,,
The MissJones story began a little over two decades ago in front of a bathroom mirror where a young Tarsha Nicole Jones held a hair brush and sang popular R&B hits by chart topping music acts such as Atlantic Starr, Stacy Lattisaw and Starpoint.
Miss Jones recounts, "It became my favorite past time because I was always on punishment and had to stay in the house for a number of reasons."
When her two older sisters went away to school, little MissJones was left in their Astoria Queens apartment with an entire collection of vinyl albums by artists such as Patrice Rushen, Stephanie Mills, and Skyy.
"When my father gave me a rinky-dinky cassette recorder, it became my best friend. I can't say that I'm one of those black singers who were singing in the crib from birth," she says.
"I actually didn't start singing until I was about nine or ten."
MissJones attended New York City's Fiorella H. Laguardia Music And Art High School (the "Fame" school) majoring in classical music and subsequently learning music technique and arrangement. She was classmate to such actors and artists as Changing Faces, Omar Epps, and Marlon Wayans. While in High School, MissJones entered local talent shows imitating the likeness of Stacy Lattisaw and taking a liking to Hip Hop femme fatales Salt-N-Pepa. Graduating with honors, she was accepted into the quasi-Ivy league of Syracuse University where she graduated with a B.A. in Music. It was around this time that her beloved mother succumbed to cancer. One of her mother's last words of encouragement was for her baby daughter to pursue her dream of becoming a singer. Little did anyone know how soon that dream would become a reality. One day while shopping in Harlem with a friend, MissJones, then a fulltime long distance operator, had a chance meeting that would set her career aspirations sailing in the right direction.
"We saw Doug E. Fresh coming out of a store," recalls MissJones.
After being introduced to the rapper, MissJones was summoned to sing a song that was playing over the radio, a capella. Impressed by her vocal prowess, Doug E. Fresh invited her to join his Get Fresh Crew tour.
"Doug helped me to take the negative things that happened in my life and take the energy from that to bring it out in the soul of my music."
The buzz about this song bird began to spread throughout the rap music underground. Her velvety smooth vocals were soon featured on recordings for the Beatnuts, Busta Rhymes, Biz Markie, common Sense, and Rampage. Musical cameos on underground mix tapes for Ron G and DJ Homicide, along with station promo IDs for popular DJs Red Alert and Funkmaster Flex gave MissJones underground celebrity status.
After becoming an established name in the background of phat tracks for artists such as AZ and Big Punisher, MissJones was ready to step into the foreground on her very own. She grew from an eager and inexperienced young woman to the charming, business savvy woman that she is today.
MissJones started a national buzz in 1994 when her underground hit debut single, "Don't Front" found its way onto national radio playlists. The soulful flow of her second single, "Where I Want To Be Boy" sent it soaring onto radio and retail charts and MissJones' ultra-real essence made its way onto numerous television and media outlets. Unfortunately the record company dissolved.
Most artists would have lost sight of their goals and cast aside their aspirations, but not MissJones. Instead she reinvented herself and utilized her skills and talents to keep up with the Joneses. Her perseverance and determination kept her in the spotlight when she landed a gig on New York City's top rated Hot-97 FM (WQHT) radio station. In addition, she landed the role as "Pinky" in the off-Broadway stage production of "The Blacker The Berry."
Through continuous hard work, MissJones came out with her long awaited album, "The Other Woman," a fourteen track opus filled with passion, honesty, and sincerity, mixing the elements of traditional soul with a Hip-hop feel.
"The Other Woman," features producers Chad Elliot (702, Rufus Blaq), The Characters (Boyz II Men), Tumblin Dice (LL Cool J), Ray Chew and Mario Winans, as well as Rufus Blaq and Renee Neufville (of Zhane), rappers Mobb Deep, Craig Mack, Doug E. Fresh, and singer Jazz from Dru Hill. MissJones co-wrote four of the album's fourteen tracks, and served as co-executive producer of the set.
Today you can catch MissJones or "Jonesy" (as she is called by the many people who adore her) doing her thing on the Hot97-FM morning show from 6:00AM-10:00AM Weekdays.
