Joss Stone Biography

Teen singing sensation Joss Stone came out of nowhere to take the music industry by storm. The British blues singer grew up listening to American music as well as several other genres. In fact, she landed her first record contract by singing a cover version of disco queen Donna Summer’s 1970s hit “On the Radio.” Two albums and several Top 20 singles later, Stone is being hailed by some as the white Aretha Franklin (1942–), a woman who is considered one of the best rhythm and blues singers of all time.

Joscelyn Eve Stoker was born on April 11, 1987, in Dover, England. She moved with her three siblings and parents to Ashill, a small town where Stone spent most of her childhood; this is where she began to dislike school. Stone is dyslexic, which means she sometimes sees and reads things backwards or mixed up. But this isn’t the only reason she grew to dread school every morning. “It was partly that, but because I don’t come across like I’m really stupid—I can hold a conversation…. I guess teachers thought I wasn’t trying….” Stone explained to Teddy Jamieson of The Herald. “The way they taught didn’t work, so that resulted in huge arguments with people and I don’t like to be told what to do.”