Siedah Garrett is an outstanding singer/songwriter whose work has profoundly touched serious music lovers all over the world. Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated for co-writing “Love You I Do” – sung by Jennifer Hudson in the film adaptation of Dreamgirls – Garrett’s is an artistry chiseled in all-around excellence. Across her remarkable pop music career, she has collaborated and associated with giants such as Quincy Jones, Madonna, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Miles Davis and Sergio Mendes. Her accomplishments are truly awe-inspiring. First and foremost, Garrett is the co-composer of the internationally recognized self-motivational anthem “Man in the Mirror,” immortalized by Michael Jackson on his 1987 album, Bad. On that same project, Garrett also sang the chart-topping first single, “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”, a duet with Jackson. Garrett then performed with “The King of Pop” on his Dangerous world tour. “Working with Michael was a mind-blowing and evolutionary experience,” Siedah reflects. “There was never a night he didn’t give 100%, but there were some nights when he pushed his boundaries to even greater heights - for the fans. It was phenomenal and surreal and I will never forget it as long as I live.” The Jackson classics were produced by Quincy Jones who has been an ardent supporter and benefactor of Garrett’s amazing talents. She was among the first new artists Jones hand-picked to develop on his Qwest Records label. She initially showcased her voice in film – from the Billboard number one dance single, “Do You Want It Right Now,” in “Fast Forward” (Sidney Poitier’s directorial debut), to the Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager composition “Everchanging Times,” a Top 30 Adult Contemporary hit that was the end title theme for “Baby Boom.” Garrett released her 1988 debut, Kiss of Life, which contained the top-20 R&B hit “K.I.S.S.I.N.G.” produced by hit songwriter/producer Rod Temperton. More importantly, Garrett evolved into a key compositional and vocal contributor to many of Quincy Jones’ productions. Working with “Q,” she co-penned the sexy all-star soul ballad “The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)” and lyricized The Brothers Johnson’s instrumental gem “Tomorrow” - both chart-toppers from Q’s platinum Back on the Block project. To this day, Garrett continues to work closely with Jones on even grander visions such as co-writing “I Know I Can,” the official theme song for the opening ceremony of the 2007 Special Olympics, as well as “Better City, Better Life,” the official theme song for the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Expo, which Garrett performed in Shanghai before a live audience of eighty thousand and a television audience in the tens of millions.
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Most recently, Q tapped Siedah to serve as vocal producer on the Arabic version of “Tomorrow”, a collaboration with top producer RedOne for the King of Morocco, to inspire peace in the Middle East. When Temptations lead singer Dennis Edwards needed a replacement for none other than Chaka Khan for his solo debut duet “Don’t Look Any Further,” Garrett’s demo vocal, used in the final recording, helped to make the jam a top-five R&B classic that still packs dance floors 25+ years later. When British soul band The Brand New Heavies needed a new lead singer, Garrett stepped up and took the reins for their U.K. million-seller album Shelter, for which she also co-composed more than half the songs, including the top-five single “Sometimes”. When Contemporary Christian legend Amy Grant needed a hip, thought-provoking number to open her Behind the Eyes CD, Garrett’s “Nobody Home” (co-penned with her “Man in the Mirror” partner Glen Ballard) fit the bill perfectly. Garrett co-penned songs performed by Vanessa Williams and Tatiana Ali in the Sesame Street classic, “The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland” and collaborated on a RuPaul club-thumper titled, “Are You Man Enough.” Is there anything Siedah can’t do? Apparently only one: miss! “My versatility is a by-product of staying relevant and trying different things. When the artist thing wasn’t working, I’d write songs. If my writing was at a lull, I got into voiceovers”. Her extensive voiceover work included the alien Lizard Lady character in “Return of the Jedi (special edition)”. “Right now” continues Garrett, “I am the voice for Toyota of Southern California. I keep it movin’ forward!” Garrett has also appeared as an actress in television sitcoms, including Amen, and Facts of Life (with George Clooney), in feature films such as the acclaimed drama Lean On Me and the sci-fi thriller Species, and in several music documentaries that include Listen Up (The Lives of Quincy Jones) and Madonna’s Reinvention. She frequently served as guest host on the popular American Top 10 along with its creator Casey Kasem, and has appeared as a guest on a variety of daytime talk shows including Oprah and Wayne Brady. Today, Siedah Garrett is movin’ and groovin’ to a Bossa Nova beat. Her latest offering is a collection of songs she’s just co-written with Brazilian pop music ambassador Sergio Mendes for the soundtrack from Fox Films’ top grossing 2011 animated feature, "Rio", which includes the amazing samba “Fly Love” performed by Jamie Foxx. Garrett also performs a duet with Black Eyed Peas leader/producer will.i.am, “Funky Bahia”, on Mendes’ 2008 CD release. Siedah’s songs continue to be recorded by today’s top film stars and recording artists such as Jazmine Sullivan, Al Jarreau, Jordin Sparks, Richard Elliot and British DJ/hit-makers the Freemasons. Now Garrett is gearing up to release a new collection of songs that she hopes will touch and inspire all who hear it. It will mark her first album offering as a solo artist since her raw, rock driven 2003 sophomore CD, Siedah. “For the first time, I’m coming up with the best songs I can write without the confines of a radio format, or the restrictions of a record company having a say about what my music should sound like,” she states. “It’s really quite liberating.” A history-making creative force with which to be reckoned, Los Angeles native Siedah Garrett is also a painter and sculptress, as well as a handbag and knitwear designer when her musical muse calls for a time out. Siedah Garrett: A true Renaissance Woman of the highest order, continues her metamorphosis into a dynamic reflection of boundless creativity. Her new single, "Keep On Lovin' You" a tribute to Michael Jackson, and an answer to their duet "IJCSLY" will be available on iTunes September 11, 2012. http://siedah.com Siedah Garrett is an accomplished Grammy Award winning and twice Oscar nominated songwriter and recording artist.
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