Josie Aiello (aka “JoZee”) is recognized internationally as an award-winning singer, BMI songwriter, performer, and vocal arranger with 3 self-titled album releases under her belt.  JoZee began singing at her parents’ Sicilian restaurant in Chicago at the age of nine, and quickly developed a reputation for her powerful vocals and ability to command an audience.

JoZee attended Chicago’s Academy of Performing Arts High School where she excelled, ultimately winning a full scholarship to DePaul University School of Music.  She began doing session work and very soon became highly sought after by some of the recording industry’s top hit music producers, including the late great Phil Ramone. JoZee began traveling between Chicago and New York working for Ramone who teamed JoZee up with Andrew Lloyd Weber for whom she recorded several songs for his Starlight Express soundtrack. Showing her vocal diversity, she was later contracted to record a duet with the internationally acclaimed opera superstar, Placido Domingo.

JoZee soon began experimenting with songwriting and discovered that she was naturally gifted at this as well. She decided to relocate to Los Angeles to pursue a career in her newly found passion, songwriting. JoZee penned and entered two of her songs “Heavy Heart” and “The Call” in the U.S.A Songwriting Competition. “Heavy Heart” won in the pop category, while “The Call” was a finalist in the gospel category. This achievement validated her abilities and bolstered her confidence. Word quickly spread; there was a new singer/songwriter in Hollywood. One of her many writing collaborations   presented her with the biggest career opportunity yet. Her song “Heavy Heart” was shared with none other than the great icon, Quincy Jones, and after their first meeting she was signed to his label and Warner-Chapell publishing.

While writing for her debut album JoZee also sang on various major soundtracks (“The Out of Towners”, “The Guardian”, “That Thing You Do”, “Aretha Franklin: Respect”). Simultaneously, she was contracted to record demos for the late Whitney Houston as well as recording background vocals for Grammy Award artistes such as Cher, J Lo, Enrique Iglesias, Jessie J, Kenny Loggins, just to name a few.

Having attained this level of success and with the trajectory of her career set for the stars, JoZee should have been content, but she began feeling perhaps “all that glitters is not gold”. As exciting as all of this was, there were experiences in the entertainment industry that left her feeling empty and unfulfilled. JoZee felt a strong sense that her music could do more; she had a burning desire to touch hearts and souls with her God-given gifts.

For JoZee, there had always been an undercurrent of the desire to know God in relationship, and to express His significance in ways that reach both the churched and unchurched. Unfortunately, she would say in her search for that encounter with God, she encountered religion instead. She experienced “distortions” of who God is and what His church was about, leaving her disappointed.

In 2012 JoZee met a friend who convinced her she didn’t need a blemish-free life to have that relationship she so desperately wanted with Jesus, because Jesus came for blemished people. This was the turning point in her pursuit, and from there she did not look back. JoZee went on to write and record songs about her journey and new relationship with Jesus on her contemporary Christian debut album “Ashes to Beauty”. One of the tracks “First Love Letter” featured a duet with Jamaican gospel reggae artiste Prodigal Son. This was facilitated by multiple award winning, legendary Jamaican producer/musician/songwriter Haldane “Danny” Browne whom she met through her husband, also Jamaican.  The introduction also led to multiple conversations around their craft, the music industry, and mutual experiences. Danny shared a newly completed track with JoZee and the end result was their new single and video “I Won’t Last A Day Without You”, a mellow, reggae-infused version of the beloved Carpenters classic release on his Main Street label.