Mary J Blige Photographic Print signed By Deborah Feingold 1997

Description Date: Published Sept 2008 Signed By: Deborah Feingold in Pencil Edition: 21 Prints Available World Wide Dimensions: Image 36 x 42cm / Paper 52 x 60 cm Atelier: Dekkel Fine Art Publishing Condition: New – mint condition Medium: Archival Giclee On 330gsm Fine Art Paper Mary Jane Blige (born January 11, 1971), more commonly known as Mary J. Blige, is an American recording artist, record producer and actress. She has sold more than forty-eight million albums worldwide. She has received over twenty-six Grammy Award nominations for her work, winning nine, and has been awarded the World Music Legends Award for combining hip hop and soul together. Blige’s vocal range registers from alto to mezzo-soprano, but mostly performs in the mezzo-soprano range. Blige cites Anita Baker and Aretha Franklin as two of the most influential vocalists in her life. On November 29, 1994, Uptown Records released Blige’s second album, My Life. Darker, moodier, and slightly less uptempo than its predecessor, the set was again overseen by Combs (despite his having recently left the label), who co-produced all but one of the album’s tracks and took over as Blige’s manager. Unlike What’s the 411?, Blige co-wrote a large body of the material, basing it on her personal life. “Be Happy”, the album’s single, peaked at number 29 and number six on the Hot 100 and R&B singles charts, respectively. In early 1995, it was followed up with a cover of Rose Royce’s 1976 hit “I’m Goin’ Down”, which became her first top 20 hit in the UK, peaking at number 12. Other My Life singles included “You Bring Me Joy” and “I Love You”. Album tracks “Mary Jane (All Night Long)” and “My Life” also received heavy radio play, despite never being officially released as singles apart from in the UK, where “Mary Jane (All Night Long)” became Blige’s second top 20 hit from the album there. My Life was eventually certified triple platinum. Also in 1995, Blige involved herself in several outside projects: recording a cover of Aretha Franklin’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” for the soundtrack to the FOX series New York Undercover and “Everyday It Rains” (co-written by R&B singer Faith Evans) for the soundtrack to the hip-hop biopic The Show. That summer, she duetted with rapper Method Man on his song, “I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By” (which sampled Marvin Gaye’s “You’re All I Need to Get By” and for which she won a Grammy award)