JoJo

At the ripe old age of 15, Joanna Levesque-a.k.a. JoJo-has experienced more success and acclaim than most recording artists achieve in a lifetime. She signed her first major record deal at 12, debuted with her now worldwide multi-platinum album, JoJo, at 13, and became both the youngest solo artist ever to score a No.1 hit single on the Billboard charts and the youngest to be nominated for an MTV video music award. Add to that, a whirlwind world tour, a starring role in the box office smash, RV, and a chance to sing for the President of the United States twice, and you have the stuff dreams are made of. "I feel so blessed, like someone is looking over my shoulder," JoJo says. "I've also learned that when you have a positive outlook and surround yourself with a great team, you will go far."

JoJo is now poised to hit the stratosphere. Her much-anticipated new album, "The High Road" (Da Family/Blackground), showcases a talent that knows no bounds. In just three years, her voice has gone from exceptional to enormous, while her confidence and maturity have soared to heights far above her age. "This album will show people what I'm really made of," she says. "I want the world to see I'm here for the long run, and not some flash in the pan."

To help make musical magic, she and Vincent Herbert, President of Da Family Records and the man responsible for signing her, assembled an all-star team of writers and producers, including Herbert, Swizz Beatz, Scott Storch, Diane Warren, Sean Garrett, Bo Dozier, Billy Steinberg, Josh Alexander, Ryan Leslie, and SoulShock and Karlin-the dynamic duo behind her previous hit single "Leave (Get Out)." But it's JoJo's extraordinary vocal range and passion that takes center stage on the album. Says Vincent Herbert, "Sometimes when I hear her sing, I can't believe it's even possible."

Despite possessing a talent that surpasses her years, JoJo is still a teen to the core. Her songs reflect all the highs and lows of a typical young woman's life-from boy problems to self-esteem struggles. She's also not content to rest on any one musical style. "I don't think teenagers listen to one genre of music," JoJo explains, "so I wanted to do something people could groove to, chill to, connect to, and listen to again and again." To this effect, the album serves up a delicious mix of soul, R&B, hip-hop, and rock flavors.

One of the early songs JoJo recorded was "Too Little Too Late." Upon hearing it played back in the studio, she knew she had her first single. "Tears just came to my eyes," she recalls. Written by Steinberg and produced by Vincent Herbert, the record's stirring melody and timeless message-about getting over your first love-speaks to young women everywhere. Says JoJo, "All my friends have told me, 'Jo, we're so happy you wrote this song because it's about us!' "

JoJo continues the theme of female empowerment in the uplifting ballad, "Exceptional." The song, written by legendary composer Diane Warren, struck a personal chord with JoJo: "I've had low moments where I just didn't feel good enough-we all do," she says. "This song definitely makes you feel better about yourself." Warren also contributed the haunting but soul-searching "Note to God". And again, it was the tears that did it. When Warren first played it for JoJo and her mom on the piano, mom broke down on the spot. JoJo was so moved she recorded the song that night in under an hour. What listeners hear on the album is the raw and unedited end result.

She picks up the pace with straight-out party jams like "This Time", produced by Scott Storch, and "The Way You Do Me" by Swizz Beats. With JoJo's complex vocalizations over highly infectious beats, these songs are impossible to listen to sitting down. On the hard-hitting track, "Anything" (Bo Dozier), JoJo puts a funky new spin on a familiar 80's mega hit -Toto's "Africa."

Perhaps the record she's most proud of is "How to Touch a Girl," which she co-wrote with Steinberg. JoJo admits the lyrics were influenced by real-life romantic events. "I was confused about a boy," she says, "so I wrote this to tell him how to touch a girl's heart." The record's simple and sumptuous sonics are reminiscent of soul and jazz classics from back in the day. Not surprising, considering JoJo's greatest influences are artists like Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Etta James and Stevie Wonder.

JoJo understands the pressures of following a smash-hit debut album. She knows all about the sophomore jinx. But it's precisely this kind of challenge that drives her and keeps her hunger alive. "I will always keep striving for the best," she says. "I'll never be satisfied to remain where I am." This is a mind-blowing concept, when you think just how far she's come in so few years. Says Warren, who has worked with greats such as Whitney Houston and Celine Dion, "JoJo is one of the best singers I have ever worked with, and she's only 15. I can't wait to see where she goes. I will be watching. The world will be listening."

From Lastfm:

There are multiple artists with this name: JoJo, born Joanna Noelle Levesque on December 20th, 1990, is an American pop/R&B singer-songwriter and actress. JoJo first entered into the pop scene with her smash hit "Leave (Get Out)", from her self-titled debut, the first of three singles released from that album. "Leave (Get Out)" was followed up with: Baby It's You", which was released as a remix titled "Baby It's You (Remix) (feat. Bow Wow)", and "Not That Kinda Girl". She has been in two movies, Aquamarine and RV, both released in 2006.

Read more about JoJo on Last.fm.

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From Wikipedia:

Joanna Noëlle Blagden Levesque (born December 20, 1990), professionally known as JoJo, is an American Pop/R&B singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress. After competing on the television show, America's Most Talented Kids, record producer Vincent Herbert took notice who asked her to audition for Blackground Records.

She rose to fame after releasing her self-titled debut album, which debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200, with sales of 95,000 copies, selling over 3 million copies worldwide. The first single off of the album, "Leave (Get Out)", was released in February 2004. It climbed to #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was certified gold by the RIAA. The single also rose 5 weeks to #1 on the Billboard Top 40 Mainstream, making her the youngest solo artist to have a number-one single in the United States.

She also has a film career. She made her first television appearance by The Bernie Mac Show. In 2006 She starred in two Hollywood films, Aquamarine, her first film debut and RV. JoJo's second album, The High Road, was released on October 17, 2006, and debuted at number three on the U.S. Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 108,000 copies, selling over 2 million copies worldwide. The first single of the album, "Too Little Too Late", was released in August 2006 and reached number three on Billboard Hot 100. The single was certified with platinum by the RIAA..

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. Her third studio album, All I Want Is Everything is yet to be released.