Jo: The Soulful Voice of Modern R&B

Jo is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter known for her powerful vocals and emotionally resonant songwriting. Hailing from New York City, she achieved significant commercial success with her debut album, which charted in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 and spawned a platinum-certified single.

Early career

Born Joanna Noëlle Levesque in 1990, Jo began performing in her early childhood around New York and Atlanta. Her professional start came at age 13 when she signed a development deal with Blackground Records, leading to her first major-label album release in 2004.

Breakthrough

Her self-titled debut album, "JoJo," was released in 2004 via Blackground and Da Family/Universal. The lead single, "Leave (Get Out)," became a massive hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Pop Songs chart and earning a platinum certification from the RIAA, launching her as the youngest solo artist to have a number-one single in the United States at that time.

Key tracks

Leave (Get Out) — This platinum-selling debut single catapulted the young artist to instant fame and defined her early pop-R&B sound.

Too Little Too Late — The lead single from her 2006 sophomore album became her second top 3 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, solidifying her hit-making status.

Baby It's You — A collaboration with Bow Wow, this track showcased her versatility and further expanded her radio reach in the mid-2000s.

Disaster — Released in 2011, this single marked her return after a prolonged label dispute and demonstrated a more mature musical direction.

Say So — A standout track from her 2015 "III" mixtape, it highlighted her artistic growth and control over her R&B sound following her major-label departure.

Her second studio album, "The High Road," arrived in 2006 and was certified gold, featuring production from Scott Storch and Swizz Beatz. Following a highly publicized, years-long legal battle to free herself from her original record contract, Jo finally released her long-awaited third studio album, "Good to Know," in 2020 on her own label, Clover Music.

Her journey through the music industry, including her legal challenges, has made her a noted advocate for artist rights. Throughout her career, Jo has collaborated with artists like Timbaland, Ne-Yo, and Wiz Khalifa, and has continued to evolve her blend of classic soul and contemporary R&B.

Fans of Jo's brand of vocal-driven R&B and pop might also enjoy the work of similar artists. Alicia Keys shares a foundation in piano-based soul and powerful vocal delivery. Joss Stone offers a comparable raw, blues-inflected take on modern soul music. Tinashe explores a similarly sleek and experimental edge of contemporary R&B. H.E.R. continues the tradition of introspective, guitar-laced R&B that Jo has often embraced.

Jo's music maintains a strong presence on radio, particularly on urban adult contemporary stations, mainstream top 40 channels, and dedicated online R&B streams. Her catalog, from early 2000s hits to her recent independent work, provides a consistent thread of quality soul and pop for listeners.

You can hear the music of Jo on the radio stations featured here on OnAirium.com. Explore our curated selection of R&B, soul, and pop stations to discover her tracks and similar artists broadcasting live.