Macy Gray (born
Natalie Renee McIntyre on September 6, 1967),
also credited as
Natalie Hinds in her music, is an American
R&B and
soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and
actress, famed for her distinctive raspy voice
[www.aptv.org/schedule/findid.asp?NOLA1=SOUN&NOLA2=1402] and a singing style heavily influenced by
Billie Holiday and
Betty Davis.
To date, Gray has released four studio albums, one compilation album, and one live album—with her fourth studio album,
Big, released in March 2007—and has received five
Grammy Award nominations, winning one. She has appeared in a number of films including
Training Day,
Spider-Man, and
Idlewild. Gray is best known for her international hit single "
I Try", taken from her multi-platinum debut album
On How Life Is. In late 2008, Gray took on a new alias "Nemesis Jaxson", and has plans to release her fifth studio album in 2009.
[nemesisjaxson.com/nemesis-jaxson/]
It was announced on August 17, 2009 that she will compete on the ninth season of
Dancing with the Stars. She was the second contestant eliminated with the total score of 15 from the judges.
