low-budget films in the late 70's, early 80's and became a mainstream actress after starring alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1984 movie Conan The Destroyer.

Jones made a record deal with Island Records in 1977 and put out a bunch of dance club hits.  It's said to be known that she is responsible for adapting and emerging a new wave style in music and she definitely incorporated performance art into her grooves.  In 81' her album "Pull Up to the Bumper" spent 7 weeks at #2 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club charts. 

So where is she now?  Although she hasn't made an appearance in any mainstream films since the late 90's, it seems as though the 60'something Ms. Jones is still rocking the microphone in all her glory.  Here she is performing at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark wild as ever!  

She's also been spotted several years ago during New York Fashion Week participating in the Jean Paul-Goude African Fashion Collection.

A press article last year stated that the infamous Lady GaGa was said to be interested in working with Grace Jones on a musical collaboration to which Jones replied..."She asked, but I said no....I'd prefer to work with someone who is more original and someone who is not trying to copy me actually"...She also added that she probably wouldn't waste her time seeing GaGa in concert.

Bad move on your part Grace, she could have given you a 'leg up' and some new found media exposure as well.  And what the heck? If the Queen of Pop Madonna even gave her approval for 'style dupes' to Gaga, you should have too! After all...Imitation is the best form of flattery. Get over your damn self!


accesshollywood.com , lanceunemode.wordpress.com , mediaoutrage.wordpress.com , eil.com , painfullyhip.com , fanpix.net , kenyastyle.com