Joss Stone has been obsessed with soul music since she was a little girl. By the time she was in her early teens she had begun to intuitively hone her now trademark gravely-but-lustrous vocals by singing along to Aretha’s Franklin’s Greatest Hits.

 

She began pursuing a singing career at thirteen, when she auditioned for UK talent show Star For a Night. This eventually led to a record deal and the release of Stone’s star- making debut album, The Soul Sessions, in 2003. Her second record, 2004’s Mind Body & Soul capitalized on The Soul Sessions’ commercial momentum and critical adoration and earned Stone three Grammy nominations, including one for Best New Artist. But it was really her third album, 2007’s Introducing Joss Stone, a more independent, less packaged effort, on which Joss showcased her songwriting chops, that revealed the singer had truly been embraced by the American audience; it marked the highest debut ever for a female British solo artist on the Billboard charts. Joss’ first three albums have sold over 11 million albums worldwide.