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 Jana on May 11, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and author. She is also known for her charity work. Jana comes from Robeson County, North Carolina. She has been nominated for a Grammy Award twice and has won nine Nammys. Her music often blends R&B and gospel styles.

Jana's Early Life and Music Start

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. Her father, who is a singer and drummer, first introduced her to music. The name Mashonee is a Native American name given to her by her family. It means "money belt" in the Siouan language.

Jana studied psychology at Davidson College. Soon after graduating, she signed a record deal. Her song "Ooh, Baby, Baby" was chosen as Billboard magazine's "Single of the Week." It became very popular on the radio. Another song, "More Than Life," sold over a million copies. She also released a unique version of Led Zeppelin’s "Stairway to Heaven." This song made her the first Native American artist to reach the top of the Billboard dance charts.

Jana's Music and Acting Career

Jana explored her cultural background with the album American Indian Story. This album earned her a second Grammy Award nomination. 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. Songs from this album were even featured on the Discovery Channel show Flying Wild Alaska.

Jana also wrote her first book, American Indian Story – The Adventures of Sha’kona. This book is based on her Grammy-nominated album. It's a fantasy mystery-adventure novel for young adults. The story 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 sung in ten different Native American languages. It includes a full orchestra and traditional Native American instruments. The album was very successful and won her another Nammy award. In December 2011, she performed some of these songs at Carnegie Hall in New York.

With her album New Moon Born, Jana returned to R&B and gospel music. This brought her back into the mainstream music scene. She performed a cover of Sam Cooke's classic song "A Change Is Gonna Come" for President Obama. This was at the American Indian Inaugural Ball. She had also performed for Laura Bush, the First Lady, a year earlier. "A Change Is Gonna Come" won her an eighth Nammy for Song of the Year. Its music video also won awards at the Indie Film and American Indian Film festivals.

Jana has toured across almost all of the United States and overseas.

Besides music, Jana has also acted. In 2012, she starred in her first movie, Raptor Ranch. It was later released on HD-DVD and streaming services as The Dinosaur Experiment.

Jana's Charity Work

Jana created the Jana’s Kids Foundation. This foundation helps Native American youth through programs and scholarships. In 2011, she was named "Woman of the Year" by "yearofthewoman2011.com" for her charity work. She has also supported other charities, like The Golden Hat Foundation for autism. This foundation was started by actress Kate Winslet.

Jana shared her thoughts about her foundation. She said she feels lucky to travel to many Native American reservations. There, she talks to young people about cultural identity and education. Through this work, she has raised money to offer scholarships. These scholarships help deserving Native American youth in arts, academics, and sports.

In December 2012, she performed at Carnegie Hall to support this charity. She performed alongside other stars like Sarah McLachlan and Loreena McKennitt.

Jana's Personal Life

Jana calls herself an "Urban Indian." She explains that this means she is a Native American person who "walks in both worlds." This expression refers to Native people who live in both traditional and modern ways.

Jana grew up in a Baptist church. She identifies as a Christian. She focuses on exploring spirituality and the Creator, rather than just rules made by people. She currently lives in New York City.

Jana's Music 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

Jana's Singles

• "What Am I to You" (1997) – Reached the Top 40 on the Radio & Records’ rhythmic chart.
• "Near Me" (1998) – A cover of a song by Sheryl Crow.
• "Ooh, Baby, Baby" (1999) – Popular on radio and charts. Billboard magazine named it "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) – (Peter Presta & Jana)
• "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 for Best Native American Music Album for American Indian Story.
  • Nominated for Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album. This was for co-writing "Kiss and Tell" with Crystal Lewis.
• 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 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"
• 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 Roles