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| JoJo (singer) | |
|---|---|
| Name | JoJo |
| Caption | JoJo performing in 2019 |
| Birth name | Joanna Noëlle Levesque |
| Birth date | December 20, 1990 |
| Birth place | Brattleboro, Vermont, United States |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, actress |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels | Blackground, Da Family, Atlantic, Clover Music |
| Associated acts | Timbaland, Babyface, Max Martin, Darkchild |
JoJo (singer) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress who rose to prominence as a teenage pop and R&B vocalist in the early 2000s. She achieved commercial success with charting singles and multi-platinum releases, later navigating high-profile legal disputes before reestablishing herself as an independent artist and performer in film and television. Her career spans collaborations with prominent producers and appearances in mainstream media and intimate venues.
Joanna Noëlle Levesque was born in Brattleboro, Vermont, and raised in Foxborough and Natick, Massachusetts. Her early exposure included performances on regional stages, talent competitions, and televised programs such as America's Most Talented Kid, Star Search, and local Boston showcases. As a child she auditioned for major industry figures and worked with managers and producers in Los Angeles and New York City, ultimately signing a record deal and relocating for recording sessions with studios linked to Hollywood production teams and executives.
Her debut single reached international charts, aided by radio play on stations connected to the Billboard Hot 100 and rotation on music channels affiliated with MTV and BET. Early collaborators and producers included veterans from Blackground Records and teams that had worked with artists on Def Jam Recordings and Jive Records rosters. Promotional appearances took place on programs such as The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, TRL, and award ceremonies including the Teen Choice Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards. Rapid touring and opening slots aligned her with touring circuits associated with acts from labels like Atlantic Records and management firms tied to CAA and other agencies.
Subsequent albums featured songwriting and production contributions from figures tied to Roc Nation-adjacent producers, Max Martin, Danja, Babyface, and Timbaland-affiliated teams. Singles achieved placements on Billboard 200 and international charts across markets including United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. She participated in film and television projects with studios such as Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, and networks including ABC and NBC. Tours and festival appearances put her on bills with performers represented by Live Nation and promoters connected to venues in Madison Square Garden, Staples Center, and European arenas.
A protracted contract dispute involved a label associated with executives who had previous dealings with artists on Blackground Records and led to litigation in Los Angeles County Superior Court. During the dispute she released unauthorized mixtapes and independent projects distributed via digital platforms and independent distributors used by artists formerly on Island Records and Interscope Records. Industry peers and advocacy organizations related to artist rights, management disputes, and recording contracts—some connected to high-profile legal cases involving Prince, George Michael, and Kesha—were cited in commentary about the case. After settlement and negotiations with entities tied to Universal Music Group-affiliated companies, she began issuing re-recorded material and regained control over catalogue releases.
Her official comeback included re-recorded albums and new singles released through independent imprint structures similar to those used by artists leaving major labels, with distribution partners comparable to The Orchard and Empire Distribution. She appeared in film and television productions including projects for Netflix, Hulu, and streaming platforms associated with Amazon Studios and participated in theatrical productions in cities like Los Angeles and New York City. Collaborations and songwriting credits in this period involved producers and writers connected to CeeLo Green, Danja, Timbaland, and contemporary pop producers who have worked with artists on Republic Records and Columbia Records.
Her vocal style blends elements of contemporary R&B, pop, and soul traditions, drawing inspiration from singers associated with labels and movements such as Motown, Stax Records, and vocalists who worked with producers like Babyface and Timbaland. Influences she has cited include artists linked to Arista Records, Epic Records, and legacy performers who recorded for Atlantic Records and Columbia Records. Critics have compared aspects of her technique to contemporaries and predecessors who rose to fame on platforms like American Idol and The X Factor and who collaborated with songwriters from the Neptunes and producers associated with Hit-Boy and Max Martin.
She has been involved in advocacy related to artist rights, mental health awareness, and organizations that support performers, aligning publicly with campaigns and nonprofits similar to those endorsed by artists represented by Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group peers. Her public statements and philanthropic appearances have intersected with benefits and events organized by institutions in Los Angeles, Boston, and other cities, alongside entertainers and activists affiliated with groups that focus on creative industry reform and artist welfare.
Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:American singers Category:American actresses