Jaya Ramsey
| Jaya | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | María Luisa Ramsey Kagahastian |
| Born | March 21, 1970 |
| Origin | Manila, Philippines |
| Genres | Soul, pop, R&B, rock, hip hop, OPM, jazz, gospel, scat, funk, freestyle, dance |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, rapper, actress, dancer, musician, record producer, TV host |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels |
LeFrak-Moelis (1989) VIVA (1996–2005) GMA (2007–2011) Universal Records (2011–2016) Star Music (2016–present) |
María Luisa Ramsey Kagahastian-Gotidoc (born March 21, 1970), better known mononymously as Jaya, is a Filipina soul music singer, rapper, dancer, record producer, presenter, and actress of mixed Visayan and Jamaican descent. She was a former contract artist of GMA. She is the first Filipino recording artist to chart in the United States, as her debut single "If You Leave Me Now" peaked at 44 at the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
María Luisa Ramsey was born on March 21, 1970 in Manila, Philippines. Her mother is Elizabeth Ramsey, a Filipino comedian and singer of Jamaican descent. Ramsey's father is Reynaldo Kagahastian, a Filipino. Her parents separated when she was young, while her father migrated to the United States. He now resides in Alberta, Canada.
She started show business at the age of ten as a backup dancer of her mother. Having a dancing career at early life up to the age of 13 has been a victory as a backup dancer in which her mother, Elizabeth Ramsey, became the undefeated champion in singing on the GMA Network noontime variety show, Student Canteen, and later joined the Opera House. She began performing solo in 1982, using the name Louise Ramsey.
The young Louise did not finish high school in the Philippines because of her busy lifestyle as a child performer. She nonetheless managed to receive high marks and was once elected class president.
Her mother Elizabeth decided to leave for the United States in June 1985, and brought Louise with her. There she continued her solo singing stints, performing with other Overseas Filipino artists like Tillie Moreno, Eddie Mercado, Lerma dela Cruz, and the duo Reycards.
Life in America was likewise difficult for both Jaya and her mother. They stayed in different cities in California. She attended John Marshall High School in Los Angeles, which at the time already had a large Filipino-American student population. She ran away from home in 1988 after finishing high school, moving to New York with a friend and landing a job as a backup vocalist for Stevie B's group of musicians.
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