Joss Stone Biography Quotes 5 Report mistakes

Early Life and Influences
Joss Stone was born Jocelyn Eve Stoker on April 11, 1987, in Dover, Kent, England, and grew up in rural Devon. From a young age she was drawn to classic American soul and R&B, especially the recordings of Aretha Franklin, which shaped her phrasing and the warm, husky timbre that would become her signature. Her mother, Wendy Stoker, encouraged her interest in performing. As an early teen she appeared on British television talent programs, including the BBC's Star for a Night, where her rendition of an Aretha Franklin standard brought her wide attention. New York label executive Steve Greenberg of S-Curve Records saw her potential and signed her while she was still in her mid-teens, setting the stage for a rapid ascent.

Breakthrough and Early Success
Stone's debut, The Soul Sessions (2003), was recorded largely in Miami with a circle of veteran soul musicians under the wing of the legendary Betty Wright, with Greenberg and Mike Mangini producing. A set of deep-soul covers, it introduced a teenage British singer who sounded decades older in spirit, and it became an international success. She followed with Mind Body & Soul (2004), her first collection dominated by original material. The album debuted at No. 1 in the UK, making Stone one of the youngest British female artists to top the national albums chart. Its single You Had Me became her highest-charting UK hit. In 2005 she took home multiple BRIT Awards and consolidated her position on the global stage with high-profile appearances, including Live 8.

Artistry, Writing, and Key Collaborations
Stone's third album, Introducing Joss Stone (2007), leaned further into contemporary R&B while preserving her retro-soul core. It featured contributions from Common and Lauryn Hill and showcased a more assertive songwriting voice, with production led in part by Raphael Saadiq. That same period highlighted her collaborative instincts: with John Legend and Van Hunt she won a Grammy Award for their cover of Sly and the Family Stone's Family Affair. She also continued to work closely with mentors and producers who helped shape her sound, notably Betty Wright.

Her next phase reflected a growing desire for artistic independence. Colour Me Free! (2009) arrived amid disagreements with EMI about its release, and soon after she founded her own imprint, Stone'd Records. LP1 (2011), created with Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, bore the looser, live-in-the-room feel the two favored and marked the beginning of a productive partnership. That same year she joined Stewart, Mick Jagger, A.R. Rahman, and Damian Marley in the supergroup SuperHeavy, an adventurous blend of rock, reggae, soul, and global pop.

Acting and Multimedia
Parallel to her music, Stone branched into acting. She portrayed Anne of Cleves in The Tudors (2009, 2010), bringing a modern warmth to the historical role. In 2010 she entered the James Bond universe by voicing the character Nicole Hunter in the video game 007: Blood Stone, and she co-wrote and performed its theme with Dave Stewart, underscoring how fluidly she moved between music and screen projects.

Return to Roots and Global Reach
The Soul Sessions Vol. 2 (2012) reunited Stone with Steve Greenberg and revisited the vintage-soul concept that launched her, this time drawing from a later era of R&B for its covers. Water for Your Soul (2015) broadened her palette with reggae, world, and folk influences, reflecting travels and creative exchanges that accelerated during her Total World Tour, an ambitious, years-long project begun in 2014 to perform in as many countries as possible and collaborate with local musicians. Along the way she made headlines in 2019 when she was denied entry to Iran, a reminder of both the scope and the challenges of her undertaking.

In the 2020s she combined visibility on mainstream television with a return to classic songwriting. She won the UK series The Masked Singer in 2021, showcasing her versatility to a new audience. Reuniting with Dave Stewart, she released Never Forget My Love (2022), a set steeped in timeless soul-pop craftsmanship, followed the same year by the holiday album Merry Christmas, Love.

Recognition and Impact
Stone's awards shelf includes BRIT Awards and a Grammy earned alongside John Legend and Van Hunt, but her broader impact rests on re-centering classic soul in 21st-century pop. Often performing barefoot and favoring live bands and analog textures, she has kept a human, improvisational spirit at the forefront of her recordings and concerts. She has appeared at major benefit concerts, including the 2007 Concert for Diana organized by Princes William and Harry, and she established the Joss Stone Foundation to support a range of charitable causes encountered during her global travels.

Personal Life and Resilience
Life in the public eye has brought moments of intense scrutiny. In 2011 police foiled a violent plot against her near her home in Devon; two men were later convicted, and Stone responded with composed gratitude toward authorities and fans. Outside the spotlight she has emphasized family and community, working closely with her mother, Wendy, on creative and philanthropic ventures, and building a home life in the UK. In the early 2020s she and her partner, Cody DaLuz, welcomed two children, adding a new dimension to a career already defined by curiosity, openness, and a strong sense of self.

Legacy
From a teenager mentored by Betty Wright and signed by Steve Greenberg to a collaborator with Dave Stewart, Mick Jagger, Damian Marley, and A.R. Rahman, Joss Stone has navigated fame on her own terms. Her trajectory traces a consistent through-line: a love of soul music's emotional directness and a belief that collaboration across genres and cultures keeps that spirit alive. Whether revisiting deep cuts from the classic era, crafting new songs with trusted partners, or stepping into film, television, and video games, she has remained a distinct voice of British soul whose work bridges generations.

Our collection contains 5 quotes who is written by Joss, under the main topics: Music - Equality - Youth - Work-Life Balance.

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