Jazmine Sullivan
Jazmine Marie Sullivan is a Grammynominated American singersongwriter from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her debut single Need U Bad, produced by Missy Elliott, reached number one on Billboard s Hot RampBHipHop Songs chart, while her second single, Bust Your Windows, produced by Salaam Remi, peaked at number four. Elements of RampB, reggae, dub, pop, jazz, neo soul and doowop can be heard in her work. Jazmine cites singers Changing Faces, Kim Burrell, Lauryn Hill, and Dorinda ClarkCole as her main influences and inspirations.
Jazmine Sullivan was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her mother Pam is a former backup singer for Philadelphia International Records. When she was five years old, her father landed a position as a curator for the citys Historic Strawberry Mansion in the Strawberry Mansion section, and her family moved into the historical landmark. She is a 2005 graduate of the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts where she was a vocal music major. Sullivan began singing as a contralto in the childrens choir, then a few years later in the adult choir. Sullivans exposure to secular music was initially limited, I was doing solos in church and someone wanted me to sign to a gospel label when I was eleven but I wasnt ready to do that, she recalls. Then when McDonalds had a competition for kids in major cities, I got a chance to perform Accept What God Allows on Its Showtime at the Apollo and the audience responded really well. She sang with Stevie Wonder at his grands
Source: Wikipedia