Joss Stone (born Joscelyn Eve Stoker on April 11, 1987) is an English soul singer. She is also the head spokeswoman for The Gap, replacing Sarah Jessica Parker.

Biography

Joss Stone was born in Dover in Kent, in 1987. She grew up listening to American R&B and soul music such as Aretha Franklin and developed a throaty style of singing like her idols. At 14, she appeared on Star for a Night on BBC Television singing Franklin's (You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman . She told MTV News "I kind of clicked into soul music more than anything else because of the vocals. You've got to have good vocals to sing soul music and I always I liked it ever since I was little."

In 2002, she decided to back her ability by flying out from Devon in England for an audition in New York City with S-Curve CEO Steve Greenberg. She secured a record deal with a soulful version of On the Radio by Donna Summer.

The Soul Sessions

She then flew to Miami to start work on The Soul Sessions. She worked with people with solid credentials in the Miami soul scene such as Betty Wright, Benny Latimore , Timmy Thomas and Little Beaver . As well, she worked with contemporary acts Angie Stone and The Roots.

The album consists of classic soul tracks by Wright, Franklin, Laura Lee and Bettye Swann . The album was released in late 2003, and reached the top 5 in the UK albums chart, and also in the top 100 in the US Billboard chart. The first single "Fell in Love with a Boy" was a reworking of The White Stripes' song "Fell in Love with a Girl", and reached the top 20 in the UK singles chart. The second single, Super Duper Love (Are You Diggin' On Me?) also reached the top 20.

Mind Body & Soul

After achieving critical acclaim for The Soul Sessions, she recorded an album full of original songs in 2004, titled Mind Body & Soul. It had proved to be a success, with this new album debuting at #1 on release in the UK, breaking the record for the youngest female to top the albums charts, previously held by Avril Lavigne. The album also reached the top 20 in the US Billboard chart. The first single, "You Had Me", debuted in the top 10 in the UK. In February 2005 she was nominated for 3 Brit Awards, of which she won two; Best Female and Best Urban Act. She was also nominated 3 times at the 2005 Grammy Awards, where she sang on stage with rock legend Melissa Etheridge.

Discography

Singles

• 2004 "Fell in Love with a Boy" #18 UK
• 2004 "Super Duper Love (Are You Diggin' On Me?)" #18 UK
• 2004 "You Had Me" #9 UK
• 2004 "Right To Be Wrong" #27 UK
• 2005 "Spoiled" #32 UK
• 2005 "Cry Baby"/"Piece Of My Heart" (duet with Melissa Etheridge) #32 US

Albums

• 2003 The Soul Sessions #4 UK, #39 US
• 2004 Mind, Body & Soul #1 UK, #11 US

External links

• Official Site
• Joss Stone News
• All Music Guide
• Yahoo group for Joss Stone
• MTV Music News
• Joss Stone @ MusicWiki