At 46 years of age, R&B musician Jully Black has accomplished about as much as you could hope for in the Canadian music industry.
But that doesn’t mean she has lost her passion. Not at all.
“I like to represent the renaissance - never quit on your dreams,” said the Toronto-born Black, who will appear in Sudbury at 9 p.m. July 4 as a headliner at Northern Lights Festival Boréal.
“Just keep going … I think the secret sauce is passion and loving what I do, and knowing that there's a reason, there's a call on my life that's bigger than me.”
Over her 29-year career, Black has taken home Juno and Gemini awards, was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2021, has composed music for Destiny’s Child and Nas, and shared the stage with the likes of The Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West, Bon Jovi, Celine Dion, Elton John, Alicia Keys and Etta James.
She said she has recently recorded a new EP, although she doesn’t have a release date as of yet. A full tour is being planned for February. Also on her list of current projects is writing her memoirs.
Black especially grabbed attention in 2023 when she swapped out the words “O Canada! Our home and native land!” for “O Canada! Our home on native land” while performing the national anthem at the NBA All-Star Game.
This is a moment of which she’s particularly proud, with the YouTube video for that performance popping up on the landing page for Black’s website.
“It's something that just came at the right time in my life, to be an ally, and to put the messaging out there,” said Black. “The allyship that I'm looking for the Black woman is also the allyship I can extend to Indigenous folks as well. So it was a moment in history.”
While Black starts her July by performing at Sudbury’s long-running folk music festival, she’s headed off to the Summer Olympics in Paris, France, later this summer.
Having also performed at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Black said she’s excited to take in this experience as well.
“I'm going to be entertaining at Canada House for the athletes, bringing them the good vibes, bringing them the good luck, and representing,” she said. “It's exciting to be chosen to be a part of that team.”
Dubbed “Canada’s Queen of R&B Soul,” Black said she’s looking forward to her headline performance at Northern Lights Festival. She said she’s not sure the last time she performed here, although she figures she must have been back in her hip-hop touring days.
Black said festival-goers should expect “a lot of laughter, a lot of dancing,” and a full band sound.
“The summer music festival, I feel it’s an opportunity for those who may not be able to go to the full concert,” she said. “It’s a whole family experience. We get long winters, so it's a nice time to be outside. Also genre wise, you know, for true R&B soul music, to bring it live to Sudbury. I'm excited to go to different parts of Canada, different parts of Ontario and represent … Bring your friends, bring your family, bring the kids. It’s a family affair.”
Northern Lights Festival Boréal runs in Bell Park July 4-7. The festival’s full schedule and tickets are available through its website.
Heidi Ulrichsen is Sudbury.com’s assistant editor. She also covers education and the arts scene.
