Authority control databases: Artists
Authority control databases: Artists  |
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Val Young | |
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| Birth name | Valaria Marie Young |
| Also known as | Lady "V" |
| Born | June 13, 1958 |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B,[1] Soul, Funk, Disco, Hip Hop Soul |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Labels | Motown, Amherst Records |
Valaria Marie Young (born June 13, 1958) is an American recording artist from Detroit, Michigan, who achieved success during the 1980s. She is now based in Los Angeles.
She was discovered by George Clinton, who hired her as a background vocalist in 1977 for The Brides of Funkenstein,[2][3] one of the many acts in his Funkadelic stable.[3] In 1980, she recorded and toured with Roy Ayers. Young became a background vocalist for The Gap Band the same year and was featured with the group on the funk hit "Oops Up Side Your Head".[3] She recorded five albums with the group and also toured with them.[3]
It was not until she met Rick James that she became popular as a solo artist.[3] James promoted her as the "Black Marilyn Monroe",[3] and brought Young to Berry Gordy, who signed her to Motown Records on James' recommendation. James produced her debut album Seduction,[3][2] which was released in 1985, it included the singles "Mind Games" and the title track "Seduction", as well as "Piece of My Heart" and "If You Should Ever Be Lonely", which were successful follow-ups in 1986.[3]
James ran into serious conflict with Motown over the status of his spin-off acts, and Young subsequently left the label signing to Amherst Records, a Buffalo, New York-based label,[3] releasing her second album Private Conversations in 1987. Three tracks from this album were produced by James with the title being released as a single.
Young went on tour with Bobby Brown in 1988 after he released his Don't Be Cruel album, and she was in high demand for performing live and recording background vocals for several artists: Bobby Womack, Kurtis Blow, Dr. Dre, Sylk E Fyne, Wayman Tisdale, Snoop Dogg, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Yo-Yo, El DeBarge, Miki Howard, Gerald LeVert, Teena Marie, Tupac Shakur, MC Eiht, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Eddie Murphy, Teddy Riley, Michael Bivins of New Edition and many other artists.
Young appeared in the songs "To Live & Die in L.A.", "Black Jesus", "Teardrops & Closed Caskets", plus on the album Still I Rise, and the track "Never Forget", a tribute dedicated to Tupac Shakur by former Outlawz member Napoleon.
In 2009, she was featured as a background singer for Raphael Saadiq in his PBS televised concert Live From The Artists Den.
In 2013, Young sang backing vocals on Eddie Murphy and Snoop Lion's single "Red Light", she also appeared in the official music video. In 2014, Young began touring with Candice "Candi" Ghant and Farah Melanson as the new lineup of The Mary Jane Girls.
In 2019, Young partnered with entertainment manager, Lawrence "youngBiz" Dixon, to revamp her and The Mary Jane Girls' career.
Unreleased