Jazmine Sullivan

Jazmine was raised and born from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her mother Pam was once a backup singer for Philadelphia International Records. Her father offered her the position of curator at the Historic Strawberry Mansion. She and her family later moved in to the historic landmark. She is a 2005 graduate of the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts in which she was singing music major. Sullivan sang as a contralto for the choir of children, then, a few more years later she joined in the adults ' choir. Sullivan wasn't exposed to secular music at first. "I started singing as a soloist at church and a person suggested I sign up to record a gospel song when I was 11. but I wasn't prepared to do that," she says. Then, McDonald's held a contest for kids in big cities. I was allowed to sing "Accept What God Allows" in It's Showtime at the Apollo. And the people were very enthusiastic. Stevie Wonder sang her part at his 13th birthday. Sullivan was 15 when she began her career with Jive Records. When she was 15 the label signed her to Jive Records. She recorded an entire album at Jive Records however it was never released. Sullivan was later eliminated by the label. Missy Elliott was the producer on a couple of songs on their debut album. Among them "Backstabbers", a buzz track written by Timbaland composed by Elliott.