Karen is easily Jamaica’s most versatile entertainer. She loves to sing and masters many genres-R&B, Reggae, Pop and Jazz. She takes her audience with her on a smooth musical journey pleasing them with the clarity and sincerity of her pure vocal stylings. To see Karen perform, it is obvious that she truly loves her stage and revels in the unique flow of energy between audience and entertainer. Her adoring fans often comment on her warmth and charm.
An only child born in Kingston, Jamaica to Hoover and Barbara Smith , Karen attended St. Hugh’s High School and later gained a Business degree from Concordia University in Montreal Canada. She worked at the National Commercial Bank, Jamaica for three years before deciding to follow her heart’s dream of being an entertainer. She sang many radio and television jingles produced by Peter Ashbourne during 1984-1992. The most famous radio and TV jingle being Grace Cock Soup which featured Karen and Mallory Williams in the kitchen. This aired for seven years and was very popular. People still remember it today.
Her singing career took off in earnest in 1986 and she performs at many of the major hotels on Jamaica’s North Coast including Swept Away, Renaissance Jamaica Grande and the Wyndham Rose Hall resort .She was the first act featured at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas when it opened in February 1990.
Karen has been the opening act for major artistes-among them James Ingram, Natalie Cole, Chuck Mangione, Smokey Robinson and Harry Belafonte who describes her as “a wonderfully gifted artiste”. She is the voice of the Winds of Hope recorded for Jamaica’s Olympic effort in 1992. Her CD Reflections of Love was produced by the Sly & Robbie & Gitsy. A mix of Reggae, R&B and Hip-Hop it includes the former #1 hit Oh Me Oh My.
She is a multi award winning artiste having won the Jamaica Music Industry Award (JAMI) for Jazz and Cabaret an unprecedented Nine (9) Times and also many Jamaica Federation of Musicians Awards.
Karen is widely recognised as Jamaica’s leading jazz vocalist and enjoys the freedom and challenge that jazz offers.
Karen is married to legendary rock steady bassist Jackie Jackson and they have a daughter Courtni. Karen & Jackie were inducted into the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival Hall of Fame in June 2001.
