Norah Jones shot to superstardom at age 23 with her instant classic debut album Come Away With Me, earning three Grammy awards: album, record and new artist. Her music seamlessly combined contemporary jazz, folk and country elements with an intimate vocal style reminiscent of Billie Holiday and Etta James.
Jones relocated to New York and has revolutionized piano-forward jazz for contemporary audiences.
Her Life
She’s a celebrated singer-musician-actress who has won multiple awards. As an expert producer she has collaborated with many other artists. Her gentle music can often be found being used for relaxation or creating an calming atmosphere in any environment.
Born Geetali Norah Jones Shankar to Ravi Shankar and Sue Jones in Grapevine, Texas, her early years were spent there where the influence of her mother’s record collection helped foster her musical talent.
After graduating high school, she attended the University of North Texas where she met jazz pianist Jesse Harris – later to become one of her key collaborators.
Norah eventually signed with Blue Note Records and released their debut album, Come Away With Me, which sold more than one million copies and earned several Grammy awards. She went on to record several more albums such as Feels Like Home (2004), Not Too Late (2007) and Day Breaks (2016); as well as releasing soundtracks for Wong Kar-Wai films as well as singles collection Pick Me Up Off The Floor (2020). These successful efforts enabled Norah to make significant investments including purchasing a multimillion-dollar home.
Her Music
“Tragedy” is an elegant romantic ballad highlighting Jones’ understated style and her haunting voice, which soars over an atmospheric tapestry of piano, guitar, synth and string arrangements. This track stands out on her latest album Day Breaks; wherein her emphasis returned to acoustic piano-led music from earlier albums.
After graduating from the University of North Texas, Jones relocated to New York City where she performed as part of Little Willies and recorded and toured. In February 2004 Jones released her self-titled debut album Feels Like Home which was heavily influenced by country music and soon reached number one on Billboard 200 chart within days of its release.
At the 45th Grammy Awards in 2003, Jones took home five awards – Best New Artist and Album of the Year among them – tying with Lauryn Hill and Alicia Keys as female artists with most wins at that awards show. Her debut album was certified platinum by RIAA before going on to win Best Pop Vocal Album Grammy.
Her Personal Life
Though she has experienced tremendous success in music, Norah Jones continues to push herself artistically by exploring different genres and working with talented musicians. By creating compelling works that capture listeners’ hearts and imaginations.
Norah Jones recognizes the value of achieving a healthy work-life balance, prioritizing her family while being careful to separate personal from professional endeavors. Furthermore, she uses social media as a platform to connect with fans beyond live performances and form meaningful bonds that transcend her live performances.
After graduating from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Norah Jones attended the University of North Texas to study jazz piano. There she met fellow musician Jesse Harris and formed the band Little Willies; together they released two albums featuring their unique blend of country and pop music before recording a tribute album to country icons like Hank Williams and Willie Nelson.
Her Podcast
Norah Jones stands out in an age of artist-led podcasts as the leader with her charming new show. Each week, this multi-GRAMMY winner hosts an interview and musical collaboration session with a different musician, from familiar names such as Questlove and Christian McBride to unfamiliar talent like folk singer-songwriter Andrew Bird or jazz virtuoso Robert Glasper; her guests span all genres and careers.
This week Norah is joined by Rufus Wainwright, an exquisite piano player whose charming piano playing and inspiring stories about family inspire her to sing in beautiful harmony. They discuss music and family before playing several songs together including D’Angelo’s classic cover “Take Me to the Alley.” Recorded April 27th.
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