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Human Development senior sings tribute to soul singer Teena Marie Aug. 20

Head shot of woman.

Carmen Jones

  • July 21, 2011 6:00am

Carmen Jones, a senior in human development and women’s studies, who also sings R&B/soul and gospel, will present a tribute concert to the late soul singer Teena Marie Aug. 20 in Alamenda.

With an African-American father and Italian mother, Jones listened to an eclectic range of music in her Berkeley home. By age 2 she was singing into a wooden spoon as a microphone, by 10 she was playing the piano and writing music, and once she graduated high school she toured the California club scene with a local band. 

As a lead vocalist with the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, she performed in such places as the New Orleans Jazz Festival and recorded with MC Hammer and Linda Ronstadt. As one of the female quartet “Soul de Pop,” she recorded a R&B/Pop album with Interscope Records; and as one of the female trio “New Faces,” performed at Superbowl pre-parties and with Magic Johnson and Jeffrey Osborne at Disney World.

Sometimes compared to Teena Marie, Jones had the thrill of singing with the blue-eyed queen of soul and funk in the late ‘80s in Oakland. 

When Teena died suddenly in 2010, Jones knew immediately that she wanted to do a tribute concert.

The oldest of four children and the only one without a university degree, Jones is seeking her diploma for personal satisfaction, and to be a good role model for her own two children.

DD

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