When the group, Lion Babe, came together, their goal wasn’t just to deliver good music, but they wanted to send a message to the world. Lion Babe’s motto is about embracing your uniqueness and rockin’ it. The neo-soul group is comprised of 2 members: vocalist, Jillian Hervey, and record producer, Lucas Goodman.
The group derived it’s name from Goodman’s zodiac sign, as he is a Leo and from Hervey’s golden mane, which resembles that of a lion.
Both Goldman and Hervey made a musical connection when Hervey was attending a New York college. A dance major interested in performance art, Hervey had the task of performing a dance to original music. She knew exactly who to call.
After contacting Goodman, they had a conversation that led to Hervey’s interest in signing. Goodman encouraged her and he believed her soulful sound was very similar to Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu.
With a strong underground following, the group has opened up for rapper, Childish Gambino (a.k.a. actor, Donald Glover), and collaborated with super music producer, Pharrell Williams. In 2015, Lion Babe released the song, “Wonder Woman,” which went on to peak at number one on Billboard’s interactive chart, ‘Billboard Twitter Emerging Artists.’
While Lion Babe’s fan base is growing, lioness, Jillian Hervey, wants her success to be authentic. In speaking with Page Six, she shared how she avoids telling people who her famous moms is, because she wants to make it on her own merits.
Vanessa Williams…That’s YOU?!!
Jillian Hervey is the daughter of Ramon Hervey and the legendary, Vanessa Williams! The 80s/90s R&B legend-turned-actress was the first African-American recipient of the Miss America title, when she was crowned Miss America 1984. She later resigned in July 1984, after unauthorized nude photos of her was published in Penthouse Magazine.
Vanessa Williams went on to be a successful singer, as well as an actress starring in hit sitcoms ” Desperate Housewives” and ” Ugly Betty.”
The lead singer from Lion Babe spoke openly about keeping her familial connection to Vanessa on the low:
“I never walk into a room and say, ‘Hi! I am Vanessa Williams’ daughter,’ ” [Jillian Hervey] told Page Six at Hammerstein Ballroom. “It helps me to become more authentic.”
People loved her before, but Jillian just gave fans another reason to fall in love with the Lion Babe.
