Maxine Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maxine Jones
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Jones performing at Soul of Pride, 2019
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| Background information | |
| Born | January 16, 1962 Paterson, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Origin | Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | |
Maxine Jones (born January 16, 1962) is an American singer and songwriter. She is famous for being one of the original members of the R&B and pop group En Vogue. This group became one of the best-selling girl groups in history.
Maxine sang the main parts on some of the group's most famous songs. These include "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" and "Don't Let Go (Love)". Both songs were huge hits around the world and sold more than a million copies each. With En Vogue, Maxine has sold over 20 million records. She has won many awards, including American Music Awards, a Billboard Music Award, and four MTV Video Music Awards.
Contents
Career with En Vogue
How the Group Started
In 1988, music producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy wanted to create a new girl group. They chose Maxine Jones, Dawn Robinson, and Cindy Herron. Soon after, Terry Ellis joined, and the group became a quartet named En Vogue.
They started recording their first album in 1989. In 1990, their first song, "Hold On", was a number-one hit on the R&B music charts. Their first album, Born to Sing, sold over a million copies in the United States.
Becoming Superstars
En Vogue's second album, Funky Divas (1992), was even more successful. It sold over 3.5 million copies in the U.S. Maxine sang the lead vocals on the hit song "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)". She also sang the lead on "Give It Up, Turn It Loose".
The group's song "Free Your Mind" won two MTV Video Music Awards. In 1993, they released the song "Whatta Man" with the group Salt-N-Pepa. Maxine sang co-lead vocals, and the song was a top-ten hit.
Major Hits and Changes
In 1996, En Vogue released "Don't Let Go (Love)". Maxine sang co-lead vocals on this track, which became the group's biggest hit ever. It was number one in countries all over the world and sold over 1.8 million copies.
After this success, Dawn Robinson left the group in 1997. En Vogue re-recorded their next album, EV3, with Maxine singing lead on more songs. The album was still very successful and went platinum.
In 2001, after their fourth album, Masterpiece Theatre, Maxine left En Vogue to spend more time with her family. She later returned to the group and performed with them until 2012.
Later Career and Reunions
New Projects
After leaving En Vogue in 2012, Maxine and former member Dawn Robinson started a new group called Heirs to the Throne. They performed together for a short time. Later, Maxine formed her own group called "En Vogue to the Max." This led to a disagreement with other En Vogue members over the use of the group's name, which was settled in court.
In 2014, Maxine began working on a solo album and released the single "Didn't I". In 2017, she released a duet cover of "Don't Let Go (Love)" with Australian singer Greg Gould.
Coming Back Together
In October 2019, all five original members of En Vogue, including Maxine, performed together for the first time in years. They reunited on stage to honor music executive Sylvia Rhone. Later, Maxine and Dawn Robinson toured as a duo called The Funky Divas.
In February 2025, Maxine officially rejoined En Vogue.
Musical Style
Voice and Singing
Maxine has a vocal range of over three octaves and is a trained soprano. In En Vogue, she was known for singing the low harmony parts, which added a rich sound to their music. She sang the main vocals on many of their biggest hits, including:
- "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)"
- "Don't Let Go (Love)"
- "Give It Up, Turn It Loose"
- "Whatta Man"
Who Inspired Her
Maxine has said that Chaka Khan is her biggest musical influence. She was also inspired by legendary singers like Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, and Patti LaBelle. Her style combines R&B and classic soul music.
Discography
- Singles
- "Didn't I" (2014)
- "Don't Let Go (Love)" (with Greg Gould) (2017)
- "Not Your Freak" (featuring Big Freedia) (2022)
Film and TV Roles
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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| 1995 | Batman Forever | Girl on the corner No. 1 | Cameo appearance |
TV Appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Episode |
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| 1993 | In Living Color | Herself; cameo with En Vogue | "Stacy Koon's Police Academy" |
| A Different World | Charity | "Mind Your Own Business" | |
| Roc | Jackie | "Joey in Love" "To Love and Die on Emerson Street: Part 1" "To Love and Die on Emerson Street: Part 2" |
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| 2017 | The Hills | Waitress | "Watergate" |
Theatre Appearances
| Year | Title | Role |
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| 2016 | Suspicion, Lies, and Death by Pies! | Ms. Fellows |
