Josie Aiello

Josie Aiello, working as both singer and songwriter, first took to performing as a child after persuading her parents to grant her stage time at the Chicago restaurant they ran. During her teenage years she broadened her appearances to school functions plus assorted local festivals and events in the area. She maintained academic focus as well, finishing with honors at the Academy of Performing Arts High School and later enrolling at DePaul University. One patron at the family restaurant, himself a jingle producer and writer, spotted her ability and steered her toward commercial singing assignments. After moving to Los Angeles she landed session work that opened the way to writing songs for films such as That Thing You Do, Dinosaur, and South Park. A demo reached Warner Bros. along with producer Quincy Jones, whose request for an a cappella audition produced a record contract. Her debut Unkunvenshunal Girl appeared in September 2000 on Jones’ Qwest label, yet the imprint closed soon afterward and the contemporary dance-pop project made little commercial headway despite opening slots on tours with 98° and Hootie & the Blowfish. Aiello kept supplying music for television, motion pictures, and advertisements, then issued the R&B-influenced adult contemporary album Where I Am in 2006. She sustained collaborative activity through 2012, most often supplying background vocals for R. Kelly, Cheryl Cole, Jennifer Lopez, and Ciara.