Jana Mashonee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jana Mashonee
Jana Mashonee at the Poncan Theatre, 2010
Background information
Birth name	Jana
Born	(1982-05-11) May 11, 1982 (age 43)
Origin	Robeson County, North Carolina, United States
Genres	Pop, R&B, Electronic
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, actress, author
Years active	2000s–present
Labels	unsigned

Jana Mashonee (born May 11, 1982), known by her stage name Jana, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, author, and helper of others. She comes from Robeson County, North Carolina. Jana has been nominated for a Grammy Award two times. She has also won nine Nammy Awards. Her music often mixes R&B and gospel styles.

Jana's Early Life and Music Journey

Jana was born on May 11, 1982, in Robeson County, North Carolina. She grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jana is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. She also has family ties to the Tuscarora people. Her father, who was a singer and drummer, first introduced her to music.

The name Mashonee was given to Jana by her family. It comes from a Native American language called Siouan. It means "money belt."

Starting Her Music Career

Jana went to Davidson College and studied psychology. Soon after, she got a record deal. Her first single, "Ooh, Baby, Baby," was a big hit. Billboard magazine even called it their "single of the week."

Another song, "More Than Life," sold over a million copies. Later, she released a new version of the famous Led Zeppelin song "Stairway to Heaven." This song made her the first Native American artist to reach the top of the Billboard dance charts.

Jana's Creative Career

Jana loves to explore her cultural background through music. She released an album called American Indian Story. This album was nominated for a Grammy Award. The music video for her song "The Enlightened Time" won awards at film festivals. It also won a Nammy for Best Short Form Music Video. Some of her music from this album was even used on the Discovery Channel show Flying Wild Alaska.

Writing and More Music

Jana also wrote her first book, American Indian Story – The Adventures of Sha’kona. This book is based on her Grammy-nominated album. It is a fantasy adventure story for young adults. It follows a young hero named Sha’kona on a journey of self-discovery.

She continued to honor her heritage with American Indian Christmas. This album features ten classic Christmas songs. They are sung in ten different Native American languages. The music includes a full orchestra and traditional Native American instruments. This album won her another Nammy award. In 2011, she performed some of these songs at Carnegie Hall in New York.

New Musical Directions

With her album New Moon Born, Jana explored new sounds. She focused on R&B and gospel music. This brought her back into the mainstream music scene. She sang a cover of Sam Cooke's classic song, "A Change Is Gonna Come." She performed it at the American Indian Inaugural Ball for President Obama. This was her second time performing for a First Family. A year before, she sang for Laura Bush. This song won her an eighth Nammy for Song of the Year. Its music video also won awards at film festivals.

Jana has toured all over the United States and even overseas.

Acting Roles

Jana has also worked as an actress. In 2012, she starred in her first movie, Raptor Ranch. This movie was later released as The Dinosaur Experiment.

Helping Others Through Charity

Jana has her own charity called the Jana’s Kids Foundation. This foundation helps Native American young people. It offers programs and scholarships. In 2011, she was named "Woman of the Year" for her charity work. She has also supported other charities. One example is The Golden Hat Foundation for autism, started by actress Kate Winslet.

Jana says about her foundation, "I've been lucky to travel to many Native American reservations. I talk to young people about their culture and education. Because of this, I've raised money to offer scholarships. These scholarships help deserving Native youth in arts, academics, and sports."

She has performed with other famous singers like Sarah McLachlan to support charity causes.

Jana's Personal Life

Jana calls herself an "Urban Indian." She explains this means she is a Native American person who "walks in both worlds." This means she lives her life in both traditional and modern ways.

Jana grew up in a Baptist church. She says she is a Christian. She focuses on exploring her spirituality and connecting with the Creator. She lives in New York City.

Jana's Music Albums and Songs

Albums

• Flash of a Firefly (2005) – Won a Nammy Award
• American Indian Christmas (2005) – Won a Nammy Award
• American Indian Story (2006) – Nominated for a Grammy Award
• New Moon Born (2010) – Won a Nammy Award

Singles (Songs)

• "What Am I to You" (1997)
• "Near Me" (1998) – A cover of a song by Sheryl Crow
• "Ooh, Baby, Baby" (1999) – Named Billboard magazine's Pop Single of the Week
• "More Than Life" (2000) – Reached the Top 10 on Billboard's Artists to Watch chart
• "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" (2001) – A cover of a song by Meat Loaf
• "Stairway to Heaven" (2002) – Reached No. 7 on Billboard's Hot Dance Singles Sales chart
• "Found a Love" (2003)
• "Do It Mr. DJ" (2004)
• "I'll Be with You"
• "A Change Is Gonna Come"
• "Stay with Me Baby"

Awards and Nominations

• Merit Award 2009 – The Indie Fest for "A Change Is Gonna Come" video

Grammy Award Nominations

• Nominated – Best Native American Music Album for American Indian Story.
• Nominated – Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album for co-writing "Kiss and Tell" on Crystal Lewis' album Fearless.

Native American Music Awards (NAMMY's)

• Best Pop Artist
• Best Pop/Rock Recording (More Than Life)
• Song of the Year (Stairway to Heaven)
• Best Female Artist (Found a Love)
• Record of the Year – Flash of a Firefly
• Best Producer (with Alex Salzman) for Jana's American Indian Christmas
• Best Pop Recording (American Indian Story)
• Best Short Form Music Video (The Enlightened Time)
• Song/Single of the Year – "A Change is Gonna Come"

Other Awards

• American Indian Film Festival
  • Best Video "A Change is Gonna Come"
• Queens International Film Festival
  • Winner Best Domestic Music Video (The Enlightened Time)

Jana's Acting Career