Jannelle Means

Jannelle Means, originally from Chattanooga, TN, currently lives in Nashville. Her love for music probably started when her mother witnessed her doing the rock that Michael Jackson does in the video “Rock With You” when she was around one or two years old. Her love affair with music continued on. She was always involved in musical events from elementary school until now. Ms. Means was recently a vocalist in a cover band that traveled to different cities to perform. She has now decided to pursue other opportunities that allow her to use her musical gifts. She continues to volunteer at the Tennessee Prison for Women using her gift of song for special events. She loves all types of music, singing, dancing, and traveling. Her musical influences range from every genre of music and so many different artists; from the gospel vocal sounds of Karen Clark-Sheard, the christian contempary sound of Crystal Lewis, the soulful sounds of Chaka Chan, Faith Evans, and Chrisette Michelle, the funk sound of the Isley Brothers, to the musical universality of Michael Jackson. She admires so many artists and their uniqueness and seeks to convey that in her own vocal ability. She is currently part of a worship team at a church in Goodlettsville, TN. She was the worship leader at a church that moved from Mt. Juliet to Lebanon, TN from 2003 to 2008. She was also a member of the worship team at Oasis Worship Center of Nashville, TN from 2009 to 2010. She was a member of the Soul Choir of Nashville from April 2009 to March 2010. She has participated in recording sessions for several artists and musicians. She enjoyed the opportunity of doing background vocals for country artist Sara Evans on two of her recordings from her album A Fine Place to Start. While working as a teacher and counselor, she plans to establish an organization focused on helping and mentoring teenagers, using music and arts to motivate them to reach their academic and career goals. She has a strong passion to help young adults learn how they can make a difference in their community and the world by using their gifts and talents. There will also be a side component of helping those that deal with illiteracy. She desires to help people of all populations, especially teenagers, couples, and young adult women and men. In this tribute to Etta James, Jannelle hopes to show Etta’s strong influence and the impact she has made in the musical community and industry. Jannelle describes Etta’s voice as one of “pure honesty, conviction, and emotion that demands attention; a voice that speaks to those who have experienced love, hurt, and pain from all ends of the relationship spectrum”.