Jane Zhang

1984–2005: Early years and career beginnings

Zhang was born in Chengdu, Sichuan, China on October 11, 1984. Her father was a driver in a transport company, while her mother was a shop assistant in a department store and is working in a transport company.^[5] At the age of 15, her father died and her mother was laid off. She then shouldered the burdens of the family, and went to sing regularly in a local bar Music House.^[6] In 2005, she won third place in the Chinese singing contest Super Girl.^[7] She then signed a recording deal with Huayi Music.

2006–09: Huayi Music

After Zhang signed with Huayi, her first extended plays Jane, Love was released in January 2006. The extended plays has sold more than 500,000 copies in China.^[8][9] In September 2006, she sang the theme song "Only for Love" for the Chinese film The Banquet. The song features Chinese pianist Lang Lang, and was nominated a Hong Kong Film Award for Best Original Film Song.^[10] In April 2006, Zhang sang with Bob Hawke at the Boao Forum for Asia.^[11] In October 2006, her first studio album The One was released.^[12] The album was produced by American record producer Craig Williams and Reid Hyams.^[2][13]

In March 2007, she performed in a concert held in Pasadena, California with Japanese musician Kitarō and American musician Gavin Christopher.^[14] In July 2007, Zhang recorded the theme song "Light the Passion, Share the Dream" for the 2008 Summer Olympics touch relay with Wang Leehom, Stefanie Sun, and Wang Feng. In the same month, Zhang held a one-off concert in Beijing to promote her second studio album Update. In August 2007, her second studio album Update was officially released. In December 2007, she released her second extended plays Dear Jane.

In October 2008, Zhang recorded the theme song "Painted Heart" for the Chinese film Painted Skin. The song won a Hong Kong Film Award for Best Original Film Song in the next year. In December 2008, she provided a guest vocals on Taiwanese singer Wang Leehom's "Another Heaven", which appears on Wang's album Heart Beat. In January 2009, Zhang released her third studio album Jane@Music. In May 2009, she made her American television debut on the Oprah Winfrey Show.^[15]

2009–14: Universal Music & Show City Times

Zhang and Gavin Christopher performing "I'll Be There" in Pasadena, March 2007

In November 2009, Zhang founded her own management company Show City Times and signed a recording deal with Universal Music.

In February 2010, her fourth studio album Believe in Jane was released.^[16] In May 2010, she recorded the Chinese version of the theme song "Wavin' Flag" for the 2010 FIFA World Cup with K'naan and Hong Kong singer Jacky Cheung.^[17] In August 2010, she embarked on her first concert tour Believe in Jane Tour, reaching Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, and Chengdu. In October 2010, she performed on Asia Song Festival in Seoul, South Korea.^[18] In June 2011, she released her fifth studio album Reform.

2014–2018: Sony Music & Show City Times

In July 2014, Zhang announced she has signed with Sony Music, and released her sixth studio album The Seventh Sense. In January 2015, she took part in the season three of the Chinese television program I Am a Singer. In October 2016, she released the single "Dust My Shoulders Off".^[19]

In November 2017, Zhang became one of the performers and performed "Dust My Shoulders Off", "808", and "Work for It" at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Shanghai.^[20][21]

Studio albums

• The One (2006)
• Update (2007)
• Jane@Music (2009)
• Believe in Jane (2010)
• Reform (2011)
• The Seventh Sense (2014)

Extended plays

• Jane, Love (2006)
• Dear Jane (2007)
• Grateful (2013)

Single

• Dust My Shoulders Off (2016)
• 808 (2016)
• Work For It (2017)
• Adam and Eve (2018)

Compilation albums

• Starring (2016)
• Starring II (2018)

Live albums

• I Love Teresa Teng (2006)

• Listen to Jane Z Live (2012)