BURBANK, CA. (Top40 Charts./ Warner Bros. Records) Three time Grammy-winning singer/actress
Jill Scott triumphantly returns after a four year musical hiatus to mark her first No 1 album in the country with The Light Of The Sun (Blues Babe/Warner Bros). With sales of over 135k, Scott bests
Bon Iver and
Adele - who cites Jill as an inspiration - for this week's top selling albums across all genres. Her debut single "So In Love," which made TIME Magazine's 2011 best of summer music list, also holds the No 1 spot on Urban radio. Scott's successful return additionally comes with a string of number ones, gracing her first Billboard Magazine cover, as well as her first solo performance at the 2011 BET Awards which The Washington Post named as one of the night's greatest performances.
The Light Of The Sun has scored rave reviews across all the major critics including Entertainment Weekly, who remarked "Jill of all trades... she returns to R&B like she never left...it's a welcome flashback." The New York Times commented "Ms. Scott's songs are proudly and forthrightly feminine, and they set out to persuade and motivate... It's a lesson her songs live up to," whilst the album made People Magazine Critics Choice list remarking "The Light Of The Sun reflects that 2000 classic with its hip-hop swagger and spoken-word musings... Wow."
"We are truly ecstatic about the news of Jill's No 1 record," says Warner Bros. Records, Co-President/CEO Todd Moscowitz. "Jill is a true artist in every sense of the word. She has made a stellar record and we look forward to collaborating with her for many years to come."
Joie Manda, President of Urban Music, echoes the sentiments: "The success of Jill's album shows that the marketplace still responds to great music. We could not be more proud to be working with such an amazing artist. There is no one like her."
The album's first single "So In Love" featuring Anthony Hamilton continues to serve as the soundtrack for the summer as the No 1 song at Urban Adult radio. In just 10 weeks, it holds the title as the quickest rise at the format this year, surpassing all of her prior releases. With more than 15 million in national audience, the song is projected to be No 1 again this week.
Recently seen performing her hit single "So In Love" on the Tonight Show With Jay Leno and Live! With Jimmy Kimmel outdoor series, Scott also graces the TV stage with Live! With Regis & Kelly (June 30th) and The Today Show (July 1st). Fans looking to catch the Jill Scott Experience can catch her on her 2011 North American Tour, The Jill Scott Summer Block Party presented by Budweiser Superfest featuring Anthony Hamilton, Mint Condition, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Doug E. Fresh, beginning July 26thin Boston.
For up-to-date, confirmed concert listings and news please visit Jill's official website at: WWW.MISSJILLSCOTT.COM.
About Jill Scott:
Three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, New York Times best selling poet, and critically acclaimed actress are only a few titles held by Jill Scott. Before being named People Magazine's Top TV Breakout Star of 2010 and appearing on VH1 Divas alongside Aretha Franklin, the triple threat began her career collaborating with musical icons, The Roots, Will Smith, and Common in the late 90s. In 2000, she released her much anticipated debut record, Who is Jill Scott? Words & Sounds, Vol. 1, a double platinum album that earned Scott several Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist. Two more critically acclaimed albums followed, Beautifully Human: Words & Sounds, Vol. 2and The Real Thing: Words & Sounds, Vol. 3which garnered two more Grammy Awards and spawned multiple worldwide tours.
Not just limited to music, Jill Scott is a true multimedia brand across books, clothing, TV and film. Most recently, Jill was cast as the lead character in the HBO/BBC mini series filmed on location in Botswana, The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, a Peabody Award-winning show directed by the late Oscar Award-winning director Anthony Minghella. Before that, Jill starred alongside Tyler Perry & Janet Jackson in the No 1 national movie series Why Did I Get Married?as well as Lifetime Movie Network's Sins of the Mother, the made for TV movie which became the second-most watched premiere in the network's history.
A consummate writer at heart, she penned The Moments, The Minutes, The Hours, a compilation of poems that instantly became a New York Times bestseller. Scott also developed an intimates line for Ashley Stewart and founded Blues Babe, a registered 501(c)3 foundation which supports minority students pursuing college degrees.
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