JoJo
Encyclopedia
Joanna Noëlle Blagden Levesque (born December 20, 1990), professionally known as JoJo, is an American recording artist and actress. After competing on the television show, America's Most Talented Kids, she was noticed by record producer Vincent Herbert who asked her to audition for Blackground Records
.
JoJo's self-titled debut album
was released in June 2004 and has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. The first single from the album, "Leave (Get Out)
", was released in February 2004. It peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100
, and was certified gold by the RIAA. JoJo's second album, The High Road
, was released in October 2006, and has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. The album's lead single, "Too Little Too Late
", was released in August 2006 and reached number three on Billboard Hot 100. The single was certified platinum by the RIAA. Her first mixtape, Can't Take That Away from Me
, was released exclusively to Rap-Up
on September 7, 2010. The mixtape is a prelude to her upcoming third studio album formerly titled All I Want Is Everything, which is scheduled for an early 2011 release through Blackground
and Interscope Records
. The first single from the Mixtape, "In the Dark", was released exclusively to Rap-up.com on August 30, 2010.
On February 28, 2011, JoJo revealed the new title of her third album would be named Jumping Trains, named after one of her favorite songs on the upcoming Interscope Records project. She will announce the first single and shoot a video in the coming weeks. JoJo also has a film career. She made her first television appearance on The Bernie Mac Show
. In 2006 she starred in two Hollywood films, Aquamarine
, her film debut and RV
. She has hosted the Ultimate Prom, and appeared in the movie True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet
, which earned her a nomination at the Poptastic Awards. JoJo is known for her technically skilled and powerful coloratura
contralto
vocals.
, Vermont, and raised in Keene
, New Hampshire and Foxborough
, Massachusetts. She has English, Irish, Polish
, French, Scottish, and Native American ancestry. She grew up in a one-bedroom apartment in Foxborough, in a low-income family. Her father sings as a hobby and her mother sang in a Catholic church choir and was trained in musical theater. Her parents divorced when she was three. JoJo's stage name comes from a childhood nickname.
As a child, JoJo listened as her mother practiced hymns. She started singing when she was two years and three months old by imitating, everything from nursery rhymes to R&B
, jazz
, and soul
tunes. On the A&E
's show Child Stars III: Teen Rockers, her mother claimed that JoJo had a borderline genius IQ. As a child, JoJo enjoyed attending Native American festivals and acted locally in professional theaters.
At age 7, JoJo appeared on the television show Kids Say the Darnedest Things: On the Road in Boston with American comedian and actor Bill Cosby
and she sang a song from singer Cher
. After auditioning in the television show Destination Stardom, JoJo sang Aretha Franklin
's 1967 hit "Respect
" & Chain of Fools
. Soon after, The Oprah Winfrey Show
contacted her, inviting her to perform. She performed on Maury
, on one of the frequent "kids-with-talent" episodes, as well as many others. Reminiscing, she has stated that "when it came to performing, I just had no fear".
. Record producer Vincent Herbert contacted her and asked her to audition for Blackground Records
. During her audition for Barry Hankerson, Hankerson told her that the spirit of his niece, the late singer Aaliyah
, had brought her to him. She was signed to the label, and had recording sessions with famed producers like The Underdogs
and Soulshock & Karlin
.
JoJo's live demo, Joanna Levesque, recorded in 2001, features covers
of soul and R&B songs, including Wilson Pickett
's 1966 "Mustang Sally
", Etta James
's 1989 "It Ain't Always What You Do (It's Who You Let See You Do It)", Aretha Franklin's 1968 "Chain of Fools" and 1969 "The House That Jack Built
", The Moonglows
' 1956 "See Saw", Stevie Wonder
's 1972 "Superstition
", and The Temptations
' 1975 "Shakey Ground".
In 2003, at age 12, JoJo signed with Blackground Records
and Da Family and begin working with some producers on her first debut album. JoJo's gold-certified debut single "Leave (Get Out)
" was released in 2004. Before the album's release, JoJo embarked on her first ever tour, the Cingular Buddy Bash with Fefe Dobson
, Young Gunz
and Zebrahead
. The tour went to nine malls, starting at Atlanta's Northlake Mall
and ending at South Shore Plaza
. When the single reached number one on the Top 40 Mainstream, she became at age thirteen the youngest solo artist to have a number-one single in America. The first single was nominated for Best New Artist
at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards
, which made JoJo become the youngest MTV Video Music Award
nominee. Her first album, the platinum-selling JoJo
, followed, it peaked at number four on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number ten on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, selling about 95,000 copies in its first week and reaching the top forty of the UK Albums Chart. JoJo co-wrote two of the album's songs, as well as wrote and co-produced one full track. In December 2004 she was nominated for Female New Artist Of The Year and Mainstream Top 40 Single Of The Year at the Billboard Music Awards. She is also the youngest artist to be nominated at the Billboard Music Awards.
Her second single, the gold-selling "Baby It's You
" – which features rapper Bow Wow – peaked at number twenty-two in the U.S. and number eight in the UK. The final single from the self-titled album, "Not That Kinda Girl
," was released in 2005 and peaked at number eighty-five in Germany. In mid-2005 rapper Eminem
mentioned JoJo in his song "Ass Like That
" along with many other popular teen female celebrities at the time.
In 2004 JoJo participated in "Come Together Now
", a charity single to benefit the victims of the 2004 Asian Tsunami and the 2005 Hurricane Katrina
. That year, she was requested by First Lady
Laura Bush
to perform at the 2004 Christmas in Washington special, broadcast by TNT
and hosted by Dr. Phil
and his wife Robin McGraw. Despite performing at other events for the Republican Party
, she has stated that she "does not agree with the things that President
George W. Bush
has done in office. I'll leave it at that." JoJo hosted and performed at the Hope Rocks concert in 2005 to benefit City of Hope Cancer Center and co-hosted the 2006 TV Guide Channel
's countdown to the Grammy Award
s.
, was released October 17, 2006. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. It was produced by Scott Storch
, Swizz Beatz
, J. R. Rotem
, Corey Williams, Soulshock & Karlin
and Ryan Leslie
. It has received mainly positive reviews. JoJo says her next album really shows how she's grown up to her music and she feels more confident in her vocals and in the things that she sings about.
In the summer of 2006, the lead single from her second album, "Too Little Too Late
", was released to radio stations. "Too Little Too Late" broke the record for the biggest jump into the top three on the Billboard Hot 100
chart, moving from number sixty-six to number three in one week; this record was previously held by Mariah Carey
with her 2001 single "Loverboy
", which went from number sixty to number two. The album's second official single, "How to Touch a Girl
", experienced less success. It charted just outside the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number seventy-six on the Billboard Pop 100
. The single is one of her favorite songs from The High Road and was written by herself. On March 16, 2007, The Second JammX Kids All Star Dance Special broadcast a new song by JoJo entitled "Anything
", which samples
Toto
's 1982 hit single, "Africa
" but it did not have a music video. The album has sold over 550,000 and since been certified gold by the RIAA.
On July 20, 2007, JoJo's answer to "Beautiful Girls
" by Sean Kingston
leaked on the Internet called "Beautiful Girls Reply". It debuted at number thirty-nine on the Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 chart one month later. JoJo left a message that she wanted her fans' input in deciding between "Coming for You" or "Let It Rain" as the next single, but it was canceled to release a third single for The High Road. She has also stated that she will be touring in the summer of 2007 in the U.S. and Europe in support of The High Road.
Though there has not been an official tour, she has been performing with a live band as part of the Six Flags Starburst Thursday Night Concert series during the summer of 2007. During some of these shows she has included medleys of her favorite popular songs from Beyoncé
("Déjà Vu"), Kelly Clarkson
("Since U Been Gone
"), SWV
, Gnarls Barkley
, Jackson 5, Justin Timberlake
("My Love
"), Maroon 5
, Usher
, Carlos Santana
, Jill Scott
, Michael Jackson
, George Benson
, Musiq Soulchild, and Amy Winehouse
("Rehab", replacing the title with "Boston"). In November 2007, JoJo she toured in Brazil at the Live Pop Rock Brasil.
On December 1, 2007, JoJo won the Boston Music Award for National Female Vocalist of the Year for "Too Little Too Late" and has performed.
In late 2007 JoJo stated that she had been writing songs for her third album, to be released when she turned eighteen. She wants her fans to see growth in her music. She is seeking a publisher so that she can sing some of her self-written songs.
for the "Ultimate Prom" party, JoJo stated that she is writing and producing an album in Boston and Atlanta. She has lined up producers Tank
, DJ Toomp
, J. Moss, Toby Gad
, The Underdogs
, Danja, J.R. Rotem, Billy Steinberg
, Bryan-Michael Cox, Marsha Ambrosius
, Madd Scientist, Tony Dixon, Eric Dawkins and J. Gatsby. Out of three quarters of the finished material, she wrote all but one song. She said it will be her most personal album to date with inspiration coming from a romantic breakup to finding a new relationship, as well as feeling sexier and more confident becoming a woman. The self-written title track is described as an inspirational anthem. On August 30, 2008, JoJo posted her own answer version of the song "Can't Believe It
", which originally performed by T-Pain
. On September 1, JoJo said that her album would be out early 2009. In 2008, R&B singer Ne-Yo
sampled JoJo's second single "Baby It's You".
On October 14, 2008, JoJo sang the National Anthem before Game 4 of the ALCS
at Fenway Park
in Boston, Massachusetts. On December 9, 2008, JoJo was nominated again at the Boston Music Awards and was nominated for Outstanding Pop/R&B Act Of The Year but the singing group Jada
has won this award.
In January 2009, JoJo stated on her official MySpace that she has working with producers Chad Hugo
, Jim Beanz
& Kenna
and she currently is working very hard for her new album. She stated she had problems with her record label and she has changed her label from Blackground to Interscope Records
.
In April 2009, JoJo stated in her MySpace blog that she is still signed to Blackground
. Singer-songwriter Jovan Dais said in an interview he will work with DJ Toomp
on JoJo's forthcoming album. He said: I'm really selective about who I work with because I'm not interested in it like that as far as working with so many different people. I really like JoJo. I like her music, I like her voice and I believe she's a true talent. We came up with some great material.
JoJo's song "Note to God
" from her second album The High Road was recently covered by Filipina pop singer Charice
.
On June 3, 2009, JoJo stated on her official YouTube account that she was waiting for her record label to sign a distribution deal to release her album, but apart from that she has finished work the forthcoming album. On June 10, 2009 samples of her songs written by Toby Gad
"Fearless", "Touch Down" and "Underneath" leaked on the internet. JoJo posted on her official MySpace: "These songs are not on the album nor do they represent the sound or direction of this record". In few months time nearly 20 of her songs were leaked through a Youtube channel. She later stated that most of these leaked tracks will not make it to the new album. In mid July she said on her Myspace that she's writing songs for other recording artists and herself and vibing with some talented producers in Los Angeles.
In August 2009, it was reported that JoJo filed a lawsuit in New York against her record label Da Family Entertainment for putting her in musical limbo. The label will not let her out of her contract or let her record a new album. She is seeking $500,000 for her troubles and to be released from her contract. JoJo was released from her contract in October 2009 and a deal was reached to make Interscope Records
her distributing label.
In October 2009, finally a deal was reached with Blackground Records
to have JoJo's third album distributed by Interscope Records
. JoJo had confirmed that on Twitter. She left Da Family Entertainment after six years and is now at Interscope. Her label is currently getting all the legal things together for her third album to be released in 2010.
In late 2009, JoJo appeared in Timbaland
's Shock Value II in a song called "Lose Control" and it's her first official song on an album after two years. In an interview in November she said that she's so excited to be on his record. She appeared in another song called "Timothy Where You Been" with the Australian band Jet
as a background vocalist. In an Interview with Rap-Up
, JoJo said about the album: "I wanted to do something that people would be like, ‘Wow, this girl has come a long way and she's really taking the reins, I wanted people to get a sense of who I am" and that Timbaland
, Jim Beanz
, The Messengers
, Kenna
, Chad Hugo
& Pharell Williams work on her new record and in 2010 she's ready to come back and put the finishing touches on the album in January. On March 27, 2010 JoJo joined Timbaland
and Justin Timberlake
for the Manila Changing Lives Concert tour in support of Timbaland's Shock Value II album. Where she performed her song "Too Little Too Late" and the song "Lose Control" with Timbaland from the album. Less than two months later JoJo returned to Manilla for the Then & Now Massive Music Festival on May 15, 2010 with other artist like Baby Bash, Frankie J, Diana King, SWV and more. This time she performed several songs from her past two albums as well was two new songs "Play This Twice" and "Safe With Me" (which is one of the 26 leaked tracks) from her third album.
In the end of 2009, JoJo confirmed she was working with Clinton Sparks
and Chester French
on a mixtape for release in 2010. In July 2010, she confirmed in an Interview with Sam E. Goldberg that she will release her mixtape the month before the album. She announced on Twitter that her mixtape called Can't Take That Away from Me
with the first single "In the Dark" produced by Jordan Gatsby. In August 2010, she gave in an Interview with Rap-Up
more information about her upcoming mixtape, it set to release on September 7, 2010. The singer said about the mixtape: "This mixtape is more experimental, I was able to explore the full spectrum of things that interest me and inspire me musically. Whereas the album, I wanted to make pop records and radio hits and things that satisfy me, but particularly for All I Want Is Everything
, it's more of a continuous body of work." She added that the mixtape is more different than her upcoming album All I Want Is Everything. The first single "In the Dark" is different than anything people have heard from her. She said about "In The Dark": It's a very sensual record and there's an undertone of sadness to it.
In November 2010, JoJo made a cameo appearance in Keri Hilson
's music video for "The Way You Love Me" from her second studio album No Boys Allowed
and was known as "Boots" for the video, where she plays as one of the sexy hunter girls in Keri's gang, alongside Faith Evans
(Danja), Dawn (Money) as well as Rick Ross
, Columbus Short, and Polow Da Don. In December 2010, JoJo made another cameo appearance in Clinton Sparks
's Debut music video for "Favourite DJ" Ft Jermaine Dupri
& DJ CLASS and at the end in the song "Sucks To Be You" which features LMFAO and JoJo. The video premiered on Clinton's official website on December 21. JoJo plays Clinton's crazy ex girlfriend.
On August 18, 2011 JoJo announced via her official twitter account that the first official single from Jumping Trains would be "Disaster".
In support of the new single "Disaster", she opened for Joe Jonas & Jay Sean
co-headlining 19 city fall tour which began on September 6, 2011 in Boston, MA at the House of Blues and ran until October 6 in New York at the Best Buy Theater. The lead single "Disaster" was released to US radio on August 29, 2011. It was available for purchase as a digital download on iTunes on September 6, 2011. Disaster
debuted on the Billboard
Hot 100 at number 87, but fell off the chart the next week. This gave JoJo her first charting single since Too Little Too Late
in 2006. The single failed to impact any chart internationally. JoJo shot the music video for "Disaster
" on September 14, 2011 in Down Town Los Angeles. She stated that the album is slated for an early 2012 release. JoJo gave her first televised performance of the song on Good Day Dallas on September 29. "Disaster" was set to officially impact U.S. Top40/Mainstream radio on November 1, 2011, its release, however, was pushed up to October 25, 2011. She has also performed the song on Boston's Fox News morning show on October 28, 2011. JoJo later performed on a small promotional tour for 'Pinktober' in order to raise money for breast cancer research at Hard Rock Café locations across the US during the month of October. Philadelphia’s Q102 will also be hosting it’s annual Jingle Ball on December 7th and they have invited JoJo to perform. She is also set to perform at the K104.7 Not so Silent Night on December 5, 2011.
A sneak peak teaser clip of "Disaster" was shown on MTV '10 On Top.' on October 29, 2011 four days before the videos release. The full video premiered on JoJo official website jojoonline.com on November 1, 2011. and was made available to VEVO on November 2nd. By November 8, a week after the video's release, it had already accumulated little over 2 million views.
After appearing on the television series The Bernie Mac Show
and American Dreams
, JoJo was cast opposite Emma Roberts
and Sara Paxton
in Aquamarine
, playing Hailey. The film opened on March 3, 2006, opening at number five with $7.5 million.
Her second major film, RV
, a comedy starring Robin Williams
, was released on April 28, 2006. It opened at number one and grossed $69.7 million. JoJo had to audition for the part five times, and eventually replaced an actress who had already been cast in the role.
JoJo stated that "no one hired an acting coach for me on the set of Aquamarine." She announced that she will be billed as "Joanna 'JoJo' Levesque" in her film roles, but that she will still be credited as simply "JoJo" for her music work.
In 2005, she was offered a role as Zoe Stewart in the hit television series Hannah Montana
on the Disney Channel
, but she turned down the role because she was not really interested doing a television show. She was more concerned with being a legitimate artist, and a film career was not really what she saw for herself.
On August 28, 2007, in an interview with BOP and Tiger Beat online, JoJo stated that she was working on a new film. On September 10, JoJo revealed that she would be traveling to Toronto to film a small screen adaptation of Lola Douglas' True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet
and play the role of Morgan Carter with Golden Globe winner Valerie Bertinelli
and 90210
-star Shenae Grimes
, to be broadcast on Lifetime television. The film was released on August 9, 2008 on Lifetime Television
and on DVD on March 3, 2009.
On January 7, 2011, JoJo had been cast in a special episode of CBS's Hawaii Five-0 that will air after the AFC Championship game on Sunday, Jan. 23. JoJo will play Courtney Russell, the daughter of a Tsunami Warning Center scientist who goes missing on the eve of a big storm hitting the Honolulu coast. This is JoJo's first acting role since 2008.
, and her recording studio is in Manhattan, New York City. She was home schooled for three years, has stated that "school was definitely a big part of my life". She performs well academically, receiving marks in the As and Bs.
JoJo dated American soccer player Freddy Adu
from May 2005 until September 2006. Both met on the MTV show Fake ID Club while she was hosting it. JoJo made an appearance in the commentary box at a New England Revolution home game when they were playing D.C. United. Freddy Adu registered an assist in that game. A Washington Post article in November 2006 reported that the couple split after one year. JoJo mentioned on American Top 40
with Ryan Seacrest
that she and Adu were still good friends.
JoJo stated that she was single on the October 18, 2006 episode of Live with Regis and Kelly. She was also in the October 2006 issue of Teen People magazine confirming her breakup with Freddy Adu. She said: "I'm single right now and it's good. I'm so young. I'm going to be 16 in December and I'm just so busy. It's hard if you also want to date someone who has a high-profile profession; we were just both consumed with our own world..."
Since 2006 she's a good friend with actress Emma Roberts
, Sara Paxton
and Robin Williams' daughter Zelda Williams
. She appeared with her father on the Behind the scene of JoJo's "Too Little Too Late
".
On February 28, 2007, she was ranked at number ten in the list of Forbes top twenty earners under 25 with an annual earning of $1 million.
In August 2009, she confirmed that she graduated from high school and will focus very hard on her future projects. JoJo was accepted to Northeastern University but did not attend; she considered majoring in cultural anthropology
.
In July 2009, JoJo was ranked at number five in the list "Barely Legal: The 10 Hottest ’90s Babies" by Complex.com, after Emma Roberts
and Willa Holland
.
Aside from singing and acting, JoJo is also a supporter of various charitable organizations such as Boys and Girls Club of America, World Vision
, She's the First
, Make A Wish Foundation, and many more.
As a special guest
As supporting act
Blackground Records
Blackground Records is an American record label owned by entertainment attorney and artist manager Barry Hankerson and his son Jomo Hankerson.-History:...
.
JoJo's self-titled debut album
JoJo (album)
JoJo is the self-titled debut album by American recording artist JoJo, released in the United States on June 22, 2004 by Da Family Entertainment and Blackground Records...
was released in June 2004 and has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. The first single from the album, "Leave (Get Out)
Leave (Get Out)
"Leave " is a song by American singer JoJo from her self-titled debut album, JoJo. It was released as the album's lead single on February 24, 2004...
", was released in February 2004. It peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, and was certified gold by the RIAA. JoJo's second album, The High Road
The High Road
The High Road is the second studio album by American recording artist JoJo, released in the United States on October 17, 2006 by Da Family Entertainment and Blackground Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during late 2005 to mid 2006 in California, New York City, and Miami...
, was released in October 2006, and has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. The album's lead single, "Too Little Too Late
Too Little Too Late
"Too Little Too Late" is a song written by Billy Steinberg, Josh Alexander, and Ruth-Anne Cunningham for JoJo's second studio album The High Road. It was co-produced by Alexander, Vincent Herbert, and Billy Steinberg. "Too Little Too Late" was released as the album's first single in North America...
", was released in August 2006 and reached number three on Billboard Hot 100. The single was certified platinum by the RIAA. Her first mixtape, Can't Take That Away from Me
Can't Take That Away from Me
Can't Take that Away from Me is the first mixtape by American pop-R&B singer JoJo. The free mixtape was released exclusively to Rap-Up.com on September 7, 2010, as a prelude to her third studio album Jumping Trains, formerly titled All I Want Is Everything.-Background:Following the release of...
, was released exclusively to Rap-Up
Rap-Up
Rap-Up is a magazine launched in 2001 by founder Devin Lazerine. The publication was originally a website devoted to hip hop, until Lazerine decided to pitch the possibility of a magazine to several publishers. The magazine is focused on the hip hop and R&B aspect of the music industry, and...
on September 7, 2010. The mixtape is a prelude to her upcoming third studio album formerly titled All I Want Is Everything, which is scheduled for an early 2011 release through Blackground
Blackground Records
Blackground Records is an American record label owned by entertainment attorney and artist manager Barry Hankerson and his son Jomo Hankerson.-History:...
and Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
. The first single from the Mixtape, "In the Dark", was released exclusively to Rap-up.com on August 30, 2010.
On February 28, 2011, JoJo revealed the new title of her third album would be named Jumping Trains, named after one of her favorite songs on the upcoming Interscope Records project. She will announce the first single and shoot a video in the coming weeks. JoJo also has a film career. She made her first television appearance on The Bernie Mac Show
The Bernie Mac Show
The Bernie Mac Show is an American sitcom featuring comic actor Bernie Mac and his wife Wanda raising his sister's three kids: Jordan, Bryana and Vanessa. The show aired for five seasons , concluding with a half-hour series finale on Fox....
. In 2006 she starred in two Hollywood films, Aquamarine
Aquamarine (film)
Aquamarine is a 2006 Australian-American teen fantasy comedy film starring Sara Paxton, Emma Roberts, and Joanna "JoJo" Levesque . The film, which was made in both the United States and Australia, was released in North America on March 3, 2006...
, her film debut and RV
RV (film)
RV is a 2006 comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, written by Geoff Rodkey, and starring Robin Williams, Joanna "JoJo" Levesque, Cheryl Hines, Josh Hutcherson, Jeff Daniels, Kristin Chenoweth and Will Arnett. It was released on April 28, 2006 in North America...
. She has hosted the Ultimate Prom, and appeared in the movie True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet
True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet
True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet is a Lifetime Television comedy-drama film, based on a young-adult book of the same name by author Lola Douglas. The film stars Joanna "JoJo" Levesque and Golden Globe Award winner Valerie Bertinelli. The film was directed by Tim Matheson...
, which earned her a nomination at the Poptastic Awards. JoJo is known for her technically skilled and powerful coloratura
Coloratura
Coloratura has several meanings. The word is originally from Italian, literally meaning "coloring", and derives from the Latin word colorare . When used in English, the term specifically refers to elaborate melody, particularly in vocal music and especially in operatic singing of the 18th and...
contralto
Contralto
Contralto is the deepest female classical singing voice, with the lowest tessitura, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. It typically ranges between the F below middle C to the second G above middle C , although at the extremes some voices can reach the E below middle C or the second B above...
vocals.
Early life
JoJo was born in BrattleboroBrattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, originally Brattleborough, is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States, located in the southeast corner of the state, along the state line with New Hampshire. The population was 12,046 at the 2010 census...
, Vermont, and raised in Keene
Keene, New Hampshire
Keene is a city in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 23,409 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cheshire County.Keene is home to Keene State College and Antioch University New England, and hosts the annual Pumpkin Fest...
, New Hampshire and Foxborough
Foxborough, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 16,246 people, 6,141 households, and 4,396 families residing in the town. The population density was 809.1 people per square mile . There were 6,299 housing units at an average density of 313.7 per square mile...
, Massachusetts. She has English, Irish, Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
, French, Scottish, and Native American ancestry. She grew up in a one-bedroom apartment in Foxborough, in a low-income family. Her father sings as a hobby and her mother sang in a Catholic church choir and was trained in musical theater. Her parents divorced when she was three. JoJo's stage name comes from a childhood nickname.
As a child, JoJo listened as her mother practiced hymns. She started singing when she was two years and three months old by imitating, everything from nursery rhymes to R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
tunes. On the A&E
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
's show Child Stars III: Teen Rockers, her mother claimed that JoJo had a borderline genius IQ. As a child, JoJo enjoyed attending Native American festivals and acted locally in professional theaters.
At age 7, JoJo appeared on the television show Kids Say the Darnedest Things: On the Road in Boston with American comedian and actor Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
and she sang a song from singer Cher
Cher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
. After auditioning in the television show Destination Stardom, JoJo sang Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
's 1967 hit "Respect
Respect (song)
"Respect" is a song written and originally released by Stax recording artist Otis Redding in 1965. "Respect" became a 1967 hit and signature song for R&B singer Aretha Franklin. The music in the two versions is significantly different, and through a few minor changes in the lyrics, the stories told...
" & Chain of Fools
Chain of Fools (song)
"Chain of Fools" is a song written by Don Covay. Aretha Franklin first released the song as a single in 1967 and subsequently it appeared on many of her albums. It reached number one on the U.S...
. Soon after, The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
contacted her, inviting her to perform. She performed on Maury
Maury (TV series)
Maury is a syndicated American tabloid talk show hosted by Maury Povich.When the series first aired in 1991, the show was called The Maury Povich Show and was produced by MoPo Productions in association with Paramount Domestic Television...
, on one of the frequent "kids-with-talent" episodes, as well as many others. Reminiscing, she has stated that "when it came to performing, I just had no fear".
2001–05: Discovery and JoJo
At 6 years old, JoJo was offered a record deal, but her mother turned it down because she believed JoJo was too young for a music career. After appearing on talk shows and the McDonald's Gospel Fest performing Whitney Houston's "I Believe In You and Me" and competing on the television show, America's Most Talented Kids, but did not win the show and lost to Diana DeGarmoDiana DeGarmo
Diana Nicole DeGarmo is an American singer and Broadway actress. She finished as the runner-up on the third season of the reality/talent-search television series American Idol, narrowly missing the win by about 2% out of over 65 million votes...
. Record producer Vincent Herbert contacted her and asked her to audition for Blackground Records
Blackground Records
Blackground Records is an American record label owned by entertainment attorney and artist manager Barry Hankerson and his son Jomo Hankerson.-History:...
. During her audition for Barry Hankerson, Hankerson told her that the spirit of his niece, the late singer Aaliyah
Aaliyah
Aaliyah Dana Haughton , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside...
, had brought her to him. She was signed to the label, and had recording sessions with famed producers like The Underdogs
The Underdogs (duo)
The Underdogs is an R&B/pop production duo composed of Harvey Mason, Jr. and Damon Thomas.-Biography:Harvey Mason, Jr. is the son of Harvey Mason, Sr., a noted session drummer...
and Soulshock & Karlin
Soulshock & Karlin
Soulshock & Karlin is a duo of Danish record producers and songwriters, Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin. They have produced a large number of successful songs, including Monica's "Before You Walk out of My Life", Whitney Houston's "Heartbreak Hotel", JoJo's "Leave ", and Fantasia's "Truth Is"...
.
JoJo's live demo, Joanna Levesque, recorded in 2001, features covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of soul and R&B songs, including Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett was an American R&B/Soul singer and songwriter.A major figure in the development of American soul music, Pickett recorded over 50 songs which made the US R&B charts, and frequently crossed over to the US Billboard Hot 100...
's 1966 "Mustang Sally
Mustang Sally (song)
"Mustang Sally" is an R&B/straightforward blues first recorded by Mack Rice in 1965. It gained greater popularity when it was covered by Wilson Pickett on a single the following year. Pickett's version was also included on his 1967 album The Wicked Pickett....
", Etta James
Etta James
Etta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
's 1989 "It Ain't Always What You Do (It's Who You Let See You Do It)", Aretha Franklin's 1968 "Chain of Fools" and 1969 "The House That Jack Built
This Is the House That Jack Built
"This Is the House That Jack Built" is a popular British nursery rhyme and cumulative tale. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 20584. It is Aarne-Thompson type 2035.-Lyrics:This is perhaps the most common set of modern lyrics:...
", The Moonglows
The Moonglows
The Moonglows were an American R&B and doo-wop group based in Cleveland, Ohio.-Early years:Originally formed in their native Louisville, Kentucky as the Crazy Sounds, the group moved to Cleveland, where disc jockey Alan Freed renamed them 'the Moonglows'...
' 1956 "See Saw", Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
's 1972 "Superstition
Superstition (song)
"Superstition" is a popular song written, produced, arranged, and performed by Stevie Wonder for Motown Records in 1972, when Wonder was 22 years old. It was the lead single for Wonder's Talking Book album, and released in many countries. It reached number one in the USA, and number one on the soul...
", and The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
' 1975 "Shakey Ground".
In 2003, at age 12, JoJo signed with Blackground Records
Blackground Records
Blackground Records is an American record label owned by entertainment attorney and artist manager Barry Hankerson and his son Jomo Hankerson.-History:...
and Da Family and begin working with some producers on her first debut album. JoJo's gold-certified debut single "Leave (Get Out)
Leave (Get Out)
"Leave " is a song by American singer JoJo from her self-titled debut album, JoJo. It was released as the album's lead single on February 24, 2004...
" was released in 2004. Before the album's release, JoJo embarked on her first ever tour, the Cingular Buddy Bash with Fefe Dobson
Fefe Dobson
Felicia Lily "Fefe" Dobson is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Her self-titled debut album earned her two Juno Award nominations. Her second album, Sunday Love, was not released and she was terminated from her recording company...
, Young Gunz
Young Gunz
The Young Gunz is an American rap duo from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania composed of Young Chris and Neef Buck . The group is part of Beanie Sigel's State Property collective and was signed to Roc-A-Fella Records...
and Zebrahead
Zebrahead
Zebrahead is an American punk rock band from Orange County, California, which fuses elements of Rapcore, Pop Punk, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal, and Funk Metal.-1996–98: Formation:...
. The tour went to nine malls, starting at Atlanta's Northlake Mall
Northlake Mall (Atlanta)
Northlake Mall is a major shopping mall in the Northlake area of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The mall is near Tucker, Georgia, northeast of Atlanta along Interstate 285 at 4800 Briarcliff Road. It is owned and managed by Simon Property Group.Northlake Mall opened in 1971...
and ending at South Shore Plaza
South Shore Plaza
South Shore Plaza is an enclosed shopping mall located in Braintree, Massachusetts, United States. It is anchored by Lord & Taylor, Macy's, Sears, Nordstrom, and Target. The mall currently has of retail and dining space, including a large food court....
. When the single reached number one on the Top 40 Mainstream, she became at age thirteen the youngest solo artist to have a number-one single in America. The first single was nominated for Best New Artist
MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist
The MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist is one of the four original general categories that have been given out since the first annual MTV Video Music Awards in 1984...
at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards
2004 MTV Video Music Awards
The 2004 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on August 29, 2004, honoring the best music videos from the previous year. The show took place at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, Florida, and, unlike in previous years, had no host.-Video of the Year:...
, which made JoJo become the youngest MTV Video Music Award
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
nominee. Her first album, the platinum-selling JoJo
JoJo (album)
JoJo is the self-titled debut album by American recording artist JoJo, released in the United States on June 22, 2004 by Da Family Entertainment and Blackground Records...
, followed, it peaked at number four on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number ten on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, selling about 95,000 copies in its first week and reaching the top forty of the UK Albums Chart. JoJo co-wrote two of the album's songs, as well as wrote and co-produced one full track. In December 2004 she was nominated for Female New Artist Of The Year and Mainstream Top 40 Single Of The Year at the Billboard Music Awards. She is also the youngest artist to be nominated at the Billboard Music Awards.
Her second single, the gold-selling "Baby It's You
Baby It's You (JoJo song)
"Baby It's You" is a song by American recording artist JoJo, featuring American rapper Bow Wow. Written by Harvey Mason, Jr., Damon Thomas, Eric Dawkins, and Antonio Dixon, and produced by The Underdogs, the song was released in September 2004 as the second single from JoJo's self-titled debut...
" – which features rapper Bow Wow – peaked at number twenty-two in the U.S. and number eight in the UK. The final single from the self-titled album, "Not That Kinda Girl
Not That Kinda Girl
"Not That Kinda Girl" is a song by American singer JoJo from her self-titled debut album, JoJo . It was written by Neely Dinkins, B. Cola Pietro, Balewa Muhammad, and Sylvester Jordan, Jr., and released in February 2005 as the album's third and final single...
," was released in 2005 and peaked at number eighty-five in Germany. In mid-2005 rapper Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
mentioned JoJo in his song "Ass Like That
Ass Like That
"Ass Like That" is a 2005 single by the rapper Eminem from his album, Encore.-Background:...
" along with many other popular teen female celebrities at the time.
In 2004 JoJo participated in "Come Together Now
Come Together Now
"Come Together Now" is a charity single made to benefit the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The song was written by Sharon Stone, Damon Sharpe, Mark Feist, and Denise Rich and released on November 21, 2005....
", a charity single to benefit the victims of the 2004 Asian Tsunami and the 2005 Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. That year, she was requested by First Lady
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
Laura Bush
Laura Bush
Laura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
to perform at the 2004 Christmas in Washington special, broadcast by TNT
Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
and hosted by Dr. Phil
Phil McGraw
Phillip Calvin McGraw best known as Dr. Phil, is an American television personality, author, former psychologist, and the host of the television show Dr. Phil, which debuted in 2002...
and his wife Robin McGraw. Despite performing at other events for the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, she has stated that she "does not agree with the things that President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
has done in office. I'll leave it at that." JoJo hosted and performed at the Hope Rocks concert in 2005 to benefit City of Hope Cancer Center and co-hosted the 2006 TV Guide Channel
TV Guide Channel
TV Guide Network is an American cable network owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation....
's countdown to the Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s.
2006–07: The High Road
JoJo's second album, The High RoadThe High Road
The High Road is the second studio album by American recording artist JoJo, released in the United States on October 17, 2006 by Da Family Entertainment and Blackground Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during late 2005 to mid 2006 in California, New York City, and Miami...
, was released October 17, 2006. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. It was produced by Scott Storch
Scott Storch
Scott Storch is an American record producer. He produces a variety of music, particularly hip hop, reggaeton, and R&B. His label, Storch Music Company responsible for signing Brooke Hogan and Nox...
, Swizz Beatz
Swizz Beatz
Kasseem Dean , better known by his stage name, Swizz Beatz, is an American record producer, DJ, rapper and painter. At the age of 17, he gained attention in the hip-hop world through his friendship with rapper DMX. Grady Spivey and rapper Cassidy helped launch his label Full Surface Records...
, J. R. Rotem
J. R. Rotem
- Early life :Rotem was born in South Africa to Israeli immigrant Jewish parents. He moved to Toronto at the age of two and finally to Moraga, California when he was twelve.Rotem's entry point into music was in receiving classical piano tuition at a young age...
, Corey Williams, Soulshock & Karlin
Soulshock & Karlin
Soulshock & Karlin is a duo of Danish record producers and songwriters, Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin. They have produced a large number of successful songs, including Monica's "Before You Walk out of My Life", Whitney Houston's "Heartbreak Hotel", JoJo's "Leave ", and Fantasia's "Truth Is"...
and Ryan Leslie
Ryan Leslie
Anthony Ryan Leslie, known professionally as Ryan Leslie, is a Grammy nominated American record producer, multi-instrumentalist, rapper, entrepreneur, and singer. Founder of the media company NextSelection Lifestyle Group, Leslie has produced singles for a number of artists in a variety of genres...
. It has received mainly positive reviews. JoJo says her next album really shows how she's grown up to her music and she feels more confident in her vocals and in the things that she sings about.
In the summer of 2006, the lead single from her second album, "Too Little Too Late
Too Little Too Late
"Too Little Too Late" is a song written by Billy Steinberg, Josh Alexander, and Ruth-Anne Cunningham for JoJo's second studio album The High Road. It was co-produced by Alexander, Vincent Herbert, and Billy Steinberg. "Too Little Too Late" was released as the album's first single in North America...
", was released to radio stations. "Too Little Too Late" broke the record for the biggest jump into the top three on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart, moving from number sixty-six to number three in one week; this record was previously held by Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
with her 2001 single "Loverboy
Loverboy (Mariah Carey song)
"Loverboy" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released on July 16, 2001 by Virgin Records as the lead single from Carey's eighth studio album, Glitter . Written and produced by Carey, Larry Blackmon, Thomas Jenkins, Clark Kent, "Loverboy" is built around a sample from...
", which went from number sixty to number two. The album's second official single, "How to Touch a Girl
How to Touch a Girl
"How to Touch a Girl" is a song by American singer JoJo from her second studio album, The High Road . Released as the album's second single to Top 40 radio in December 2006, the song was written by JoJo, Billy Steinberg, and Josh Alexander and produced by Steinberg and Alexander. Its release marks...
", experienced less success. It charted just outside the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number seventy-six on the Billboard Pop 100
Pop 100
The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009...
. The single is one of her favorite songs from The High Road and was written by herself. On March 16, 2007, The Second JammX Kids All Star Dance Special broadcast a new song by JoJo entitled "Anything
Anything (JoJo song)
"Anything" is a song by American pop-R&B singer JoJo from her second studio album, The High Road . Written by Beau Dozier, Mischke Butler, and Justin Trugman and released as the album's third and single in May 2007, the track contains a sample from Toto's 1982 song "Africa"—a former number-one...
", which samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
Toto
Toto (band)
Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
's 1982 hit single, "Africa
Africa (Toto song)
"Africa" is a song by rock band Toto, and one of the band's most recognizable songs. It was included on their 1982 album Toto IV, and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1983 and number three on the UK Singles Chart the same month...
" but it did not have a music video. The album has sold over 550,000 and since been certified gold by the RIAA.
On July 20, 2007, JoJo's answer to "Beautiful Girls
Beautiful Girls (Sean Kingston song)
"Beautiful Girls" is a song by reggae-influenced musician Sean Kingston from his eponymous debut. The song samples Ben E. King's classic "Stand by Me" and uses digital pitch correction technology on the vocals. The song is about a boy who is suicidal over the failure of his relationship with a...
" by Sean Kingston
Sean Kingston
Sean Kingston is a Jamaican-American singer. He pursued a music career and debuted in 2007 with the album Sean Kingston.-Early life:...
leaked on the Internet called "Beautiful Girls Reply". It debuted at number thirty-nine on the Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 chart one month later. JoJo left a message that she wanted her fans' input in deciding between "Coming for You" or "Let It Rain" as the next single, but it was canceled to release a third single for The High Road. She has also stated that she will be touring in the summer of 2007 in the U.S. and Europe in support of The High Road.
Though there has not been an official tour, she has been performing with a live band as part of the Six Flags Starburst Thursday Night Concert series during the summer of 2007. During some of these shows she has included medleys of her favorite popular songs from Beyoncé
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
("Déjà Vu"), Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne Clarkson is an American pop rock singer-songwriter and actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and would later become the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003.In 2003,...
("Since U Been Gone
Since U Been Gone
"Since U Been Gone" is a song written and produced by Max Martin and Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald for American singer Kelly Clarkson. The song was released as the second single from her second album, Breakaway in the US and Australia and was released as the first single in Europe...
"), SWV
SWV
Sisters with Voices, better known as SWV, is an American female R&B trio from New York. Formed in 1990 as a gospel group, SWV became one of the most successful R&B groups of the 1990s. They had a series of hits, including "Weak", "Right Here/Human Nature", "I'm So Into You", and "You're the One"....
, Gnarls Barkley
Gnarls Barkley
Gnarls Barkley is an American soul duo comprising Danger Mouse and Cee Lo Green. Their first studio album St. Elsewhere was released in 2006; along with its first single "Crazy". Both single and album were a major commercial success and have been noted for their large sales by download...
, Jackson 5, Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
("My Love
My Love (Justin Timberlake song)
"My Love" is a song by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake from his second studio album, FutureSex/LoveSounds . It was released on September 26, 2006, by Jive Records as the second single from the album...
"), Maroon 5
Maroon 5
Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. While they were in high school, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adam Levine, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, bass guitarist Mickey Madden, and drummer Ryan Dusick formed a garage band called Kara's Flowers and released one album...
, Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
, Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
, Jill Scott
Jill Scott
Jill Scott is an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter, poet, and actress. In 2007, Scott made her cinematic debut in the films Hounddog and in Tyler Perry's feature film, Why Did I Get Married? That year, her third studio album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3, was released on...
, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
, Musiq Soulchild, and Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
("Rehab", replacing the title with "Boston"). In November 2007, JoJo she toured in Brazil at the Live Pop Rock Brasil.
On December 1, 2007, JoJo won the Boston Music Award for National Female Vocalist of the Year for "Too Little Too Late" and has performed.
In late 2007 JoJo stated that she had been writing songs for her third album, to be released when she turned eighteen. She wants her fans to see growth in her music. She is seeking a publisher so that she can sing some of her self-written songs.
2008–2010: Record label conflict and Can't Take That Away from Me
In an April 8, 2008 interview at the Hearst TowerHearst Tower (New York City)
The Brilliant Hearst Tower is located at 300 West 57th Street, 959 8th Avenue, near Columbus Circle in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, New York...
for the "Ultimate Prom" party, JoJo stated that she is writing and producing an album in Boston and Atlanta. She has lined up producers Tank
Tank (American singer)
Tank is an American R&B singer, songwriter and producer.-Career:Tank was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and moved with his family as a child to the Washington, D.C. suburb of Clinton, Maryland. He was a multi-sport athlete at Crossland High School and was offered the opportunity to play college...
, DJ Toomp
DJ Toomp
Aldrin Davis, better known as DJ Toomp, is an award-winning American record producer and DJ who works in Atlanta, Georgia. In the late 1980s he was MC Shy-D's DJ and went on tour with him and the 2 Live Crew as they performed at various venues across the country with other artists such as N.W.A...
, J. Moss, Toby Gad
Toby Gad
Tobias "Toby" Gad is a Los Angeles-based hit producer and songwriter from Germany, perhaps best known for co-writing Fergie's Grammy nominated hit song "Big Girls Don't Cry" as well as co-writing and producing Beyoncé's worldwide #1 hit "If I Were a Boy", and The Veronicas multi-platinum #1...
, The Underdogs
The Underdogs (duo)
The Underdogs is an R&B/pop production duo composed of Harvey Mason, Jr. and Damon Thomas.-Biography:Harvey Mason, Jr. is the son of Harvey Mason, Sr., a noted session drummer...
, Danja, J.R. Rotem, Billy Steinberg
Billy Steinberg
William Endfield "Billy" Steinberg is an American songwriter. He has achieved most of his success as part of a song writing team, most notably with Tom Kelly. He has also co-written several hit songs with Rick Nowels.-Biography:...
, Bryan-Michael Cox, Marsha Ambrosius
Marsha Ambrosius
Marsha Ambrosius or Marsha is an English singer/songwriter. A former member of the English Soul/R&B duo Floetry, she released her first solo album Late Nights & Early Mornings on March 1, 2011.-Early career with Floetry:...
, Madd Scientist, Tony Dixon, Eric Dawkins and J. Gatsby. Out of three quarters of the finished material, she wrote all but one song. She said it will be her most personal album to date with inspiration coming from a romantic breakup to finding a new relationship, as well as feeling sexier and more confident becoming a woman. The self-written title track is described as an inspirational anthem. On August 30, 2008, JoJo posted her own answer version of the song "Can't Believe It
Can't Believe It
"Can't Believe It" is a song by American producer/singer-songwriter T-Pain. It was released on July 29, 2008. The song is the first official single from T-Pain's album Thr33 Ringz. The song also features rapper Lil Wayne...
", which originally performed by T-Pain
T-Pain
Faheem Rasheed Najm , better known by his stage name T-Pain, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor, currently signed to Young Money Entertainment. His debut album, Rappa Ternt Sanga, was released in 2005. In 2007, T-Pain released his second studio album Epiphany,...
. On September 1, JoJo said that her album would be out early 2009. In 2008, R&B singer Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
sampled JoJo's second single "Baby It's You".
On October 14, 2008, JoJo sang the National Anthem before Game 4 of the ALCS
2008 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Friday, October 10, 2008 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FloridaBoston won a pitcher's duel on a sac fly by Jed Lowrie in the fifth and an RBI double by Kevin Youkilis in the eighth. Starter Daisuke Matsuzaka was nearly unhittable in Game 1 of the 2008 ALCS. He held the Rays hitless...
at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
in Boston, Massachusetts. On December 9, 2008, JoJo was nominated again at the Boston Music Awards and was nominated for Outstanding Pop/R&B Act Of The Year but the singing group Jada
Jada (singing group)
Jada is a pop and R&B female vocal group from Boston, Massachusetts. They are known for their mix of pop, soul, dance, and R&B styling, and their gospel-inspired harmonies. Jada was signed by Universal Motown Records president Sylvia Rhone in October 2006. Jada won “Outstanding Pop/R&B Music Act...
has won this award.
In January 2009, JoJo stated on her official MySpace that she has working with producers Chad Hugo
Chad Hugo
Charles Edward Hugo is an American musician and record producer. He is best known as one half of the music production and writing duo The Neptunes and as a member of the funk/rock band N.E.R.D. He is a saxophonist, pianist and guitarist...
, Jim Beanz
Jim Beanz
James David Washington, better known under his stage name Jim Beanz, is an American vocal producer, songwriter, musician, singer and record producer from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, now working out of Philadelphia, signed to Timbaland Productions and Sunset Entertainment Group...
& Kenna
Kenna
Kenna Zemedkun, known professionally as simply Kenna, is an Ethiopian-born American musician. His track "Say Goodbye To Love" was nominated for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in the 2009 Grammy Awards.-Personal life:...
and she currently is working very hard for her new album. She stated she had problems with her record label and she has changed her label from Blackground to Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
.
In April 2009, JoJo stated in her MySpace blog that she is still signed to Blackground
Blackground Records
Blackground Records is an American record label owned by entertainment attorney and artist manager Barry Hankerson and his son Jomo Hankerson.-History:...
. Singer-songwriter Jovan Dais said in an interview he will work with DJ Toomp
DJ Toomp
Aldrin Davis, better known as DJ Toomp, is an award-winning American record producer and DJ who works in Atlanta, Georgia. In the late 1980s he was MC Shy-D's DJ and went on tour with him and the 2 Live Crew as they performed at various venues across the country with other artists such as N.W.A...
on JoJo's forthcoming album. He said: I'm really selective about who I work with because I'm not interested in it like that as far as working with so many different people. I really like JoJo. I like her music, I like her voice and I believe she's a true talent. We came up with some great material.
JoJo's song "Note to God
Note to God
"Note to God" is a song written by Diane Warren and first recorded by American R&B singer JoJo in 2006 for her album The High Road. On May 18, 2009, Filipina pop singer Charice performed it on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Charice's recording of the song, produced by David Foster, served as the first...
" from her second album The High Road was recently covered by Filipina pop singer Charice
Charice Pempengco
Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco , popularly known by the mononym Charice, is a Filipino recording artist and actress who rose to popularity through YouTube. Dubbed by Oprah Winfrey as the Most Talented Girl in the World, she released her first international studio album Charice in 2010...
.
On June 3, 2009, JoJo stated on her official YouTube account that she was waiting for her record label to sign a distribution deal to release her album, but apart from that she has finished work the forthcoming album. On June 10, 2009 samples of her songs written by Toby Gad
Toby Gad
Tobias "Toby" Gad is a Los Angeles-based hit producer and songwriter from Germany, perhaps best known for co-writing Fergie's Grammy nominated hit song "Big Girls Don't Cry" as well as co-writing and producing Beyoncé's worldwide #1 hit "If I Were a Boy", and The Veronicas multi-platinum #1...
"Fearless", "Touch Down" and "Underneath" leaked on the internet. JoJo posted on her official MySpace: "These songs are not on the album nor do they represent the sound or direction of this record". In few months time nearly 20 of her songs were leaked through a Youtube channel. She later stated that most of these leaked tracks will not make it to the new album. In mid July she said on her Myspace that she's writing songs for other recording artists and herself and vibing with some talented producers in Los Angeles.
In August 2009, it was reported that JoJo filed a lawsuit in New York against her record label Da Family Entertainment for putting her in musical limbo. The label will not let her out of her contract or let her record a new album. She is seeking $500,000 for her troubles and to be released from her contract. JoJo was released from her contract in October 2009 and a deal was reached to make Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
her distributing label.
In October 2009, finally a deal was reached with Blackground Records
Blackground Records
Blackground Records is an American record label owned by entertainment attorney and artist manager Barry Hankerson and his son Jomo Hankerson.-History:...
to have JoJo's third album distributed by Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
. JoJo had confirmed that on Twitter. She left Da Family Entertainment after six years and is now at Interscope. Her label is currently getting all the legal things together for her third album to be released in 2010.
In late 2009, JoJo appeared in Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
's Shock Value II in a song called "Lose Control" and it's her first official song on an album after two years. In an interview in November she said that she's so excited to be on his record. She appeared in another song called "Timothy Where You Been" with the Australian band Jet
Jet (band)
Jet are an Australian rock band formed in 2001 while attending St Bede's College Mentone in Melbourne, . The band consists of lead guitarist Cameron Muncey, bassist Mark Wilson, and brothers Nic and Chris Cester on vocals/rhythm guitar and drums respectively...
as a background vocalist. In an Interview with Rap-Up
Rap-Up
Rap-Up is a magazine launched in 2001 by founder Devin Lazerine. The publication was originally a website devoted to hip hop, until Lazerine decided to pitch the possibility of a magazine to several publishers. The magazine is focused on the hip hop and R&B aspect of the music industry, and...
, JoJo said about the album: "I wanted to do something that people would be like, ‘Wow, this girl has come a long way and she's really taking the reins, I wanted people to get a sense of who I am" and that Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
, Jim Beanz
Jim Beanz
James David Washington, better known under his stage name Jim Beanz, is an American vocal producer, songwriter, musician, singer and record producer from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, now working out of Philadelphia, signed to Timbaland Productions and Sunset Entertainment Group...
, The Messengers
The Messengers (producers)
The Messengers is a Grammy nominated Canadian songwriting and production team currently based in Los Angeles, California. The duo consists of singer/lyricist Nasri and multi-instrumentalist/arranger Adam Messinger....
, Kenna
Kenna
Kenna Zemedkun, known professionally as simply Kenna, is an Ethiopian-born American musician. His track "Say Goodbye To Love" was nominated for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in the 2009 Grammy Awards.-Personal life:...
, Chad Hugo
Chad Hugo
Charles Edward Hugo is an American musician and record producer. He is best known as one half of the music production and writing duo The Neptunes and as a member of the funk/rock band N.E.R.D. He is a saxophonist, pianist and guitarist...
& Pharell Williams work on her new record and in 2010 she's ready to come back and put the finishing touches on the album in January. On March 27, 2010 JoJo joined Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
and Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
for the Manila Changing Lives Concert tour in support of Timbaland's Shock Value II album. Where she performed her song "Too Little Too Late" and the song "Lose Control" with Timbaland from the album. Less than two months later JoJo returned to Manilla for the Then & Now Massive Music Festival on May 15, 2010 with other artist like Baby Bash, Frankie J, Diana King, SWV and more. This time she performed several songs from her past two albums as well was two new songs "Play This Twice" and "Safe With Me" (which is one of the 26 leaked tracks) from her third album.
In the end of 2009, JoJo confirmed she was working with Clinton Sparks
Clinton Sparks
Clinton Sparks is a Boston-based radio, mixtape & Club DJ as well as a recording artist, writer, producer and TV personality.-Biography:...
and Chester French
Chester French
Chester French is an American indie pop band consisting of lead vocalist and songwriter David-Andrew 'D.A.' Wallach and multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Maxwell Drummey...
on a mixtape for release in 2010. In July 2010, she confirmed in an Interview with Sam E. Goldberg that she will release her mixtape the month before the album. She announced on Twitter that her mixtape called Can't Take That Away from Me
Can't Take That Away from Me
Can't Take that Away from Me is the first mixtape by American pop-R&B singer JoJo. The free mixtape was released exclusively to Rap-Up.com on September 7, 2010, as a prelude to her third studio album Jumping Trains, formerly titled All I Want Is Everything.-Background:Following the release of...
with the first single "In the Dark" produced by Jordan Gatsby. In August 2010, she gave in an Interview with Rap-Up
Rap-Up
Rap-Up is a magazine launched in 2001 by founder Devin Lazerine. The publication was originally a website devoted to hip hop, until Lazerine decided to pitch the possibility of a magazine to several publishers. The magazine is focused on the hip hop and R&B aspect of the music industry, and...
more information about her upcoming mixtape, it set to release on September 7, 2010. The singer said about the mixtape: "This mixtape is more experimental, I was able to explore the full spectrum of things that interest me and inspire me musically. Whereas the album, I wanted to make pop records and radio hits and things that satisfy me, but particularly for All I Want Is Everything
All I Want Is Everything (album)
Jumping Trains is the forthcoming third studio album by American recording artist JoJo schelduled to be released through Blackground Records, Interscope Records and Streamline Records in early 2012. The album was announced in 2007, for a 2008 release, but has since been in limbo for years due to...
, it's more of a continuous body of work." She added that the mixtape is more different than her upcoming album All I Want Is Everything. The first single "In the Dark" is different than anything people have heard from her. She said about "In The Dark": It's a very sensual record and there's an undertone of sadness to it.
In November 2010, JoJo made a cameo appearance in Keri Hilson
Keri Hilson
Keri Lynn Hilson is an American R&B singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, Hilson began her music career as a songwriter, penning tracks for several artists in the mid-2000s as part of the five-person production and songwriting team, The Clutch...
's music video for "The Way You Love Me" from her second studio album No Boys Allowed
No Boys Allowed
No Boys Allowed is the second studio album by American recording artist Keri Hilson, released on December 17, 2010 through Mosley Music and Zone 4 Records. On the album, Hilson is reunited with Timbaland and Polow da Don, who executively produced the album, as they did with her debut release...
and was known as "Boots" for the video, where she plays as one of the sexy hunter girls in Keri's gang, alongside Faith Evans
Faith Evans
Faith Renée Evans is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, record producer, actress and author. Born in Florida and raised in New Jersey, Evans relocated to Los Angeles during 1993 for a career with the music business. After working as a backing vocalist for Al B...
(Danja), Dawn (Money) as well as Rick Ross
Rick Ross
Rick, Ricky or Richard Ross may also refer to:* Rick Ross , American rapper* Richard J. Ross, a Massachusetts State Senator* Richard Ross , an American photographer...
, Columbus Short, and Polow Da Don. In December 2010, JoJo made another cameo appearance in Clinton Sparks
Clinton Sparks
Clinton Sparks is a Boston-based radio, mixtape & Club DJ as well as a recording artist, writer, producer and TV personality.-Biography:...
's Debut music video for "Favourite DJ" Ft Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin , known as Jermaine Dupri or JD, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper.- Early life and career :...
& DJ CLASS and at the end in the song "Sucks To Be You" which features LMFAO and JoJo. The video premiered on Clinton's official website on December 21. JoJo plays Clinton's crazy ex girlfriend.
2011–present: Jumping Trains
According to the The New York Post, JoJo owns the final mastered copies of the record. On February 28, JoJo revealed the new title of her third album, Jumping Trains, named after one of her favorite songs on the upcoming Interscope Records project. JoJo states that “My third album will be called Jumping Trains and it’s very symbolic for a variety of reasons,” explained JoJo. “Moving from Boston to L.A., transitioning from being a girl to being a young woman, living on my own, taking a different direction sonically, and just really finding myself and just jumping into a new chapter of life.”On August 18, 2011 JoJo announced via her official twitter account that the first official single from Jumping Trains would be "Disaster".
In support of the new single "Disaster", she opened for Joe Jonas & Jay Sean
Joe Jonas & Jay Sean Tour
The Joe Jonas & Jay Sean Tour is the first co-headlining tour by American singer Joe Jonas & British singer-songwriter Jay Sean in support of their studio albums Freeze Time & Fastlife. The 19-city intimate club trek kicks off in Boston on September 6 and will stop in major cities across North...
co-headlining 19 city fall tour which began on September 6, 2011 in Boston, MA at the House of Blues and ran until October 6 in New York at the Best Buy Theater. The lead single "Disaster" was released to US radio on August 29, 2011. It was available for purchase as a digital download on iTunes on September 6, 2011. Disaster
Disaster (song)
"Disaster" is a song performed by American recording artist JoJo. It was written by JoJo, Gino Barletta and Mario Marchetti who had also produced the track for JoJo's upcoming third studio album Jumping Trains. The song was released to US radio on August 29, 2011 via Interscope Records as the lead...
debuted on the Billboard
Billboard
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot 100 at number 87, but fell off the chart the next week. This gave JoJo her first charting single since Too Little Too Late
Too Little Too Late
"Too Little Too Late" is a song written by Billy Steinberg, Josh Alexander, and Ruth-Anne Cunningham for JoJo's second studio album The High Road. It was co-produced by Alexander, Vincent Herbert, and Billy Steinberg. "Too Little Too Late" was released as the album's first single in North America...
in 2006. The single failed to impact any chart internationally. JoJo shot the music video for "Disaster
Disaster (song)
"Disaster" is a song performed by American recording artist JoJo. It was written by JoJo, Gino Barletta and Mario Marchetti who had also produced the track for JoJo's upcoming third studio album Jumping Trains. The song was released to US radio on August 29, 2011 via Interscope Records as the lead...
" on September 14, 2011 in Down Town Los Angeles. She stated that the album is slated for an early 2012 release. JoJo gave her first televised performance of the song on Good Day Dallas on September 29. "Disaster" was set to officially impact U.S. Top40/Mainstream radio on November 1, 2011, its release, however, was pushed up to October 25, 2011. She has also performed the song on Boston's Fox News morning show on October 28, 2011. JoJo later performed on a small promotional tour for 'Pinktober' in order to raise money for breast cancer research at Hard Rock Café locations across the US during the month of October. Philadelphia’s Q102 will also be hosting it’s annual Jingle Ball on December 7th and they have invited JoJo to perform. She is also set to perform at the K104.7 Not so Silent Night on December 5, 2011.
A sneak peak teaser clip of "Disaster" was shown on MTV '10 On Top.' on October 29, 2011 four days before the videos release. The full video premiered on JoJo official website jojoonline.com on November 1, 2011. and was made available to VEVO on November 2nd. By November 8, a week after the video's release, it had already accumulated little over 2 million views.
Acting career
JoJo has acted since age four. She did local theater, radio, and TV commercials in the New England area, and national TV shows from age seven. JoJo made her professional stage debut at eight in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream as Mustardseed at the Huntington Theater. She received her first union card from the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists (AFTRA) at ten.After appearing on the television series The Bernie Mac Show
The Bernie Mac Show
The Bernie Mac Show is an American sitcom featuring comic actor Bernie Mac and his wife Wanda raising his sister's three kids: Jordan, Bryana and Vanessa. The show aired for five seasons , concluding with a half-hour series finale on Fox....
and American Dreams
American Dreams
American Dreams is an American television comedy-drama program broadcast on the NBC television network, produced by Once A Frog and Dick Clark Productions in association with Universal Network Television and NBC Studios...
, JoJo was cast opposite Emma Roberts
Emma Roberts
Emma Rose Roberts is an American actress, model and singer. She is the daughter of actor Eric Roberts and niece of Julia Roberts. Roberts became known for her role as Addie Singer in the Nickelodeon television series Unfabulous. She released her debut album, which also served as the show's...
and Sara Paxton
Sara Paxton
Sara Paxton is an American actress, model and singer. She grew up in California and began acting at an early age, appearing in many minor roles in both films and television shows, before coming to wider renown in 2004, after playing the title role in the series Darcy's Wild Life and Sarah Borden...
in Aquamarine
Aquamarine (film)
Aquamarine is a 2006 Australian-American teen fantasy comedy film starring Sara Paxton, Emma Roberts, and Joanna "JoJo" Levesque . The film, which was made in both the United States and Australia, was released in North America on March 3, 2006...
, playing Hailey. The film opened on March 3, 2006, opening at number five with $7.5 million.
Her second major film, RV
RV (film)
RV is a 2006 comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, written by Geoff Rodkey, and starring Robin Williams, Joanna "JoJo" Levesque, Cheryl Hines, Josh Hutcherson, Jeff Daniels, Kristin Chenoweth and Will Arnett. It was released on April 28, 2006 in North America...
, a comedy starring Robin Williams
Robin Williams
Robin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
, was released on April 28, 2006. It opened at number one and grossed $69.7 million. JoJo had to audition for the part five times, and eventually replaced an actress who had already been cast in the role.
JoJo stated that "no one hired an acting coach for me on the set of Aquamarine." She announced that she will be billed as "Joanna 'JoJo' Levesque" in her film roles, but that she will still be credited as simply "JoJo" for her music work.
In 2005, she was offered a role as Zoe Stewart in the hit television series Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana is an American television series, which debuted on March 24, 2006 on the Disney Channel. The series focuses on a girl who lives a double life as an average teenage school girl named Miley Stewart by day and a famous pop singer named Hannah Montana by night, concealing her real...
on the Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
, but she turned down the role because she was not really interested doing a television show. She was more concerned with being a legitimate artist, and a film career was not really what she saw for herself.
On August 28, 2007, in an interview with BOP and Tiger Beat online, JoJo stated that she was working on a new film. On September 10, JoJo revealed that she would be traveling to Toronto to film a small screen adaptation of Lola Douglas' True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet
True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet
True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet is a Lifetime Television comedy-drama film, based on a young-adult book of the same name by author Lola Douglas. The film stars Joanna "JoJo" Levesque and Golden Globe Award winner Valerie Bertinelli. The film was directed by Tim Matheson...
and play the role of Morgan Carter with Golden Globe winner Valerie Bertinelli
Valerie Bertinelli
Valerie Anne Bertinelli is an American actress, best known for her roles as Barbara Cooper Royer on the television series One Day at a Time , Gloria on the television series Touched by an Angel and Melanie Moretti on the sitcom Hot in Cleveland .- Early years :Bertinelli was born in Wilmington,...
and 90210
90210 (TV series)
90210 is an American teen drama television series developed by Rob Thomas, Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs, and the fourth series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise created by Darren Star. 90210 is the first series produced by CBS Productions under the company's re-launch, but is now produced by CBS...
-star Shenae Grimes
Shenae Grimes
Shenae Grimes is a Canadian actress. She currently portrays the role of Annie Wilson on 90210, a spinoff of Beverly Hills, 90210. Prior to that she played Darcy Edwards on Degrassi: The Next Generation...
, to be broadcast on Lifetime television. The film was released on August 9, 2008 on Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television, often referred to as Lifetime TV, or most commonly, Lifetime, is an American cable television specialty channel devoted to movies, sitcoms and dramas, all of which are either geared toward women or feature women in lead roles. The cable network is owned by A&E Television Networks...
and on DVD on March 3, 2009.
On January 7, 2011, JoJo had been cast in a special episode of CBS's Hawaii Five-0 that will air after the AFC Championship game on Sunday, Jan. 23. JoJo will play Courtney Russell, the daughter of a Tsunami Warning Center scientist who goes missing on the eve of a big storm hitting the Honolulu coast. This is JoJo's first acting role since 2008.
Personal life
JoJo and her mother reside in Edgewater, New JerseyEdgewater, New Jersey
Edgewater is a borough located along the Hudson River in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 census, the borough had a population of 11,513...
, and her recording studio is in Manhattan, New York City. She was home schooled for three years, has stated that "school was definitely a big part of my life". She performs well academically, receiving marks in the As and Bs.
JoJo dated American soccer player Freddy Adu
Freddy Adu
Fredua Koranteng "Freddy" Adu is a Ghanaian-born American soccer player who currently plays for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer. He plays primarily as an attacking midfielder, but he is also used as a winger or forward....
from May 2005 until September 2006. Both met on the MTV show Fake ID Club while she was hosting it. JoJo made an appearance in the commentary box at a New England Revolution home game when they were playing D.C. United. Freddy Adu registered an assist in that game. A Washington Post article in November 2006 reported that the couple split after one year. JoJo mentioned on American Top 40
American Top 40
American Top 40 is an internationally syndicated, independent radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds and Ron Jacobs. Originally a production of Watermark Inc...
with Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
that she and Adu were still good friends.
JoJo stated that she was single on the October 18, 2006 episode of Live with Regis and Kelly. She was also in the October 2006 issue of Teen People magazine confirming her breakup with Freddy Adu. She said: "I'm single right now and it's good. I'm so young. I'm going to be 16 in December and I'm just so busy. It's hard if you also want to date someone who has a high-profile profession; we were just both consumed with our own world..."
Since 2006 she's a good friend with actress Emma Roberts
Emma Roberts
Emma Rose Roberts is an American actress, model and singer. She is the daughter of actor Eric Roberts and niece of Julia Roberts. Roberts became known for her role as Addie Singer in the Nickelodeon television series Unfabulous. She released her debut album, which also served as the show's...
, Sara Paxton
Sara Paxton
Sara Paxton is an American actress, model and singer. She grew up in California and began acting at an early age, appearing in many minor roles in both films and television shows, before coming to wider renown in 2004, after playing the title role in the series Darcy's Wild Life and Sarah Borden...
and Robin Williams' daughter Zelda Williams
Zelda Williams
Zelda Rae Williams is an American actress and the daughter of actor and comedian Robin Williams and Marsha Garces. She was named after Princess Zelda of The Legend of Zelda series of video games. Her first big role was that of Melissa Loggia, the main character's teenage love interest in the 2004...
. She appeared with her father on the Behind the scene of JoJo's "Too Little Too Late
Too Little Too Late
"Too Little Too Late" is a song written by Billy Steinberg, Josh Alexander, and Ruth-Anne Cunningham for JoJo's second studio album The High Road. It was co-produced by Alexander, Vincent Herbert, and Billy Steinberg. "Too Little Too Late" was released as the album's first single in North America...
".
On February 28, 2007, she was ranked at number ten in the list of Forbes top twenty earners under 25 with an annual earning of $1 million.
In August 2009, she confirmed that she graduated from high school and will focus very hard on her future projects. JoJo was accepted to Northeastern University but did not attend; she considered majoring in cultural anthropology
Cultural anthropology
Cultural anthropology is a branch of anthropology focused on the study of cultural variation among humans, collecting data about the impact of global economic and political processes on local cultural realities. Anthropologists use a variety of methods, including participant observation,...
.
In July 2009, JoJo was ranked at number five in the list "Barely Legal: The 10 Hottest ’90s Babies" by Complex.com, after Emma Roberts
Emma Roberts
Emma Rose Roberts is an American actress, model and singer. She is the daughter of actor Eric Roberts and niece of Julia Roberts. Roberts became known for her role as Addie Singer in the Nickelodeon television series Unfabulous. She released her debut album, which also served as the show's...
and Willa Holland
Willa Holland
Willa Joanna Chance Holland is an American actress and fashion model. She is best known for her role as Kaitlin Cooper, Marissa Cooper's devious younger sister, on the television series The O.C.. She also appeared as Agnes Andrews on The CW series Gossip Girl...
.
Aside from singing and acting, JoJo is also a supporter of various charitable organizations such as Boys and Girls Club of America, World Vision
World Vision
World Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of...
, She's the First
She's the First
She's the First is a non-profit organization based in New York. It was launched on 1 November 2009 under the leadership of Tammy Tibbetts and Christen Brandt...
, Make A Wish Foundation, and many more.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 2002 | Developing Sheldon | Young Elizabeth | Starring as Joanna Levesque |
| 2004 | Shark Tale Shark Tale Shark Tale is a 2004 American computer-animated comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation. In the story, a young fish named Oscar falsely claims to have killed the son of a shark mob boss to win favour with the mob boss' enemies and advance his own community standing... |
Herself | Starring as Joanna "JoJo" Levesque |
| 2006 | Aquamarine Aquamarine (film) Aquamarine is a 2006 Australian-American teen fantasy comedy film starring Sara Paxton, Emma Roberts, and Joanna "JoJo" Levesque . The film, which was made in both the United States and Australia, was released in North America on March 3, 2006... |
Hailey Rogers | Main role |
| RV RV (film) RV is a 2006 comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, written by Geoff Rodkey, and starring Robin Williams, Joanna "JoJo" Levesque, Cheryl Hines, Josh Hutcherson, Jeff Daniels, Kristin Chenoweth and Will Arnett. It was released on April 28, 2006 in North America... |
Cassie Munroe | Main role | |
| Film Made for Television or Video | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Channel |
| 2008 | True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet is a Lifetime Television comedy-drama film, based on a young-adult book of the same name by author Lola Douglas. The film stars Joanna "JoJo" Levesque and Golden Globe Award winner Valerie Bertinelli. The film was directed by Tim Matheson... |
Morgan Carter / Claudia Miller | made for television (Lifetime Television Lifetime Television Lifetime Television, often referred to as Lifetime TV, or most commonly, Lifetime, is an American cable television specialty channel devoted to movies, sitcoms and dramas, all of which are either geared toward women or feature women in lead roles. The cable network is owned by A&E Television Networks... ), Main role |
| Television guest appearances | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1998 | Kids Say the Darndest Things Kids Say the Darndest Things Kids Say the Darndest Things is an American comedy series hosted by Bill Cosby that aired on CBS as a special on February 6, 1995 then as a full season from January 9, 1998 to June 23, 2000... |
Contestant | Starring as Joanna Levesque |
| 1999–2000 | Destination Stardom | Contestant | Starring as Joanna Levesque |
| 2002 | The Bernie Mac Show The Bernie Mac Show The Bernie Mac Show is an American sitcom featuring comic actor Bernie Mac and his wife Wanda raising his sister's three kids: Jordan, Bryana and Vanessa. The show aired for five seasons , concluding with a half-hour series finale on Fox.... |
Michelle | 1 episode |
| 2003 | America's Most Talented Kid America's Most Talented Kid America's Most Talented Kid was an American television series that originally aired on NBC on March 28, 2003. In each round, three age groups... |
Herself – performer | 1 episode |
| 2004 | American Dreams American Dreams American Dreams is an American television comedy-drama program broadcast on the NBC television network, produced by Once A Frog and Dick Clark Productions in association with Universal Network Television and NBC Studios... |
Young Linda Ronstadt Linda Ronstadt Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden... |
1 episode |
| 2005 | Hope Rocks: The Concert with a Cause | Co-Host | made for television (Fox Television), Starring as JoJo |
| 2006 | Romeo! Romeo! Romeo! is an American/Canadian television series that aired on Nickelodeon from 2003 to 2006, totaling 53 episodes. The filming was done in Vancouver, British Columbia, while the show takes place in Seattle, Washington.... |
Herself | 1 episode |
| 2007 | Punk'd Punk'd Punk'd is an American hidden camera/practical joke reality television series that first aired on MTV in 2003 and was created by Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg, produced and hosted by Ashton Kutcher. It bore a resemblance to both the classic hidden camera show Candid Camera and to TV's Bloopers... |
Herself | Season 8 – Episode 6 |
| 2010 | House of Glam House of Glam House of Glam is a television series from Oxygen that premieres on October 5, 2010 at 11/10c. The show follows the interactions of the B. Lynn Group, a group of stylists and image consultants. B... |
Herself | Season 1 – Episode 4 – La La Land |
| 2011 | Hawaii Five-0 | Courtney Russell | Season 1 – Episode 15 – Kai e'e |
| The Dance Scene The Dance Scene The Dance Scene is a reality television series following the lives of Laurieann Gibson and her team of professional dancers and choreographers as they live and work in the highly competitive dance and entertainment industry, preparing for variety of performances around the world... |
Herself | Cameo | |
Studio albums
- 2004: JoJoJoJo (album)JoJo is the self-titled debut album by American recording artist JoJo, released in the United States on June 22, 2004 by Da Family Entertainment and Blackground Records...
- 2006: The High RoadThe High RoadThe High Road is the second studio album by American recording artist JoJo, released in the United States on October 17, 2006 by Da Family Entertainment and Blackground Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during late 2005 to mid 2006 in California, New York City, and Miami...
- 2012: Jumping Trains
Awards and nominations
| Year | Presenter | Awards | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | MTV Video Music Award | Best New Artist with Leave (Get Out) | |
| Billboard Music Awards | Female New Artist Of The Year | ||
| Mainstream Top 40 Single Of The Year with Leave (Get Out) | |||
| 2006 | Teen Choice Award | Female Choice Breakout with Aquamarine | |
| 2007 | Boston Music Awards | National Female of The Year with Too Little, Too Late | |
| Hollywood Life 9th Annual Young Hollywood Awards | Breakthrough performance | ||
| Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a Feature Film with Aquamarine | ||
| 2008 | Yahoo Music Awards | for over 10,000,000 downloads for Too Little, Too Late | |
| Boston Music Awards | Outstanding Pop/R&B Act Of The Year | ||
| 2009 | Poptastic Award | Best TV Movie with True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet |
Tours
As the headline act- 2007: The High Road TourThe High RoadThe High Road is the second studio album by American recording artist JoJo, released in the United States on October 17, 2006 by Da Family Entertainment and Blackground Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during late 2005 to mid 2006 in California, New York City, and Miami...
- 2010: Then & Now Concert Tour
- 2011: Pinktober
As a special guest
- 2010: TimbalandTimbalandTimothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
– Shock Value II TourShock Value II TourThe Shock Value II Tour was a 2010 concert tour by American rapper/producer, Timbaland to support his studio album, Shock Value II. The tour lasted from January 15, 2010 to February 3, 2010.-Set list:...
As supporting act
- 2004: UsherUsher (entertainer)Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
– The Truth World Tour - 2011: Joe Jonas & Jay Sean TourJoe Jonas & Jay Sean TourThe Joe Jonas & Jay Sean Tour is the first co-headlining tour by American singer Joe Jonas & British singer-songwriter Jay Sean in support of their studio albums Freeze Time & Fastlife. The 19-city intimate club trek kicks off in Boston on September 6 and will stop in major cities across North...