AYO broke through in Europe with the hit single "Down On My Knees," and Platinum album `Joyful,' produced by Jay Newland (Norah Jones).

Her sound is often compared to SADE, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell and Carole King!

PBS PLEDGE WEEK SPECIAL: Ayo is confirmed to perform in DECEMBER 07's "Pledge Week" on PBS - first run airs 12/1 to 12/9. The show taped in Monte Carlo. "Live from Monte-Carlo" will be presented on U.S. Public Television as both a one hour special and as a 90-minute fundraising special nation-wide. Like The Three Tenors, Andrea Bocelli, Sara Brightman, Michael Bubble, Josh Groban and many others; AYO will be introduced to the American market on television through more than 300 PBS affiliates covering 99% of total U.S. households.

SHE HAS CURRENTLY SOLD OVER 550,000 CD'S OF HER DEBUT IN EUROPE!

Ayo (her name means "joy" in Nigerian Yoruba) has been on a careening music biz fast track ever since 2006, when her debut release, Joyful, achieved platinum sales in France and several other European countries. The lovely singer-composer-guitarist-pianist was born in Germany to a Nigerian father and a Romanian Roma (Gypsy) mother and, with her husband and son, now divides her time between Paris and New York. Joyful was produced by Grammy award-winner Jay Newland and recorded in New York City in five days flat, under studio-live conditions. This created a relaxed yet urgently charged ambience that underpins the ebb and flow of all 12 tracks. Musically, the tunes incorporate diverse quotes from a polyglot life, such as accordion-laced French bal musette, slouchy Afro-Euro reggae, quietly down-and-dirty R & B-influenced organ riffs, Beatles-eque piano chords, plus subtle strings and over all, a moodily suave acoustic guitar. Ayo's girlishly light but spot-on vocals are sung primarily in English with occasional touches of Nigerian pigeon. She speaks of sexual passion hopeless and fulfilled, family, friendships, and philosophical observations both grim and optimistic; these are young songs from an old soul. The massive success of the present album has led to a television special, Ayo Live in Monte Carlo, which will be aired in the USA on PBS. During it, the young chanteuse performs tunes from Joyful and hobnobs with Princess Stephanie of Monaco, with whom she shares a commitment to children's causes. --Christina Roden