Post by Admin on Dec 14, 2013 5:32:51 GMT -8
Jaya and her mother, Elizabeth Ramsey.
"Jaya" María Luisa Ramsey (born March 21, 1969), better known monoymously as Jaya, is a Filipino soul music singer, rapper, dancer, record producer, presenter, and actress of mixed Filipino (mother) and Jamaican (father) descent. She is a contract artist of GMA Artist Center. 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.[1]
Early life
María Luisa Ramsey was born on March 21, 1969 in Manila, Philippines. Her mother is Filipino comedienne-singer Elizabeth Ramsey [2] and has three siblings: Ike, Anna, and Susan. Ramsey barely knew her father, who separated from her mother, Elizabeth, after a seven-year relationship. Her father, a Jamaican, was very strict but Elizabeth never wanted to go to school, staying in sixth grade for two years.
She started in show business at the age of ten as a backup dancer for her mother. At 13, Ramsey became the undefeated champion in the GMA-7 noontime variety show, Student Canteen, and joined the Opera House. She began performing solo in 1982, using the name Louise Ramsey.