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It has been a good while since we’ve seen singer Jean Baylor, one half of the epic ’90s duo Zhané (pronounced Jah-Nay). The group, once known for their short hair and big voices, brought us such hits as “Hey Mr. D.J.,” “Sending My Love” and “Groove Thang.” The duo came together after Baylor and Renee Neufville met at Temple University while they were separately trying to get their starts in the business:

“Our introduction into the business came through Jazzy Jeff, as he was just starting Touch of Jazz. Someone introduced us to Jeff and we did a few recordings, and eventually sang on Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince’s remake of the 80’s hit “Ring My Bell,” featured alongside their hit single, “Summertime,” she says. When Renee and I were in college, we used to perform at talent shows, campus events and weddings, pretty much wherever we were asked. The funny thing is, we were not yet a group, we just enjoyed singing together and on each other’s songs that we wrote. One day at Jeff’s studio, we met Benny Medina and he suggested we become a group, and so we did.”

But that was then. Nowadays, Baylor is still making good music, but doing so as a solo artist and with a larger group called Free Day (which her husband, drummer Marcus Baylor, helped form).  She’s now gearing up for her first solo holiday album called Light Up the World, which she says will offer non-traditional Christmas jams that anybody and everybody can relate to. And she’ll also have a feature on the disc alongside R&B singer Eric Roberson.

“There are also songs that represent an expression of worship and celebration unto God. I just hope I get to do some Christmas shows so I can perform them live!”

As we await her holiday album, we thought we’d offer you the chance to get to learn a little something extra about one of our favorite singers. Check it.

 

My greatest love lesson is…

  • Love God first. He puts everything else in place.

 

My best trait is…

  • My winning personality!

 

My worst trait is…

  • My terrible personality. (kidding)

 

My favorite four albums of all time are…

  • *All things Anita Baker
  • *All things CeCe Winans
  • *All things Carmen McCrae
  • *All things Stevie Wonder

 

If I could live anywhere in the world…

  • Australia would be nice…

 

My happiest time was…

  • My childhood

 

If I could only wear one designer’s clothes for the rest of my life, it would be…

  • Besides the dollar store? Burberry.

 

Inspiration comes from…

  • Everything around me

 

My favorite book is…

  • God Chasers, by author Tommy Tenney

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