- Jana (Native American singer)
Infobox Musical artist
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Name = Jana
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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Jana Mashonee
Born =
Died =
Origin =Robeson County, North Carolina ,United States
Genre = Pop, R&B, Electronic
Occupation =Singer-songwriter , actress
Years_active = 1997–present
Label =Standing Stone Records Sound of America Records Curb Records 1997-2002Radikal Records
2002-2006
URL = [http://www.jananation.com JanaNation]Jana Mashonee (better known by her stage name, Jana) is a
GRAMMY Award nominated singer, songwriter and actress. She isLumbee and Tuscarora, originally fromRobeson County, North Carolina , currently residing nearNew York City . She is currently releasing her music through a joint venture with Standing Stone Records and Sound of America Records. Jana was discovered byGRAMMY nominated producer/songwriter, Rodney Shelton, when Jana was singing funk in her "weekend band" Peace 'N' Love near Charlotte, NC. Shelton recorded a demo of "What I Am To You" and presented it toCurb Records 'Mike Curb who immediately signed Jana to his label.Jana has described herself as an "Urban Indian":
Jana is also active
motivational speaker for Native American youth, supporting such organizations as U.N.I.T.Y. (United Native Indian Tribal Youth ), and her own motivational program "Jana's Kids". Jana also designsjewelry in her lines "Urban Indian" and "Indian Spirit", with the profits going directly to her motivational program, "Jana's Kids".Jana graduated with a
Bachelor's degree inpsychology from prestigiousDavidson College in North Carolina.Albums
*"Flash Of A Firefly"
2005, Radikal Records
2006 Nammy Award Winner
*"American Indian Christmas"
2005, Standing Stone/SOAR Records
*"American Indian Story"
2006, Standing Stone/SOAR Records
2007GRAMMY Award nominatedSingles
*"What Am I To You" (1997) - Top Forty on the
Radio & Records ’ rhythmic chart (Curb records)
*"Near Me" (1998) - A cover of a song originally by the artistSheryl Crow . (Curb Records)
*"Ooh, Baby, Baby" (1999) - A success on radio and in the Radio & Records, DMA,Hitmakers , andGavin charts. Billboard magazine named "Ooh, Baby, Baby" pop "Single of the Week" in October. (Curb Records)
*"More Than Life" (2001) - Reached the Top 10 on Billboard's Artists to Watch chart and peaked in Billboard Magazine’s Hot Shot Debut At #29. Remixes where made byDJ Skribble andAnthony Acid . (Curb Records)
*"Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" (2001) - A cover of a song originally by the artistMeat Loaf . (Curb Records).
*"Stairway to Heaven " (2002) - Peaked at #7 on Billboard'sHot Dance Singles Sales chart, and was remixed byDJ Skribble . (Radikal Records)
*"Found A Love" (2003) - (Radikal Records)
*"I'll Be With You" (2006) - (Standing Stone/Radikal Records)Awards
*
GRAMMY Nominations
**Nominated 2007 - Best Native American Music Album for "American Indian Story".
**Nominated 2001 - Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. Co-writing on the song "Kiss and Tell" withCrystal Lewis , which appears on Lewis' album "Fearless".*
Native American Music Awards (Nammys)
**2001-2002
***Best Pop Artist
***Best Pop/Rock Recording ("More Than Life")
**2002-2003
***Song of the Year ("Stairway to Heaven")
**2005-2006
*** Record of the Year - "Flash of a Firefly"
*** Best Producer (Stephan Galfas and Alex Salzman) for Jana's "American Indian Christmas"
*Nammy Nominations
**2003-2004
***Best Female Artist
*** Best Pop/Rock Recording ("Found a Love")*Queens International Film Festival
**2007
***Winner Best Domestic Music Video ("The Enlightened Time" [cite web |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yKxXo75wXk |title=YouTube - The Enlightened Time |accessdate=2008-01-24 |format= |work= ] ) [cite web |url=http://www.queensfilmfestival.com/films/winners/2007/ |title=Queens Int'l Film Festival > film lineup > winners > 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-24 |format= |work= ]Acting career
*Jana appeared in the 2002 romantic comedy [http://www.mckaydaines.com/dc/default.htm "Dream Weaver"] , alongside prominent Native American actor
Wes Studi .
*Jana will star as Abbi in the upcoming film [http://www.raptorranchthemovie.com "Raptor Ranch"] .Miscellaneous
* Jana performed for the
First Lady during theFirst Lady's Luncheon (April 27 ,2006 ). One of the songs she sang was her own "One Spirit".The theme of the function was "The First Americans".
* Jana performed before a huge audience (+70,000) at the 2001 National Scout jamboree.
* Jana performed at the 2001Inaugural Ball .References
External links
* [http://www.jananation.com JanaNation] - Jana's official website.
* [http://www.myspace.com/jananation Jana] at Myspace Music
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:khcyxdkbjold Jana's] Allmusic.com biography
* [http://www.radikal.com/Jana.htm Jana] at Radikal Records
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