Profile: Joss Stone

6 August 2008 04:43pm

Real Name: Joscelyn Eve Stoker

Birth Date: April 11, 1987

Image: Down-to-earth Devon girl with a big bluesy voice

Best Known For: Her mature voice on hits such as Fell In Love With A Boy, Right To Be Wrong and You Had Me - and refusing to wear shoes on stage

Early Life: Joss was born and bred in Devon where she grew up listening to Aretha Franklin.

Aged 14, she appeared on BBC's Star For A Night, belting out Franklin's classic (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.

Signed up by a US record company, the teenager flew to Miami to work with soul veteran Betty Wright.

The tracks she recorded in Miami became The Soul Sessions LP and received international acclaim.

Career High: In 2005, Joss's performance at Live8 cemented her celebrity status.

Love Life: Joss dated Beau Dozier, 25, the son of Motown songwriter Lamont Dozier, for two years.

They split in 2005 and she is currently rumoured to be dating US R'n'B star Nelly.

Don't Mention: Bob Geldof. Joss - too young to remember the original Band Aid - mistakenly called him "Gandalf" throughout the recording of the 2005 version.

Words Of Wisdom: "I just think my voice is suited to a time that doesn't exist any more."

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