Biography
The Very Early Years
Jewel was born May 23, 1974 in Payson Utah (NOT Homer Alaska...honest!)
The Rest
She was raised on an 800-acre homestead in Homer, Alaska. Since the age of five she has been performing, starting out with her parents doing numbers for tourists, in Eskimo villages, etc. Her junior and senior years of high school were spent at Interlochen Fine Arts Academy in Michigan. This is an expensive private school, and 70% of Jewel's tuition was paid for by a vocal scholarship. She thought she'd be going to sing the blues, but they had her sing opera instead. The remainder of the expenses were raised at what turned out to be Jewel's first solo concert. The citizens of Homer were supportive enough to cover the rest of the first year tuition, and summer jobs filled the gap the next year. After high school, Jewel came to San Diego to stay with her mom. After a brief sojourn to Colorado, she returned to San Diego, which she now calls home. She worked a variety of jobs including waitressing, but generally lost them when her interest in chatting with the customers surpassed her desire to do the actual job. Eventually she decided that working unfulfilling dead-end jobs was an unbearable way to live. She moved into her VW van, and with lots of peanut butter, carrot sticks, and a guitar, settled down to write songs. She soon started performing to sparse crowds at a coffeehouse in Pacific Beach called the Inner Change. (This was probably early 1993) Word started to spread, and soon she had a regular Thursday night spot and an ever growing audience. Her name began to show up in the local press and she nabbed a few choice opening spots. She took an extended trip back to Homer at the end of the year, and things really took off when she returned in early 1994. At the start of the year, the coffeehouse was roughly 60% full, and a mere $3 got you a 3-4 hour set of original material, with the only exception being an occasional cover of Tracy Chapman's "Behind the Wall". Always a prolific, versatile songwriter, Jewel regularly debuted a handful of new songs at each show. These shows were a hotbed of local acoustic talent, and Jewel was regularly joined by frequent collaborator Steve Poltz (lead singer of the Rugburns). Fellow Rugburns Rob Driscoll and Gregory Page also joined them, as well as other local musicians including Joy Eden Harrison and Byron Nash. Everyone who saw her must have told five friends, since each week the crowd continued to grow. Soon, people were being turned away, while a few hardy souls could be seen staring through the large windows at the packed house inside. Around this time, the news of the young (19!) singer had gotten to L.A., and record executives started driving down to sleepy San Diego to catch the shows. They immediately recognized the quality of what they were seeing, and soon the limos were directed towards Jewel's van/home. After a brief courtship, she was signed to Atlantic Records, and started making the trek up to L.A. looking for producers and musicians to record with. The advance on the record enabled Jewel to rent a house with her mother, a new car (a used Volvo) and a new guitar (a steal due to an imperfection in the finish). All this added exposure continued to draw crowds to the Inner Change, which first added a second show, and then upped the admission price to $5. By this time, Jewel had written over a hundred songs. On July 28 and 29, 1994, a sound crew descended on the Inner Change to record 4 sets of Jewel on her home stomping grounds. All the live recordings on Pieces of You come from those two sessions. (Notably absent is a brilliant bongo accompanied version of Sometimes It Be That Way.) By this time, Jewel had outgrown the tiny Inner Change and began looking for larger venues to play in. She ended up doing two shows at the Wikiup Cafe in Hillcrest. A whirlwind of activity followed in preperation for the release of Jewel's first album. This included a series of residency tours where she would play four different coffee shops in four different cities for four weeks, building up a fan base much like she did in San Diego. Jewel's first album, Pieces of You, was released February 28, 1995. A CD Release Party was held at the Hahn Cosmopolitan Theater in her adopted hometown of San Diego. It consisted of two sold out performances. A review of the performance is available Pieces of Jewel Article Page at http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/xenomorph/articles.htm
Random Questions:
Is Jewel her real name?
Yes, her full name is Jewel Kilcher. She has no middle name.
Didn't I hear something about Jewel living in Hawaii too?
When Jewel was 12 she convinced her parents to let her "see more of the world" by spending some time with an aunt in Hawaii. Needless to say, the blond Alaskan was quite an anomaly in Hawaii, but Jewel yodeled her way out of any playground disagreements. She was there for a few months and then returned to stay with her mother in Anchorage, Alaska.
Does Jewel smoke? I thought I saw a photo.
Jewel does not smoke or do drugs at all. There is a photo on this website and others that is a bit deceiving. Although it may look like a cigarette, look closely. It is actually a purple lollipop.
What's this about Jewel playing Dorothy?
Jewel was selected to play the role of Dorothy in a benefit production of The Wizard of Oz, held in New York on November 5th 1995, and first airing on TNT November 22, 1995. Other performers included Debra Winger as the Wicked Witch, Jackson Brown as the Scarecrow, Roger Daltry as the Tin Man, Nathan Lane as the Cowardly Lion, Natalie Cole as Glinda the Good Witch, Joel Grey as the Wizard, and Luci Arnaz as Auntie Em. Other guests included Phoebe Snow, Ronnie Spector, David Sanborn, and Ry Cooder. The event benefits the Children's Defense Fund. A video and CD of the event have been released (see discography for ordering information).
Is Jewel romantically linked with Sean Penn?
Despite rumors to the contrary, Jewel says they're just friends. Sean Penn has married the mother of his two children, Robin Wright. Jewel met Penn when Sean wanted her to write a song for his movie Crossing Guard. Sean has been quoted as calling her "the next Bob Dylan," and first found out about Jewel when she first appeared on the Conan O'Brian show.
What are Jewel's musical influences:
Jewel's musical tastes are varied and her influences broad. Notable influences include Ella Fitzgerald, John Prine, Tracy Chapman, Yma Sumac and San Diego-based band The Rugburns (whose lead vocalist Steve Poltz co-wrote several songs with Jewel, two of which, Adrian and You Were Meant for Me, appear on Pieces of You). At various times, Jewel has mentioned the poet Pablo Naruda, Dr. Seuss, and classical philosophers, particularly Plato's Symposium as being influences in her work as well.
Who has Jewel toured with?
Jewel has toured for many different artists, including: •Many San Diego artists including: •The Rugburns •Joy Eden Harrison •Byron Nash •Gregory Page •Steve Harris •Iris DeMent •The Story •Jeff Buckley •Liz Phair •Bob Dylan •Peter Murphy •The Beach Boys •Deep Blue Something •Catherine Wheel •Belly •Dave Matthews Band •John Hiatt •Edwin McCain •Duncan Shiek (opened on Jewel's first Headlining Tour) •Neil Young •and the list keeps growing...
How does Jewel feel about bootlegs and concert taping?
First, the definition of bootlegging must be addressed. Bootlegs are illegally produced compact discs that are manufactured and sold for profit without Jewels' consent. Concert taping however has been encouraged by Jewel as a way of distributing her music through her fans on a non-profit basis. Like several other artists, such as Dave Mathews and Metallica, it is believed that this is a good way of promoting the music and expanding the fan base even further. Jewel believes that without this tape base, many of her songs would be lost forever. It is uncertain if it will be allowed in the future she becomes more popular and bigger target for the illegal bootleggers. In short, please don't buy the bootleg discs. All of these recordings and many, many more are available for free from other fans.
Are Jewel's songs based on personal experiences?
Some of the songs were inspired by events in her life, and others contain personal tidbits. Many of the songs obviously can't possibly be about her life, and appear to be based on other's lives and her own imagination.
Is the song Little Sister about Jewel's sister?
No, Jewel doesn't have a little sister. She wrote it about a friend's little brother, but didn't want to embarass him.
Is the song Daddy about Jewel's father?
No, Jewel wrote it for a man she knew as a child who wouldn't let his children watch black people on television, and always wondered what kind of effect this had on them.
How about Nikos?
Nikos actually is a true story. Jewel calls it her most autobiographical song to date.
Was/is Jewel really a Mormon?
According to Jewel, she was raised a Mormon until the age of 8.
Does she actually yodel too?
Jewel yodeling is a breathtaking sight. Live she frequently sings a rocked up version of a yodeling song she knew as a child - "Chime Bells". At first it's entertaining to hear yodeling mixed into a song, but as she repeatedly picks up the pace, yodeling at speeds faster than I'd have thought possible, the audience is always left slackjawed or cheering. Maybe this will get officially released some day. On the original release, Jewel avoided novelty or funny songs to avoid being pegged as "the girl who yodels" or "the girl with the cute race car song".
Is Jewel on the net? What's up with this address in the Pieces of You disc?
Pieces of You has the address JewelJK@aol.com listed in it. Jewel does get mail sent to that address, but your chances of getting a response are very slim. Generally, the mail is printed out and sent to Jewel wherever she is on the road. She enjoys getting mail, but is generally a poor correspondent "I don't even write to my father", she claimed. Jewel also told her mom that when it comes to choosing between writing fan mail and writing songs there's no contest!
News of new albums?
Jewel had already recorded the next album, but the release date is being pushed back based on the success of her debut. Most of the album will now either be re-recorded or scrapped in favor of newer material. Atlantic is now looking at a September 1998 release. The album is tentatively titled 'Fritz Creek Store'.
What were the early Innerchange shows like?
Jewel's early performances were quite unlike her shows now. The later shows were so packed that she often had to walk across the tables to get up to the stage. Lacking the professional polish she's now acquiring, she often rambled off stories and spent quite a large amount of time tuning her guitar (and flaring her nostrils) between songs. Her set lists were often improvised and filled primarily by requests. She inevitably forgot to bring a pick, and when someone from the audience offered her one, she'd complain that it was either too thick or too thin. When anyone would get up to leave (or go to the bathroom), she'd ask "Are you leaving?" and if so, have everyone in the audience say goodbye. She'd play long sets--often up to 3-4 hours, debuting songs she'd just written and stumbling through the lyrics or making them up as she went along. She also inevitably drank water from a large jug, while making jokes about someday receiving a corporate sponsorship from a water company. (She still found it unreal that people had to pay for good drinking water). She ended every show by saying "Remember to blah blah blah and always get perfect moments stuck between your teeth." As the crowds appreciation grew, so did the length of the applause, and Jewel would often blush and say "Stop it, you're embarassing me!" After the show, Jewel would rush to the door, and shake everyone's hand and thank them for coming.
How long has Jewel been writing songs? Poetry?
Jewel didn't start writing songs until she was 17, however she has always used writing as an outlet. She's been writing poetry since she was little. The oldest song on Pieces of You is "Don't", which is the fifth song she ever wrote. "I'm Sensitive" was the last song written for the album.
What are Rare Angels and Innerchange Days?
Where are all these songs coming from? I thought she only had one album? Members of the Jewel list have been compiling a series of tapes entitled Rare Angels, containing songs from promo discs and concert tapes. A video compilation of Jewel's various TV appearances is also being compiled. All of this is being done on a volunteer basis by Jewel's fans. Jewel has actually received a copy of the first Rare Angels tapes and was quite pleased with it. It actually contained recordings of songs she herself did not have. The Innerchange Days is a compilation of songs performed at the Innerchange Coffehouse in San Diego, where Jewel began her career. The Innerchange Days tapes are 3 sides of two 100 minute tapes, and are full of songs not on the album or on the Rare Angels tapes. To find out how to get a copy of the Innerchange Days tapes, send e-mail to Lisa Schiller . Remember, all of this is being done by volunteers, so please be patient and polite!
What is Jewelstock?
Jewelstock was the name given to a special fan event held in Bearsville, NY on July 18 & 19, 1996. Jewel agreed to do a free show for her internet fans provided they could come to her. And come they did. From all over country Everyday Angels descended on Jewelstock to gather, listen to, meet Jewel and just have a good time. She performed two shows, the second being a benefit to help raise money for the local theatre. There is more info on the web about this event including pictures, setlists, and stories. You can start at the official JewelStock website that originally was used as a communication tool to help the 300 or so list members and guests who went figure out how to get there, find lodging etc. Its' web address is: http://www.theartof.com/jewelstock
Copyright By Jenna Leitch March 18/ 98
