JUA

Bio:

Some individuals may recognize early in life their dreams yet only a few dedicate themselves to the actual realization of those same dreams. And then there’s Jua. Jua brings a vocal sound reminiscent of jazz and soul singers such as Nat King Cole, Nancy Wilson, Donny Hathaway, Will Downing, and Luther Vandross. However, Jua’s rich voice resonates with a combination of depth and fresh emotion that is uniquely Jua. “Jua” (Swahili for the “Sun”) was born January 6, 1979 in Chicago, Illinois; home of the “Musical Melting Pot”. Influenced early by the music his mother played at home, Jua started singing along with what he heard. “My mother used to play some great music on the weekends while we cleaned the house or just relaxed. That’s how I first heard Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, Chaka Khan and Will Downing,” Jua says. He discovered at a young age that the sound of his voice moved others to take notice. “My grandfather used to record me performing George Michael songs. I definitely provided great entertainment for my family and friends,” Jua reminisces. Encouraged to share this talent, by the time his family moved to Alabama in 1989, Jua had developed an undeniable love for singing. He continued performing as a soloist with choruses and church choirs, in school musicals, community pageants, fashion shows and weddings throughout high school. “I made my long-awaited debut in my 5th grade production of ‘A Christmas Story’. I played the lead so I thought I was ‘the man’ for a second,” Jua jokes. During his junior year in high school in 1996, Jua was selected to perform with the Alabama All-State Boys Choir. That same year, he was awarded not only the “Best Choral Member” award by the Alabama Boys State Chorus but received a full four year vocal scholarship to the University of Montevallo in Montevallo, Alabama. “Receiving that scholarship truly let me know I had more potential than I gave myself credit for because I basically sang for fun at that point. I definitely didn’t take my vocal talent seriously,” Jua recalls. Before moving to Atlanta, Georgia to attend Emory University, Jua participated in the annual highly regarded All-Atlanta Chorus Gospel Christmas performance with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. While in college, Jua continued singing in talent shows and athletic events including the 1998 AT&T Professional Tennis Championship where he accepted the invitation to sing the National Anthem. Revisiting his gospel background, Jua was a member of the Emory University Voices of Inner Strength Gospel Choir from 1997-2000. “During this time my sound was undoubtedly impacted by my participation in the gospel choir at Emory. Fortunately, I discovered amazing talents like Karen Clark-Sheard from the phenomenal Clark Sisters and Daryl Coley. Man, those types of singers are no joke! I was attempting all kind of crazy riffs and runs trying to imitate their styles” Jua remembers. “However, during my sophomore year I also was able to witness a great performance by the incomparable Nancy Wilson which completely blew my mind. Hearing Ms. Wilson taught me the power of phrasing, timbre and interpretation versus excessive vocal acrobatics. That lesson changed my life.” The year 2000 found Jua in London, England studying abroad. Attempting to take full advantage of his time in the UK, Jua continued to hone his craft at Open-Mic night performances at local London clubs and venues. “A close friend of mine took me to an open-mic at a popular club in Covent Garden the night before I returned to the States. I covered a Maxwell tune and its impact surprised me. I saw tears in people’s eyes including the event’s host. After that special night, I started considering a career as a professional music artist,” Jua reflects. Returning to the States with newfound aspirations, Jua graduated from Emory and returned to his hometown. Back in Chicago, Jua directed his energy to honing his craft and started by taking vocal lessons from Sondra Davis, a now close friend and musical mentor. “Sondra taught me how to appreciate my voice which led me to developing my own distinct style. She also introduced me to the idea of singing jazz which I had only slightly considered,” Jua relays. In 2002, Jua moved to the Washington DC area where he pushed forward with his dream of being a professional artist. Jua performed with a couple of local groups before landing a prized opportunity to gig with the legendary Blackbyrds as a featured background vocalist. “My family grew up loving the Blackbyrds so it was an honor providing background vocals for them. I basically tried to soak in as much knowledge as I could while in their presence,” Jua remembers. Determined not to wait for a major label to determine his musical destiny, Jua self-released his debut album Anticipation in October 2007. “Recording Anticipation was a major accomplishment in my life. I was still working a 9-5 which required me to travel quite a bit, so I had several late night recording sessions when I returned home to complete my project. I worked with some exceptionally talented individuals. I couldn’t be more proud of my debut album,” Jua recalls. Jua’s other musical projects include being featured on Contemporary Soul Songbook: Volume I released by Soul Unsigned that fuses neo-soul, jazz and funk, as well as, a soundtrack for the novel, 7:33 a.m. written by Monda Webb; both projects were released in 2009. Currently Jua attends the Jazzschool Institute in Berkeley, CA. “I felt it necessary to progress to another level as an artist, which led me to the world of jazz. Jazz has always held a place in my heart due to the creativity and improvisation entailed. However, I felt to truly honor the rich legacy of jazz I needed to equip myself with the necessary tools. That is why I decided to go back to school. This music journey I am on is a lifelong commitment and I plan to be the best artist I can be,” Jua states. .... FOR BOOKING AND BUSINESS MATTERS PLEASE CONTACT: msfisher1725@yahoo.com!

Member Since:

October 22, 2006

Members:

JUA - VOCALIST .. Join our mailing list: .. .. ..

Influences:

Not enough room on here!!!Chaka Khan, Nancy Wilson, Lalah Hathaway, Nat King Cole, Johnny Hartman, Will Downing, Carmen McRae, Dianne Reeves, Lisa Fischer, Maysa, Donny Hathaway, Luther Vandross, Sade, Lizz Wright, Ella Fitzgerald, Seal, Annie Lennox, Amel Larrieaux, Incognito, Oleta Adams, Kenny Lattimore, Chante Moore, Faith Evans, Esthero, N'Dea Davenport, Rahsaan Patterson, Jill Scott, Stevie Wonder, Ledisi, Al Jarreau, Phyllis Hyman, Carol Riddick, Darryl Coley, Kim Burrell, Karen Clark-Sheard, Tweet, Yahzarah, Shania Twain, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, Jane Monheit, Cassandra Wilson

Sounds Like:

"Dream" at Billie's Black
.. "Lost Paradise" at Solomon's Porch
.. "Temptation" at DC Listening Party!
.. Interview with Gary Spence
..

Record Label:

Chocolate Chi Music