Jazmine Sullivan

Jazmine an Sullivan, born in and was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her mother Pam was a backup singer for Philadelphia International Records. Her father gave her the position of curator of the Historic Strawberry Mansion. She together with her family later were able to move into the historical iconic. In 2005 she graduated from the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts with a vocal music major. Sullivan began her singing career as a contralto with the children's choir, then a few years later in the adult group. The exposure Sullivan had to secular music was at first sporadic "I did solos at the church, and I was asked to go on the gospel label at age was 11 years old, but I wasn't at the point of doing that," she recalls. "Then the time came that McDonald's held a contest for kids in major cities and I was offered the chance to perform 'Accept what God Gives' on Showtime in the Apollo and the audience loved it". Stevie Wonder sang her part on his birthday, 13 years old. Sullivan At the age of 15 at the time, signed her first contract with Jive Records. The label initially signed Sullivan to Jive Records when she was fifteen. She produced an entire album. However, this album never saw release. Sullivan was then dismissed from the record label. Missy Elliott was her producer for several songs from her debut album. The track "Backstabbers" of Timbaland and Timbaland, which Elliott wrote, is a highlight of their working relationship.