October/16/1987

About me - Joi Janaé Keeling, also known by her stage name, Sugar Joiko, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter. She was born on October 16, 1987, in Kenner, Louisiana to Jayna Knox and Damion Keeling Sr. By the age of 8, Keeling began playing the piano by ear and composing her own music. Her mother put her in piano lessons when she turned 9 and she continued to train classically until her sophomore year in college. Keeling also studied clarinet and jazz piano for 9 years. After graduating from Destrehan High School and New Orleans Center of Creative Arts (N.O.C.C.A.), Keeling entered the University of New Orleans studying jazz piano and clarinet. After only one week of college, she was displaced by Hurricane Katrina and moved to Houston where she continued her education at the University of Houston. Keeling graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in public relations and advertising with a minor study in music theory. Keeling performs live in Houston every Wednesday through Saturday at the Howl at the Moon as a piano bar entertainer. On Sundays she is a choir director, soloist, and head musician at New Greater Faith Baptist Church under Pastor Fredrick Davis III. During her spare time she does PR freelancing for herself and other clients such as hip-hop recording artist, D Keela, and organizations such as Intricate Sounds and Development Record Label. Today, Keeling is most notable for her remixed covers produced and performed by her on YouTube. Two of her most famous covers are “Electric Feel” by MGMT, and “Flavor of Life”, a Japanese tune by Utada Hikaru. She has also released one of her singles, “Crickets Calling”, featuring R&B recording artist Z-Dee. Thanks to her views through youtube, Keeling has also been featured on one of Japan's most popular national television shows called, "Nodojiman - Song for Japan", where she performed live in Tokyo in year 2011.