Carmen Jones has been singing since she was 2 years old. She began writing music and playing the piano as early as 10 years old, with her brother accompanying her on the drums.
Growing up in Berkeley, California, with an African-American father and an Italian mother, Carmen says "I listened to everyone from Aretha Franklin and Donna Summer to Stevie Wonder and the The Beatles".
She chose her "path in life" as an entertainer when she received a standing ovation at 11 years old for her soulful performance in the role of Dorothy in the musical The Wizard of Oz. Her parents encouraged her love of music and sent her to Cazadero Music Camp where she took singing and piano lessons with some of the Bay Area's best musicians.
While attending high school she sang in the many talent shows and choirs and took voice lessons after school with prominent Bay Area vocal coaches.
After high school she toured the California club scene playing keyboards and singing with a local band "Circuitry" and became even more inspired to start recording her own material. Over the next several years Carmen recorded and produced her own songs, singing all of the lead and background vocals and laying all of the music tracks.
She auditioned for (and was immediately chosen to sing lead vocals with) the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir performing in such places as the New Orleans Jazz Festival and recording with MC Hammer and Linda Ronstadt.
As one of the female quartet Soul de Pop, she recorded an R&B/Pop album with Interscope Records; and as one of the female trio New Faces, performed at Superbowl pre-parties and with Magic Johnson and Jeffrey Osborne at Disney World.
On her own, Carmen has sung the national anthem at several celebrity basketball events, performed at San Francisco nightclubs, the Oakland Arena, and at the famous New Orleans House of Blues.
During the filming of "HBO's Jamie Foxx: I might need security" DVD Carmen was featured singing a surprise duet with Jamie Foxx (see the performance on this website).
She has also been "hand picked" to record on projects with Bay Area music natives, pc muñoz, Derrick Hall, Master P and Dwayne Wiggins.
When not writing music or recording, Carmen enjoys doing voice-over work for cartoon animation projects and spending time with her family.
The bottom line with Carmen Jones is best described in the words of comedian/actor Jamie Foxx, who says, "Y'all look for her!".