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Jennifer PaigePop singer
Date of Birth: 03.09.1973
Country:  USA |
Biography of Jennifer Paige
Jennifer Paige is a pop singer who has been singing since she was five years old. At the age of eight, she started performing duets with her older brother Chance at local cafes and restaurants. By the age of ten, Jennifer had learned to play the piano, and by thirteen, she began writing songs. Her musical tastes expanded to include rock and pop music. "Gospel was my first influence," she admits. "Especially groups like the Clark Sisters. In my hometown, you could go to a cafe and listen to many amazing singers, freely and naturally expressing their emotions. That's what I love most about gospel and country music - they are so real, free, and express the depth of emotions. I grew up with it, and it's what I look for in my own music."
Jennifer grew up studying dance, acting, and vocals at the Pebblebrook School of the Performing Arts. Her mother knew she would be a star. When Jennifer was in her second year of high school, she performed at a concert. Her mother says, "She moved across the stage dressed like an angel, with the lights dimmed. She started singing the song 'I dreamed a little dream' from Les Miserables. She simply captivated the audience that night."
After graduating high school, Jennifer toured the country with the Top 40 band. The tour ended in Las Vegas at the Bolly Hall. One night during a performance, Jennifer met actress and singer Crystal Bernard, who was impressed by her vocals and told her, "You are an amazing singer, and you really should go to Los Angeles." That was enough for Jennifer to pack her bags and move to Los Angeles.
After moving to Los Angeles in 1995, Jennifer started singing with another group called Joe's Band. Jennifer, or Jen as her friends call her, sang with Joe's Band for over three years, touring the country with them. In August 1996, Joe's Band performed in front of 50,000 people at the Olympics in Atlanta.
In the mid-1996, Jennifer started working with producer Andy Goldmark (known for hits by Elton John, All 4 One, Natalie Cole, Patti LaBelle, Michael Bolton, and Brian White). She recorded a dance version of Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools," which caught the attention of the German label Edel Records. Edel was looking for a new pop singer who could conquer America. In October 1997, Edel's president Jonathan First heard Jennifer's demo and was so impressed that he flew to Los Angeles himself to sign her. Jennifer continued recording songs, and in April 1998, she finished recording "Crush." Producer Andy Goldmark brought "Crush" to the legendary radio station KIIS FM in Los Angeles. Since KIIS-FM was such a big and influential station, Andy wanted them to hear about Jennifer from the song "Crush" and make it her calling card. Jennifer says they were not too enthusiastic about the idea, but when they heard it, they loved it! KIIS program director Dan Kelly and music director Tracy Austin told Andy, "We really want this song to be played on our radio station!" Of course, Andy said, "Okay, do whatever you want!"
A week later, on May 4, 1998, KIIS-FM became the first station in the world to play "Crush" twelve times a day. The first time Jennifer heard "Crush" on the radio, she was on the phone with her mom and started screaming. Everything happened quite quickly. Edel released 20,000 copies of "Crush," which sold out quickly. When "Crush" became number one on KIIS-FM, even Paige admits that she was taken aback by how quickly the song became a hit. "It seems unreal," she says with a soft Southern accent.
Once "Crush" started playing on the radio, listeners were thrilled, and critics noticed. Billboard declared, "Paige superbly accomplishes the near-impossible task of being sensuous without resorting to the usual vocal histrionics. Instead, she uses her exceptionally wide vocal range to convey the melody's emotion...thus, she puts her soul into the song." When asked why "Crush" made such an impression, Paige gives a straightforward answer: "This song is balanced and not too serious. And I think the world needs a few more songs like this."
Several weeks later, four other major national stations added "Crush" to their rotations. It was not surprising that many famous labels became interested in Jennifer. In early June, she signed a contract with Hollywood Records. It started on June 1, when 22 more stations started playing "Crush." Over the next two weeks, 72 more stations added "Crush" to their playlists, and the song debuted at number 35 on the Radio and Records CHR/Pop chart on June 26. On July 9, Jennifer made her first live appearance at KIIS-FM with DJ Rick Dees. She performed "Crush" live that morning. On July 24, "Crush" entered the Top 10 chart. In August, "Crush" went gold, selling 500,000 copies. "Crush" remained in the R&R Top 10 until November 13, reaching number two on October 16. Not only did America love "Crush," but it also became an international hit, spending eight weeks at number one on the Canadian Top 40 airplay chart. "Crush" also reached number one in Australia, Norway, Spain, Denmark, New Zealand, South Africa, and Latvia. It reached the top five in the UK, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Hungary, and reached number six in Ireland. "Crush" was so popular in the UK that it was included on 23 different hit compilations!
In January 1999, Hollywood Records released "Sober" as the second single in America and "Always You" in Europe. "Sober" debuted at number 49 on the Radio and Records Top 50 Pop chart on February 5, 1999. "Always You," her third single in America, topped the Top 10 on Billboard's Dance Chart in August 1999.
Now, Edel America Records/Hollywood Records releases Jennifer's debut album, "Jennifer Paige." Working with producer Andy Goldmark, she has shown an amazingly sincere approach to music and life in general.
That is what unites all 11 tracks on "Jennifer Paige" - from the soft and irresistible "Just to Have You" and the acoustic "Questions" to the ballads "Between You and Me" and "Always You."
Written by Paige, "Questions" presents her point of view: "These are questions that I keep asking myself, even though some childhood dreams have started to come true. They still bother me," she says with a smile.
And, of course, the hit "Crush," written by Andy Goldmark, Mark Maller, Bernie Cosgrove, and Kevin Clark, with lyrics inspired by Paige's own observations and experiences. Once "Crush" started playing on the radio, listeners were thrilled, and critics noticed. Billboard declared, "Paige superbly accomplishes the near-impossible task of being sensuous without resorting to the usual vocal histrionics. Instead, she uses her exceptionally wide vocal range to convey the melody's emotion...thus, she puts her soul into the song."
With "Crush" leading the way, "Jennifer Paige" marks the emergence of an artist who believes that honesty and simplicity are the keys to conveying emotion. "Some people sing theatrically. I want to sing as well as I can but not lose the subtlety of the song. Strong vocals work for a live show, but on a recording, you can convey passion and emotion. I can be a good vocalist without having a powerhouse voice," she says.
"I love songs that evoke strong emotions: sadness, longing, happiness, doubt," explains Paige. "I have a big family, a big life, and I have both positive and negative experiences. Tragedy isn't always necessary to move forward. I think the album reflects what you treasure about the good, simple things life offers you."
The overwhelming success of "Crush" confirmed her vision. Paige writes music that highlights the classic elements of pop greatness: clarity, catchiness, and mystery. Everything happens for a reason, and Jennifer Paige's arrival was an inevitable event.
Jennifer spent two years promoting her album and touring in support of it. During this time, she learned as much as she could about herself and the entertainment industry. These lessons have been invaluable, giving her perspective and plenty of material for songs.
On May 5, 1999, she spoke with Prince Albert of Monaco after her performance at the World Music Awards, where she sang "Crush."
She performed in front of Pope John Paul II on December 18, 1999, at the 7th Annual Christmas Concert in the Vatican, in front of a live and televised audience of millions, along with Tom Jones, Miriam Makeba, Alex Britti, and Amedeo Minghi. She sang solo and duets with her brother Chance.
In 2000, she recorded the song "Beautiful" for the film "Autumn in New York," starring Richard Gere and Winona Ryder.
Her next album was "Positively Somewhere." This album shows that she has grown up. She showcases the depth of her musical talents: a dance diva, a sensual folk singer, a seductive soul singer who clearly knows what she wants and knows how to get it.
In the twelve tracks of the new album, Paige explores a range of emotions and invites listeners into her experiences. It is a more autobiographical album than the first.
The album was recorded with collaborators from New York, Nashville, and her new home in Los Angeles. Jennifer was always focused on the album, knowing what she wanted and the importance of finding people who could help her convey her worldview.
By choosing her producer, she found the range she had been looking for and successfully showcased still unseen aspects of her individuality and musical abilities.
Thanks to "These Days," the first single (co-written with Phil Thornalley and produced by Oliver Leiber), we see a new Jennifer.
In other tracks, like the hip-hop-influenced "Way of the World" or the dance anthem "The Edge" (which was written by Jennifer and produced by Madonna's opener Damian LeGassick), Paige shows a playful sensuality that both refreshes and intrigues.
"After the success of 'Crush,' I wanted to come back with something really fresh," Jennifer says. "I had to take a risk and do something with a twist. I have changed a lot over the past few years, and I want the album to reflect that growth and show people who I am now. I had a wonderful time making it, working with truly talented people whose work I have admired for many years."
The fact that the album was written in different cities with different musical styles gives it immense depth, allowing Jennifer to showcase her incredible vocal range and vast performance capabilities. The unique quality of her voice ties the tracks together. As a singer, Jennifer proves on this album that she is a Southern girl at heart - modest on the surface but passionate on the inside.
Everyone who contributed to the recording of the new album worked with Jennifer for the first time, except for Andy Goldmark and her brother Chance Scoggins, who wrote and produced the epic "Feel So Far Away."
"I enjoyed working with Andy in the studio again," she says. "Although this time, it was a different experience, considering everything I had learned over the years. There were also great memories of working with Chance - how much fun we had making music as we grew up."
"I finished working with a new band, and I can't wait to start the tour - not only in the USA but all over the world. This record is very exciting for me in terms of work. We recorded the songs in the studio with a great feeling than in the past, so it will be really good on stage." Jennifer says that is what she loves most.
For Jennifer Paige, "Positively Somewhere" is the next step in a career that she continues to develop in a versatile way.
Her latest album is "Flowers," a collection of hits recorded throughout Jennifer's career. She is young, and this is undoubtedly a bold step. But Jennifer has something to be proud of, and she knows it.
Many skeptics say that the release of "greatest hits" does not bode well. Let's not believe it. Jennifer is young, talented, and sensitive. And that means she has a bright future.
