L to R: Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Dr. Jody Watley, Grammy award-winning music icon, event emcee, Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles Mayor, Stephanie Wiggins, Metro CEO, James T. Butts, City of Inglewood Mayor and Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, Metro First Vice Chair.
Grammy award-winning music icon Jody Watley surprised attendees at the recent Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) official commemorative event opening of the K Line, the newest light rail line serving South Los Angeles communities on October 7.
Watley says, “I was thrilled to be part of the historic opening of Los Angeles Metro K-Line rail and serve as the emcee at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The day was very special for me, especially attending and graduating from Dorsey High School, which is minutes from the new station.”
Metro provided early morning live shots for news media at Leimert Park Station and held a grand opening ceremony with a large group of public officials at Leimert Park.
The K Line will initially extend light rail transit access from the existing Metro E Line (Expo) at Crenshaw and Exposition Boulevards in Los Angeles to Westchester Veterans. The line will later connect LAX and the C Line (Green).
Metro offered free rides on the K Line as well as the entire Metro Bus and Rail system, including Bike Share and Metro Micro, all weekend at noon on Friday, October 7 to close of business on Sunday, October 9, 2022.
Guest attendees:
Dr. Jody Watley, Grammy award-winning music icon, event emcee
Ara J. Najarian Glendale City Council Member, Metro Board Chair
Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, Metro First Vice Chair
Holly T. Michell, Los Angeles County Supervisor, Metro Board Member
Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles Mayor, Metro Board Member
James T. Butts, City of Inglewood Mayor, Metro Board Member
Mike Bonin, LA City Council Member, Metro Board Member (Taped appearance)
Alex Padilla, U.S. Senator
Steven Bradford, State Senator
Isaac Bryan, State Assembly Member Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Los Angeles City Council Member
Heather Hutt, Los Angeles City Council Member
Stephanie Wiggins, Metro CEO
The official opening ceremony at Leimert Park included Metro transportation officials, community members, food and entertainment. Performers included the Crenshaw High School Mighty Marching Cougars, White Hall Academy Arts and Motherland Drummers and Dancers. Officials conducted a ribbon-cutting photo opportunity. The K Line officially opened at 12 p.m., allowing Metro riders their first opportunity to ride the trains for free that day.
About Jody Watley
Grammy winner and 3-time Grammy nominee Jody Watley; multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer/independent label owner, and Style Icon is one of the architects of 21st century Pop/R&B/Dance music. She is the gold standard of artistry. A brilliant songwriter, artist, entrepreneur, producer, and visionary.
Jody Watley has sold over 30 million albums worldwide with gold and platinum albums and singles. To her devoted fans she is affectionately referred to as “The Queen of Cool.”
From her groundbreaking marriage of Rap/R&B with 1989’s “Friends,” collaboration with hip-hop legends Eric B. & Rakim – the first such pairing to crossover Top 10 on the Hot 100, Hot R&B & Dance on Billboard. Her visionforward marriage of high fashion, street fashion and music in the ‘80s (long before it became the norm), to her fusion of jazz and underground club culture with keen pop instincts, and the ease with which she crossed and still crosses genre; Watley forged the template that is now in everybody’s playbook.
To date as a solo artist: 6 Hot 100 Singles, 15 Top 40 Singles, 13 #1 Dance
Singles, 2 #1 R&B Singles with iconic hits such as “Looking For A New Love,
“Don’t You Want Me”, “Real Love” and more!! Watley is listed in Billboard
Magazine as one of the Top 60 Hot 100 & Top 25 Female Dance Artists of All Time. In 2022, Jody Watley was honored with a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in service to humanity as well as receiving an honorary doctorate in entrepreneurship and business making her Dr. Jody Watley with a career that continues to excel for this resilient and legendary artist. Keep up with Jody Watley on social media on her verified pages as well as the Official Jody Watley Website & Blog: https://jodywatley.net / You can follow Jody Watley on her social media @jodywatley.
About Metro
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is building the most ambitious transportation infrastructure program in the United States and is working to greatly improve mobility through its Vision 2028 Plan. Metro is the lead transportation planning and funding agency for L.A. County and carries about 800,000 boardings daily on a fleet of 2,200 low-emission buses and six rail lines.
Stay informed by following Metro on The Source and El Pasajero at metro.net, facebook.com/losangelesmetro, twitter.com/metrolosangeles and twitter.com/metroLAalerts and instagram.com/metrolosangeles.