Siedah Garrett
The powerhouse voice behind anthems for Michael Jackson and a gifted songwriter who penned an Oscar-nominated Disney classic.
Born 1960 (age 66)·American singer and songwriter·Birthday: June 24·Baby Boomers
Biography
Siedah Garrett's career is a masterclass in being essential behind the scenes and unforgettable in the spotlight. Discovered by Quincy Jones, she first gained fame as part of the group The Brand New Heavies and duetting with Michael Jackson on 'I Just Can't Stop Loving You.' But it was her pen that crafted immortality: she co-wrote Jackson's electrifying 'Man in the Mirror,' a global anthem for change. Her songwriting partnership with composer Glen Ballard yielded the joyous 'Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing' for 'The Jungle Book' and, most famously, the Oscar-nominated 'A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes' for Disney's 'Cinderella.' A dynamic performer with a radiant smile and a formidable voice, Garrett embodies the spirit of soulful pop, equally at home writing a hit or belting one from the stage.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Siedah was born in 1960, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Siedah Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Siedah's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 40
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 50
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 60
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 66 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-wrote Michael Jackson's #1 hit 'Man in the Mirror,' which became a cultural anthem.
- Received an Academy Award nomination for co-writing 'A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes' for Disney's 'Cinderella.'
- Won a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media for co-writing 'Love You I Do' from the film 'Dreamgirls.'
- Performed the duet 'I Just Can't Stop Loving You' with Michael Jackson on his 'Bad' album and tour.
Did You Know?
She was the first person to perform a duet with Michael Jackson on one of his studio albums.
She sang backing vocals on Madonna's hit song 'Like a Prayer.'
She was a member of the 1980s funk and acid jazz group The Brand New Heavies.
She served as a judge on the Malaysian version of the television talent show 'The X Factor' in 2013.
“A song isn't finished until it makes you feel something true.”
