Norah Jones had already reached their goals of success long before their debut album Come Away With Me became an international phenomenon.
She has traversed many musical genres during her career. From roots-influenced side projects like Little Willies and Puss n Boots; recording with modern rock giants Foo Fighters and Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong; to working alongside pop producer Danger Mouse and jazz composer Daniele Luppi – her musical interests span an expansive spectrum.
Born Geetali Norah Jones Shankar in New York City
At 20, many young professionals hope to make it big in their chosen careers; Norah Jones has already achieved that feat! A nine-time Grammy awardee with numerous critically acclaimed albums to her credit, Norah has cemented herself a place at the pinnacle of her chosen profession.
Geetali Norah Shankar was born to concert producer Sue Jones and sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar; after her parents separated when she was young, Norah was raised by her mother in Grapevine, Texas where she sang in local Methodist church choirs while taking piano lessons as well as taking an interest in alto saxophone playing.
Norah explored moody electric instrumentation that leant toward rock and soul on her fourth album, The Fall (2009). For her most recent release – Little Broken Hearts (2012) produced by Brian Burton of Danger Mouse fame.
Raised in Grapevine, Texas
Jones is the daughter of Beatles-influenced sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar and her music is an intoxicating blend of mellow acoustic pop, soul, and jazz – her debut album Come Away With Me was nominated for eight Grammy Awards and sold more than 10 million copies worldwide.
Feels Like Home (2004) was nominated for four Grammys and she won one. In 2012, Danger Mouse produced her fifth album Little Broken Hearts which garnered yet more nominations and wins from Grammy voters.
Anoushka Shankar, also a musician, made her film debut as part of Seth MacFarlane’s Ted and sang on its soundtrack.
Her debut album Come Away With Me (2002) was nominated for eight Grammy Awards
Norah Jones’ jazz-influenced debut album Come Away With Me was nominated for eight Grammy Awards and went on to win five. This success marked one of her finest works and remains highly-rated today.
She joined forces with producer and engineer Jay Newland, who felt his diverse musical experience would give him an insight into her sound. Together they recorded nine demo tracks; four appeared on Blue Note’s First Sessions sampler while the remaining five would become part of her debut album.
Jones’s 2004 country music-inspired release, Feels Like Home (2004) was an acclaimed success and was later followed by 2009’s The Fall (about broken relationships).
Her second album Feels Like Home (2004) was nominated for four Grammy Awards
After her success with Come Away With Me, Jones went on to release albums that blended contemporary jazz and folk music. Her second effort Feels Like Home earned four Grammy nominations and sold more than a million copies just within the United States alone.
Not Too Late was recorded at her New York City studio and featured all original songs written or co-written by Jones herself, for which it won five Grammy awards, including Best New Artist and Record of the Year; one additional Grammy was given for a duet featuring Jesse Harris on “Don’t Know Why”.
Her third album The Fall (2009) was nominated for three Grammy Awards
Norah Jones proved to music executives that audiences were ready for something different – her jazz-influenced sound combined elements from 1970s singer/songwriters, classic country, as well as her original compositions to produce success in her debut album release.
She attended Interlochen Arts Camp and Booker T Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas before enrolling at University of North Texas to major in jazz piano – winning two Down Beat Student Music Awards: one each for Best Jazz Vocalist and Best Original Composition.
Her surprising success on the Billboard charts paved the way for other performers with more traditional musical styles to follow her lead and collaborate with artists ranging from Ray Charles to Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane.
Her fourth album Pick Me Up Off the Floor (2020) was nominated for two Grammy Awards
Norah Jones has won nine Grammy awards since her 2002 debut album Come Away With Me was released, earning critical acclaim and nine wins at each award show. Jones excels at mixing sultry grooves with lyrics that both lament loss and promise hope.
Feels Like Home (2004), Not Too Late (2007), The Fall (2009), Little Broken Hearts (2012) and Day Breaks (2016) have all been released along with her recent singles album Pick Me Up Off the Floor (2020).
Norah Jones is an artist without borders, her music crossing the spectrum from blues, Americana and jazz fusion – while channeling both personal and collective emotional trauma into one edgy package.