Jana Mashonee

Jana Mashonee is a singer, songwriter and actress. She is Lumbee and Tuscarora, originally from Robeson County, North Carolina, currently residing near New York City, in Greenwich, CT. She is currently releasing her music through Miss Molly Records.

Biography

Jana was discovered by producer/songwriter, Rodney Shelton, when Jana was singing funk in her "weekend band" Peace 'N' Love near Charlotte, North Carolina. Shelton recorded a demo of "What I Am To You" and presented it to Curb Records' Mike Curb who immediately signed Jana to his label.

Jana has described herself as an "Urban Indian":

Being an Urban Indian, is to walk in both worlds but not compromise my cultural identity. I cannot ignore who I am and where I came from. I am proud that I can maintain my traditional customs while living in today’s world.

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 designs jewelry in her lines Urban Indian and Indian Spirit, with the profits going directly to her motivational program, "Jana's Kids."

Discography

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
  2007 Grammy Award nominated
• New Moon Born
  2009, Miss Molly Records

Singles

• "What Am I To You" b/w "Kind Of Love"(1997) - Top Forty on the Radio & Records’ rhythmic chart (Curb records)
• "Near Me" b/w "The Price" (1998) - A cover of a song originally by the artist Sheryl Crow. (Curb Records)
• "Ooh, Baby, Baby" (1999) - A success on radio and in the Radio & Records, DMA, Hitmakers, and Gavin 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 by DJ Skribble and Anthony Acid. (Curb Records)
• "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad" (2001) - A cover of a song originally by the artist Meat Loaf. (Curb Records).
• "Stairway to Heaven" (2002) - Peaked at #7 on Billboard's Hot Dance Singles Sales chart, and was remixed by DJ Skribble. (Radikal Records)
• "Found A Love" (2003) - (Radikal Records)
• "Do It Mr. DJ" (2004) - (Xtreme Records) (Peter Presta & Jana)
• "I'll Be With You" (2006) - (Standing Stone/Radikal Records)
• "A Change Is Gonna Come" (2009) - Miss Molly Records

Awards and nominations

• Merit Award 2009 - The Indie Fest for "A Change Is Gonna Come" video
• Grammy Award 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" with Crystal Lewis, which appears on Lewis' album Fearless.

• Native American Music Awards (NAMMY's)
  • 2001-2002
    • Best Pop Artist
    • Best Pop/Rock Recording (More Than Life)
  • 2002-2003*
    • Song of the Year (Stairway to Heaven)
    • Best Female Artist (Found a Love)
  • 2005-2006
    • Record of the Year - Flash of a Firefly
    • Best Producer (Stephan Galfas and Alex Salzman) for Jana's American Indian Christmas
  • 2007
    • Best Pop Recording (American Indian Story)
  • 2008
    • Best Short Form Music Video (The Enlightened Time)
    • Best Producer (Stephan Galfas & Alex Salzman) for Jana's American Indian Christmas
  • 2009
    • Song/Single of the Year "A Change is Gonna Come"

• 2009 American Indian Film Festival
  • • Best Video "A Change is Gonna Come"

• Queens International Film Festival
  • 2007
    • Winner Best Domestic Music Video (The Enlightened Time)^[1]

Acting career

• Jana appeared in the 2002 romantic comedy Dream Weaver, alongside prominent Native American actor Wes Studi.
• Jana will star as Abbi in the upcoming film Raptor Ranch.
• Jana also made a cameo in the 2008 independent film Blue Gap Boy'z as a singing contestant.

Miscellaneous

• Jana Performed "A Change Is Gonna Come" at the American Indian Inaugural Ball January 20, 2009
• Jana performed for the First Lady Laura Bush during the First 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 2001 Inaugural Ball.
• Jana chosen as Good Will Ambassador for The International Museum of Twenty-first Century Art (TIMOTCA)

References

External links

• JanaMashonee.com - Jana Mashonee's official website.
• Jana Mashonee on Myspace
• Jana Mashonee at ReverbNation
• Jana's Allmusic.com biography
• SingerUniverse Magazine March Best Vocalist Of The Month Winner Jana Mashonee