Jaya (singer)

Jaya
Born
Maria Luisa Ramsey Kagahastian

(1970-03-21) March 21, 1970 (age 54)
Other namesJaya Ramsey
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
Years active1989–present
Spouses
  • Andrew Buffington
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1998; div. 2001)​
  • Gary Gotidoc
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2006)​
Children2
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Labels

Maria Luisa Ramsey Kagahastian (born March 21, 1970), known professionally as Jaya (/ˈdʒaɪə/), is a Filipino singer, actress, and television personality. Referred to as the country's "Queen of Soul", she is known for her distinctively deep voice and soulful singing style. She was a talent of GMA Network but later transferred to ABS-CBN, where she served as one of the head jury of the Tawag ng Tanghalan segment of the Philippine noontime variety show It's Showtime and performer on ASAP. Jaya is the second Filipino recording artist to chart in the United States (the first being The Rocky Fellers),[1][2] with her debut single "If You Leave Me Now" peaking at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[3]

Jaya also ventured into musical theatre, playing the role of Surpanakha in the 1999 Filipino musical Rama at Sita staged at the University of the Philippines Theater.[4]

  1. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 1990. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  2. ^ Harper, Bambi L. (April 3, 2001). "Filipino trivia and historical facts". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. 7. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  3. ^ "Jaya Album & Song Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
  4. ^ The Philippine Star. "Rama at Sita". PhilStar Global. PhilStar Media Group. Retrieved May 11, 2020.