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For other uses, see Jaya (disambiguation).
Jaya (born Maria Luisa Ramsey-Gotidoc on March 21, 1969, in Manila, Philippines) is a Filipino soul music singer of African American parentage.
[edit] BiographyJaya is known in the Philippines as the Queen of Soul. Born Maria Luisa Ramsey on March 21, 1969 in Manila, Philippines, the name Jaya came from an American producer when he signed her to a record deal in the U.S. in 1989. Her mother is comedienne-singer Elizabeth Ramsey, who is of Afro-Jamaican and Spanish descent. She has three siblings: Ike, Anna, and Susan. She started in show business at the age of 10 as a back-up dancer to her mother. At 13, Ramsey became the undefeated champion in the ABS-CBN noon show, Student Canteen, and joined the Opera House. From Opera House to Clover, from Clover to whatever. Jaya started doing solo performances in 1982, using the name Louise Ramsey. (Louise was re-christened Jaya after she signed up a record deal in the US in 1989; the name came from her American producer). Jaya barely knew her father. He and her mother separated after a seven-year relationship. Jaya also was not able to finish high school in the Philippines because of her busy lifestyle as a young performer. However, she got high grades in school and became a class president. Her father a Jamaican was very strict but Elizabeth never wanted to go to school and yet she stayed in grade six for two years. Her mother decided to leave for the U.S. in June 1985 and brought Jaya with her. Young Jaya continued her solo singing stints there, performing with other Pinoy artists like Tillie Moreno, Eddie Mercado, Lerma dela Cruz, and the veteran duo Reycards. Life in the U.S. was likewise difficult for both Jaya and her mother. They stayed in different cities in California. She ran away from home in 1988, after finishing high school. She went to New York with a friend and landed a job as a back-up vocalist to the group of musician Stevie B. But whether here or in the US, she says, life is the same. It is what you make it. The most difficult part of staying abroad is finding a permanent place to stay.When Jaya had her own apartment in Florida, she accommodated her friends who stayed in her house. [edit] Musical careerAfter one year, Jaya moved to Florida. She was offered an opportunity to finish an album that had already been started by another artist. In February 1989, she signed a record deal with LMR Records (New York). Later that year, her self-titled debut album was released in the U.S. The first single, "If You Leave Me Now", was a hit in the dance clubs and was subsequently released to Top 40 radio. Produced and co-written by Stevie B (who also sang some of the backing vocals), the single entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart in October 1989. It eventually peaked at number 44 in February 1990 and remained in the Top 100 pop singles chart for 26 weeks,[1] an unusually long chart run for a single that peaked outside the Top 40. According to playlists submitted to Billboard magazine by American radio stations at the time, the song was a top 20 hit on dance-pop stations in various large markets, such as New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. The song features a strong vocal performance by Jaya as well as many elements associated with freestyle music, which in the late 1980s was beginning to reach a wider audience in the U.S. "If You Leave Me Now" also gave Jaya the opportunity to work across the US with top artists like Stevie B, MC Hammer, Milli Vanilli, James Ingram, The Jets, and many more. Jaya didn’t get in touch for four years: no phone calls, no letter, no nothing. One fateful day, her older brother heard Jaya’s song, the one that made it to the top forty on the radio. Her mother cried after listening the song. After spending four years in Florida, Jaya went back to California to be closer to her mother. She continued to perform music there for the next few years, primarily for the Filipino community. 1995 was a turning point in Jaya's musical career. Asia's Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales noticed her voice after Jaya did an opening act for Corrales, Carmen Soriano, the late Bert "Tawa" Marcelo, and Elizabeth in the U.S. Corrales then asked Jaya if she would come to Manila and record an album. Jaya went back to her native land and signed a record deal with Viva Records in March 1995 and completed her first local album. Five songs were recorded in the US while the rest were done here. Her biggest break in the Philippine music scene came when she won first place in the 1996 Metropop Song Festival for her interpretation of "Sometimes You Just Know". She also won as Best Interpreter at the Asia Song Festival held in Hong Kong in February 1997 for her rendition of the song "You Lift Me Up", composed by Danny Tan with lyrics by Dodjie Simon. This composition also received the grand prize, the Best Song award. In the late '90s, the radiowaves in the Philippines were filled with Jaya's songs. At present, the radiowaves are filled with Jaya's songs. Her albums were bestsellers in records stores nationwide. In early 2004, she became one of the judges of GMA Network's top rating talent search, Pinoy Pop Superstar, which ran on air for 3 straight years until mid 2007. She is also mainstay of the Sunday noontime variety show SOP since 2001. She will also be hosting her new show BandaOke! which will air on October 25, 2009 replacing All Star K!. 2007, she released her 10th album Cool Change under her new label, GMA Records, featuring covers of international hit songs including Donna Summer's "On the Radio" and the Chaka Khan's "Through the Fire". All of the songs were presented with new arrangements in various musical genres. The first single was "Is It Over?" originally sung by Ronnie Milsap and was certified Gold Record Award. Her album signifies the many changes she has undergone in the past years. A new look, a new sound, a new label. From start to finish, Ramsey delivers fitting sensuous vocals at precise moments all throughout. Although it is a remake album “Cool Change,” appears to be her strongest yet, one that has stacks of variety and texture. It also stands as a testimonial of industry experience and wisdom in that she doesn’t try too hard pulling of vintage soul; instead she delights in belting out these classic confections in her own sweet style. Jaya became a mother at age 36. She is married to her second husband Gary Gotidoc with a daughter named Sabriya. In 2009, Jaya gave birth the normal way to a boy at 5:28 p.m. June 27, 2009, at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City. The baby, who will be named Dylan, weighed 8.2 lbs. After her Gold Record solo album, “Cool Change, ” Ramsey released her 11th studio album entitled, "Real.Love.Stories," It contains 14 love songs carefully picked and beautifully revived by the Philippine’s Queen Of Soul, such as Breathe Again originally sung by Toni Braxton ; Old Friend by Phyllis Hyman and Save the Best For Last by Vanessa Williams. The concept album will be released initially on a limited edition micro secure digital format and after two weeks, it will be available on physical CDs and digital downloading. [edit] VoiceJaya is classified as a dramatic soprano, widely known for her dark, big voice, belting as much as Ab5 in her rendition of "Through the Fire". [edit] DiscographyMain article: Jaya discography
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