Norah Jones

If you're a fan of easy-to-listen jazz and blues, Norah Jones is no stranger to you. The unassuming singer has made a significant impact on the music industry with her smooth, laid-back style and unique vocal range.

About Norah Jones

Born to world-renowned sitar player Ravi Shankar, Norah Jones spent most of her early life in Texas, where she nurtured her musical talent by attending Dallas Booker T. Washington School of the Arts and later studying at the University of North Texas' music program.

From a young age, Norah knew she wanted to be a musician, and after honing her skills with endless gigs, she made her way to New York City, where she broke into the music scene with her debut album, Come Away With Me.

The album, which features a fusion of jazz and country blues, won her five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year. Besides, the album's collaborators scooped three other Grammy awards, adding to the album's success and making Norah an overnight musical sensation.

With her success, Norah Jones became a household name and cemented her place in the music industry. In this piece, we'll delve further into Norah Jones' background, her career, and some of her notable moments in music.

Early Life

Norah Jones, whose full name is Geethali Norah Jones Shankar, was born on March 30th, 1979 in New York City. Her mother, Sue Jones, was a concert producer, and her father, Ravi Shankar, was a prominent Indian sitar player who died in 2012.

Despite her father's influence in music, Norah didn't get to see him much when she was younger, and as a result, wasn't directly influenced by his music. In fact, she has cited that her mother's love for music was a more significant influence on her than her father's music.

When Norah was just four years old, her mother moved with her and her sister Anoushka Shankar to Texas to escape the media attention that her father was receiving. In Texas, Norah's mother worked as a concert producer, and it was here that Norah started honing her musical talent by playing various instruments and eventually finding solace in the piano.

Education and Career Beginnings

Norah Jones attended the Booker T. Washington School of the Arts in Dallas, Texas, where she further nurtured her musical talent. She was then accepted into the coveted jazz program at the University of North Texas and moved to Denton, where she stayed for two years before dropping out.

After leaving the university, Norah Jones moved to Austin, where she started performing various gigs in local bars and restaurants. In 1999, one of Norah's gigs caught the attention of Jesse Harris, a fellow singer-songwriter who was looking for a female vocalist for his upcoming album.

Norah Jones obliged and started working with Jesse, eventually contributing songs to his debut album, Jesse Harris and The Ferdinandos. The album became a critical success, and the attention it garnered propelled Norah's career to the next level.

The Release of "Come Away With Me"

In 2002, Norah's debut album, "Come Away With Me," was released. The album featured the hit singles "Don't Know Why" and "Come Away With Me," which propelled Norah to worldwide acclaim. The album won five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year.

Norah's music style incorporates a fusion of jazz, country, and blues, and her vocals have been described as velvety and soothing. With the success of "Come Away With Me," Norah Jones became a household name and an integral part of the new wave jazz movement of the early 2000s.

Notable Career moments

Since the release of her debut album, Norah Jones has put out several critically acclaimed albums, making a significant impact on the music scene with her ambient sound and unique vocal style. The following are some notable moments in her career:

The Release of "Feels Like Home"

In 2004, Norah Jones released her second album, "Feels Like Home." The album peaked at number one on the Billboard charts and earned Norah Jones another Grammy award. The album's single, "Sunrise," became a massive hit, and the album cemented Norah's place in the music scene as a prolific artist and songwriter.

Collaborations and Collaborator's Albums

Norah Jones has also collaborated with several artists on some of the most successful albums of all time. In 2003, she collaborated with the band The Little Willies, releasing their self-titled album, which peaked at number 38 on the Billboard 200 charts.

In 2007, she collaborated with several other artists on Herbie Hancock's album, River: The Joni Letters. The album won Album of the Year at the 2008 Grammy Awards, with Norah Jones being one of the featured vocalists on the album's tracks.

The Release of "Come Away With Me – Deluxe Edition"

In 2004, the deluxe edition of Norah's debut album, Come Away With Me, was released. The expanded edition of the album features several bonus tracks and previously unreleased songs. The album was re-issued several times, and in 2012, a 10th-anniversary edition of the album was released, featuring live performances and other bonus content.

Endnote

Norah Jones has had an illustrious career, cementing her place in the music scene as one of the most significant new jazz artists of the early 2000s. From her debut album, Come Away With Me, to her critically acclaimed collaborations and albums, Norah Jones is an artist whose unique style and soothing vocals will forever remain a staple of the music industry.