JAK

Jeneice Cano, the J in JAK, was born in Harbor City, California, and was raised in Long Beach, California. Recognized for her soft melodic tone, Jeneice began singing and performing at an early age, and was a part of the international peace choir for several years. She began playing guitar and writing music at the ripe age of 8, and having a career in music has been a life long dream.
Known as the “powerhouse” of the group, Alyssa Layton has been singing and performing since the age of 2. Alyssa feels, “God put me on this earth to sing. That’s it.” Born and raised in Diamond Bar, California, and currently residing in Las Vegas, Nevada, there’s not a note this vocalist can’t hit.
Kelly Madigan, the raspy-voiced “attitude” of the group, was born and raised in Orange County, California and currently resides in Newport Beach, California. Kelly is the character and comic relief of the group and ALWAYS has something to say. She started dancing and singing at the age of 6, and in areas of dance she has had extensive training in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop and pointe, to name a few. Singing is her true passion, and feels that when “she can’t say something, her music will.”
In the winter of 2001, mutual friends introduced Jeneice, Alyssa and Kelly. Soon after the group was formed, they were introduced to a production development company who worked with the girls on their vocals and overall sound. Over the next few years, JAK performed acoustically around the Los Angeles area, including the legendary House of Blues, Key Club and the Sunset Room (now known as the Cabana Club). A meeting with Blackground Records (Aaliyah, Tank, JoJo) ensued, and after singing just three songs, the girls were signed on the spot. Says Kelly, “It was one of those moments you dream about as a little girl, and you just stand there waiting for someone to pinch you. Then you realize it isn’t a dream anymore. It’s reality.”
JAK isn’t rushing to put just anything in the marketplace. They want to create a sound that’s timeless. Before his unexpected passing in February of 2008, legendary songwriter Stephen “Static” Garrett (Aaliyah, Ginuwine, Lil Wayne) took JAK under his wing and created a sound for the girls that they’re hoping will stand the test of time, like everything else Garrett laid his hands on. “The studio chemistry we shared with “Static” was exactly what we spent years looking for. For the first time we felt like someone else actually understood what we were about. He GOT us,” Alyssa says. Jeneice agrees, “His work has always been timeless. I still listen to the songs he did with Aaliyah, and 10 years later it still sounds new and innovative. It’s different than anything else on the radio. He was so far ahead of his time.”
In addition to Garrett, JAK has worked with heavyweight producers The Underdogs (Beyonce, Tank), Billy Steinberg (Whitney Houston, JoJo), Diane Warren (Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera), and Big Gipp of the Goodie Mobb. JAK’s yet-to-be-titled debut album will be released later this year.

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