Gina Carey facts for kids

Gina Carey is an American singer and filmmaker. She makes soul R&B and gospel music. Gina lives in Palm Springs, California. She used to be known as Gina Green before she got married again and changed her name.

Early Life

Gina Carey was born in Chicago and grew up in Los Angeles. She has a younger sister named Bella Maori. Bella is an actress and a writer for TV shows. She created the award-winning show “Ugly”.

Gina's Career

Filmmaking

Gina Carey is a filmmaker who runs her own company, Gina Carey Films. This company makes indie films. As of 2019, Gina Carey Films has made six full-length movies. The company is based in the Coachella Valley and uses local actors and resources.

Gina was the first African-American female filmmaker in Palm Springs. She started making films by teaching herself and using her own money. Over time, she built Gina Carey Films into a successful company.

The first movie from Gina Carey Films was “The Unexpected,” which came out in 2016. After that, they made other indie films like “One Year Pact.”

In 2017, Gina started the first yearly CV (Coachella Valley) Indie Film Awards. These awards celebrate independent filmmakers who make movies with small budgets. The awards continued in 2018.

Music Career

Gina Carey has released 14 music albums. Three of these are gospel albums, and 11 are soul albums. She also has five hit songs that reached number one on the music charts in the UK.

Gina's first album, In His Time, was released in 1997 by Grapetree Records. At that time, her legal name was Gina Brown. This album sold over 10,000 copies around the world. It was very popular in Europe and reached number two on the U.K. Gospel charts.

Her 2003 album, Changes, was released on her own. It sold well. Her third album, Tell 'Um, was supposed to be released by Rite-Step Records in 2005. However, the record label closed down. Later, the album was picked up by Trendency Records in Nashville and released across the country in July 2006. The songs "Hiding Place" and "Testimony" were played on the radio in the U.S. and Europe.

Both the Changes and Tell 'Um albums were produced by Isom Green, Jr. He has worked with famous artists like Dr. Dre, Whitney Houston, Ice Cube, and Snoop Dogg.

Gina recorded three albums as Gina Green: In His Time, Changes, and Tell 'Um. People know her for her lively personality and smooth singing voice. Her style is often compared to the 1980s pop singer Stephanie Mills. Her music mixes modern R&B with 1970s soul and today's hip hop. This creates a unique neo soul gospel sound.

Gina has performed on stage with other gospel artists like Tonex, J Moss, Bill & Rene Morris from TBN, The Gospel Gangsters, and Brent Jones.

Gina Carey is also the founder and CEO of Gico Music. This is an independent music label and entertainment company.

Awards and Recognition

Gina Carey has won many awards for her music and films.

In 2006, the Black Music Academy Association of America nominated Gina in two categories: "Best Gospel Performer - Female" and "Gospel Rising Star". She performed at the awards event in Las Vegas and won the "Las Vegas Black Music Awards 2006 Best Gospel Performer - Female" award. Later that year, she tried out for NBC's America's Got Talent. In 2008, Gina also tried out for Showtime at the Apollo in Los Angeles, California, and was chosen to be on the show.

Here are some of the music awards Gina has won:

• Best Gospel Artist (2006)
• Rising Stars of the Desert “Best Jazz Music Artist Award” (2012)
• Best Single, GHP Virtual Music Awards (for her song “Beautiful Music”) (2015)
• “Best Contemporary Artist”, Coachella Valley Music Award (2015, 2016, 2017)
• Most Influential and Interesting Women in the Coachella Valley, from Coachella Valley Weekly (2016)

Gina's film awards include:

• The One Year Pact: Cinemafest award winner (October 2, 2017)
• The Assumptions: Miami Epic Trailer Festival award winner (April 21, 2017)
• The Unexpected: Nevada International Film Festival award winner (November 15, 2016)

Besides winning awards, Gina also started and manages the CV Indie Film Awards.

Filmography

Gina Carey is the director and producer for these independent films:

• Acts of Kindness
• Rose England
• The One Year Pact (2018)
• The Assumptions (2017)
• Aspire to Inspire (2016)
• The Unexpected (2016)

Discography

Albums