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Norah Jones

Norah Jones (born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar on March 30, 1979) is an American singer-songwriter and actress.

In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies.[1][2][3] The record earned Jones five Grammy Awards, including the Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist.[4] Her subsequent studio albums, Feels like Home, released in 2004, Not Too Late, released in 2007 and her 2009 release The Fall, all gained Platinum status after selling over a million copies[2] and were generally well received by critics.[1]

Jones has won nine Grammy Awards and was Billboard magazine's 60th-best-selling music artist of the 2000–2009 decade.[5] Throughout her career, Jones has won numerous awards and has sold over 37 million albums worldwide. Billboard magazine named her the top Jazz artist of the 2000–2009 decade, establishing herself as one of the best-selling artists of her time.

Early life

Born in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York, Jones is the daughter of Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar, and concert producer Sue Jones. She is the half-sister of Anoushka Shankar.[3] After her parents' separation in 1986, Jones spent her childhood with her mother in the Fort Worth suburb of Grapevine, Texas. She attended Colleyville Middle School and Grapevine High School before transferring to Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas. While in high school, Jones sang in the school choir, participated in band and played the alto saxophone. At the age of sixteen, with the blessings of her parents, she officially changed her name to "Norah Jones".[6][7]

Jones always had an affinity for the music of Bill Evans and Billie Holiday, among other 'oldies'. She once said, "My mom had this eight-album Billie Holiday set; I picked out one disc that I liked and played that over and over again." She considers Willie Nelson her mentor.[citation needed]

She began singing in church choirs and took piano lessons as a child. She still attends church. She considers herself spiritual and appreciates the rituals of her church but does not consider herself the religious type.[8]

She attended Interlochen Center for the Arts during the summers. While at high school, she won the DownBeat Student Music Awards for Best Jazz Vocalist (twice, in 1996 and 1997) and Best Original Composition (1996).[9]

Jones attended the University of North Texas (UNT), where she majored in jazz piano and sang with the UNT Jazz Singers. During this time, she had a chance meeting with future collaborator Jesse Harris. She gave a ride to a band playing at the university whose members happened to be friends of Harris. He was on a cross-country road-trip with friend and future Little Willies member, Richard Julian, and stopped to see the band play. After meeting Jones, Harris started sending her lead sheets of his songs. In 1999, she left for New York City. Less than a year later, she started a band with Harris, which made her famous.[10]

Musical career

2001–2004: First Sessions and Come Away with Me

Main articles: First Sessions and Come Away with Me

Jones' moved to New York City and signed to Blue Note Records, a label owned by EMI Group. The signing came as an indirect result of Jones performing background vocals for singer-songwriter Victoria Williams.[11] Shell White, the wife of Williams' producer JC Hopkins, worked in Blue Note's royalties department and passed on Jones's 3-track demo to the label's president Bruce Lundvall and its A&R Brian Bacchus. The demo featured two jazz standards and a song by Jesse Harris.[11] Lundvall and Bacchus immediately agreed Jones had great potential and although initially unsure about what direction her music would follow, particularly since Blue Note was a jazz label, they nevertheless decided to sign Jones. Bacchus told HitQuarters: "We let her find her own direction ... We knew that if she could develop her songwriting and we could find great songs, it would work."[11]

Jones was first teamed up with experienced producer and engineer Jay Newland. Bacchus thought that Newland's experience in jazz, blues, rock, country and folk would give him a "feeling for her sound".[11] Together they cut around nine demo tracks, of which six formed her debut Blue Note release, the sampler First Sessions, while the rest were set aside for her debut album.[11] "First Sessions" was released in 2001.

Jones was a lounge singer before becoming a recording artist.[12] Prior to releasing her first album, she performed with Wax Poetic, Peter Malick and jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter.[13][14][15]

Released in February 2002 debut album, Jones' Come Away with Me, was celebrated for its blending of mellow, acoustic pop with soul and jazz. Debuting at #139, it reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard 200. The single "Don't Know Why" hit #1 on the Top 40 Adult Recurrents in 2003 and #30 in the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.

In 2003, she won five Grammy Awards, Best New Artist, Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for the album and Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the single "Don't Know Why" at the 45th Grammy Awards. This matched the record for most Grammy wins by a female artist in a single night (tying with Lauryn Hill and Alicia Keys). That night, Jesse Harris won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for composing "Don't Know Why", Arif Mardin won Producer of the Year, primarily for his work on Come Away With Me, and the album also received the Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.[3][4]

The album received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America on August 22, 2002, and went on to become a diamond album on February 15, 2005.[2] It remains Blue Note's biggest-selling album.[3]

2004–2006: Feels like Home and collaboration with Ray Charles

Main article: Feels like Home

Jones released her second album, Feels like Home, on February 9, 2004. It was influenced by country music. Within a week of its release, Feels like Home had sold over a million copies. It sold 4 million copies in the United States and reached quadruple Platinum status, selling ten million copies worldwide. Jones toured globally, promoting the album with the Handsome Band, and backing singer Daru Oda.

Time magazine included Jones on the Time 100, a list of the most influential people of 2004.[16] The album debuted at number one in at least 16 countries around the world.[17]

In 2005, at the 47th Grammy Awards, Feels like Home was nominated for three Grammys. It won for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Sunrise", and had nominations for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for her duet with Dolly Parton, "Creepin 'In".[18]

She won two more Grammy Awards that year, for Record of the Year and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for her collaboration with Ray Charles, "Here We Go Again", which was the first track on Charles' last album, Genius Loves Company. Genius Loves Company won the Album of the Year award.[19]

2007–2008: Not Too Late

Main article: Not Too Late
Jones in 2007

Jones released her third album, Not Too Late, on January 30, 2007. The album was her first for which she wrote or co-wrote every song, and according to her, some of them are much darker than those on her previous albums.[20] Not Too Late was mostly recorded at Jones's home studio and is her first album without producer Arif Mardin, who had died in the summer of 2006. Jones described the sessions as "fun, relaxed and easy" and without a deadline; Blue Note executives reportedly did not know she was recording an album. The song "My Dear Country" is political commentary; she wrote it before the United States Presidential election day in 2004.

Not Too Late reached the #1 position in twenty countries. Not Too Late had the third-best first week of sales in 2007, behind Avril Lavigne's The Best Damn Thing and Linkin Park's Minutes to Midnight. It reached #1 in the U.S., selling 405,000 copies. EMI announced that Not Too Late reached gold, platinum or multi-platinum in 21 countries as of February 2007.[21] The album has sold 4 million copies worldwide.

By 2007, Jones had sold over 36 million albums worldwide.[citation needed]

2009–present: The Fall and ...Featuring

Norah Jones performing on an electric piano in 2010.
Main article: The Fall (album)

Jones's fourth studio album, The Fall, debuted at number three in November 2009, selling 180,000 copies in its first week. It was Jones's first album to not reach #1 in the United States. The album received critical acclaim.[22] As part of the promotional drive for the album, she performed on Dancing with the Stars, Late Show with David Letterman, Good Morning America and other television programs.

The album's lead single, "Chasing Pirates", peaked at #13 on Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks and #7 on Jazz Songs.

Billboard's 2000–2009 decade awards ranked her as the top Jazz recording artist, at #60 best Artist. Come Away With Me was elected the #4 album and #1 jazz album. Jones earned a platinum certification by the RIAA for sales of 1 million copies of The Fall. The album sold 1.5 million copies worldwide and was certified gold or platinum in 14 countries as of 2010. "Baby, It's Cold Outside", a duet with Willie Nelson, was nominated in the Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals category.

Her fourth world tour began March 5, 2010.

Jones released ...Featuring, a compilation album of collaborations she has done with well-known musicians, including the Foo Fighters, Willie Nelson, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Outkast, Q-Tip, Talib Kweli, Belle and Sebastian, Ray Charles, Ryan Adams, Dolly Parton, Herbie Hancock, M. Ward, and others. Jones said, “It's so exciting and flattering and fun when I get asked to sing with somebody that I admire...It takes you a little bit out of your comfort zone when you're doing something with another artist. You don't know what to expect—it's kind of like being a little kid and having a playdate.” The 18-track Blue Note disc was released on November 16, 2010.[23]

Personal life

Jones was in a long-term relationship with Lee Alexander[24] from 2000 until they split at Christmas 2007.[25]

Additional projects and collaborations

Jones made a cameo appearance as herself in the 2002 movie Two Weeks Notice which starred Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock. The film shows her briefly at the piano, singing for a charity benefit.[26]

Jones appears on the track "Ruler of My Heart" (a cover of an Irma Thomas song), on the 2002 Dirty Dozen Brass Band album, Medicated Magic.[27]

Norah Jones playing at the Blaisdell Arena.

In the latter part of 2003, rumors emerged that veteran Indian filmmaker Dev Anand was planning to make the film Song of Life, inspired by Jones's troubled relationship with her father, Ravi Shankar. Both Jones and Shankar were enraged by the rumors. Jones commented, "[Anand] has no idea of our story, and he's not going to represent it in a truthful way, I'm sure. It's sad because it's personal stuff and nobody's business but ours."[3]

Jones appeared on OutKast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below album, on "Take Off Your Cool". This album won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year (Jones was not credited).[28]

Jones appeared in the 2004 special Sesame Street Presents: The Street We Live On.[29]

Jones appeared on Ray Charles' final album, Genius Loves Company, in 2004, on "Here We Go Again".

Jones formed The Little Willies in 2003 alongside Richard Julian on vocals, Jim Campilongo on guitar, Lee Alexander on bass, and Dan Rieser on drums. The alt country band released its eponymous first album in 2006.[30]

Jones has done three Grammy-nominated duets with Willie Nelson: "Wurlitzer Prize (I Don't Want To Get Over You)" in 2003,[31] "Dreams Come True" in 2005[32] and "Baby, It's Cold Outside" in 2009.[33][34]

In 2005, Jones appeared on the Foo Fighters' album In Your Honor, performing piano and vocals on the song "Virginia Moon".[35] The track was nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, in 2006.[34]

Jones appeared on Ryan Adams' & The Cardinals' 2005 album, Jacksonville City Nights on the track "Dear John".[36]

Jones worked with Mike Patton in 2006 providing vocals on the track "Sucker" on the Peeping Tom project. The song attracted attention as it was the first time Jones used profanity in a recording.[37]

In 2007, Jones made her acting debut as the protagonist in a film directed by Wong Kar-wai. The film, My Blueberry Nights, opened for the 2007 Cannes Film Festival as one of the 22 films in competition.[38] She wrote and performed a song, "The Story", for the movie.[39]

In January 2007, Jones recorded a live session at Abbey Road Studios for Live from Abbey Road. The episode, on which John Mayer and Richard Ashcroft also appeared, was aired on UK Channel 4 and on the Sundance Channel. She appeared twice on the PBS series Austin City Limits, on November 2, 2002 and October 6, 2007. The latter appearance was the season opener.

Jones performing at Parque Independência in 2010

In a change of direction predating The Fall, Jones (referring to herself as "Maddie" and virtually anonymous in a blond wig) sang and played guitar with rock band El Madmo. The band consists of Jones, Daru Oda and Richard Julian and released an eponymous album on May 20, 2007.[40]

Jones appears in Herbie Hancock's 2007 release River: The Joni Letters singing the first track, "Court and Spark". This album won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year at the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008; Jones was credited as a featured artist, her ninth Grammy win.[41]

Jones appeared on the comedy track "Dreamgirl", on the 2009 debut album from The Lonely Island, Incredibad (featuring SNL performer Andy Samberg).[42]

In 2008, Jones made another appearance in hip hop with an appearance on a track named "Life Is Better", on the critically acclaimed album The Renaissance by rapper Q-tip.[43]

In 2009, Jones made a cameo appearance in the independent film, Wah Do Dem,[44] co-starring Sean Bones and written by Ben Chace and Sam Fleischner.

Jones was a judge for the 5th annual Independent Music Awards, supporting independent artists' careers.[45]

In 2010, Jones contributed "World of Trouble" to the Enough Project and Downtown Records' Raise Hope for Congo compilation. Proceeds from the compilation fund efforts to make the protection and empowerment of Congo’s women a priority, as well as inspire individuals around the world to raise their voice for peace in Congo.[citation needed]

In 2011, Jones provided vocals to the songs "Season's Trees", "Black" and "Problem Queen" on the album Rome by Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi.[46]

Hank Williams project

Jones is one of the participants in the so-called 'Hank Williams Project' overseen by Bob Dylan, and reportedly including contributions from Willie Nelson, Jack White, Lucinda Williams, and Alan Jackson.[47][48][49] On March 31, 2008, Jones commemorated the 10th anniversary of The Living Room with a midnight performance at the intimate Manhattan music venue where the singer got her start. She played a new song titled "How Many Times Have You Broken My Heart" and explained that it originated from newly-found Hank Williams lyrics she was asked to put to music.[48] Jones also performed the song in late 2008 on Elvis Costello's talk/music television series, Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...[50][51][52]

Tours

Main article: Norah Jones concert tours

Throughout 2002 and 2003, Jones appeared on stages globally, on her first tour with the Handsome Band, travelling throughout Asia, America, Europe and Oceania, with numerous sold-out concerts and critical acclaim. Jones tour to promote her third album, Not Too Late, began in Wallingford, Connecticut, on April 13, 2007, and featured a free concert in New York City on July 6, 2007.The European phase began on July 9, 2007 in Paris, concluding in Reykjavík, Iceland on September 2, 2007.[53] Jones and band play typically several album hits, modified with guitar solos and additional percussion. Additionally, shows may also feature several covers of country, jazz, blues, or folk songs, ranging from the ubiquitous to the obscure. Artists covered have included, among others, Willie Nelson, Gram Parsons, Johnny Cash, John Prine, Randy Newman, Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley, and Tom Waits.

Jones worked with Reverb, a non-profit environmental organization, for her 2007 summer tour.[54] She also performed at Bryant Park on July 6 as part of Good Morning America's Summer Concert Series.[55]

Special appearances

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
2002 Two Weeks Notice Herself Appearance
2007 My Blueberry Nights Elizabeth Protagonist
2008 Life. Support. Music. Herself Appearance
2009 Wah Do Dem[59] Willow Cameo

Discography

Main article: Norah Jones discography

Awards

Main article: List of Norah Jones awards

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Come Away With Me Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic.com. 2002-02-26. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  2. ^ a b c "Gold & Platinum – August 19, 2010". RIAA. Retrieved 2010-08-19. Cite error: The named reference "RIAA" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d e [1]
  4. ^ a b "CNN.com – Norah Jones sweeps Grammy Awards – Mar. 10, 2003". Edition.cnn.com. 2003-02-28. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  5. ^ "Billboard Charts – Decade-end Artists – Artists Of The Decade". Billboard.biz. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  6. ^ Dilworth, Thomas J. (July 6, 2007). "What's Next for Norah Jones?". ABC News. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
  7. ^ "Hard to say no to free love: Ravi Shankar". Press Trust of India. Rediff.com. May 13, 2003. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
  8. ^ "5 minutes with: Norah Jones". BBC. 2009-11-14. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
  9. ^ "Norah Jones". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  10. ^ Wood Songs Old Time Radio Hour. "Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour Episode 318". Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Interview With Brian Bacchus". HitQuarters. Sep 3, 2002. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  12. ^ Piccolo, Brian (2003-06-29). "Norah Jones 5/28/2003". Glide Magazine. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  13. ^ "CharlieHunter.com". CharlieHunter.com. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  14. ^ "The Peter Malick Group Featuring Norah Jones: New York City (PVG) at Musicroom.com – Sheet Music & Songbooks". Musicroom.com. 2003-10-23. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  15. ^ "WAX POETIC – SET TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM, NUBLU SESSIONS – 02/12/04". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  16. ^ Farley, Christopher John (April 19, 2003). "Norah Jones". Time. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  17. ^ "Norah Jones' follow-up 'Feels like Home' becomes million-seller – biggest first week for an album since 2001 (2004)". EMI. Retrieved 2009-09-08. [dead link‍]
  18. ^ "2005 Grammy Awards". Metrolyrics.com. 2005-02-13. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  19. ^ Font size Print E-mail Share By Tricia McDermott (2005-02-13). "2005 Grammy Award Winners". CBS News. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  20. ^ "Interview". 60 Minutes. 2007-02-11.
  21. ^ "Norah Jones' Not Too Late debuts at #1 in the world's key markets". EMI. 2007-02-07. Archived from the original on 2007-12-11. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  22. ^ [MetaCritic.com] gave it a score of 73/100 based on 17 professional reviews.
  23. ^ "Blue Note Records". Blue Note Records. Retrieved 2010-12-28.
  24. ^ "Norah Jones : Lee is my partner in everything". Contact Music. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  25. ^ "Norah Jones and Lee Alexander Call it Quits". theinsider.com. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  26. ^ "IMDB: Full cast and crew for Two Weeks Notice".
  27. ^ "Norah Jones – Ruler of My Heart – Listening & stats at". Last.fm. 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  28. ^ Česky. "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia". En.wikipedia.org. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  29. ^ "Sesame Street Presents: The Street We Live On (2004) (TV)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  30. ^ Thomas, Stephen. "( The Little Willies > Overview )". allmusic. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  31. ^ "2004 Grammy Awards". Metrolyrics.com. 2004-02-08. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  32. ^ "2006 Grammy Awards". Metrolyrics.com. 2006-02-08. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  33. ^ "2010 Grammy Awards". Metrolyrics.com. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  34. ^ a b "Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia". En.wikipedia.org. 2010-07-29. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  35. ^ By&Nbsp;Barry Walters. "In Your Honor by Foo Fighters | Rolling Stone Music | Music Reviews". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 2010-08-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  36. ^ By&Nbsp;Jenny Eliscu. "Jacksonville City Nights by Ryan Adams | Rolling Stone Music | Music Reviews". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 2010-08-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  37. ^ Harris, Chris (2006-02-10). "Norah Jones Curses Up A Storm For New Mike Patton Project – News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News". Mtv.com. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  38. ^ [2]
  39. ^ [3]
  40. ^ "Music Review: El Madmo". Blogcritics.org. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
  41. ^ "A Grammy First For Herbie Hancock". CBS News. 2008-02-04. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  42. ^ By Rolling Stone (2009-01-22). "The Lonely Island: Inside Andy Samberg's Mind Squad | Rolling Stone Music". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  43. ^ "New Q-Tip (Feat. Norah Jones) – "Life Is Better"". Stereogum. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  44. ^ "Wah Do Dem (2009)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2009-10-15.
  45. ^ "Independent Music Awards – Past Judges". Independentmusicawards.com. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
  46. ^ "Danger Mouse's Jack White-starring 'Rome' album out in May". NME. 10 February 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  47. ^ "The Hank Williams project". Expecting Rain. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
  48. ^ a b "Bob Dylan, Norah Jones put tunes to Hank Williams' lyrics". Hollywood Insider. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
  49. ^ "Dreamtime – Commentary on Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour". Dreamtime. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
  50. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWubsD8ZVNg youtube.com
  51. ^ Elvis Costello homepage
  52. ^ http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1454756.php/Elvis_Costello_with_Kristofferson_Cash_Jones_and_Mellencamp Monsters and Critics.com
  53. ^ "Norah Jones". Norah Jones. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  54. ^ "Reverb". Reverb. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  55. ^ "GMA Concert: Norah Jones". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  56. ^ "Live Update: Apple's Rock & Roll Event". PCWorld. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  57. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (2009-05-15). "The Most Important '30 Rock' Clip Ever - ArtsBeat Blog - NYTimes.com". Artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  58. ^ "Wah Do Dem". Wah Do Dem. Retrieved 2010-02-20.
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