Jewel Allison Biography

Jewel Allison was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York from an American mother and a Bajan father.  Jewel came up in a in a family that was culturally rich. It was a common sight to see great artists such as Max Roach, Randy Weston and Lena Horne. Jewel began writing poetry as a child; in fact, Jewel cannot recall a time during her life that she was not writing poetry. Jewel states that “Poetry came to me first and then I came to it!” Jewel mentions it that way because she began writing as a child and later she came to know why poetry was a form of writing different from other types of writing.

Jewel had many influences. Nikki Giovanni had a significant impact on her approach to the creative process of the spoken word. Other major influences included Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, Langston Hughes, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Sonia Sanchez, and E. E. Cummings. Theses poets helped to validate Jewel’s uncontrollable urge to write poetry.

At the tender age of 17, Jewel met Harriet Caine, a beauty editor at Madamoiselle Magazine. It became an event that would change her life forever. Jewel began modeling at Zoli, a prestigious New York City modeling agency. It was Jewel’s initiation into the world of the arts. She continued more endeavors in the arts including acting, voice overs and appearing in “Boomerang” with Eddie Murphy; as well as appearing in “Mr. Big Stuff”, a music video for rap artist Heavy D.

Jewel began writing as a freelance journalist for Blackbeat Magazine and doing on air reporting for “In The Black” TV show which was aired on WOR-TV. Jewel is the founder of the current New York University magazine entitled “Brownstones”. Brownstones provides a vehicle for artists of color to have their literary work published. Jewel was also the co-host of “Caribbean Images” TV program which airs on Brooklyn Cable TV and UHF Channel 68.  All of Jewel’s exposure to the various segments of the arts world is personified and evident in the creative processes she utilizes in the construct of her writing.

Jewel employs many references to music in her writing. She studied music from the age of five at Brooklyn Music School. She eventually started her own music school called “G Clef School of Music and Art” in New Jersey and “Jewels House of Music, LLC”  in Brooklyn, New York.

Jewel has just completed her first published work, the title of which is called “Stealing Peace”; available through your local bookstore’s order desk or at these online bookstores: Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com,  Xlibris.com or by phone 1-888-795-4274 ext. 7876.  Also available is the DVD, “Stealing Peace Live at the World Famous Nuyorican Poets Café”.  For DVD orders please call 212-615-6877 or send an email to [email protected].  Ms. Allison has worked as a guest speaker and spoken word artist internationally.  She is an author, actress, poet/spoken word artist and activist.

Jewel was a finalist in the Def Jam poetry contest in 2002. Her performances and speaking engagements include: Guest speaker and poetry read for Pure Soul in Perth, Australia,  Guest poet and speaker for Tommy’s House in London, England,  an  interview and reading on WNYH 74 AM radio with Talk Show Host Bobby Viera, Featured poet at The Nuyorican Poets Café, Featured guest poet and speaker at Brooklyn Poetry Outreach at Barnes and Noble with Brooklyn Poet Laureate Ken Siegelman, Guest poet at The Tunisian Cultural Center Poetic Forum 2009, Guest poet and speaker at Bob Law’s National Leadership Alliance program on Obama’s Inauguration (Bethany Baptist Church),  Guest speaker/poet for On Eagles Wing in Barbados, West Indies, Featured poet for Councilman Al Vann’s 2009 campaign party with bassist Stanley Banks,  Guest speaker and spoken word artist for Central Brooklyn Jazz Festival at Brooklyn Borough Hall ,  Spoken word artist for an “Afternoon of Expressions”  with Reverend Johnny Youngblood at Mt. Pisgah Church, Spoken word artist at The Bahai Center in Dizzie Gillespie’s Auditorium in New York, New York; accompanied by legendary percussionist Warren Smith,  Guest speaker and featured poet at the New York City Transit’s “Poet Tree” Club,  Featured poet and guest speaker at the Community Church of New York sponsored by The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond,  Featured poet at the Townsley’s Oratory Group Voices of Youth Awards Ceremony, Featured poet/book signing and guest speaker at Public School 93 in Brooklyn, New York,  Featured poet with jazz vocalist Dwight West at JT Restaurant in Newark, New Jersey,  Featured Poet at Eric Frazier’s Open Mic Jam session at Rustik Restaurant,  A Tribute to Ulysses Slaughter at Sugar Hill Restaurant, and in Santa Fe, New Mexico for the Women’s Rape Crisis Center’s “Stop The Violence” program.

Jewel is a graduate of New York University, Tish School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree.  She resides in New York City with her daughter.

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