Tessanne Amanda Chin (; born September 20, 1985) is a Jamaican recording artist, best known for winning Season 5 of NBC's reality TV singing competition The Voice as part of Adam Levine's team. She has opened for artists such as Patti LaBelle, Peabo Bryson and Gladys Knight, and toured for three years with Jimmy Cliff. She is the younger sister of singer Tami Chynn.
Her major label debut album, Count On My Love, was released on July 1, 2014, under Republic Records.
Early life Chin was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and attended Mavisville Preparatory school. Her father, Richard Chin, is of Jamaican Chinese descent and her mother, Christine Chin, also a Jamaican national, is of English and African descent. Her parents were in a band called The Carnations and her older sister Tami Chynn is also a singer. Her cousin Jay Hall is a vocalist and guitarist with UK rockers Grassroutes (and previously The Royal Players), and Jay's brother Leon is a vocalist with ska-fusion act Electrik Custard.
Tessanne was introduced to music at a very early age by her parents.The Story of Tami and Tessanne Her mother was the trumpeter and singer in The Carnations and her father was the band's drummer. The family has a recording studio in their home in Jamaica.
Tessanne started performing when she was six years old with Cathy Levy's Little People and Teen Players Club, one of Jamaica's top performing arts schools. Most of her vocal coaching came from her mother, as well as noted vocal coach Lecie Wright. Tessanne learned firsthand about cultural diversity when she moved to England at age 12. She coped with the move by devoting a lot of time to writing songs.
Tessanne married long-time boyfriend and broadcaster Michael Anthony Cuffe Jr in 2011. After four years of marriage, the couple confirmed that they were having marital problems. Chin and Cuffe divorced in 2015.
Career 2006–2012: Early career Upon her return to Jamaica, Chin joined the Jamaican rock band Mile High and performed for crowds at many local venues including Jazzfest, Rockfest, and RETV Unplugged. Their style, "rock reggae," was unique and distinct. After going on tour for three years with Jimmy Cliff as a back-up singer, she decided to launch her solo career.
After Tessanne left Mile High, she began writing songs for her first album. Guitarist Rudy Valentino and drummer Paul "GrooveGalore" KasticK were her producers for her 2010 independent debut album In Between Words. Her 2006 debut single, "Hideaway" received heavy rotation on Caribbean radio and select stations in New York.One hot Arabian night . Jamaica-gleaner.com (July 28, 2006). Retrieved on January 7, 2014. Both the single and its music video were popular. The song was also featured on VP Records' Reggae Gold 2007.Reggae Gold 2007. Amazon.com (September 9, 2009). Retrieved on January 7, 2014. After "Hideaway," she has released two more singles, "Messenger" and "Black Books," both available online on "In Between Words".
She has performed at several live shows, including The Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival 2006, Reggae Sumfest 2007 & 2012, the Deck Cafe, The Port Royal Music Festival, ABC Slim Traxx, and her very own show "Arabian Night."Reggae Sumfest's Singing Sensations . Jamaica-gleaner.com (July 16, 2007). Retrieved on January 7, 2014.
Tessanne has collaborated with fellow Jamaican artists Shaggy ("Never Let Go") and Protoje ("Someone Like You"), the Trinidad and Tobago soca band Kes ("Loving You") and was featured in a track by the legendary Jamaican band Third World, titled "By My Side." She appeared as a special guest of Third World at the Highline Ballroom in New York City in April 2011. "By My Side" was featured in the soundtrack of Robert Townsend's series "Diary of a Single Mom" starring Monica Calhoun, Leon, and Billy Dee Williams.
Other noted tracks by Tessanne are remakes of songs by other famous artists and bands such as Foreigner's "I Want to Know What Love Is," The Who's "Love, Reign o'er Me," Katy Perry's "Firework," and Phish's "Free." A remake of Bob Marley's "Could You Be Loved," which Tessanne performed with her band Mile High, also circulated through the internet early in 2006. Other works include a live performance of "You and Me" written and performed with her older sister Tami Chynn.
On December 6, 2010, Tessanne released her independent debut album available for digital download entitled In Between Words.Jackson, Kevin (November 7, 2013) "No Love From Radio ", Jamaica Observer, Retrieved November 8, 2013
The Voice (2013) In Sept. 2013, it was announced that she would be competing in Season 5 of NBC's singing competition, The Voice, after reggae/dancehall star Shaggy presented her the competition as an opportunity to finally have her big break as an international star.Johnson, Richard (September 5, 2013) "Tessanne voices defence ", Jamaica Observer, Retrieved September 8, 2013 On the second episode of the Blind Auditions broadcast on Sept. 24, 2013, she performed Pink's song "Try." All four coaches, namely Adam Levine, CeeLo Green, Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton turned their chairs for her but she opted for Adam Levine.
On Dec. 10, 2013, her performance of Simon & Garfunkel's song "Bridge over Troubled Water" for the Semifinal Round became No. 1 on the iTunes chart, with her becoming the first contestant to achieve the top chart position at the end of an applicable voting window that season. This performance also served as her first U.S. chart appearance, charting at No. 64 on the Hot 100 chart, No. 14 on the Digital Songs chart, and No. 5 on Heatseekers Songs chart.The Hot 100 : Page 7. Billboard. Retrieved on January 7, 2014.Digital Songs : Page 2. Billboard. Retrieved on January 7, 2014. On the Canadian Hot 100, the song made its debut at No. 39. On December 17, 2013, her performance of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" became No. 1 on the iTunes chart, with her also becoming the first contestant that season to achieve the top chart position twice.
The following week the cover made its debut on the Hot 100 at No. 51, No. 12 on the Digital Songs chart and No. 15 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Her duet with coach Adam Levine, a cover of The Beatles' "Let It Be" charted at No. 76 on the Hot 100 and No. 24 on Digital Songs.Eminem, Rihanna Top Hot 100; Beyonce Debuts. Billboard (December 26, 2013). Retrieved on January 7, 2014. The songs also charted at No. 1 and No. 7 respectively on the Heatseekers Songs chart. In Canada, her cover of "I Have Nothing" charted at No. 32 while "Let it Be" charted at No. 35.Heatseekers Songs : Page 1. Billboard. Retrieved on January 7, 2014. A compilation album with studio versions of her The Voice performances was released on iTunes and charted at No. 4 on the Heatseekers Albums chart.
During the Finale Results show, she was revealed to be the winner of Season 5 obtaining the highest number of votes in Voice history. Jacquie Lee as runner-up and Will Champlin in third place. After her victory was announced, she debuted her first U.S. single "Tumbling Down," written by Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic. She is to date so far, the only foreign born contestant to win The Voice USA.
– Studio version of performance reached the top 10 on iTunes Stage Song Original Artist Date Order Result Blind Audition "Try" Pink Sept. 24, 2013 2.14 All four chairs turnedJoined Team Adam Battles (Top 48) "Next to Me" (vs. Donna Allen) Emeli Sandé Oct. 14, 2013 7.5Saved by Adam Knockouts (Top 32) "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" (vs. Ashley DuBose) Kelly Clarkson Oct. 28, 2013 11.4 Live Playoffs (Top 20) "Many Rivers to Cross" Jimmy Cliff Nov. 4, 2013 13.10Saved by Public Vote Live Top 12 "My Kind of Love" Emeli Sandé Nov. 11, 2013 16.9 Live Top 10 "If I Were Your Woman" Gladys Knight & the Pips Nov. 18, 2013 18.6 Live Top 8 "Underneath It All" No Doubt feat. Lady Saw Nov. 25, 2013 20.2 Live Top 6 "Redemption Song" Bob Marley and the Wailers Dec. 2, 2013 22.2 "Unconditionally" Katy Perry 22.8 Live Top 5 (Semifinals) "Bridge over Troubled Water" Simon & Garfunkel Dec. 9, 2013 24.5 Live Finale (Final 3) "Try" Pink Dec. 16, 2013 26.1 Winner "Let It Be" (with Adam Levine) The Beatles 26.4 "I Have Nothing" Whitney Houston 26.7
+Non-competition performances Stage Song Original Artist Date Order Live Playoffs Results "Safe and Sound" (with Team Adam) Capital Cities Nov. 7, 2013 15.4 Live Top 12 Results "Brave" (with Sara Bareilles & the females of the Top 12) Sara Bareilles Nov. 12, 2013 17.1 "A Hard Day's Night" (with Adam Levine & Team Adam) The Beatles 17.4 Live Top 10 "Say It, Just Say It" (with the Top 10) The Mowgli's Nov. 18, 2013 18.1 Live Top 10 Results "Royals" (with Caroline Pennell) Lorde Nov. 19, 2013 19.4 Live Top 8 "One Day" (with Cole Vosbury, Ray Boudreaux, and Will Champlin) Matisyahu Nov. 25, 2013 20.1 Live Top 8 Results "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" (with the Top 8 and the Starbucks Chorus) No original artist. Written by Ada R. Habershon & Charles H. Gabriel Nov. 26, 2013 21.2 "Apologize" / "All the Right Moves" (with the Top 8) OneRepublic 21.4 Live Top 6 Results "You've Got the Love" (with Matthew Schuler and Jacquie Lee) Candi Staton Dec. 3, 2013 23.2 "Joy to the World" / "O Holy Night" (with the Top 6) Traditional carols written by Isaac Watts / Adolphe Adam 23.5 Live Top 5 (Semifinals) "Best Day of My Life" (with the Top 5) American Authors Dec. 9, 2013 24.1 Live Finale "I'll Be There" (with the Top 3) The Jackson 5 Dec. 16, 2013 26.1 Live Finale Results "Tonight Is the Night" (with The Top 20) Outasight Dec. 17, 2013 27.1 "Love Can Move Mountains" (with Celine Dion) Celine Dion 27.3 "Hold On, I'm A Comin'" (with James Wolpert, Preston Pohl, Olivia Henken, and Grey) Sam & Dave 27.11 "Tumbling Down" Tessanne Chin 27.13
2014: After The Voice and major label debut On December 30, 2013, Chin was named Caribbean Journal's 2013 Artist of the Year. Tessanne Chin: Caribbean Journal's Artist of the Year 2013", Caribbean Journal, December 30, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2013
Joined by runners-up Jacquie Lee and Will Champlin, she performed at the annual Rose Parade on January 1, 2014 atop the first ever The Voice float. She performed her single "Tumbling Down."VOICE Champ Tessanne Chin to Duet with Adam Levine on Upcoming Album?. Broadwayworld.com (December 31, 2013). Retrieved on January 7, 2014.‘The Voice’ Winner Tessanne Chin Performs Live!. Ktla.com (December 30, 2013). Retrieved on January 7, 2014.
On January 12, 2014, she headlined her first show in celebration of her victory on The Voice, dubbed "Tessanne's Homecoming." The event was held in downtown Kingston and admission was free. Also performing were Shaggy, Wayne Marshall, Assassin/Agent Sasco, and fellow reggae songstress Alaine. That night, she was presented a Gold Medal of the City of Kingston and a citation by Mayor Angela Brown Burke.
On February 15, 2014, she performed at the 21st annual 9 Mile Music Festival in Miami, Florida alongside Lauryn Hill, Stephen Marley, Damian Marley, Julian Marley, Sean Paul, Shaggy, Mavado, and many others.
On February 25, 2014, she performed in Trinidad along with Kes The Band at the "Tuesdays On The Rock" concert.
She performed at the White House on March 6, 2014, for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's "In Performance at the White House" series, with other acts including Melissa Etheridge, Aretha Franklin, Ariana Grande, Patti LaBelle, Janelle Monáe, and Jill Scott with Greg Phillinganes as the music director, for a concert celebrating women of soul, dubbed "Women of Soul: In Performance at The White House." There, she sang Donna Summer's "Last Dance" then later joined Jill Scott, Melissa Etheridge, Patti LaBelle, Janelle Monáe, and Ariana Grande for a tribute to Tina Turner, performing her rendition of "Proud Mary." The event was broadcast on PBS on April 7, 2014.