Jess Klein is an American singer/songwriter. A native of Rochester, New York, Klein learned to play acoustic guitar and started writing songs while living in Kingston, Jamaica in her late teens. Klein moved to Boston upon her return home, and began performing locally. After independently releasing her first two albums, winning the Telluride Troubador Songwriting Contest, and garnering several Boston Music Award nominations, she was signed to Rykodisc in 2000 by then-president George Howard. Klein's first release for Ryko, Draw Them Near [which received 3� out of four stars from USA Today], launched Klein on a worldwide tour where she performed before 70,000 attendees at the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan. Returning to the U.S., Klein joined the songwriter collective Voices on the Verge, along with Erin McKeown, Rose Polenzani, and Beth Amsel. The foursome performed Klein's song 'Little White Dove' on Good Morning America. Klein's second solo effort for Ryko, Strawberry Lover, was produced by RCA recording artist Marc Copely. 

1974 in Rochester