Jazmine Sullivan

Jazmine was born and raised to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pam the mother of Jazmine is a former backing singer for Philadelphia International Records. As a child the father of her was appointed to be Philadelphia's Historic Strawberry Mansion curator. Her family later moved into the building's historic structure. In 2005 she graduated from Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts in the class of singer-music major. Sullivan sang as a contralto singer for the choir of children, then, a few more years later she joined in the adults ' choir. Sullivan received little exposure to secular music. She recalls that she was 11 when someone wanted her to sing as a soloist at the church. She wasn't enough yet to be ready. "Then McDonald's offered a competition for children in major cities. The competition gave me the chance to perform God's Will on Showtime Apollo. The audience was extremely welcoming." At the age 13 she performed with Stevie Wonder for his grandson's birthday celebration. Sullivan made her first signing with Jive Records when she was 15. She recorded the entire album but the album wasn't released. Sullivan was then dropped by the label. Her work had been in good connection along with Missy Elliott. Elliott produced several of her songs such as "Backstabbers" that was written by Timbaland.