"They’re an army and their messages have gotten me through some dark times, because I feel a responsibility toward them. They’ve been so faithful, I just want to deliver for them. They deserve it. Especially the really devoted ones who have waited it out with me. I really want to make them proud. I want them to feel like Jumping Trains was worth the wait." - JoJo
Bio
For JoJo, the journey has always been filled with music. “I don’t remember ever not singing. My mom says I’ve been producing sounds since I was two days old. Of course when you’re born, you scream, but she likes to say that I was doing it with intention,” JoJo says with a laugh. The daughter of musically inclined parents, JoJo was born Joanna Levesque in Brattleboro, VT, and moved to Foxborough, MA, with her mom at age 4 after her parents divorced. “My mom and I shared a room and a bed and paint from the walls would fall into my cereal,” she recalls. “We weren’t well off, but my mom never let me feel like I wasn’t loved or taken care of,” she says. “She worked really hard to make sure I was comfortable and got to participate in every activity.” Growing up, JoJo fell in love with her mom’s soul and folk records, everything from Etta James and Aretha Franklin to Joni Mitchell and James Taylor, as well as pop vocalists Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. “I appreciated ’N SYNC and Backstreet Boys, but I was listening to Ella Fitzgerald and George Benson,” she says. “I was a friggin’ weirdo. The first album I ever bought was The Best of George Benson.”
After gaining experience performing in various showcases and competitions, JoJo appeared on Kids Say the Darnedest Things with Bill Cosby at age 7 and was offered her first record deal at age 8, which her mother turned down feeling that her daughter was too young. After appearing on America’s Most Talented Kids at age 11, JoJo was signed to Da Family Entertainment Which released her debut album through Blackground/Universal Motown Records in 2004. JoJo debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Top 200, went platinum in the U.S., and sold three million copies worldwide propelled by the success of its hit singles “Baby It’s You” and the gold-certified “Leave (Get Out),” which hit No. 1 at Top 40, making JoJo, then 13, the youngest solo artist ever to score a No. 1 single in the U.S. In 2006, JoJo released her second album The High Road, which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200 and spawned the hit single “Too Little Too Late,” which broke the record for biggest one-week jump into the Top 3. In 2010 JoJo released her first ever mix tape, Can’t Take That Away From Me, which saw over 185,000 downloads the first week of release.
Also a talented actress, JoJo appeared on the TV programs The Bernie Mac Show and American Dreams, and the feature films RV (with Robin Williams) and Aquamarine, which earned her a Teen Choice Award nomination for Choice Breakout (Female). She was also nominated for two Billboard Music Awards for “Leave (Get Out)” and an MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist making her the youngest artist ever to be nominated for a VMA.
“You can’t really prepare yourself for success,” JoJo says of her child stardom. “I wish I had been more present, but I think when you’re 13, and you’re traveling the world and making money, it’s easy to get lost in it. I didn’t lose myself, but I don’t think I really absorbed what a unique opportunity it was.”
Written By: Soulshock, Kenneth Karlin, Alex Cantrell, Philip "Silky" White Produced By: Soulshock & Karlin Release Date: February 24, 2004 Peak: #1 Certified: Gold
This song was JoJo's first single off of her self titled debut album. It peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Pop Charts making her the youngest solo artist ever to top the charts in the United States. The song also peaked at number 2 in the United Kingdom. The song also peaked inside the top ten in various other countries such as: Australia, Belgum, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand and Switzerland.
2nd Single: Baby It's You
Written By: Harvey Mason, Jr., Damon Thomas, Eric Dawkins, Antonio Dixon Produced By: The Underdogs Release Date: September 6, 2004 Peak: #3 Certified: Gold
Baby It's You is the 2nd single to be released from JoJo's self titled debut album. It highest peak was number 3 in New Zealand. The only other country it managed to crack the top 10 in was the UK, but it cracked the top 20 in countries such as Austria, Belgum, Denmark, Germany and Switzerand. It just missed out on the top 20 in the US by peaking at number 22.
3rd Single: Not That Kinda Girl
Written By: Neely Dinkins, B. Cola Pietro, Balewa Muhammad, Sylvester Jordan, Jr. Produced By: The Co-Stars & Balewa Muhammad Release Date: February 15, 2005 Peak: 52 Certified: N/A
Not That Kinda Girl was the 3rd and final single to be released form her debut album. Because the song wasn't released commercially in the US it failed to chart there... the only places the song managed to chart were Austria (52) and Germany (85).
The High Road
1st Single: Too Little Too Late
Written By: Billy Steinberg, Josh Alexander, Ruth-Anne Cunningham Produced By: Josh Alexander, Vincent Herbert & Billy Steinberg Release Date: August 15, 2006 Peak: 2 Certified: Gold
Too Little Too Late was the first single to be released form JoJo's sophmore album "The High Road". The song saw JoJo return to top form after her last single failed to make any impact. Too Little Too Late mannaged to crack the top 10 in countries such as Australia, New Zealand as well as the UK and US. The song also mannaged to peak inside the top 20 almost everywhere else.
2nd Single: How To Touch A Girl
Written By: Billy Steinberg, Josh Alexander, Joanna "JoJo" Levesque Produced By: Billy Steinberg & Josh Alexander Release Date: November 14, 2006 Peak: 76 Certified: N/A
How To Touch A Girl was the 2nd single to be released form "The High Road". Although many fans thought that "This Time" was going to be released as the 2nd single... including JoJo herself. The song was well recieved by the critics it failed to make much impact on the charts at all. This was largely due to the lack of promo for the song as well as the fact that the song didn't get a proper release. The song peaked at number 76 on the Billboard Pop Charts and number 4 on the Bubbling Under Charts.
3rd Single: Anything
Written By: Beau Dozier, Mischke Butler, Justin Trugman, David Paich, Jeff Porcaro Produced By: Beau Dozier & Justin Trugman Release Date: May 8th, 2007 Peak: 18 Certified: N/A
Anything was the 3rd and final single to be taken from "The High Road". The song samples elements from the 1982 hit "Africa" by Toto. Although the song didn't get much of a release and there was no official video filmed for it.. it was still able to peak at number 38 on the Billboard Pop Songs and number 21 on the UK charts. It's highest peak was number 18 on the Irish charts.
Can't Take That Away From Me
1st Single: In The Dark
Written By: Joanna "JoJo" Levesque & Jordan Gatsby Produced By: Jordan Gatsby Release Date: August 30, 2010 Peak: N/A Certified: N/A
In The Dark was the first and only song to be given the video treatment by JoJo. The song was taken from her debut mixtape "Can't Take That Away From Me" The song showed off a different side to JoJo, a more experimental sound. The song was met with praise from her fans. The mixtape premiered the following week.
Jumping Trains
1st Single: Disaster
Written By: Joanna "JoJo" Levesque, Gino Barletta, Mario Marchetti & Marc Himmel Produced By: Mario Marchetti Release Date: September 6, 2011 Peak: 29 Certified: N/A
Disaster is the 1st official of JoJo's much anticipated and much delayed 3rd Album "Jumping Trains". Despite the song getting no real promo (a few low key TV performances when she was sick) the song still managed to peak at number 29 on the Billboard Pop charts and number 87 on the Billboard Hot 100. Not bad for a girl who's been away for 6 years and had no support from her record label.
2nd Single: Demonstrate
Written By: Joanna "JoJo" Levesque Produced By: Noah "40" Shebib Release Date: August, 28th 2012 Peak: N/A Certified: N/A
Demonstrate is the long awaited 2nd single from her even longer awaited 3rd album Jumping Trains. Although the song won't be officially released until the 28th of August, her label uploaded the track to soundcloud so the fans could listen to it. It's a slow R&B jam in the same vein as her cover of Marvins Room (It's also produced by the same guy) and the track has already been praised by her fans.
Promo Singles
Buzz Single: The Other Chick
Written By: Joanna "JoJo" Levesque Produced By: Zedd Release Date: May 14, 2011 Peak: N/A Certified: N/A
The Other Chick was rumoured to be the first offical single from JoJo's much delayed album "Jumping Trains". The demo leaked onto the internet so JoJo released the final version of it on her official website on the 14th May. The song was available for free on her website. A music video was shot for the song but the video never saw the light of day due to the song's release being scrapped.
Promo Single: Sexy To Me
Written By: Joanna "JoJo" Levesque, Nathaniel Hills, J. Washington, Marcella Araica, Kenna Produced By: Danja Release Date: February 28, 2012 Peak: 79 Certified: N/A
Sexy To Me was released as a promo single for JoJo's upcoming album "Jumping Trains" as well as promoting the "Clearasil Perfectawash" product that JoJo is now the spokesperson for. The song was only released to iTunes where it peaked at number 79. The song doesn't have a music video but it does however have a lyric video which made some fans believe that it is set to become the official second single, with a music video along the way.
Slaying Yo Faves
Paparazzi by Lady GaGa:
You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift:
Grenade by Bruno Mars
You Know I’m No Good by Amy Winehouse
What's My Name by Rihanna
One In A Million & Are You That Somebody by Aalyiah
Crazy In Love by Beyonce & Crazy by Gnarls Barkley
Filmography
AQUAMARINE
Directed By: Elizabeth Allen Written By: John Quaintance & Jessica Bendinger Character: Hailey Rogers Stars: Sarah Paxton, Joanna "JoJo" Levesque & Emma Roberts Released: 26 February 2006
Summary: Two teenage girls discover a mermaid in their beach club's swimming pool who promises them a wish if they help her prove to Neptune love exists.
RV: RUNNAWAY VACATION
Directed By: Barry Sonnenfeld Written By: Geoff Rodkey Character: Cassie Munro Stars: Robin Williams, Cheryl Hines, Joanna "JoJo" Levesque & Josh Hutcherson Released: 28 April 2006
Summary: Bob Munro and his dysfunctional family rent an RV for a road trip to the Colorado Rockies, where they ultimately have to contend with a bizarre community of campers.
TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A HOLLYWOOD STARLET
Directed By: Tim Matheson Written By: Elisa Bell Character: Morgan Carter / Claudia Miller
Stars: Joanna 'JoJo' Levesque, Ian Nelson and Louis Ferreira Released: August 9, 2008
Summary: A young, Hollywood starlet has to adjust to her new life as she is sent to live with her aunt after a stint in rehab.
Unreleased Tracks
Where you can find all JoJo related songs that don't feature on any of her albums:
25 To Life
Around The World
Back Words
Beautiful Distraction
Beautiful Girls
Before We Take It There
Can't Believe It
Cold Blooded
Don't Call Here No More
Don't Say Nothin' (featuring Jon Mcxro)
Fly Away
Forever In My Life
Fearless
Guardian Angel
Heart Never Had A Hero
Hooked On You
How You Did It
Hollywood
Houstatlantavegas
I Don't Wanna Cry (featuring Josh Milian)
I Hate Love
I Need To Know
Impossible To Love
Jumping Trains
Keep Forgetting (To Forget About You)
Kinda Shy
Last Heart Standing
Lie To Me
Limbo
Lose Control (featuring Timbaland)
Marvins Room (Can't Do Better)
Numbers
No More Tears
Paint (featuring Travis Garland)
Paper Airplanes
Play This Twice
Riot
Safe With Me
Sexy To Me (Demo Version)
Something In The Water
Sucks To Be You (featuring Clinton Sparks & LMFAO)
Sweat
The Other Chick
Timothy Where You Been (featuring Timbaland & Jet)
Touchdown
Uncharted Waters (featuring Ray-J)
Underneath
Wait A Minute (For Your Love)
What You Do
Wrong Man For The Job
"I try to be more private than airing issues out on twitter. It's my life, and I have to make the right decisions for the long-term. I'm not asking you to be patient. I'm not asking you to wait. I'm believing in my future. You can too, if you'd like." - JoJo
i heard disaster on the radio at the gym the other day! :] not sure which station they're using or where they're getting their music, but still... i'm ready for the album.
Mine too...It's a great song..It's also one of the few I can stand from her debut...It was all over the place...But with The High Road she took a HUGE step forward...That album and everything she has released afterwards is pure perfection...
JoJo Levesque, who celebrated her 21st birthday Dec. 20, charts her first Pop Songs hit since 2007 with "Disaster," the lead single from her forthcoming third album, "Jumping Trains." She spent five weeks at No. 1 with "Leave (Get Out)" in 2004 and later scored top 10s with "Baby, It's You" (No. 7, 2004) and "Too Little Too Late" (No. 2, 2006).