If pure vocal talent is what drives your interest in music, then Jewel tickets are definitely for you. Jewel is known worldwide as having the voice of an angel, and her on-stage persona creates an atmosphere that's as intimate as any concert you'll ever attend. Jewel may be relatively young, but her breadth of knowledge in regards to vocals belies her age. A look at her life may explain how she came to be so loved on so many continents.

Early Life

Jewel Kilcher was born on May 23, 1974 in Payson, Utah. Her parents were German-speaking immigrants from Switzerland, which explains one of her skills. Her parents split up when she was very young, and she moved to Homer, Alaska to live with her father.

She lived the life of a true Alaskan, as her childhood home did not have indoor plumbing, and she helped her father make a living by singing in local taverns. This was also the time when Jewel honed one of her seemingly-hereditary skills - yodeling. It can often be heard on her albums, and she takes great pride in this traditional skill.

Her vocal skills flourished with practice, and this talent coupled with her academic success earned Jewel a scholarship to the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan. While attending Interlochen, Jewel learned to play the guitar, which would become an integral part of her act.

After leaving Interlochen, Jewel headed west to pursue her musical dream. She settled for a time in San Diego where she played in local coffee houses for a relative pittance, and as a result she spent time living in her van. However, she gained acclaim in San Diego, as locals soon saw Jewel tickets as something to pursue for her small and sometimes-impromptu shows.

Career Beginnings

Jewel's gigs at these coffee houses, particularly Java Joe's, led her to be discovered by executives at Atlantic Records, and she soon signed a recording contract. She released her first album in 1995, and it was a success. Pieces of You climbed to number four on the album charts and stayed in the top 200 for more than two years, selling more than 12 million copies. Many of her songs from this cut came from recordings at her coffee house performances. Jewel didn't have to live in a van anymore.

She waited three years to put out her next release, but Spirit was also a smashing success, as it sold more than 4 million copies. Since then, she has released three additional albums, all of which sold over 1 million copies. Her newest release, Goodbye Alice in Wonderland has only been on the market for a short time, but it's selling quite well.

Personal Efforts

Jewel is avid in her efforts to help those less fortunate. In 1999, she launched a non-profit organization called Higher Ground For Humanity, and its purpose is to help provide access to clean water. Hence, the first project for Higher Ground For Humanity was and is The Cleanwater Project, which installs pumps and wells to increase the flow of clean water to impoverished towns. The project focuses its efforts on South America, Central America, India, and Africa.

Overall, Jewel's talent may be what made her famous, but her heart is what keeps her motivated. Jewel tickets will introduce you to a complete person, and one who wants to leave the world a better place than when she found it.