Chung Jae-young (Korean: 정재영; born May 2, 1977),[1] better known by the stage names J and J.ae (Korean: 제이), is a Korean-American singer based in South Korea. She debuted in 1998 with the album, J: Gold.[2]
Early life
J was born Chung Jae-young on May 2, 1977.[1] Her father is Chung Hee-taek, the former vocalist of the rock band He Six, and her aunt is Chung Hoon-hee, a singer.[3] When she was one year old, she immigrated to the United States with her family.[4] She grew up in San Francisco, California, and later Springfield, Virginia, where she attended West Springfield High School. Her mother entered her into the 1995 regional Miss Korea pageant in Washington, D.C., where she finished as the first runner-up and was scouted by a music producer.[4][5][6] She studied jazz at NOVA in Virginia, but took a leave of absence in 1997 and returned to South Korea in order to become a singer.[4][7]
Career
J’s debut album was prepared over the course of two years.[8] During that period, J provided vocals for Yoo Seung-jun’s 1st and 2nd albums and contributed to the soundtrack of the movie Hallelujah.[4] Her debut album was released in November 1998 with two versions — J-Gold and J-Blue. J-Gold was described as "pure and innocent", while J-Blue was described as "emphasizing a sensuous feel." The two versions shared 7 tracks in common, while the remaining 4 differed.[8]
In 2007, she released a contemporary Christian album In My Lifetime. The album had a more R&B/hip-hop feel than her previous releases.[10]
In 2012, J hosted Arirang TV's The Sensation,[11] a music-focused series that introduced traditional Korean instruments, music, and dance through multiple venues including concerts, studio audience tapings, and award-winning documentaries geared towards a world-wide English-speaking audience.
Personal life
On September 14, 2013, J married a U.S. soldier who was based in South Korea.[12] Following their marriage, the couple moved to the United States. They have one daughter, born on June 28, 2016.[2]
^Music Industry Association of Korea monthly chart positions:
In Love: "2000.05월 - 가요 음반 판매량" [May 2000 K-Pop Album Sales]. Music Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 18, 2007. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
Beautiful Ones: "2001.06월 - 가요 음반 판매량" [June 2001 K-Pop Album Sales]. Music Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 7, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
Dim The Lights: "2002.04월 - 가요 음반 판매량" [April 2002 K-Pop Album Sales]. Music Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 16, 2004. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
In Love Again: "2007. 11월 - 가요음반 판매량" [November 2007 K-Pop Album Sales]. Music Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
^"2000년 가요 판매량 순위집계" [Total 2000 K-Pop Album Sales]. Music Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 5, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
^"2001.06월 - 가요 음반 판매량" [June 2001 K-Pop Album Sales]. Music Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 7, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
^"2002년 - 가요 음반 판매량" [2002 Half Year K-Pop Album Sales]. Music Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 18, 2007. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
^"2007. 11월 - 가요음반 판매량" [November 2007 K-Pop Album Sales]. Music Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
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