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Jaya (born Maria Louise Ramsey on March 21, 1970, in Manila, Philippines) is a Filipino pop singer with African American ancestry.
Biography
She is known in the Philippines as The Queen of Soul. Born as Maria Luisa Ramsey-Buffington on March 21, 1970 in Manila, the name Jaya came from an American producer when he signed her to a record deal in the US in 1989. Her mother is comedienne-singer Elizabeth Ramsey, who is of Afro-Jamaican and Spanish blood. She has three siblings, namely: Ike, Anna, and Susan.
She started in show business at the age of 10, as a back-up dancer to her mother. It was only in 1982 when Jaya, then known as Louise Ramsey, started giving solo performances.
Jaya barely knew her father. He and her mother separated after a seven-year relationship. Jaya also was not able to finish high school in the Philippines (she completed her 2nd year at Trinity College), because of her busy lifestyle as a young performer. However, she got high grades in school and became a class president.
Her mother decided to leave for the US in June 1985 and brought Jaya with her. Young Jaya continued her solo singing stints there, performing with other Pinoy artists like Tillie Moreno, Eddie Mercado, Lerma dela Cruz, and the veteran-duo, Reycards.
Life in the US was likewise difficult for both Jaya and her mother. They stayed in different cities in California. She ran away from home in 1988, after finishing high school. She went to New York with a friend and landed a job as a back-up vocalist to the group of musician Stevie B.
After one year, Jaya moved to Florida. She got an offer to finish an album that somebody had already started and took the opportunity. In February 1989, she signed a record deal with LMR Records (New York). She finished the said project which was heard on the radio a year later.
Jaya went home to her mother after four years. She then continued to perform for the Filipino community in California.
1995 was a turning point in Jaya’s musical career. Asia’s Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales noticed her voice after Jaya did an opening act for Corrales, Carmen Soriano, the late Bert “Tawa” Marcelo, and Elizabeth in the US. Corrales then asked Jaya if she would come to Manila and record an album.
Jaya went back to her native land and signed a record deal with Viva Records in March 1995 and completed her first local album.
Her biggest break in the Philippine music scene was when she won 1st place in the Metropop Song Festival for her interpretation of “Sometimes You Just Know.” She also won grand prize as Best Interpreter at Asia’s Song Festival-Hong Kong in February 97 for her rendition of the song “You Lift Me Up” composed by Danny Tan. This composition also received the Best Song Award. At present, the radiowaves are filled with Jaya’s songs. Her albums were best sellers in the records stores nationwide.
She is now a full time mother and housewife.
She is a mainstay of the Sunday noontime variety show SOP, a weekly judge in the popular star search program Pinoy Pop Superstar, and one of the main hosts of All Star K! The One Million Videoke Challenge.
Discography
- Jaya (US Album 1989)
- Jaya (Philippine Album 1996) (8x Platinum Record)
- In The Raw (Triple Platinum Record) (1997)
- Kung Kailan Pasko (Gold Record) (1998)
- A Love Album (Japan Released)
- Honesty (Gold Record) (1999)
- Five: Greatest Hits (Platinum Record) (2000)
- Unleashed (2001)
- Fall In Love Again (2005)
Singles
Jaya (1989)
- “If You Leave Me Now”
Jaya (1996)
- “Where Do We Go From Here”
- “Laging Naro’n Ka”
- “Hanggang Ngayo’y Mahal”
- “Sometimes you Just Know”
- “Dahil Tanging Ikaw”
In The Raw (1997)
- “Dahil Ba Sa Kanya”
- “Wala Na Bang Pag-ibig”
- “I Won’t Let You Go Again”
- “I Still Believe In Love”
- “Sana Maulit Muli”
Kung Kailan Pasko (1998)
- “Give Love on Christmas Day”
- “O Holy Night”
Honesty (1999)
- “Honesty”
- “Mula Sa Puso”
- “Dito Sa Puso Ko”
Five: Greatest Hits (2000)
- “Ikaw Lamang” with Janno Gibbs
- “Habang May Buhay” with Regine Velasquez
Unleashed (2001)
- “Love Hurts”
- “Umasa Nang Labis”
Fall In Love Again (2005)
- “Ako’y Sa’yo”
- “I Just Fall In love Again”
- “Di Na Ba Kita Mapipigilan”
Television stints
- SOP (Sobrang Okey Pare)
- Pinoy Pop Superstar
- All Star K!
Theatre credits
- Rama at Sita
