Early Beginnings
Geethali Norah Jones Shankar was born on March 30, 1979 in New York City. She was born into an artistic family, as her father is Ravi Shankar, a master of the Indian sitar and a significant cultural figure. Her mother is Sue Jones, and her half-sister is musician Anoushka Shankar.
Jones' parents split up when she was young, and she was raised by her mother in Dallas. Her earliest musical influences included the likes of Bill Evans and Billie Holiday, and she continues to idolize Willie Nelson. All of these influences were the result of Jones listening to selections from her mother’s album collection, and her style has always incorporated elements from each of these artists.
Jones' first performances were for the local church choir, and her education followed a musical path. She attended Interlochen Arts Camp, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas and continued to college at the University of North Texas, where she majored in jazz piano. She won several performing awards during her two years in college, and in 1999, she left for New York City to pursue her musical dreams.
Career Roots and Success
Jones got her start in New York as a lounge singer, and she quickly garnered a loyal local following as her reputation for pure vocal talent grew. It wasn't long before Norah Jones tickets were a hot item, and this caught the attention of record executives. She signed a recording contract with Blue Note Records, and buried herself in the studio to begin recording albums.
Her first release came out in 2002, and it was a smash-hit. Come Away with Me sold over 20 million copies around the world, and it was certified Diamond. The album also won eight Grammy Awards the following year. After a wildly successful world tour in furtherance of the album, Jones got back into the studio to work on her second album.
Feels like Home was released in February of 2004, and it experienced a level of success commensurate with her debut studio release. This album sold over 11 million copies worldwide and was certified as 4x Platinum. Her success with this album and the world tour that followed prompted Time Magazine to name her one of the most influential people in the world of music in 2004.
Jones has recently released her third album, and Not Too Late is already selling by the millions. She is once again embarking on a tour to promote the album, and fans worldwide are clamoring for Norah Jones tickets, as her star will only continue to rise.