Raised in Gary, Indiana, KYM MAZELLE grew up around the corner from one of pop music’s reigning dynasties, the Jacksons. While the future success of the entire Jackson family may have already been written in the stars, early interactions with Michael, Janet, Tito, LaToya and the rest also marked Kym Mazelle as a future diva. Unintimidated by the family’s star status, Mazelle and the Jacksons would sing songs that the former had written, together. Mazelle’s prevailing spirit was also evident when her mother would find her singing along with recordings by the queen of soul, herself, Aretha Franklin.
Initially, Mazelle set out to become a diva in the true sense of the word by studying opera at the Mundelein college of music in Chicago, Illinois.
Landing a job with DJ International Records, it wasn’t long before she met Marshall Jefferson. The two formed a collaboration that resulted in the Mazelle’s first two singles, TASTE MY LOVE and I’M A LOVER, which were released in 1988. It wasn’t until her third release, that she received chart recognition in the UK. Following the success of USELESS (I DON’T NEED YOU NOW), Mazelle released WAIT which went to #7.
Having gained recognition, Mazelle began to tour Europe, with Ten City. Live performances that were even more dynamic that her recordings helped to establish a considerable following and Mazelle scored two more hits with GOT TO GET YOU BACK and LOVE STRAIN. With a number of successful singles under her belt, Mazelle released her debut album, CRAZY, in 1989. WAS THAT ALL IT WAS and a remixed USELESS (I DON’T NEED YOU NOW) spun off from CRAZY and established Mazelle and one of house music’s favourite divas. A collaboration with Soul II Soul produced the single MISSING YOU, which appears on their Vol. II-1990: A New Decade. Writing credits, coupled with dates on Soul II Soul’s world tour, drew even more attention to the talents of this rising star.
In 1991, Mazelle switched from Syncopate Records to EMI’S Parlophone. Collaborations with some of America’s leading producers such as C+C Music Factory, Steve Hurly and David Morales helped to establish Mazelle as a renowned global dance diva. Another collaboration, with fellow disco diva Jocelyn Brown, produced the gem No One Can Love You More Than Me.
1994 saw a reunion with Jocelyn Brown on cover versions of Barbara Streisand’s No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) and ZZ Top’s Gimme All Your Lovin. In 1995, LOVE ME AND LEAVE ME was released, scoring her another hit. The following year, Mazelle was featured on the highly successful soundtrack to 1996’s Romeo & Juliet with YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE. Since then, she has released A PLACE IN MY HEART, which perfectly sums up her dance music. Showing no signs of slowing down, Kym Mazelle, with distinctive and powerful vocals, mad style and a heart of gold, has established herself among such disco divas as Gloria Gaynor, Sylvester and Loleatta Holloway.
Kym Mazelle also recorded with Robert Howard of The Blow Monkeys, Soul II Soul, Maceo Parker (Life On Planet Groove), Dr Robert (Wait), Todd Terry (The House Music Movement in 1999), Matt Bianco, Peshay and Motiv8 (Searching For The Golden Eye).
