Jazmine Sullivan

Jazmine Sullivan is a native of in and brought up at home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pam is Jazmine's mom, and was a backing vocalist in the band Philadelphia International Records. When she was 5 years older, her father was offered an appointment as the curator for The city's Historic Strawberry Mansion in the Strawberry Mansion section, and her family moved into the landmark historical building. She is a 2005 graduate from the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts in which she was a vocal music major. Sullivan began her singing career as a contralto in the choir for children, and then after a couple of years, she joined the adult choir. Sullivan was not exposed to secular music. She recounts how she was 11 when someone was requesting her to sing for solos in church. However, she was not fully ready. "Then McDonald's offered a competition to children from major cities. Then I had the opportunity to perform Accept What God Allows on It's Showtime Apollo. The crowd was supportive." She sang with Stevie Wonder at his grandson's birthday celebration at 13. Sullivan made her first signing to Jive Records when she was fifteen. She was signed to Jive Records around the age of 15. The singer-songwriter produced an entire album, but the album never saw release. Sullivan was eventually removed from the label. She maintained a working relationship with Missy Elliott, who produced many of the tracks for her debut project, which included the hit single "Backstabbers" - produced by Timbaland and composed by Elliott.