Joscelyn Eve Stoker was just 14 when she was named the winner on an "American Idol"-forerunner called "Star for a Night" on the BBC, and that winning performance of Donna Summer's "On the Radio" indirectly led to her first record deal. By the time she was sweet 16, Joscelyn Stoker had become Joss Stone and released her debut album, The Soul Sessions.
Before she was 19 years old, Stone had stocked up on quite a few "dream come trues," including selling more than 7.5 million albums worldwide, being nominated for four Grammy Awards (and performing live on the show twice) and appearing onstage with James Brown, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Mavis Staples, Donna Summer and Smokey Robinson. She had also been interviewed by Oprah and starred in two major ad campaigns for The Gap, performed at the Super Bowl with Stevie Wonder and she had sung for 200,000 people at the 2005 Live 8 Concert in London.
Joss Stone has reached her 20s now, with three albums out. All three feature the vintage '70s soul sound of the songs she covered on her first effort, but now that Stone is writing a lot of her own songs she's allowed her own sound to come forth with updated arrangements and a hip-hop vibe (Introducing Joss Stone, her 2007 effort, features her partnering with Lauryn Hill, Common and Joi).
Provenance: Born in Dover, England, she now calls Devon home.
Latest release: Introducing Joss Stone (2007)
© 2007 Nigel Music Media LLC. Used by permission.
Joss Stone
