Born:
Joscelyn Eve Stoker, in Dover, Kent, England on April 11, 1987.
Joscelyn Eve Stoker, in Dover, Kent, England on April 11, 1987.
Early Life:
Joss spent her teen years in the rural town of Devon. The first album she owned, Aretha Franklin's Greatest Hits, inspired her to become a singer. After growing up listening to American R&B and soul, she developed a throaty style of singing like her idols. In 2001, at age 14, she appeared on the BBC television program "Star for a Night," singing Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman." In 2002, she flew from England to New York for an audition with S-Curve CEO Steve Greenberg.
Joss spent her teen years in the rural town of Devon. The first album she owned, Aretha Franklin's Greatest Hits, inspired her to become a singer. After growing up listening to American R&B and soul, she developed a throaty style of singing like her idols. In 2001, at age 14, she appeared on the BBC television program "Star for a Night," singing Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman." In 2002, she flew from England to New York for an audition with S-Curve CEO Steve Greenberg.
The Soul Sessions:
She later flew to Miami to start work on her debut album, The Soul Sessions, which consists mainly of covers of soul classics. She collaborated with people with solid credentials in the Miami soul scene such as Betty Wright, Benny Latimore, Timmy Thomas and Little Beaver, as well as contemporary acts Angie Stone and The Roots. The album, which was released in late 2003, reached the top 40 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart and went on to sell over 610,000 copies in the United States.
She later flew to Miami to start work on her debut album, The Soul Sessions, which consists mainly of covers of soul classics. She collaborated with people with solid credentials in the Miami soul scene such as Betty Wright, Benny Latimore, Timmy Thomas and Little Beaver, as well as contemporary acts Angie Stone and The Roots. The album, which was released in late 2003, reached the top 40 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart and went on to sell over 610,000 copies in the United States.
Mind, Body & Soul:
After achieving critical acclaim for The Soul Sessions, Stone recorded an album full of original songs in 2004 titled Mind, Body and Soul. It proved to be an even bigger success than her first album, as it debuted at #1 in her native U.K. (breaking the record for the youngest female ever to top the albums charts there, a record previously held by Avril Lavigne) and just missed the top ten of the U.S. Billboard 200, after peaking at No. 11. In March 2007, her third album, Introducing Joss Stone, was released.
After achieving critical acclaim for The Soul Sessions, Stone recorded an album full of original songs in 2004 titled Mind, Body and Soul. It proved to be an even bigger success than her first album, as it debuted at #1 in her native U.K. (breaking the record for the youngest female ever to top the albums charts there, a record previously held by Avril Lavigne) and just missed the top ten of the U.S. Billboard 200, after peaking at No. 11. In March 2007, her third album, Introducing Joss Stone, was released.
Beyond the Music:
In addition to her succesful recording career, in 2005 Joss signed a multi-million dollar contract as a spokeswoman for The Gap clothing line.
In addition to her succesful recording career, in 2005 Joss signed a multi-million dollar contract as a spokeswoman for The Gap clothing line.
The Final Word:
"Who says soul has only one color?" - Joss Stone.
"Who says soul has only one color?" - Joss Stone.
