Jaya (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jaya
Born	Maria Luisa Ramsey Kagahastian (1970-03-21) March 21, 1970 (age 55)
Other names	Jaya Ramsey
Occupation	Singer actress
Years active	1989–present
Spouse(s)	Andrew Buffington ​ ​ (m. 1998; div. 2001)​ Gary Gotidoc ​ ​ (m. 2006)​
Children	2
Musical career
Genres	Soul pop R&B OPM jazz gospel scat freestyle
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Labels	LMR (1989) VIVA (1996–2005) GMA (2007–2011) Universal Records (2011–2014) Star Music (2016–2021)

Maria Luisa Ramsey Kagahastian (born March 21, 1970), known as Jaya, is a famous Filipino singer, actress, and TV personality. People call her the "Queen of Soul" because of her deep voice and soulful singing style. She has worked with major TV networks like GMA Network and ABS-CBN.

At ABS-CBN, she was a main judge for the Tawag ng Tanghalan singing contest. This contest is part of the popular Philippine noontime show It's Showtime. She also performed regularly on ASAP. Jaya was the second Filipino singer to have a song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. Her first song, "If You Leave Me Now," reached number 44.

Jaya also performed in musical theater. In 1999, she played the role of Surpanakha in the Filipino musical Rama at Sita. This show was performed at the University of the Philippines Theater.

Early Life and Beginnings

Maria Luisa Ramsey Kagahastian was born on March 21, 1970. Her mother was Elizabeth Ramsey, a well-known Filipino comedian and singer. Her father is Reynaldo Kagahastian. Jaya's parents separated when she was young. Her father later moved to the United States and now lives in Canada.

Jaya started in show business when she was just ten years old. She began as a backup dancer for her mother. By age 12, she was a backup singer and opened shows for other performers. She started singing solo in 1982, using the name Louise Ramsey.

She did not finish high school in the Philippines because she was so busy performing. However, she was a good student and was even elected class president.

Life in the United States

In June 1985, Jaya's mother, Elizabeth, moved to the United States and took Louise with her. There, Jaya continued to sing solo. She performed with other Filipino artists living abroad.

Life was not always easy for Jaya and her mother in America. They moved to different cities in California. Jaya attended John Marshall High School in Los Angeles. This school had many Filipino-American students at the time. After finishing high school in 1988, she moved to New York with a friend. She found a job as a backup singer for the musician Stevie B.

Music Career Highlights

Breaking Through in the U.S.

After high school, Jaya became a backup singer for Miami freestyle artist Stevie B. In 1989, she was given the stage name "Jaya." She signed a record deal with Stevie B's label, LeFrak-Moelis Records. Her first album, also called Jaya, was released in the U.S. and produced by Stevie B. The album mostly featured freestyle dance songs.

The first song from the album, "If You Leave Me Now," became popular in discos. It appeared on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in October 1989. The song stayed on the Hot 100 for 26 weeks, which is a very long time for a song that didn't reach the top 40. It peaked at number 44 in February 1990. "If You Leave Me Now" was a top 10 hit in several places and even reached number one on the crossover radio station KMEL.

Jaya's next song, "One Kiss Per Minute," was a small dance hit but did not make it onto the main pop chart. Other songs from the album also did not chart.

Success in the Philippines

The year 1995 was a big moment for Jaya's music career. Pilita Corrales, known as "Asia's Queen of Songs," heard Jaya sing in the United States. Pilita asked Jaya if she wanted to return to Manila and record an album. Jaya agreed and signed a deal with Viva Records in March 1995.

Jaya became very popular in the Philippines when her soulful songs were first heard in 1996. She won the 1996 Metropop Song Festival with the song "Sometimes You Just Know." This made her a rising star. Her first album with Viva Records sold nine times platinum, which means 360,000 copies were sold. (One platinum award means 40,000 copies sold).

In 1997, she released her third album, In the Raw. This was her second album in the Philippines. She also won Best Interpreter at the Asia Song Festival in Hong Kong in February 1997. She won for her performance of "You Lift Me Up." This song also won the grand prize for Best Song.

Her album Magpakailan pa Man (Up to the End) featured soulful songs. Her strong performance of "Sana'y Maulit Muli" (May it Recur Again) was especially praised. This album sold five times platinum, selling 200,000 copies. She also released a Christmas album called Kung Kailan Pasko. It included traditional carols and new songs.

In 1999, PolyMax Records released Jaya's A Love Album in the Philippines. This album was first released in Japan in 1992. It included songs from an earlier U.S. album and songs recorded for the Japanese release. In 1992, Jaya was touring Japan as a backup singer for Stevie B. A Japanese record label, Toshiba/EMI, asked her to make an album for Japan.

Also in 1999, Jaya released her fifth album in the Philippines, called Honesty. The song "Honesty," originally by Billy Joel, became a hit for her. This album was different from her earlier ones. It had more intimate love songs and also included three modern rhythm and blues songs.

After five years, she released her first greatest hits album, Five. It included a duet with Regine Velasquez called Habang May Buhay (While There's Life). In 1999, Jaya took on a new challenge by performing in the musical Rama at Sita. She played the role of demon king Ravana's sister, Soorphanaka. Her performance was noted for her singing and dancing.

In 1999, Jaya also became a main host on the GMA Network variety show SOP.

2000s: New Albums and TV Shows

In 2001, Jaya released her sixth album, Unleashed. On this album, she sang in a relaxed and confident way. She covered songs like Roy Orbison's "Love Hurts" and John Lennon's "Love." She also released her first live album, Jaya Live at the Araneta, in the same year. This album featured performances of many American hits.

After a four-year break from music, Jaya returned with her seventh studio album, Fall in Love Again. Friends like Ogie Alcasid helped her create the album. Vehnee Saturno, who wrote many of Jaya's early hits, also contributed.

In 2007, Jaya released her eighth album, Cool Change, under her new label, GMA Records. This album featured covers of international hit songs. The first song, "Is It Over?" by Ronnie Milsap, received a Platinum award in 2009. After this success, she released her ninth album, Real.Love.Stories., which had 14 love songs.

Jaya also joined other artists in 2009 for the charity song Kaya Natin Ito!. This project supported Gawad Kalinga to help victims of Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

2010s: Acting and Judging

On March 1, 2010, Jaya starred in her first TV drama, Diva. She played a supporting role alongside Regine Velasquez. Her show BandaOke aired until March 21, 2010. She was also a main presenter on the GMA-7 variety show Party Pilipinas.

Jaya won Best Female Vocal Performance for "Hiding Inside Myself" at the 23rd Awit Awards on September 30, 2010.

2011–2016: All Souled Out and Sunday All Stars

Jaya released an album called All Souled Out under Universal Records. It was her third album of cover songs, featuring classic R&B and jazz songs. Critics praised the album, saying Jaya truly showed her talent as a singer.

She was one of the "Big Four" judges on GMA Network's musical variety show Sunday All Stars, which started in June 2013. She also acted in Mga Basang Sisiw as Sally.

2016–Present: Return to ABS-CBN

Jaya returned to ABS-CBN in July 2016 after 16 years with GMA Network. She was welcomed on It's Showtime. She became a judge for the Tawag ng Tanghalan segment and an occasional performer. In November 2016, Jaya was a guest performer at the Filipino girl group DIVAS' first concert, DIVAS Live in Manila.

Personal Life

In 1998, Jaya married musician Andrew Buffington. They divorced after three years. In May 2006, Jaya married her second husband, Gary Gotidoc. She gave birth to her daughter, Sabriya, when she was 36. On June 27, 2009, she had her son, Dylan. In July 2021, Jaya moved to the United States with her family.

Discography

Studio Albums

• Jaya (1989)
• Jaya (1996)
• In the Raw (1997)
• Kung Kailan Pasko (1998)
• Honesty (1999)
• Jaya (2000)
• Unleashed (2001)
• Fall in Love Again (2005)
• Cool Change (2007)
• Real. Love. Stories. (2009)
• All Souled Out (2011)
• Queen of Soul (2019)

Live Album

• Live at the Araneta (2001)

Compilation Albums

• A Love Album (1999)
• Five (2000)
• Silver Series (2006)
• 18 Greatest Hits (2009)

EPs

• If You Leave Me Now (1989)
• One Kiss Per Minute (1990)
• Shadow Love (1990)
• When I'm Available (1993)
• Skindo-Le-Le (2001)

Soundtrack Appearances

• I Have A Lover (performer: "Hanggang Dito Na Lang") (October 21, 2019)
• S6parados (performer: "Isang Araw") (August 3, 2014)
• Pangako... Ikaw lang (performer: "Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang") (July 4, 2001)
• Abandonada (performer: "Kung Wala Na") (November 29, 2000)
• Dito sa puso ko (performer: "Dito Sa Puso Ko") (1999)
• Dahil Ba Sa Kanya (performer: "Dahil Ba Sa Kanya") (May 13, 1998)
• Wala na bang pag-ibig (performer: "Wala na bang pag-ibig") (October 22, 1997)
• Laging Naro'n Ka (performer: "Laging Naro'n Ka") (April 9, 1997)
• Hanggang Ngayo'y Mahal (performer: "Hanggang Ngayo'y Mahal") (1997)
• Dahil Tanging Ikaw (performer: "Dahil Tanging Ikaw") (1996)

Filmography

Television Shows

Films

• Pangako... Ikaw Lang (2001)
• Enteng Kabisote 10 and The Abangers (2016)

Theatre Credits

• Rama at Sita (1999)

Awards and Recognition

See also

In Spanish: Jaya (cantante) para niños