Jo Dee Messina
Biography Page

Born: Jo-Dee Marie Messina
Birthday: August 25th, 1970
Birthplace: Framingham, Massachusetts
Home Town: Holliston, Massachusetts
Mother: Mary Messina
Father: Vincent Messina
Sisters: Marianne, Terese
Brother: Vinnie
Record Label: Curb
Hieght: 5'3"
Color Eyes: Hazel
Color Hair: Red
Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Saxaphone
Influences: Reba Mcentire, Dottie West, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline
Favorite Artists: Deana Carter, Tim McGraw
Favorite Movie: Steel Magnolias
Favorite TV Show: Seinfeld
Favorite Actress: Julia Roberts, Sally Field
Favorite Flower: Pink Roses
Favorite Song To Sing Live: Bye Bye
Favorite Colours: Purple and Black

    Music has always been a big part of Jo Dee's life. At age 8 she took tap and began singing and dancing. She participated in local plays such as The Sound Of Music and Fiddler on the roof. Jo Dee knew, even as a child, that a singer was what she wanted to be. When Jo Dee was 13 she began singing in local clubs with different bands. When she was 16 she got her own band. She always laughs about the name "The Jo Dee Messina Band".  The Jo Dee Messina Band became a large part of the Country Music scene in New England. Her band played for 4 hours a night, six days a week.  At age 19 Jo Dee decided she needed to move to Nashville if she was going to pursue her career. She packed up her Pontiac sunbird (the car she owned at the time) with all that could fit in it and drove to Nashville.

    When Jo Dee first got to Nashville, She didn't have a job so began "temping" in accounting and computer programming as well as singing in talent contests for money to survive. She had won a chance to perform on a radio show called "Live at Libby's". After performing on the show twice, she was asked back to be a "regular" to sing every week. Shortly after that a man named Byron Gallimore (one of Jo Dee's Producers) had heard her and called her to see if she would like to work with him on getting a record deal. Jo Dee was so excited. He was the first person who offered to help Jo Dee without wanting something (money percentages etc.). Soon after they met Jo Dee and Byron got to work. They starting listening for songs to demo when one day another act Byron was producing was in the office with Jo Dee. They hit it off great. His name was Tim McGraw. Jo Dee and Tim became friends and have stayed that way ever since. Tim had a lot to do with Jo Dee's start and still has a lot to do with her records. He co-produces Jo Dee with Byron Gallimore.

    At Fan Fair 1994, Jo Dee had gone back stage of Tims show when she noticed an executive of Curb Records walking by her. She stopped him introduced herself and then jokingly said "What you guys need is a redhead". It was at that point a man named James Stroud had approached the two of them and started talking about a tape of of Jo Dee's he just heard. Soon after that happened her producer Byron heard from Curb and they asked if they'd be interested in working together. From that point on Jo Dee began making her first album.

Bio is courtesy of the Jo Dee Messina Fan Club.

You are visitor # FastCounter by bCentral