LaKisha Jones

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LaKisha Jones
Lakisha Jones (right) performing with Melinda Doolittle during the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2007
Background information
Birth name	LaKisha Ann Jones
Born	January 13, 1980 (1980-01-13) (age 28) Flint, Michigan, U.S.
Genre(s)	Gospel, Soul, R&B, Pop
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	2007-Present

LaKisha Ann Jones^[1] (born January 13, 1980) is an American singer. She placed fourth on the sixth season of American Idol.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Personal life 2 American Idol 2.1 American Idol performances 2.2 Audition 3 American Idol performances 4 Post-American Idol 5 Discography 5.1 EPs 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Biography

[edit] Personal life

Jones was born at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan, to a teacher at the Flint Foundation Academy. She was raised by her grandmother, Ruth Jefferson Morris.

An only child, Jones is a Baptist who began singing at the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church at age five.^[1] She was formally trained in classical music,^{[citation needed]} although her favorite genre is gospel music.^{[citation needed]} Jones always dreamed of becoming a singer.

She was home schooled in Flint, then attended Flint Central High School (now Flint Central Commencement Academy), where, in one of her earliest performances, she appeared in a play called Lead Poisoning. While in high school, Jones performed with one of the groups in the choral department: the Madrigal Singers. Jones graduated in 1998 and attended the University of Michigan-Flint, majoring in music. During college, she performed in the play Godspell. Jones stated in her Idol interview that Flint, Michigan was her home for the first 20 years of her life, and although she had briefly moved to Fort Meade, Maryland, she is now a Flint resident again. She is a single mother with a four year old girl who encouraged her to try out.

Jones moved to Houston, Texas, where she lived for six years. One of her earliest jobs in Houston was that of a secretary at Abundant Life Cathedral, a church with 7,000 parishioners. Prior to working at the church, Jones sang in the 70-member choir. The choir has produced well-known gospel singer Yolanda Adams, among others. In 2006 , Jones moved to Fort Meade, Maryland, in order to be closer to her cousins and other relatives. At that time, Jones obtained a job as a bank teller at Provident Bank in Millersville, Maryland, which she gave up when she moved to Hollywood to compete in American Idol.

Jones was the 1997 winner of Flint's now defunct supershow, and while living in Houston, she took second place in the 2005 Gimme the Mic competition.

[edit] American Idol

[edit] American Idol performances

[edit] Audition

Jones auditioned singing "Think" by Aretha Franklin. The judges were impressed with her powerful vocal and performance, and Simon noted that he "loved this girl". Jones was shown emotionally embracing her daughter after being sent into the next round. In her farewell montage on the episode of her elimination it was shown that she also sang "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" during her audition. She also performed Stevie Wonder's "Until You Come Back To Me" during one of the Hollywood audition rounds.

[edit] American Idol performances

Week #

Theme #

Song Choice

Original Artist

Order #

Result

Top 24 (12 Women)

N/A

"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"

Jennifer Holliday

12

Safe

Top 20 (10 Women)

N/A

"Midnight Train to Georgia"

Gladys Knight & the Pips

3

Safe

Top 16 (8 Women)

N/A

"I Have Nothing"

Whitney Houston

6

Safe

Top 12

Diana Ross

"God Bless The Child"

Diana Ross

8

Safe

Top 11

British Invasion

"Diamonds Are Forever"

Shirley Bassey

5

Safe

Top 10

No Doubt/Artist who inspire Gwen Stefani

"Last Dance"

Donna Summer

1

Safe

Top 9

American Classics

"Stormy Weather"

Ethel Waters

9

Safe Top 3

Top 8

Latin

"Conga"

Miami Sound Machine

2

Safe

Top 7

Country

"Jesus, Take the Wheel"

Carrie Underwood

4

Bottom 2

Top 6

Inspirational

"I Believe"

Fantasia Barrino

4

Safe (Non-Elimination Week)

Top 6

Bon Jovi

"This Ain't a Love Song"

Bon Jovi

3

Safe

Top 4

Barry Gibb

"Stayin' Alive" "Run to Me"

Bee Gees

3 7

Eliminated

[edit] Post-American Idol

Jones toured with the Top 10 Idols on the Idols tour. She received rave reviews for her solo performance of I Will Always Love You. Jones says that she will also be focusing on two goals: a record contract and a new home, which is likely to be in Houston, Texas.^[2]

She performed the Star-Spangled Banner at Comerica Park before the Detroit Tigers game on June 8, 2007 versus the New York Mets.

Jones also had two homecoming events. The first at the Abundant Life Cathedral Church in Houston, Texas (Houston was her home from 2000 to 2006) on May 30th, 2007. This date was also declared 'LaKisha Jones Day' in Houston by Mayor Bill White.

The other homecoming was at Atwood Stadium, Flint, Michigan, where Jones was born and raised and where most of her family still resides, on June 9, 2007. It was at this ceremony that she received a $6,000 check and six-month free lease on a new Buick LaCrosse. She also received a Flint watch, personalized tree ornaments from Bronner's and a card signed by 300 fans.

June 10, 2007 was declared to be 'LaKisha Jones Day' in Michigan by Gov. Jennifer Granholm at Michigan State Capitol, Lansing.

In an interview in Toronto, Jones revealed that there are deals on the table and expressed her wish to record either a Soul album or an Inspirational Gospel album or maybe both. She also said that she may do some Broadway.

In late September 2007, it was announced that Jones would take over the role of the church soloist in the Broadway musical The Color Purple as of January 9, 2008. Jones played the role of Sofia during matinées (standing in for Chaka Khan). ^[3]

It was confirmed on American Idol Extra that her debut album will be out in June and it will be a mix of R&B/Soul & Gospel.

[edit] Discography

[edit] EPs

Album Information
LaKisha Jones - EP Released: June 12, 2007 (U.S) RIAA certification: N/A Chart Performance (iTunes): 85

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• LaKisha Jones at American Idol
• LaKisha Jones Interview on Fox News Radio
• LaKisha Jones Official Website
• LaKisha Jones at MySpace

v • d • e American Idol season 6 Top 12 finalists Jordin Sparks · Blake Lewis · Melinda Doolittle · LaKisha Jones · Chris Richardson · Phil Stacey · Sanjaya Malakar · Haley Scarnato · Gina Glocksen · Chris Sligh · Stephanie Edwards · Brandon Rogers Other Sources Finale · Tour