Diana King

Diana King (born 8 November 1970)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is a Jamaican singer-songwriter who performs a mixture and fusion of reggae, reggae fusion and dancehall. They are best known for their hit 1995 single "Shy Guy" and their remake of "I Say a Little Prayer" which was featured on the soundtrack to My Best Friend's Wedding.

As of 1998, King has sold over five million records worldwide.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Regarded as one of the most successful Jamaican artists, they have scored multiple Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 entries.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> King is also a recipient of the "Vanguard Award" at the Out Music Awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Early life

King was born to an Indo-Jamaican mother and an Afro-Jamaican father in Spanish Town.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Career

King was a member of the City Heat band, performing on the local hotel circuit before releasing their first solo single, "Change of Heart", in 1991.<ref name="Jackson2202">Jackson, Kevin (2022) "Diana King, crossover queen", Jamaica Observer, 26 February 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022</ref>

After making an appearance on The Notorious B.I.G.'s 1994 song "Respect", from his album Ready to Die, they signed a recording contract with Sony Music. Their first release was a remake of the Bob Marley song "Stir It Up" (which peaked at no. 53 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart) for the Cool Runnings soundtrack that same year.<ref name="Jackson2202" />

King's next single, "Shy Guy", co-written and produced by Andy Marvel was released in 1995. The song, which only took them 10 minutes to write,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> became a hit, reaching No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and being certified gold by the RIAA in the U.S.; the single also hit No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart,<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">Template:Cite book</ref> as well as reaching No. 1 on the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles chart, going on to sell nearly five million singles worldwide. "Shy Guy" was also ranked by the Japanese radio station J-Wave as the No. 1 song of 1995. In the UK, it had a place in the top 10 for seven weeks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It served as a single from the soundtrack to the 1995 film, Bad Boys in addition to being the lead release off their debut album Tougher Than Love which was released on 25 April 1995.<ref name="Jackson2202" /> The album peaked at No. 1 on BillboardTemplate:'s Reggae, No. 85 on R&B, and No. 179 on the Billboard 200 charts. Two follow-up singles "Love Triangle" (No. 85 R&B) and "Ain't Nobody" (No. 94 Pop, No. 63 R&B) followed that same year. In 1996, King collaborated with Nahki on the single "I'll Do It".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Also in 1996, their version of "Piece of My Heart" was included on the soundtrack to the film The First Wives Club.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1997, King also scored another hit on the Billboard Hot 100 (No. 38) and the Hot Dance Club Play (No. 8) with their cover version of the song "I Say a Little Prayer" (originally recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1967), which was featured on the soundtrack to the film, My Best Friend's Wedding.<ref name="Jackson2202" /> Their second album Think Like a Girl was released on 30 September 1997, and entered the Billboard<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Top Reggae Albums chart at No. 1. The album spawned two more US singles with "L-L-Lies" and "Find My Way Back" in addition to "Supa-Lova-Bwoy" which was released exclusively in Japan. King was also featured on the 1997 soundtrack to the documentary When We Were Kings, where they performed the title track with Brian McKnight.

In 1998, King joined Celine Dion and Brownstone on stage to perform the hit "Treat Her Like a Lady" previously written and recorded by King from Tougher Than Love at the Essence Awards. That year, they also appeared on Soul Train, The RuPaul Show, and VIBE to promote Think Like a Girl. They also collaborated with artists such as Toots Hibbert, Ziggy Marley, Buju Banton, Ini Kamoze, Maxi Priest, Shaggy, Tony Rebel, I-Three, Brian Gold, Handel Tucker, Lowell 'Sly' Dunbar & Mikey Bennett on the charity single "Rise Up" with Jamaica United.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1999, they toured India doing a five city tour. From Goa, they said: "I never thought I would come back to India."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

King entered negotiations with Madonna's Maverick Records label in 2000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2002, King premiered their single, "Summer Breezin'" on BET and VH1 video outlets, and it received some urban radio airplay, their third album Respect was released on 24 July 2002 in Japan,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with plans for other markets such as the US and Europe eventually cancelled. However, it finally received a release in other markets such as the UK on 17 April 2006<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the United States on 28 April 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2006, they released the single "Spanish Town Blues" for a Taxi Records compilation album with Sly & Robbie.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2007, King co-wrote and recorded the song "The Light Within" with the German reggae artist Gentleman, for his album Another Intensity. Additionally, they also collaborated with Sarah and Kid Capri for a single called "Get Me @ This Party".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Later that year, they formed their own record label, ThinkLikeAgirl.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2009, they collaborated with Richie Stephens on a remake of the ballad "The Closer I Get to You"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> for his album Forever.

In 2010, King's record label ThinkLikeAgirL Music Inc. went through a licensing deal with Warner Music Japan with the release of their fourth album, Warrior Gurl. The album was released in Japan on 22 September 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was led by the single "Yu Dun Kno" which was released that same year. They also recorded a track "Bounce" for another Taxi Records compilation album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

For the international release of the album, King renamed the album to AgirLnaMeKING and it was released on their birthday, 8 November 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Two more singles "Closer" and "Jeanz N T-Shirt" were released in 2012.

In 2016, King announced they were at work on an all-lesbian record label in addition to a new studio album and an EP.<ref name="stuff.co.nz">Template:Cite news</ref> The full-length album was to be a reggae release, while the EP an EDM (electronic dance music) release.

Personal life

King was previously married to their tour manager Orville Aris, with whom they share a son, born in 1996.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In June 2012, King came out as a lesbian via Facebook, stating: "I answer now, not because it's anyone's business but because it feels right with my soul and I believe by not answering or hiding it all these years somehow makes it appear as if I am ashamed of it or that I believe it is wrong."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref> They have 15 siblings, but due to King coming out, they are now only close to one.<ref name="stuff.co.nz"/> King came out to themself in their 20s, but it took a decade for King to be comfortable with it publicly, for any backlash towards their daughter and son.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> King was honoured for their bravery on 16, December 2012 and was presented with the prestigious "Vanguard Award" at the Out Music Awards in Las Vegas. King is the first Jamaican artist to ever publicly come out.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In January 2018, King announced that they had married their long-time girlfriend, Jamaican violinist Mijanne Webster.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On September 12, 2018 they announced via Twitter that they identified as non-binary.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref> In 2020, King stated that they used he/him, she/her, and they/them pronouns,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but in 2022, King changed their pronouns to exclusively use they/them.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In August 2021, they announced via Twitter the death of their daughter, Shalamar Diana Wright (1987-2021), who was born when King was sixteen.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref> Mijanne also tweeted to commemorate Shalamar and thank her for accepting Mijanne as part of her family.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

King holds both Jamaican and US citizenships.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Awards and nominations

Year	Awards	Work	Category	Result	Ref.
1995	Billboard Music Video Awards	"Shy Guy"	Best R&B/Urban Video of the Year	Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
			Best R&B/Urban Video of the Year - New Artist	Template:Nom
1997	Online Film & Television Association	"I Say a Little Prayer"	Best Adapted Song	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2012	Out Music Awards	Themself	Vanguard Award	Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> {{safesubst:#if:|

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Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions and certifications

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions						Certifications
		US <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	US R&B <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	US Reggae <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	AUS <ref name=aus/>	JPN <ref name="jpn">Template:Cite web</ref>	UK <ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/>
Tougher Than Love	Released: April 25, 1995 Label: Work Formats: CD, cassette	179	85	3	33	5	50	JPN: 3× Platinum<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Think Like a Girl	Released: September 30, 1997 Label: Work Formats: CD, cassette	—	—	1	—	7	—	JPN: Platinum<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Respect	Released: July 30, 2002 Label: Maverick Formats: CD, download	—	—	—	—	30	—
Warrior Gurl	Released: 2010 Label: ThinkLikeAgirL Formats: CD, download	—	—	—	—	—	—
AgirLnaMeKING	Released: November 8, 2011 Label: ThinkLikeAgirL Formats: CD, download	—	—	—	—	—	—

Live/compilation albums

Year	Album	Peak chart positions
		JPN <ref name="jpn"/>
1996	Tougher and Live (Japan)	—
1998	Remix Kingdom (Japan)	24
2002	The Best of Diana King (Japan)	78
2005	Essentials: I Say a Little Prayer (Japan)	—

Singles

Year	Title	Peak chart positions										Album
		US <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	US R&B <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	UK <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	NED <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	FRA <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	GER <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	SWI <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	SWE <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	AUS <ref name=aus>Australian (ARIA) chart peaks: Top 50 peaks: Template:Cite web Top 100 peaks to December 2010: Template:Cite book "Love Triangle": Template:Cite web N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached. "L-L-Lies": Template:Cite web</ref>	NZ <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1994	"Stir It Up"	—	53	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	24	Cool Runnings: Music from the Motion Picture
1995	"Shy Guy"	13	21	2	3	4	6	5	1	3	3	Tougher Than Love
	"Love Triangle"	—	85	—	—	—	—	—	—	73	21
	"Ain't Nobody"	94	63	13	27	41	62	31	30	—	28
1996	"I'll Do It" (with Nahki)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Template:N/a
1997	"When We Were Kings" (with Brian McKnight)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	When We Were Kings: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
	"I Say a Little Prayer"	38	68	17	—	34	73	—	—	6	21	Think Like a Girl
	"L-L-Lies"	71	67	—	—	35	—	—	47	173	29
1998	"Find My Way Back"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Supa-Lova-Bwoy" (Japan)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Rise Up" (as part of Jamaica United)	—	—	54	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Template:N/a
2002	"Summer Breezin'"	—	—	—	—	85	—	—	45	98	—	Respect
2006	"Spanish Town Blues"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	rowspan="2" Template:N/a
2007	"Get Me @ This Party" (with Sarah feat. Kid Kapri)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2011	"Yu Dun Know"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Warrior Gurl AgirLnaMeKING
2012	"Closer"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Jeanz N T-Shirt"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

External links

• Official website Template:Webarchive
• Template:AllMusic
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