What's Next for Norah Jones?

July 6, 2007 — -- Hailing from Brooklyn, N.Y., is Geethali Norah Jones Shankar, born on March 30, 1979. Shankar officially changed her name to Norah Jones when she was 16, and has been using it ever since.

Jones is an American singer and jazz musician. Her lifelong dream of music began as a child when she used to listen to her mother's "oldies" collection, ranging from artists Nina Simone to Billie Holiday.

Before Jones became a recording artist, she frequently practiced playing instruments such as the saxophone and the piano. The piano became Jones "musical weapon" of choice as she played for talented musicians on such venues as Marian McPartland's "Piano Jazz" radio station.

While her abilities with the piano helped create her image and reputation as an artist, Jones began to receive large acclaim during her lounge-singing career. Jones performed in countless lounges in New York, collaborating with widely accepted bands like the Peter Malick Group and Wax Poetic, in which Jones was the lead singer. Wax Poetic is a trip-hop band in the vein of Morcheeba, another English band.

Jones also made cameo appearances on mainstream albums like Outkast's "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" with Andre' 3000.

Jones headlined many group performances, and later broke away to continue her career as a solo recording artist. She gained national recognition from her debut album, "Come Away With Me," which reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboards 200. Off this album was the hit single "Don't Know Why," gaining Jones a mainstream audience on the way to winning song of the year and record of the year in 2003.

Jones followed her breakthrough album, "Come Away With Me," with "Feels Like Home." Unlike her first album, Jones decided to alter her musical style completely to country music. This risk paid off, selling more than a million copies in the first week of its release. "Feels Like Home" was the highest-selling album for the Blue Note Records, with more than 14 million copies.

Currently, Jones is touring and promoting her third album, "Not Too Late." This is the only one of her three albums in which she wrote or co-wrote every song. Her first single off the album, "Thinking About You," was the second single to hit the U.S Hot 100 since "Don't Know Why."

On Friday Jones will be performing at a free concert for "Good Morning America's" Summer Concert Series. To avoid tough viewing, attendants are required to be at Bryant Park (41st and 6th Ave.) at 6 a.m. or earlier. The concert takes place Friday during "Good Morning America."