Macy Gray added to Market Days 2019 lineup

Northalsted Market Days has added some additional star power to its 2019 lineup with the last-minute addition of Macy Gray.

The Grammy Award-winning R&B and soul singer-songwriter will replace Todrick Hall in Sunday's line-up, organizers announced this week. Gray is best known for her international hit single "I Try."

Born Natalie McIntyre, the Ohio native first discovered the name Macy Gray at age six during a bike accident. She was lying beneath a mailbox with that name, and it clicked. She began writing stories using that name for a character. At age seven, she started her musical journey by taking piano lessons.

While attending the University of Southern California, she agreed to write songs for a friend. When another singer failed to show up for a demo session, she recorded them herself. She started getting more into singing following that and eventually was asked to join a jazz band as a singer. After some setbacks, she eventually landed a record deal and went on to release 2001's song of the year, "I Try".

She has performed alongside and collaborated with stars like Ariana Grande, Fergie, Justin Timberlake, and Dolly Parton.

If you haven't heard of her music, you've definitely seen her on the silver screen in films like "Training Day", "Spider-Man", and "Scary Movie 3." She was also on the soundtrack to the movie "Chicago," with Lil' Kim and Queen Latifah in "The Cell Block Tango/He Had it Coming."

The 51-year-old singer has been a consistent ally of the LGBT community, playing several gay venues and events. "I just found that mostly- in particular, gay audiences really know how to go a show," Macy told Trish Bendix of AfterEllen. "They really know how to party and you know, I don't know if your sexual preference decides what kind of music you like, but I just know it's always supercharged like when we just did a couple of Pridefests this last summer."

Macy Gray will appear on the Bud Light Stage at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Full entertainment lineup

The 38th annual Northalsted Market Days takes place on Aug. 10-11 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The event runs down Halsted Street from Belmont to Addison. A $10 suggested donation is requested at the entrance.

Market Days is organized by and benefits the Northalsted Business Alliance, the organization behind Chicago Pride Fest, Frost Fest and the Northalsted Halloween Parade. For information visit northalsted.com.

Related: Chicago's own 'All-American Boy' Steve Grand set to perform Saturday at Market Days