Jully Black is a Canadian icon in entertainment, best known as a singer, songwriter, actor, and
television and media personality. Born in Toronto, she is the child of Jamaican immigrant
parents, the youngest of nine children and the first in her family to be born in Canada. Known as
“Canada’s Queen of R&B,” Black has a powerful, rich voice. In 2021, she was chosen to sing for
Queen Elizabeth II. That same year, she was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame. CBC Music
named Black one of the “25 Greatest Canadian Singers Ever.”
Tragedy impacted Black’s childhood and family life. For example, she had a twin brother who
died at birth, a sister who died at age 11, and later, another sister who died at age 24. When
Black was seven, her father abandoned the family, leaving Black’s mother as the sole supporter.
Black began singing in church at age six. She went on to study in Oakwood Collegiate’s music
program in Toronto. She also earned a degree in law enforcement at Seneca College.
In 1997, she won her first Juno Award and was nominated 10 more times, almost every year
after that. She has collaborated with and/or wrote songs for many established artists, including
Destiny’s Child and the rapper Nas. She has also performed with many superstars, including
The Black-Eyed Peas, Bon Jovi, Celine Dion, Elton John, Alicia Keys and Etta James.
Between 2000 and 2022, Black released seven albums, including “Revival,” which included her
first top-10 hit in Canada, “Seven Day Fool.” Her success continues to this day; she is a
platinum-selling recording artist, with multiple singles reaching the Top 10 on the pop, R&B and
dance music charts.
Black has worked extensively in the Canadian media and entertainment industry as a host and
co-host, and correspondent for radio and television programs, including CBC’s “Canada Reads”
in 2018.
Black co-founded “Empowered in My Skin” women’s empowerment summits, and she
advocates for LGBTQ+ people. In 2018, she received the prestigious Black Business and
Professional Association’s Harry Jerome Award, which recognizes and honours excellence in
African Canadian achievement.
In 2020, Black received critical acclaim for her starring role in the Obsidian Theatre and The
Musical Stage Company co-production of “Caroline, Or Change.” For that role, she then won the
Toronto Theatre Critics Award for Best Lead performance in a Musical and The Toronto
Alliance for the Performing Arts Dora Mavor Moore Award.
(Sources: The Canadian Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, jullyblack.ca)
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