J'MARIE TENKKU

J'Marie Tenkku a singer, songwriter and Saint Louis native loves to share her gift of song. Her connection with her audience is  enchanting and distinct. She performs for a wide variety of music enthusiasts and events. She is the lead singer of St. Louis' Ultimate Party Band, GROOVE THANG! 

From the Midwest to San Francisco’s East Bay she has vocally paid homage to the greats who have topped the charts. Singing the songs of so many beloved favorites like, Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Heart, Pat Benatar, Sade, to many of today's stage headliners like Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor, Halsey and many more, J'Marie is known to share a broad selection of genre from her repertoire as she applies her unique sultry vocal nuances enhancing her powerhouse expression.

J'Marie is debuted her first single entitled, "Your Best Life" which she wrote. She came together and co-produced the record with co-founder and member of Groove Thang Bassist, Larry E. Kornfeld. Exciting news for the St. Louis native. The title itself speaks volumes of her personal philosophy of honoring ones self through adversity, while holding others to their greatness. This lends the idea of self preservation, co-creating and taking mere existence to a much more expansive level by inviting you to discover the outside of the box!

This natural born and honed talent shares a sincere enthusiasm for music and performance as she has harnessed the passion to entertain and speak to all ages and backgrounds. Her early childhood performance experiences spans from Music Theater in elementary school, with the St. Louis Black Repertory Theatre Co. and entering many talent shows in her early teens. She continued performing and honing her craft of voice and performance through out high school in live performances with Reggae, Punk bands and with legendary St. Louis Jazz greats, May Wheeler and Jeenie Trevor singing Billie Holiday songs. J'Marie began writing her own songs at age 13.  She's been laying down tracks and learned the art of recording and cutting and scratching DJ techniques in studio recording sessions at the impressionable age of 14. At 21, J'Marie was proud to be the very first female club spinning DJ in St. Louis, Mo. spinning vinyl and CDs. 

J'Marie  has assisted in cultivating bands, joining forces with newly founded along with established ensembles. Her live performance experience is quite vast, performing with and offering supporting recorded vocals for National and International Recording artists like  and San Francisco's East Bay very own Hip Hop legands, 3 X Crazy and the incomparable Dwayne Wiggins, of Toni! Tony! Tone'! fame and the infamous Bob Durough who wrote for Ray Charles and crated the School House Rock songs so many enjoyed every Saturday morning like, "I'm Just A Bill", "Conjunction Junction" and "3 Is The Magic Number".

As a songwriter, J'Marie embraces the opportunity to reveal vulnerable facets of her personal story cloaked inside fun and fantasized lyrics with a glimpse into her untamed wild side. She has recorded and created live performance musical groups to share her original music projects by creating,  J’Marie & The Magictree.

J'Marie is a voice-over talent and jingle artist. She debuted as one of the first, "I'm Lovin’ It", commercial jingle artists produced for the McDonald's National and local St. Louis campaigns.

From Disco to hits of the 80's and 90's, Billboard 100 chart toppers, to some Country and Jazz favorites along with plenty of Rock and Roll and R & B to please the masses, J'Marie's talent is expansive and as a born Entertainer, " J ", as she is affectionately dubbed by her colleagues and supporters alike, shines her exuberance in live and recorded productions. Music that leaves her audience elevated in jubilation and excited for the next record and performance. 

And as always ways she begs the answer for all to ask themselves, "Are you shining your light?"