b. Jill Scott, 4th April 1972, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Jill Scott grew up in North Philadelphia and began her performing career reading her own poetry.
She was heard by Amir, drummer in the Roots, who invited her to join the band in the studio, resulting in the co-composition 'You Got Me,' a Top 40 pop hit in 1999.
Subsequently, she collaborated with Eric Benet, Will Smith, and Common and broadened her performing experience by touring Canada in a production of the Broadway musical 'Rent'.
Signed to Steve McKeever's newly formed Hidden Beach Recordings label, she released her debut album, 'Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1, in July 2000.'
Jill states at her website:
'My name is Jill Scott. Born and raised in North Philadelphia. Yeah it's a ghetto but I never felt poor, never disadvantaged or lesser than. It Is my belief that I am my own infinite plethora of wealth. My effort has been to be a living example to my brothers and sisters and to the world that it is where your from and how you choose to see it. It is where ya went and how ya got there and it is definitely where ya at. Block parties, school bullies, cute boys, double dutch, ass whoppins, collard greens, Kool-aide, Diarys, hunger, hugs, holdin'on, lettin'go. All that and more make me weak, make me strong. I'm celebrating this here human thing, this here woman thing, this here blood thing. All of it. My name is Jill Scott and I write (well). I act (well) and I sing with everything I got.'
One Of Jill's labelmates, at Hidden Beach Recordings is Brenda Russell, incidentally.
A new double album was released in 2001, entitled 'Experience', followed by 'The Real Thing' in 2007, and 'The Light Of The Sun' on Warner Brothers in 2011.
Albums:
Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds, Vol. 1 (Hidden Beach 2000)
Experience (Hidden Beach 2001)
Beautifully Human, Words And Sounds, Volume 2 (Hidden Beach 2004)
The Real Thing, Words And Sounds, Volume 3 (Hidden Beach 2007)
Live in Paris (Hidden Beach 2008)
The Light Of The Sun (Warner Brothers Records 2011)
