JOJO McDuffie Joanne “JoJo” McDuffie‐Funderburg is a native of Buffalo, New York. A former student of what is now known as The Performing Arts Academy, City Honors H.S., and State University College at Buffalo, she graduated with a B.A. degree in Social Sciences. While attending college, JoJo continued to hone her talents as a vocalist by studying vocal technique and participating in the All College Gospel Choir. Prior to attending college, JoJo was already known throughout the Western New York area as a premier R&B/Jazz vocalist. She was also a soloist with the choir at Mt. Ararat Baptist Church. While working for a popular record store in Buffalo, she was introduced to Rick James by Oscar Alston, a member of Rick’s Stone City Band. Rick hired her to sing back up for his 1980 “Street Songs” and “Throwing Down” tours. She also began to record with Rick singing background on the songs “Standing on the Top”, “Dance wit me” and other recordings by James. When JoJo joined Rick’s organization he had already named his back‐up singers the Mary Jane Band. However, with the addition of JoJo as the lead vocalist he decided to record them as a group named the “Mary Jane Girls”. Although, the other singers quit Rick decided to make the music he had recorded with JoJo and famous session vocalists the Water Sisters a solo project for JoJo. When he made the rounds to the various record labels they thought this was the group Rick had been saying he was forming. He told Motown it was a group, to secure its million dollar offers for the project. With no group and photos needed, Rick gathered JoJo and a group of girls together that would from then on be visually known as The Mary Jane Girls to take the photos. Essentially, the vocals you hear on all Mary Jane Girl projects are JoJo and the Water Sisters, as the other members of the group were very limited vocally. In fact, the Stone City Band sang for the other members on tour, and tape was used for television appearances. The groups self titled album “The Mary Jane Girls” and “Only For You” became multi‐platinum sellers propelling JoJo and the girls to much deserved worldwide acclaim. The albums generated several classic songs such as “In My House, All Night Long, and Candy Man” to name a few. JoJo ‘s lead and background vocals on these and other chart topping songs by the Mary Jane Girls are still heard today on radio, movie soundtracks television, video games and other forms of media. In particular, the song “All Night Long” has inspired recording superstars such as Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu and LL.Cool J to either redo the song or sample JoJo’s lead vocals, making her voice the most sampled in the history of music, helping to introduce her to yet another generation of music lovers. Her innovation and creativity set a standard for female groups from the 1980’s to the present. JOJO McDuffie (con’t) In 1990 JoJo moved to Los Angeles to further her musical Career. Performing background vocals and appearing in videos for Ice Cube, Redman, Mack 10 and other recording acts. She reformed the Mary Jane Girls in 1994 and began to tour again with the group, and as a solo act. JoJo has also shared her vocal talents with Anita Baker as a back‐up singer and Barry White on his last European tour as a featured vocalist and choreographer. She continues to tour with a new set of back‐up singers performing as “JoJo, Original lead singer of the Mary Jane Girls”. JoJo also assisted Rick James on his “comeback” tour starring as a solo act and singing background vocals on his recording projects until his passing. JoJo has now begun to fully explore her abilities as a songwriter, working with noted producer Danny LeMelle. This collaboration has lead to several of her songs being placed on network television shows and film projects. JoJo will also release a muchanticipated solo album entitled “Slightly Dangerous” on her independent label in 2010. JoJo McDuffie continues to be a driving force in the music industry for music fans both old and new. Website: www.jojourbandiva.com Contact: Robert Funderburg robertfunderberg@sbcglobal.net 310 920 3615 cell 310 338 9796 office