Kreesha Turner

Kreesha Turner was born on June 10, 1985, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to a Canadian father of Scottish ancestry and a Jamaican mother of African and Chinese descent. Her upbringing involved time in both Canada and Jamaica, influencing her musical style. Her early exposure to jazz artists like Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Peggy Lee shaped her musical inclinations from a young age. At 15, living in Jamaica, she began singing gospel in a Pentecostal church choir, discovering her passion for vocal performance.

After graduating from Harry Ainlay Composite High School in Edmonton in 2003, Turner became active in the urban/hip-hop music scene. She wrote, recorded, and performed her own material, gaining attention and a fan base. In 2005, she won a talent contest organized by local radio station The Bounce (91.7 FM), which led to recording four studio tracks with Hipjoint Productions in Vancouver. This caught the attention of Canadian entertainment mogul Chris Smith, known for managing artists like Nelly Furtado and Fefe Dobson, marking the beginning of her mainstream career.

Turner’s musical journey gained momentum with a successful audition with Virgin Records, leading to a record deal with the Capitol Music Group and EMI Music Canada. Her debut album, “Passion” (2008), featured hit singles like “Bounce With Me” and “Don’t Call Me Baby.” The latter topped the Canadian radio charts as the most played song by a Canadian artist in 2008 and reached number one on Billboard’s U.S. Hot Dance Club Play. She received two Juno Award nominations in 2009 for “Best New Artist” and “Best Pop Album of the Year.” Her second album, “Tropic Electric” (2011), presented a double-disc approach, blending reggae and pop with her established sound, earning her another Juno Award nomination for “Best R&B Album.” Her music has been featured on television shows including “Entourage,” “Desperate Housewives,” and “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.” After a period away from music creation, Turner is set to release new jazz-infused material in 2025, exploring themes of healing and empowerment.