Jocelyn B. Smith

My Life



jocelyn B.Smith was born in Queens,New York on the 22nd August 1960.Her parents Joan and Kenneth recognized her passion for music early.Jocelyn started classical music training at the piano with the age of five.



With her basis of over 17yrs.in classical music,there arose a natural instinct to expand and compliment the many and often chartered waters of musics dictinctions.



Early 80s jocelyn was invited to tour with Lenny White shortly after his tour with Chick Coreas "Returm to Forever".Which immediately opened an even wider musical world for her.On this tour she was introduced to Marcus Miller who would leave a great musical effect on her music.



One year later,1982,Jocelyn toured with the band"CHANGE" which opened up for Rick James as he toured the United States.During that tour Jocelyn became friends with Lisa Fischer(who recieved a Grammy for her work which was produced by Luther Vandross.)"CHANGE" was the first "R&B"pop band that exploded on the international charts for the pioneering of the

"synthy bass".Another highlight was singing with Ellen Foley(former Meatloaf)while touring with the Electric Light Orchestra in large stadiums across the USA.



In 1984 during the European "Tribute to the Platters"tour she had her first appearance in Berlin which was her major breakthrough in Germany and would later name her second home.And for her audiences an experience of a special class."Berlin is a large,multicultural city like New York and first of all alive!"her concerts at the Quasimodo (www.Quasimodo.de) include her famous"Live in Berlin" CD recorded live at the Quasimodo. For many fans this has become a classic recording.A dedication of art and musical consciousness.Not only to say but to undoubtedly know the spiritual presence in Jocelyns music in this special recording with only 2 weeks before the birth of her first child.



In1999 the the internationally acclaimed composer Heiner Goebbels www.heiner goebbels.de invited Jocelyn to participate as soloist in his work "Surrogate Cities".The opus was played live at the Jahrhunderthalle with the "Bochum Philharmonic Orchestra",2001 in Dessau,2002 in Edinbourg,UK and 2003 in Brisbane Australia for the Biennale as well as Luzern(CH) and Berlin with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Sir Simon Rattle.In 2005 she opened at Venices Teatro La Fenice and in 2006 in Stocholm with the Royal Symphonic Orchestra.

In 2001 the Hymn "Amazing Grace"was sung by Jocelyn 14.09.2001 for the mourning demonstration of 200.000 at Berlins Brandenburg Gate for the victims and families of 9/11.

In 1999 while performing with Germanys Sinatra Harold Juhnke on his farewell tour,Jocelyn and Harold were confronted with cultural views of skepticism between Jazz and german text.What was a result for the national press and national T.V. an explosive success.Again for Jocelyn another challenge for her.Achievement as her instinct never misses the beat,celebration was hers with the birth of her 2nd child.



After a meeting with Meastro Mikis Theodarikis internationally known for great works such as "Zorba the Greek" and "Canto General" together developed the idea to work on songs and texts of the greek composer and to translate them into Jocelyns language of everexpanding music.The highlight of this recording is the duett in greek and english with the Meastro himself"Der Lindenbaum""Margarita"is this CD and was blessed by Theodorakis as Jocelyns discovery of "Greek Gospel".Cheered concerts in Athens with Maria Farantouri and in Delphi follow with George Dalaras in the antique temple of Apollo where the Oracle of Delphi resided.The CD appears 2001:Margarita-Love Songs of Mikis THeodorakis"

For a ficticious meeting of Weill and Gerschwin Jocelyn recieves the Jazz award of the IFPI in the year 2003 for the CD "Blue Nights and Nylons.The FAZ writes" This woman is an entire work of art itself."



Meanwhile as life calls the mother,creativity and deep faith are the engine of various activities.Jocelyn was asked to sing the translated text of Sir Elton Johns " Circle of Life" for Walt Disneys film "The Lion King"for German speaking countries.

After the success of her special Christmas CD "My Christmas Experience"Dec.2001 "Back To Soul"appeared in 2002.with over 70 concerts the artist toured through the year and in March 2004 produced her second SOUL"OLE SCHOOL" ALBUM:"Phenomenal Woman"a dedication to Maya Angelous classic.



With 10 albums already under her own label"BLONDELL PROD."Jocelyn felt the creative pause nearing.After a concert appearance as opener for Bobby McFerrin 2004Jocelyn took the good advice given and (woodshedded)for 1 1/2 yrs.A creative quietness indeed was the engine that fueled her latest release Nov.2006

"EXPRESSIONZZ" DVD/LIVE CD an experience in the Higher Spritual Quality of music.Texted with poems from the "BOOK of PSALMS"taken from the Bible.It is the much debated topic of tradion applied to the person and her/his life today.Critics applaud Jocelyns Mystic Jazz (aus und andersetzung)!!!!! of the Journey of The Soul and Ecumenical views that scope the much needed bridging of cultural and spritual tolerance.The live taping of "EXPRESSIONZZ"was in Berlins"TraenenPalast"Palace of Tears,the former known East Border of entrance for Germans into the DDR.The concert was in honor of the 75th anniversary of ArchBishop Desmond TuTu.Under the patronage of Berlins Mayor Klaus Wowereit and as a gift from the "Rainbow Children of Berlin".

For national critics Jocelyn has always taken much space in her texture applied for vocal signature and persona.

In "EXPRESSIONZZ"we now see that this "Mystic Voice"applies personal and authentic character to the conceptual depth of this work.MUSIC-room – Discovering and using the power of your own voice- Jocelyn B. Smith creates the Music-room in Berlin; music as a healing impulse for body, mind & soul. The work with music as a healing impulse was transmitted to Jocelyn B. Smith since she was a baby – in the 50’s her Grandmother had already founded the "Willia Ruth Hardgrow-Mental-Health-Clinic" in Brooklyn, New York –Jocelyn B. Smith continues the work of her grandmother with this project. In the Music-room she guides and accompanies people, by means of their own voices, on the path of healing and restoring their emotional and psychological health. The approach, to use music, especially the voice therapeutically, is initially carried out individually.



Concert-highlights - Jocelyn B. Smith has a long concert “ExpressionZZ” at the Tipi – the tent at the chancellery. In the summer of 2007, the “Classic Open Air” at the Gedarmenmarkt presents the “American Night”. Jocelyn B. Smith presented here classical works from different musicals. Some of the annual highlights are the Rheingau-Festival and the Kurt-Weill-Fest in Dessau. Here she gave Weill-Gershwin interpretations from her album “Blue Night & Nylons.” Jocelyn B. Smith travels to Turkey and meets there the composer, musician, writer and filmmaker Zülfü Livaneli.



She has an inspirational guest appearance at the Bodrum-Festival and right afterwards Livaneli will invite her over again. Jocelyn will sing the newly arranged Livaneli-songs by Henning Schmidt on the popular Turkish TV Late-Night-Show „Beyaz“. She sang at the 56th Federal press ball (Interconti, Berlin) together with the Rock-legend Inga Rumpf. Christmas concerts followed: „my Christmas experience” and others, at the Tipi and in the Kirche zur Heimat – here for the first time with the choir „The different voices of Berlin“.

Encounters – In late autumn at the zoological garden in Berlin, she meets the archbishop and the Peace and Noble Price winner Desmond Tutu and during the placing of the “Global Stone” she sings for him the song „Where can I go from your spirit“ . She had already dedicated this song to him in 2006 during a concert at the tränenPalast. Jocelyn B. Smith accepts an invitation to go to an exhibition opening from Aktionsbündniss landmine.de at the Berliner Bundestag. She and other well known people like Kofi Anan, Wolfgang Thierse, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, Anne Will, Dieter Hildebrandt, Miroslav Klose and many more support the campaign to combat cluster munitions.



2008- She shows nowadays her big social commitment as initiator and chairman of the non-profit organization Yes We Can (registered association), which supports children in need, especially the child victims of cluster munitions. With her song “Higher Love” which she sings together with children from Berlin, she intends to draw attention to the fate of these innocent victims and to fight against neglect, with her campaign against cluster munitions and landmines.



Building bridges- Music has the power to connect people beyond cultural and language barriers. Germany is especially associated worldwide with classical music, which is a gift for humanity and is accepted gladly around the world.



4 BRIDGES wants to use classical music segments in symbiosis with Jazz, Soul, World music.to allow the music to shine through a new garment. By using classical motives (like J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, Ch. Gounodua) Jocelyn B. Smith and her producer Volker Schlott want to fulfil the vision of music appreciation beyond boundaries. They softly build bridges across all music styles and language boundaries.

4 BRIDGES is living communication that overcomes verbal barriers and unfolds its healing power as people from different cultures interact synergetically.

Jocelyn B. Smith formed her own choir specifically for this experiment. They performed for the first time on the 5thof July 2008 at the American festival during the opening of the American embassy in Berlin.



Jocelyn B. Smith - Annie's Song