Kym Mazelle

Kym Mazelle
Mazelle in 2014
Born
Kymberly Grigsby

(1960-08-10) August 10, 1960 (age 64)
Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active1986–present
Musical career
Genres
Instrument
  • Vocals
Labels
Websiteofficialkymmazelle.com

Kym Mazelle (born Kymberly Grigsby; August 10, 1960) is an American singer. She is regarded as a pioneer of house music in the United Kingdom and Europe.[1][2] Her music combines R&B, soul, funk, house music, dance, and pop.[3] She is credited as "The First Lady of House Music".[1][4]

Biography

Early life

Mazelle was born in Gary, Indiana.[5] She lived on the same street as the Jackson family and knew Michael Jackson's mother and uncle.[6] In 1981, she attended Mundelein College in Chicago. In 1982, she transferred to Columbia College Chicago, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Arts and Entertainment Media Management in 1986.[7] During college, she worked part-time as an intern and secretary at Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Career

In 1987, she worked with record producer Marshall Jefferson (as House To House) on the single "Taste My Love", released on Police Records label.[6] In 1988, she released the single "Useless (I Don't Need You Now)", a hit on the club charts which reached at No. 53 on the UK singles chart.[8] Her next release, "Wait," a duet with Robert Howard from The Blow Monkeys in 1989, peaked at No. 7 in the UK.[8] In 1989, Mazelle's debut album Crazy was released in the UK and featured the single "Love Strain".[8] With the single "Was That All It Was" returned Mazelle to the UK Top 40 and "Useless (I Don't Need You Now)" was remixed by Norman Cook.[9]

In 1990, Mazelle joined British music group Soul II Soul. Her lead vocals on the single "Missing You" on their second album Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade achieved major success worldwide. She also toured with the group throughout the year and their concert DVD A New Decade: Live from Brixton Academy was released in September 1990. In 1991, Parlophone Records repackaged Mazelle's debut album as Brilliant!! with remixes of her singles, two new tracks and remixes of "No One Can Love You More Than Me" and "Crazy 'Bout The Man".[10][11] Mazelle also appeared as "Pattie Roman" on the show Trainer, a sitcom originating from Great Britain.[12] In 1992 Kym had a hit with Rapination also known as the Rapino Brothers with “Love me the right way” This was a euro piano house sound and was a popular hit in the U.K. particularly the club scene.

In 1994, she scored a No. 13 hit in the UK with a cover on "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)", with Jocelyn Brown. Two years later, in 1996, Mazelle released a cover version of the song "Young Hearts Run Free", which appeared in the 1996 Baz Luhrmann film William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet and also appeared on the director's remix album Something for Everybody.[13] The soundtrack went triple platinum in the United States of America.[14] The success of the single re-invited Mazelle to perform on Top of the Pops.[15]

She has appeared on two live albums by Maceo Parker, Life on Planet Groove and My First Name is Maceo. Mazelle released her second album The Pleasure Is All Mine in June 2004 and undertook a tour in the UK.[16] The album spawned two singles: "Love Magic" and "On My Own".[17][18] In 2005, Mazelle took part in the British version of the reality TV show, Celebrity Fit Club. In April 2007, she appeared in the Ray Charles's tribute show "I Can't Stop Loving You".[19]

In July 2010, Mazelle joined the cast of UK theatre production of Smokey Joe's Cafe.[20][21] She also appeared on the BBC Television series, Celebrity MasterChef. In September 2010, she released an extended play titled Destiny.[22]

She headlined Liverpool Pride on August 6, 2011.[23] On November 3, 2011, she headlined Prince Charles's Prince's Trust Ambassador Ball in Glasgow and helped to raise £93,000.00 for the charity on the night. On April 6, 2013, her appearance on The Voice UK was broadcast on the BBC.[24] In 2017, Mazelle embarked on her 30th Anniversary Tour, celebrating thirty years in the music industry.

Discography

Albums

  • Crazy / Brilliant! (1989)
  • The Pleasure Is All Mine (2004)
  • Destiny (2010)

Compilations

  • Brilliant!! (1991) – European remix compilation, with 3 new tracks
  • The Gold Collection (1996)

Singles

Solo singles

Single Year Peak chart positions Album
US
[25] 		US Dance
[26] 		AUS
[27] 		BEL
[28] 		FRA
[29] 		GER
[30] 		NED
[31] 		NZ
[32] 		UK
[8]
"Useless (I Don't Need You Now)" 1988 — 13 — — — — — — 53 Crazy (UK/EUR)
Brilliant! (US/CAN)
"Wait!"
(duet with Robert Howard) 		1989 — — — 20 — 26 32 — 7
"Got to Get You Back" — — — — — 57 — — 29
"Love Strain" — — — — — — — — 52
"Was That All It Was" 1990 — — — — — — — — 33
"Don't Scandalize My Name" — 22 — — — — — — —
"Useless (I Don't Need You Now)" (Norman Cook Remix) — — — — — — — — 48 Brilliant!
(European remix compilation)
"No One Can Love You More Than Me" (Boilerhouse Remix) 1991 — — — — — — — — 62
"Woman of the World" — — — — — — — — — Trainer — OST
"Love Me the Right Way"
(with Rapination) 		1993 97 — — — — — — — 22 Non-album single
"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)"
(duet with Jocelyn Brown) 		1994 — — 48 46 — — — — 13
"Gimme All Your Lovin'"
(duet with Jocelyn Brown) 		— — — — — — — — 22
"Love Me the Right Way '96"
(with Rapination) 		1996 — 20 — — — — — — 55
"Young Hearts Run Free" — — 11 — 29 88 — 16 20 Romeo + Juliet — OST
"Have a Nice Day" 1997 — — — — — — — — — Non-album single
"A Place in My Heart" 1998 — — — — — — — — —
"Love Magic" 2004 — — — — — — — — — The Pleasure Is All Mine
"On My Own" 2005 — — — — — — — — —
"Here Comes the Light" 2010 — — — — — — — — — Destiny
"Can You Feel It"
(with Junior and Sinitta)[33] 		2021 — — — — — — — — — non album single
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.
Single Year Peak chart positions Album
US
R&B
[34] 		US
Dance
[35] 		IRE
[36] 		NED
[37] 		UK
[8]
"Taste My Love"
(House to House featuring Kym Mazelle) 		1987 — — — — — Non-album single
"Missing You"
(Soul II Soul featuring Kym Mazelle) 		1990 29 39 24 74 22 Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade
"Love Me or Leave Me"
(Kamasutra presents Kym Mazelle) 		1995 — — — — — Non-album single
"Searching for the Golden Eye"
(Motiv-8 and Kym Mazelle) 		1996 — — — — 40
"Free, Gay & Happy"
(Paradise People featuring Kym Mazelle) 		1997 — — — — —
"Truly"
(Peshay featuring Kym Mazelle) 		2000 — — — — 55 Miles from Home
"Perhaps"
(Sunray featuring Kym Mazelle) 		2001 — — — — — Non-album single
"Dance Little Dreamer"
(Infinito featuring Kym Mazelle) 		— — — — —
"Feel Like Dancin'"
(House Bros. featuring Kym Mazelle) 		2003 — — — — —
"Change"
(Yann Vedra featuring Kym Mazelle) 		2014 — — — — —
"Lovin'"
(David Morales presents The Face featuring Kym Mazelle) 		2015 — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Episode Refs
1991 Trainer Pattie Roman "A Question of Loyalty" [12]
"Business or Pleasure" [12]

Tours

  • A New Decade Tour (1990) (with Soul II Soul)
  • 25 Year Anniversary Tour (2011–12) (with Soul II Soul)
  • Kym Mazelle 30th Anniversary Tour (2017)

References

  1. ^ a b Kym Mazelle biography, Telegraph UK. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  2. ^ Kym Mazelle | Famous Hoosiers. The NWI Times. Retrieved on December 19, 2016
  3. ^ Running free with Kym Mazelle. Voice Online. Retrieved on February 14, 2016
  4. ^ Kym Mazelle biography, DamnGoodVoices. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  5. ^ "Kym Mazelle | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Biography by Ron Wynn". Allmusic.com. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
  7. ^ Kym Mazelle '86 – Alumni – Columbia College Chicago. Columbia College Chicago. Retrieved on September 28, 2018
  8. ^ a b c d e "Kym Mazelle – UK Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  9. ^ "Kym Mazelle – Useless (I Don't Need You Now)". Discogs. 1990. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  10. ^ Published by ABC Consumer Magazines. (1990). Kym Mazelle. InMusic, Volume 1—2, Page 31. Retrieved from https://books.google.com
  11. ^ Brilliant! — Kym Mazelle. All Music Guide. Retrieved on October 8, 2017
  12. ^ a b c Read, M. (September 30, 2014). Seize the Day. Biteback Publishing. Retrieved from https://books.google.com
  13. ^ Romeo + Juliet — Original Soundtrack. All Music Guide. Retrieved on October 8, 2017
  14. ^ Romeo + Juliet | Gold & Platinum Database. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on October 8, 2017
  15. ^ Kym Mazelle — Young Hearts Run Free. BBC Online – Top of the Pops' Video Archive. Retrieved on March 28, 2017
  16. ^ Kym Mazelle – The Pleasure Is All Mine. All Music Guide. Retrieved on January 5, 2017
  17. ^ Kym Mazelle – Love Magic. Discogs. Retrieved on January 5, 2017
  18. ^ Kym Mazelle – On My Own. Discogs. Retrieved on January 5, 2017
  19. ^ Mazelle's still got the magic. Manchester Evening News. Retrieved on October 8, 2017
  20. ^ BWW Interviews: SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE's Kym Mazelle. Broadway World. Retrieved on October 8, 2017
  21. ^ Disco Diva Kym Mazelle Set for Landor Theatre's SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE, 7/13-7/25. Broadway World. Retrieved on October 8, 2017
  22. ^ Kym Mazelle – Destiny. Discogs. Retrieved on January 5, 2017
  23. ^ Thousands take to the streets for Liverpool Pride 2017. The Guide Liverpool. Retrieved on October 8, 2017
  24. ^ Soul singer Kym Mazelle falls at the first hurdle as The Voice auditions continue. Metro News UK. Retrieved on October 8, 2017
  25. ^ "Kym Mazelle – US Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  26. ^ "Kym Mazelle – US Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  27. ^ "Kym Mazelle – Australian Chart". australian-charts.com. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  28. ^ "Kym Mazelle – Flemish Chart". ultratop.be. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  29. ^ "Kym Mazelle – French Chart". lescharts.com. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  30. ^ "Kym Mazelle – German Chart". germancharts.de. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  31. ^ "Kym Mazelle – Dutch Chart". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  32. ^ "Kym Mazelle – New Zealand Chart". charts.nz. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  33. ^ "Can You Feel It – single". Apple Music. September 16, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  34. ^ "Soul II Soul – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  35. ^ "Soul II Soul – Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  36. ^ "IRE Charts Search > Soul II Soul". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  37. ^ "Featuring Kym Mazelle – Dutch Chart". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved February 17, 2016.