Norah Jones facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Norah Jones
Norah Jones at the U.S. Capitol in 2011
Born	Geethali Norah Jones Shankar (1979-03-30) March 30, 1979 (age 46) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Singer songwriter musician
Spouse(s)	Pete Remm
Children	2
Parents	Ravi Shankar (father) Sue Jones (mother)
Relatives	Anoushka Shankar (half-sister) Shubhendra Shankar (half-brother) Uday Shankar (uncle) Amala Shankar (aunt) Mamata Shankar (first cousin) Viji Subramaniam (first cousin) Gingger Shankar (first cousin once removed)
Musical career
Genres	Pop jazz folk country blues
Instruments	Vocals piano
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Blue Note

Norah Jones (born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar on March 30, 1979) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. She is famous for her unique blend of jazz, pop, folk, and country music. Norah has won many awards for her music, including nine Grammy Awards. By 2023, she had sold over 53 million records around the world. Billboard magazine even called her the best jazz artist of the 2000s.

In 2002, Norah Jones released her first solo album, Come Away with Me. This album mixed jazz with country, blues, folk, and pop sounds. It was a huge success, selling over 27 million copies. This album helped her win five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Best New Artist. Her next albums, Feels Like Home (2004), Not Too Late (2007), and The Fall (2009), also sold millions of copies. Norah also acted in the movie My Blueberry Nights, which came out in 2007.

Norah Jones is the daughter of the famous Indian sitar player and composer Ravi Shankar. She also has two half-siblings, Anoushka Shankar and Shubhendra Shankar, who are also musicians.

Norah Jones's Early Life

Norah Jones was born in Manhattan, New York City, on March 30, 1979. Her mother was Sue Jones, a concert producer from America. Her father was Ravi Shankar, a musician from India.

After her parents separated in 1986, Norah grew up with her mother in Grapevine, Texas. She started singing in church when she was a child. She also took piano and voice lessons. Norah went to Colleyville Middle School and Grapevine High School. Later, she moved to Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas. She often sang solos in her local Methodist Church. In high school, she sang in the choir and played the alto saxophone in the band. When she was 16, she officially changed her name to Norah Jones.

Norah loved the music of artists like Bill Evans and Billie Holiday. She once said that her mom had a Billie Holiday album set. Norah would pick one disc she liked and listen to it again and again.

She spent her summers at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. While in high school, she won awards from Down Beat magazine. She was named Best Jazz Vocalist twice and won for Best Original Composition.

Norah went to the University of North Texas (UNT). There, she studied jazz piano and sang with the UNT Jazz Singers. During this time, she met Jesse Harris, who would later work with her on music. In 1999, Norah moved from Texas to New York City. Less than a year later, she formed a band with Jesse Harris. Their early recordings became very popular.

Norah Jones's Music Career

Before becoming a famous recording artist, Norah Jones sang in lounges. She also performed with other musicians like Wax Poetic and Charlie Hunter.

First Albums and Big Success (2000–2002)

Norah Jones signed with Blue Note Records, a well-known music label. This happened after she sang with the JC Hopkins Biggish Band. Someone from EMI Publishing heard her demo and shared it with Blue Note. The label liked her potential and signed her.

Jones at the premiere of My Blueberry Nights at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival

Her first album, Come Away with Me (2002), was praised for mixing acoustic pop with soul and jazz. It quickly became number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. The song "Don't Know Why" was a big hit. At the 2003 Grammy Awards, Norah Jones won five Grammys. These included Best New Artist, Album of the Year, and Record of the Year for "Don't Know Why." She tied the record for most Grammys won by a female artist in one night. The album sold over 10 million copies, earning a "diamond" certification.

More Hit Albums (2004–2009)

Norah's second album, Feels like Home (2004), was number one in many countries. She won another Grammy for her song "Sunrise" from this album. She also won Record of the Year for "Here We Go Again", a duet with Ray Charles.

Her third album, Not Too Late, came out in 2007. Norah wrote or co-wrote all the songs on this album. She recorded most of it in her home studio. This album also reached number one in many countries and sold 4 million copies worldwide.

Jones performing on Good Morning America in 2010.

Norah's fourth album, The Fall, was released in 2009. It debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. Even though it wasn't number one, critics loved it. The album sold 1.5 million copies around the world. Billboard named Norah Jones the top jazz artist of the 2000s decade.

Recent Music (2012–Present)

In 2012, Norah released her fifth album, Little Broken Hearts. She worked with producer Danger Mouse on this album. American Songwriter magazine called it her "most dramatic and rewarding" album yet. She started a world tour to support the album, performing in many countries, including India for the first time.

Her sixth album, Day Breaks, came out in 2016. This album marked a return to her piano-focused jazz sound. Norah wanted to record it live with musicians to keep the music's "soul." In 2019, she released Begin Again, a collection of singles she recorded.

Norah's seventh album, Pick Me Up Off the Floor, was released in 2020. In 2021, she released a Christmas album called I Dream of Christmas. In 2023, she was featured on a song with rapper Logic. Her ninth studio album, Visions, came out in March 2024.

Other Music Projects and Collaborations

Norah Jones has worked with many different artists and appeared in movies.

In 2002, she had a small role in the movie Two Weeks Notice, singing at a charity event. In 2003, she released an album called New York City with The Peter Malick Group. She also sang on a song called "Take Off Your Cool" for the hip-hop group OutKast.

Norah formed a country music band called The Little Willies in 2003. The band released their first album in 2006 and another in 2012. She also appeared on the TV show Sesame Street in 2004.

In 2005, Norah played piano and sang on the song "Virginia Moon" for the rock band Foo Fighters. This song was nominated for a Grammy. She also worked with musician Ryan Adams on several songs.

In 2007, Norah made her acting debut as the main character in the movie My Blueberry Nights. She also wrote and performed a song for the movie called "The Story." She performed live at Abbey Road Studios and on the TV show Austin City Limits.

Norah also sang and played guitar with a rock band called El Madmo, using the name "Maddie." They released an album in 2007. She sang on Herbie Hancock's album River: The Joni Letters, which won a Grammy for Album of the Year in 2008.

In 2010, Norah released ...Featuring, an album of songs she recorded with other famous musicians. These included the Foo Fighters, Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, and Dolly Parton. She said it was exciting to sing with artists she admired.

Norah sang a Christmas duet with Cyndi Lauper called "Home for the Holidays." She also performed for Apple Inc. as a tribute to Steve Jobs in 2011. She collaborated with Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane on his music albums and had a cameo in his movie Ted.

In 2013, Norah Jones and Green Day singer Billie Joe Armstrong released a duet album called Foreverly. It featured covers of songs by The Everly Brothers. She also worked with her half-sister, Anoushka Shankar, on her album Traces of You.

Norah formed an all-female country trio called Puss n Boots with Sasha Dobson and Catherine Popper. They released an album called No Fools, No Fun in 2014. She also performed at a tribute concert for George Harrison in 2014.

In 2015, Norah sang with The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards on his album Crosseyed Heart. She also sang "One Voice" for the movie A Dog Named Gucci, with profits going to animal charities.

In 2017, Norah recorded a version of "Unchained Melody" for a TV show soundtrack. In 2020, she sang "Angel Eyes" with jazz singer Kandace Springs.

Since September 2022, Norah Jones has hosted a podcast called "Norah Jones Is Playing Along." On the podcast, she plays improvised songs with guest artists like Dave Grohl and her half-sister Anoushka Shankar. In 2023, she also recorded two Christmas songs with Icelandic musician Laufey.

Norah Jones's Tours

• Come Away with Me Tour (2002–2004)
• Norah Jones & The Handsome Band Tour (2004–2005)
• Not Too Late Tour (2007–2008)
• The Fall Tour (2010)
• Little Broken Hearts Tour (2012–2013)
• Daybreaks World Tour (2016–2017)
• North American Tour (2019)
• Summer Tour (2022)
• Visions Tour (2024–2025)

Norah Jones's Personal Life

Norah Jones has two children with her husband, keyboardist Pete Remm. She has spent time with her father, Ravi Shankar, in New Delhi.

Norah Jones's Albums

Studio albums

• Come Away with Me (2002)
• Feels like Home (2004)
• Not Too Late (2007)
• The Fall (2009)
• Little Broken Hearts (2012)
• Day Breaks (2016)
• Pick Me Up Off the Floor (2020)
• I Dream of Christmas (2021)
• Visions (2024)

Collaborative albums

• New York City (with The Peter Malick Group) (2003)
• Here We Go Again: Celebrating the Genius of Ray Charles (with Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis) (2011)
• Rome (with Danger Mouse, Daniele Luppi and Jack White) (2011)
• Foreverly (with Billie Joe Armstrong) (2013)

Norah Jones's Film and TV Appearances

Norah Jones's Awards

Images for kids

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  Norah Jones performing in 2010

See also

In Spanish: Norah Jones para niños

• Indians in the New York City metropolitan area