Valerie June Hockett (born January 10, 1982) is a Grammy-nominated American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and author. Her music draws influence from many genres, including psychedelic folk, indie rock, Appalachian, bluegrass, country soul, symphonic pop, and blues, as well as from her southern roots and later East coast life. She is signed to Concord Music Group worldwide.
Early life Born in Jackson, Tennessee, on January 10, 1982, June is the second of five children. As a child growing up in Humboldt, she was exposed to gospel music at her local church and R&B and soul music via her father, Emerson Hockett. As a teenager, her first job was with her father, owner of Hockett Construction in West Tennessee, and a part-time promoter for gospel singers and Prince, K-Ci & JoJo, and Bobby Womack. She helped by hanging posters in town. Her father died in 2016.
Musical career
2000–2009: Career beginnings June relocated to Memphis in 2000 and began recording and performing at the age of 19, in the duo Bella Sun. After her marriage ended, she began working as a solo artist, combining blues, gospel and Appalachian folk in a style that she describes as "organic moonshine...
Extract from Wikipedia: “Valerie June” (CC BY-SA 4.0).
