Who is Marley Munroe aka Lady Blackbird? Strictly Come Dancing Jazz and soul singer-songwriter

HAILED as the Grace Jones of jazz, Lady Blackbird is well known for her soulful voice.

In October 2024, the singer-songwriter wowed viewers when she appeared on Strictly Come Dancing.

Born on Marley Munroe on January 18, 1985, in New Mexico, the singer-songwriter goes by the stage name Lady Blackbird.

She is well known for her trademark peroxide afro and flamboyant outfits.

Lady Blackbird's career started when she was just 12-years-old, when she signed with a Christian record label based in Nashville.

By the age of 18 she decided to move her music in a different direction and left her label.

In 2014, Lady Blackbird released two pop-soul singles before leaving the label due to creative differences.

Six years later she got her big break when she released a cover of the 1966 song, Blackbird, by Nina Simone.

It was released in May 2020, two days after the murder of George Floyd.

Her version of the powerful song, which is about the struggles and pain of black women, took on a new contemporary cultural meaning.

Lady Blackbird explained more to The Sun, and said: “People took it to their hearts very, very naturally.

"Yeah. So that’s the way that happened.

"We weren’t sure if that timing was going to be correct but we released it and people took to it in a natural way."

The singer went on: “Just like the way Lady Blackbird happened. It wasn’t a marketing plan or anything — we were just in a studio listening to the song Blackbird.

"And somebody said, Lady with Blackbird and it was so random and felt right. I liked it.”

Ambassador for female empowerment

In 2023, Lady Blackbird released her single Woman which is an anthem of female empowerment and was recorded to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Speaking to The Sun about the importance of this song, Lady Blackbird said: “Being a woman, it sometimes feels that we are going backwards.

“It really does feel like we might go to times like The Handmaid’s Tale. Saying that doesn’t sound so far-fetched. It’s quite scary.”

She added: “Woman is perfect for what it says. It is just perfect for that moment,."

Strictly performance

On October 27, 2024, Strictly Come Dancing viewers were thrilled when Lady Blackbird performed on the show.

She belted out her song Reform as the professional dancers performed around her in the famous ballroom.

As Lady Blackbird sang, the pros danced to a Beetlejuice-inspired routine.