Norah Jones: Get to know the jazz-folk luminary

Discover more about the stunningly unique vocalist

Author: Emma DoddsPublished 14th Jun 2021
Last updated 16th Jun 2021

Norah Jones' soothing vocal production has caressed the souls of her many fans throughout her career. The singer came to prominence with her debut album Come Away With Me in 2002, and nearly 20 years later, her flourishing career and discography continues to grow.

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Norah Jones' early years

Geethali Norah Jones Shankar was born in Manhattan, New York, and moved to Grapevine, Texas at the age of seven with her mother, Sue Jones, a concert producer.

She officially changed her name to Norah Jones with the consent of both her parents at the age of 16.

Norah's father is internationally renowned Indian musician Ravi Shankar. He was widely considered to be one of the best sitar players of all time, hugely influencing the use of Indian instruments in Western music in the 1960s - as well as George Harrison, working with The Beatles guitarist on his music and organising events together.

Musical upbringing

Norah's musical upbringing was shaped, in addition by her siblings - brother Shubhendra 'Shubho' Shankar, and sister Anoushka Shankar from his relationship with Sukanya Rajan - have prove

Both Anoushka (who began learning sitar from Ravi at the age of seven, and has released 10 studio albums to date) and Norah have collaborated together on some of Anoushka's albums, including 2013's Grammy-nominated Traces of You.

Norah and Anoushka at the Grammy Awards 2013 collecting a Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of their father, Ravi Shankar

Norah Jones' rise to fame

Norah's musical promise started to show itself at an early age - singing in church choir, school choir and also playing the alto saxophone. She discovered the music of jazz legend Billie Holiday in Norah's mother's music collection. Later, Norah attended a summer arts camp where she was awarded Best Jazz Vocalist twice and Best Original Composition.

She studied jazz piano at the University of North Texas before moving to New York City in 1999 where she worked as a lounge singer, playing in a band with university pal Jess Harris, Lee Alexander and Dan Rieser, in addition to the group Wax Poetic.

Jazz songwriter Peter Malick, who was on the lookout for a singer to record his latest songs later spotted Norah Jones for a recording project. In the liner notes for his album New York City, recorded in 2000, he wrote, 'I walked into the Living Room just as the singer announced the last song of the set ... I was struck breathless. Here, in the tradition of Billie Holiday, was a stunningly beautiful, blues-infused voice. This was my first contact with Norah Jones.'

Listen to 'Heart Of Mine' - The Peter Malick Group featuring Norah Jones

Norah signed to Blue Note Records in 2001, getting her straight into the studio in May of that year. Her US chart-topping debut album Come Away With Me was released the following February.

The journey to the top of the charts wasn't instant, however. Come Away With Me steadily climbed the charts in the US, and eventually topped the mainstream chart almost a year after its release in January 2003. It topped the mainstream and jazz charts in the UK, and won four Grammys at the 2003 ceremony, with lead single 'Don't Know Why' winning three.

Norah's Grammy success boosted her international popularity, as well as her song 'Turn Me On' (made famous by Nina Simone) appearing in the 2003 Christmas film Love Actually. Norah did not rest on her laurels, releasing follow-up Feels Like Home just two years later in February 2004.

Norah Jones albums and discography

Norah has released seven studio albums throughout her career - most recently, Pick Me Up Off The Floor in 2020.

Come Away With Me (2002)

Norah's debut album Come Away With Me was released in February 2002 via Blue Note Records - as all of her albums have. Peaking at Number 1 on both the UK Jazz chart and the mainstream, as well as the mainstream chart in the US, Come Away With Me also won Norah two Grammy Awards: Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album, as well as Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for 'Don't Know Why'. Other tracks on the album include the title track, 'Feelin' the Same Way' and 'Cold Cold Heart'.

Feels Like Home (2004)

Follow-up record Feels Like Home was released in February 2004, being nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the Grammy Awards with lead single 'Sunrise' winning Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The album also featured songs 'What Am I to You?' and 'Creepin' In', a collaboration with Country legend Dolly Parton. It once again peaked at Number 1 in the UK mainstream and Jazz charts, as well as the US mainstream, and has been certified 4X Platinum in both countries.

Not Too Late (2007)

Norah's third album Not Too Late was released three years later in January 2007, featuring singles 'Thinking About You', 'Not Too Late' and 'Sinkin' Soon'. Yet again, Norah topped the US mainstream chart, the UK mainstream chart and the UK Jazz chart with the record.

The Fall (2009)

The Fall was her next record, released in November 2009 with singles 'Chasing Pirates', 'Young Blood' and 'It's Gonna Be' to promote it. It peaked at Number 3 on the US mainstream chart, and topped the UK Jazz charts - although it didn't break into the Top 20 in the mainstream UK chart, it has been certified Gold by the BPI.

Little Broken Hearts (2012)

Norah's fifth album Little Broken Hearts was released three years later in April 2012 and was produced by Danger Mouse AKA Brian Burton, one-half of Gnarls Barkley with Cee Lo Green. The singles from the record were 'Happy Pills' and 'Miriam', and it peaked at Number 4 on the UK mainstream chart and Number 2 in the US.

Day Breaks (2016)

Her next album, Day Breaks, was released in October 2016, with many critics likening it to Norah's debut, Come Away With Me. The singles from the album were 'Carry On' and 'Flipside', the latter of which was co-written with her husband Peter Remm, and also included three covers: 'Peace' by Horace Silver, 'Fleurette Africaine' by Duke Ellington and 'Don't Be Denied' by Neil Young. The record topped the US Jazz charts and went to Number 2 on the mainstream, and in the UK peaked at Number 2 on the Jazz charts and Number 9 on the mainstream.

Pick Me Up Off the Floor (2020)

Norah's most recent record, Pick Me Up Off The Floor, came out in June 2020, releasing five singles to promote it: 'I'm Alive', 'How I Weep', 'Tryin' to Keep It Together', 'Were You Watching?' and 'Flame Twin'. It did not break into the Top 40 in the UK or US charts.

Norah Jones other career highlights

Norah teamed up with jazz legend Ray Charles on a cover of his song 'Here We Go Again' celebrating the original track 1967 that bore his name. The cover which won two Grammys in 2005: Record of the Year and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.

Like Harry Connick Jr, Norah has appeared on screen starring in the 2007 romantic drama film My Blueberry Nights as Elizabeth, co-starring Jude Law, Rachel Weisz and Natalie Portman.

Norah formed a country music group called Puss n Boots with Sasha Dobson and Catherine Popper in 2008, releasing their debut album No Fools, No Fun in 2014. In an interview that year, she revealed how the group had formed, "Sasha booked a gig at a pool hall for us to learn guitar on ... We played a lot of gigs when we were all in town just kinda to get together and have fun. And then finally we sounded like a band enough to where we thought we’d make a record." Their follow-up, Sister, was released in 2020.

Listen to Puss N Boots - 'Sister'

In 2010, she released a compilation album entitled ...Featuring Norah Jones, made up of songs she's been a featured artist on, for the likes of Foo Fighters, Willie Nelson, OutKast, Wyclef Jean and Herbie Hancock. Norah said of the record, "It's so exciting and flattering and fun when I get asked to sing with somebody that I admire.... It takes you a little bit out of your comfort zone when you're doing something with another artist. You don't know what to expect—it's kind of like being a little kid and having a playdate."

Norah worked with Danger Mouse AKA Brian Burton ahead of their collaboration on her fifth album, Little Broken Hearts, contributing vocals to his record Rome, which was a partnership with Italian composer Daniele Luppi.

She released another compilation album in 2019 - Begin Again, which consisted of singles Norah had released between 2018 and 2019, such as 'My Heart Is Full', 'A Song with No Name' and 'Just a Little Bit'.

Norah won The Impact Award at the Jazz FM Awards 2020 with OANDA, and in her acceptance speech she acknowledged the hardships that 2020 had brought, "I'm really pleased to accept the Impact Award from my friends in the UK at Jazz FM, I appreciate it. 2020 has been a tough year for everyone and music has helped a lot of people through, including me, so I appreciate this, and I wish you guys all the best. Thanks."