JJ Heller

JJ Heller
Birth name Jennifer Judy Kellner
Born (1980-10-19) October 19, 1980
San Jose, California
Genres Folk music, contemporary Christian music
Years active 2003–present
Labels Stone Table Records
Associated acts Dave Heller
Website www.jjheller.com

Jennifer Judy "JJ" Heller (born October 19, 1980, née Kellner) is an American Christian folk singer. After releasing multiple albums, she had two songs that charted. "Your Hands" from her 2008 album Painted Red and "What Love Really Means" from the album When I'm with You both peaked at number 13.

Career

Heller grew up in San Jose, California in a family with strong Christian values.[1] She didn't listen to music much as a child.[1] She attended high school at Valley Christian High School[2] and then went on to attend college at San Jose Christian College (now William Jessup University)[3] and began writing songs in her second year.[1] She joined a band which played at coffee shops in the area; the band included her future husband Dave Heller.[1] He continues to collaborate with writing, recording and producing her works.[4]

Heller released multiple albums before she had her first chart appearance in 2009. Her song "Your Hands", from her album Painted Red hit number 13 on the Billboard Christian Songs chart.[5]

Heller released her next album When I'm with You in 2010 and it charted, peaking at number 33 on Billboard's Christian Albums.[6] She released "What Love Really Means" as the first single from the album and it peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Singles chart.[5] In 2011 she released her Deeper album, which is a collection of acoustic songs, which were put aside to allow her to release the more pop-oriented When I'm with You.[7] When I'm With You was covered by Jennifer Love Hewitt's character "Riley Parks" on Season 2 Episode 6 of "The Client List" entitled "Unanswered Prayers". The shortened cover was released on iTunes on April 9, 2013.

Heller released Loved on March 12, 2013. Her song "Control" was featured on Season 7 Episode 19 of One Tree Hill.

Musical style

She credits Damien Rice and Patty Griffin as influences to her style.[8] AllMusic describes her sound as being comparable with Jewel, Alison Krauss, Sara Groves and Griffin.[4]

Discography

Albums

YearAlbumChart
CHRFOLKHEAT
2004Songs That I Know———
2005Collection of Thoughts   (EP)———
2006Only Love Remains———
2007Wake Up the World   (Christmas EP)———
2007The Pretty & The Plain———
2008Painted Red—1250
2010When I'm with You33919
2011Deeper38—22
2013Loved42106
2014I Dream of You—2343
2015Sound of a Living Heart1516—
2016Unto Us   (Christmas album)232411
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References:[4][7][9]

Singles

Year Single Peak Album
US
Christ
2010 "What Love Really Means" 13 When I'm with You
2009 "Your Hands" 13 Painted Red

References:[5][9]

Guest appearances

Year Artist Album Song
2011 The City Harmonic I Have a Dream (It Feels Like Home)

"Holy (Wedding Day)"

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "JJ Heller Interview". ChristianMusic.com. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Alumni in the News". Valley Christian Schools Alumni. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  3. ↑ "Live in Concert – Josh Wilson, Jason Gray, JJ Heller". William Jessup University. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 "Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 "Billboard singles". AllMusic. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  6. ↑ "JJ Heller album charts". AllMusic. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  7. 1 2 Barbee, Ryan. "Deeper Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  8. ↑ Jones, Jennifer E. "JJ Heller: The Pen of A Ready Songwriter". Christian Broadcasting Network. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  9. 1 2 Wilson, Holly. "J.J. Heller's poetic style noted on secular folk chart". Christian Examiner. Retrieved 23 February 2012.

Official website

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