Macy Gray has a net worth of $12 million. She is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actress. Macy Gray is noted for her raspy vocals and singing style that is reminiscent of Billie Holiday. She has a long list of studio albums under her belt, for which she has won Grammy nominations and a win. Gray has also appeared in films such as “Training Day,” “Spider-Man,” “Lackawant to Blues,” and “For Colored Girls,” among others.
Early Years and the Start of a Career
Natalie McIntyre, better known as Macy Gray, was born in Canton, Ohio in 1967. Gray’s father, Otis Jones, abandoned the family when she was a child. She has two siblings: a sister and a brother. Gray began taking piano lessons when he was seven years old. She later attended many high schools as a teenager, one of which she was asked to leave owing to her terrible behavior. Gray attended the University of Southern California to study scriptwriting after graduating from Canton South High School in 1985.
Gray met writer and producer Joe Solo while working as a cashier in Beverly Hills, and the two collaborated on a collection of songs. Gray was given opportunities to sing at Los Angeles jazz cafes as a result of the demo recording. She was signed by Atlantic Records following that, but she was dumped once the individual who had signed her left the company. After returning to Ohio in 1997, she was persuaded to return to music by the senior vice president of the Zomba Label Group in Los Angeles. She was subsequently contracted to a label for development and began writing new songs about her life experiences. She signed a record deal with Epic Records in 1998.
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Gray’s debut album, “On How Life Is,” and other musical successes were released in the summer of 1999. The singles “Do Something,” “Still,” and “Why Didn’t You Call Me” were all international hits. The most popular track was “I Try,” which went on to become one of the year’s biggest singles. “On How Life Is” reached triple platinum in the United States and quadruple platinum in the United Kingdom as a result of its success. Later, “I Try” received Grammy nominations for Song of the Year and Record of the Year, as well as Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
Gray followed up her success with “The Id,” her second studio album, which debuted at number eleven on the Billboard 200. It performed considerably better in the UK, where it reached number one on the UK Albums Chart and was certified gold. Gray worked with Santana on the album track “Amoré (Sexo),” participated in a cover of Kuti’s iconic song “Water No Get Enemy,” and recorded a duet with Zucchero shortly after. Then, in 2003, Gray released her third studio album, “The Trouble with Being Myself,” which received great acclaim. The album’s lead song, “When I See You,” was a radio hit in the United States, and the album itself charted in the top 20 in the United Kingdom. Following that, a greatest hits album and a live album were released.
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“Big” and Beyond: Gray returned after a four-year absence to deliver “Big,” her fourth studio album, which included the hits “Finally Made Me Happy” and “Shoo Be Doo.” The album featured duets with Justin Timberlake, Fergie, and Natalie Cole, and was another critical hit for Gray. “The Sellout” was Gray’s next album, and its lead track, “Beauty in the World,” was used in ABC’s “Ugly Betty” series finale.
Gray signed with 429 Records in 2011 and began work on her second album, “Covered,” which comprised cover versions of popular songs. “Stripped,” created by Chesky Records, was released in 2016. Critics praised “Stripped,” which opened at number three on the Billboard Jazz Chart.
A Career in Film
Gray’s filmography includes roles in films such as “Training Day,” “Shadowboxer,” “Domino,” and the 2004 adaptation of “Around the World in 80 Days.” She also participated in the 2005 television movie adaptation of the play “Lackawant to Blues,” as well as cameos in “Spider-Man” and “Spider-Man 3.” In 2006, she played Taffy in the musical film “Idlewild,” which featured Outkast’s soundtrack. Gray went on to star in Tyler Perry’s “For Colored Girls,” starring Janet Jackson, Loretta Devine, Whoopi Goldberg, Kerry Washington, and others, after competing on season nine of “Dancing with the Stars.” “The Paperboy,” “Brotherly Love,” “Papa,” “Cardboard Boxer,” and “Change in the Air” were among his subsequent film credits.
Other Projects
Gray also appeared in season eight of Bravo’s “Celebrity Poker Showdown,” where she came in third place. She sang Michael Jackson’s “Rock with You” at a special performance of the West End musical “Thriller – Live” in 2012 to raise money for BBC Children in Need. Gray also established the non-profit organization My Good to assist families with mental health treatments and funeral expenses.
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Real Estate and Personal Life
Gray was married to mortgage broker Tracy Hinds for around four years before divorcing when her career was just getting started. Mel, Aanisah, and Happy were their three children together.
Gray listed her large estate in the San Fernando Valley for roughly $4.5 million in 2006. The 10,000-square-foot Colonial-style home included seven bedrooms, nine and a half baths, a basketball court, a spa and pool, and a dome ceiling.