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Kwanza Jones

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Kwanza Jones
OriginLos Angeles, United States
GenresDance, pop
Occupation(s)singer, songwriter, actress, music producer, philanthropist, CEO
Years active2001-present
LabelsInnovation Entertainment
Websitekwanzajones.com

Kwanza Jones is an American dance / pop singer and songwriter. She was born in Los Angeles, California and started her singing career when she was in college at Princeton University. She is currently signed to the independent label "Innovation Entertainment".

Biography

Kwanza was born in Los Angeles, California on Thanksgiving Day. At the age of four Kwanza’s family moved to the suburbs of Washington, D.C. where she spent her formative years playing flute, violin, piano and singing in the choir at her school and church. Her paternal great-grandmother played piano for famous blues singer Bessie Smith in the 1920s.

She studied at Princeton University, in Princeton, New Jersey. At this time she was in an a cappella group, was a soloist in the gospel choir and was in an electronica band. She had a chance meeting with music legend Quincy Jones which got her interested in music as a profession. Kwanza has a law degree from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

After her first album, she moved back to Los Angeles to continue her career.

Early career

She wrote her first album Naked when she was attending Princeton University. At this time, she played a lot in bars and other small venues. Her biggest performance during this time was at the World Famous Apollo Theater in New York.

When she graduated she decided to travel a little and wrote her second album Naked 2: universal fire. Along with original material, this album also featured two cover songs, The Doors' "Light My Fire" and Ashford & Simpson's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough".[1]

When she arrived back in the US, she moved to Los Angeles to find her roots and continue her music career.

Recent projects

Kwanza Jones' song "Think Again" earned her first appearance on the Billboard charts. She debut at #47 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play Charts. In December 2010, it was #3 on the Biggest Jump list.[2] In February 2011, it peaked at #21 on the Billboard charts.[3] "Think Again - The Remixes" is a Dance project featuring the single, "Think Again" where Kwanza collaborated with Grammy nominated American DJ/producer/remixer, Mike Rizzo. Also working with her on this project was DJ Lynnwood and Jaime J Sanchez. This project was released on November 26, 2010.[4]

Charity work

Before January 2010, Kwanza joined the likes of Sinéad O'Connor, Beyoncé Knowles and Mary J. Blige (to name a few) in support of Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS). The most recent campaign from this organization, "Girls Are Not for Sale", is a national campaign aimed at raising awareness to and ending the growing issue of state-side sex trafficking.[5]

Kwanza has recorded her third studio album, called Supercharged.

Discography

Singles, Remixes & EPs

Title Release Date
Supercharged - The Remixes 2013 (Feb)
Time To Go - The Complete Remixes 2012 (Apr)
Time To Go - The Remixes 2012 (Apr)
Time To Go 2011 (Nov)
Think Again - The Remixes, Pt. 2 2011 (Jul)
Think Again - The Remixes 2010 (Nov)
Not a Breakup Song 2010 (May)
Everything Around You 2009 (Jul)
Victim of the System 2005 (Dec)

Albums

Title Release Date
Supercharged 2013 (Mar)
Supercharged - Deluxe Edition 2013 (Feb)
Naked 2: universal fire 2005 (Nov)
Naked 2001 (Dec)

Tours

  • Gladiators “Я” Vicious Tour (2013)
  • Bring The Heat Tour (2012)
  • Girls 4 Boys Tour (2011)

Charts and awards

Year Title Chart Weeks on Chart Peak Position
2013 Supercharged DJ Times National Dance/Crossover 8 2
2013 Supercharged[6] Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs 11 19
2013 Supercharged[7] Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs 2 47
2012 Time To Go Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs 7 34
2011 Think Again Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs 11 21

References

  1. ^ "Naked, Vol. 2: Universal Fire - Kwanza Jones". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2010-11-24. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs Chart - Week of December 25, 2010". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2010-12-25.
  3. ^ "Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs Chart - Week of February 05, 2011". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
  4. ^ "Think Again - The Remixes: Kwanza Jones: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  5. ^ "Female Vocalist Kwanza Jones Joins National Campaign 'Girls Are Not For Sale' - Hip Hop Culture". Zimbio. 2010-01-26. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  6. ^ http://www.billboard.com/files/pdfs/chart_index/artistindex_feb_16_2013.pdf
  7. ^ http://www.billboard.com/files/pdfs/chart_index/artistindex_feb_16_2013.pdf
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