Jay Sean
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Jay Sean, (born Kamaljit Jhooti on March 26, 1979 in Southall, London, United Kingdom; Template:Lang-pa, kamaljīt jhuṭī) is a British Asian Sikh R&B singer.
Biography
Jay Sean's real name is Kamaljit Jhooti. Jay Sean is a stage name that he adapted from a name that his family affectionately called him 'Shaan' and 'J' from his MC name (MC Nicky J).
He grew up in Hounslow, which is located near the world famous London Heathrow International Airport, which is west of London. He is a follower of Sikhism.
Jhooti started his hobby of rapping at the age of 14, in a hip hop duo called "Compulsive Disorder" with his cousin Pritpal Ruprai. He went by the name MC Nicky J and Pritpal went by the name MC DNA. "Compulsive Disorder" later gained the attention of local radio station DJs.
Jhooti went to a private boys school, called Latymer Upper School, in Hammersmith, West London. He was seemingly relatively high-placed in his class with ten grade A's at GCSE and 4 A level's that won him a place at St. Bartholomews & The Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry to train as a doctor. Two years later Jhooti secured a record deal and dropped out to follow his childhood passion of music.
Musical Career
"One Minute" was the first full tracks Jay Sean had written himself. It was passed on by a friend, who passed it on too other friends, and it eventually landed in the hands of British Asian Music Producer Rishi Rich. After hearing the demo, Rishi Rich asked Jhooti to come to the studio, and got him to do an impromtu performance in front of his managers, 2Point9 management.
After he dropped out of studying medicine at Barts & The London School of Medicine and Dentistry in East London where he had been for two years, Jhooti together with Music producer, Rishi Rich and Punjabi Singer, Juggy D during the summer of 2003, started to work on material.
As Jay Sean had gotten deeper into the music industry, he had expressed his love for R&B Music. The biggest year for Jay Sean's career had to be 2004, when his debut album charted in the UK Top 30 for one week, while his first two singles managed to break the UK Top 10 charts. Jay Sean was introduced into the musical scene with hits like "Dance With You" (Nachna Tere Naal), "Eyes On You" and "Stolen". Jay Sean has also been a big hit overseas in his motherland of India, his album being a bit hit selling over 2 million copies, as well as making a brief appearance in the Bollywood flick Kya Kool Hai Hum, also providing the song "Dil Mera (One Night)" to the soundtrack. Jay Sean has now completed the follow up to his Rishi Rich produced debut album provisionally titled "Deal With It" which will feature production from Rishi Rich as well as some top americian producers such as Brian McKnight and Timbaland, and it will soon be ready for release in summer 2006. In February 2006, he was released from his contract with Virgin Records due to a disagreement with his label. This delayed the release of his new album. However his musical career is far from over as his current label, 2.9, is ready to progress with his new album.
Discography
Albums
- "Me Against Myself" (2004) #29 UK (Relentless/Virgin Records)
Singles
- "Dance with You" (Nachna Tere Naal) (2003) #12 UK (Relentless/Virgin Records)
- "Eyes on You" (2004) #6 UK (Relentless/Virgin Records)
- "Stolen" (2004) #4 UK (Relentless/Virgin Records)
Guest appearances
- Kya Kool Hai Hum (Indian movie) (2005)
Awards
- UK Asian Music Awards (AMAs)
- 2005: Best Album ("Me Against Myself")
- 2005: Best Urban Act
- 2005: Best Video ("Stolen")
- Channel U Best of British Awards
- 2005: Channel U Best Of British Award