Midori

Michele Watley, known professionally as Midori, She was named one of the top 10 "hottest black porn stars" of all time by Complex.

Early life

Watley has a sister, R&B singer Jody Watley, and a brother. Her grandfather and father were ministers.

As a young adult, Watley lived in England for nine months and in 1986, she attended dance school in France. After the movie was released she changed her stage name to Midori. She initially tried to avoid appearing in stereotypical Black themed films, and early in her career was mostly featured in interracial scenes in white-produced films. Watley eventually started working with Black male performers because she "didn't want to have Black guys thinking I didn't do them too". She became a spokesperson for the Free Speech Coalition. Variety described Watley as "a petite African-American single mom who does an athletic pole-climbing act". The next year, Spike Lee offered Watley a role in He Got Game - as a prostitute - a role she declined because she did not want to play a sex worker.

In 1999, she had one track entitled 5-10-15-20, which she wrote on the Porn to Rock compilation, which was released on Tommy Boy Records. That same year, Kid Rock produced the track F.M.A. for the Deep Porn compilation with Midori on vocals. The New York Daily News described the single as "moaning unprintable pillow talk over a backdrop of distorted guitars and hip-hop drums". She also appeared on the cover of the Bad Meets Evil's single "Nuttin' to Do". Watley has a second track, "Zap", produced by Wide. Watley credits Madonna and Lil' Kim as opening the door for sex positive performers, and sex workers, to perform music in mainstream entertainment.

Watley appeared on the cover of Andrew Dice Clay's album Face Down, Ass Up in 2000. She also released her first album, the dance LP Midori (AKA) Michele Watley.

Personal life In a 1997 interview with Black Video Illustrated, Watley said she was straight; The relationship ended after three months, with both Rock and Watley citing Rock's busy schedule as the reason for the break up.

NightMoves Award Best Actress (Editor's Choice) 1999

Female Performer of the Year

Best Supporting Actress - Video American Booty

Best Couples Sex Scene - Video (with Dillon Day)

XRCO Award Actress (Single Performance) 2009 AVN Award

Hall of Fame

2023 Urban X Award Hall of Fame

Discography

Albums

Midori (AKA) Michele Watley (2000) Miss Judged (2001)

Singles "Who's Hustlin' Who", Warrior featuring Midori (2003)

Album appearances 2002: Perfect Weapon, Warrior, "Who's Hustlin' Who" feat. Midori 2000: Deep Porn, Various Artists, "F.M.A." - Kid Rock featuring Midori, "Zap" - Wide featuring Midori 1999: Porn to Rock, Various Artists, "5,10,15,20" - Midori featuring Oran "Juice" Jones 1997: Player's Call, Oran "Juice" Jones, "Let's Stay Together" (featuring Midori)

Cover girl "Nuttin' To Do," Bad Meets Evil (1999) Face Down, Ass Up - Andrew Dice Clay (2000)

Music video appearances 2001: "My Projects," Coo Coo Cal (guest appearance)