{{short description|American harpist}} '''Rashida Jolley''' is an American harpist who uses her traditionally classical music instrument in hip-hop, R&B, and pop music.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url = https://www.npr.org/2012/04/19/150959638/for-rashida-jolley-a-harp-to-make-more-than-music|title = For Rashinda Jolley, A Harp to Make More Than Music|date = 19 April 2012|work = NPR|access-date = 9 January 2016}}</ref> Jolley also writes her own songs, fusing many different genres together.
== Early life and education == Jolley grew up in Washington, D.C. during which she attended Christian schools and was homeschooled for her last few years of high school.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url = https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-555596.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181118102724/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-555596.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 18 November 2018|title = Checking Out the Competition: Is Miss America Our Ideal?|last = Rosenfeld|first = Megan|date = 14 October 2000|newspaper = The Washington Post|access-date = 9 January 2016}}</ref> Her father, Noble Jolley Sr., was a jazz guitarist who taught all of his seven children how to play and perform.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url = http://www.eastcoastentertainment.com/artist/rashida-jolley|title = Rashida Jolley - Harpist|access-date = 9 January 2016|website = East Coast Entertainment}}</ref> Jolley says that her mother first chose the harp for her, but she says that it "was love at first sight."<ref>{{Cite journal|url = http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mih&AN=59355182&site=ehost-live|title = Rashida Jolley|last = Boussard|first = Kenneth|date = April 2011|journal = Ebony|access-date = 9 January 2016|url-access=subscription |volume = 66|via = EBSCO|issue = 6|page = 66}}</ref> Rashida Jolley began singing in her church choir when she was seven and was playing the harp at the DC Youth Orchestra Program (DCYOP) when she was ten.<ref name=":4" /> She is a graduate of Nyack College with a bachelor's degree in history.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url = https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-106717D039F55849.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160310122012/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-106717D039F55849.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 10 March 2016|title = Miss D.C. Delivers Message of Abstinence|last = Giradi|first = Linda|date = 1 November 2004|work = The Beacon News|access-date = 9 January 2016}}</ref>
== Career == In 1997, when she participated in her first Miss D.C. pageant, she was nicknamed "Baby Diva."<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-721839.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181121020442/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-721839.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 21 November 2018|title = Miss D.C.'s Return: A Crowning Moment|last = Parker|first = Lonnae O'Neal|date = 23 June 1997|newspaper = The Washington Post|access-date = 9 January 2016 }}</ref> Jolley represented Washington, D.C. in the Miss America Pageant in 2000.<ref name=":2" /> In 2004, she was on the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS<ref name=":3" /> and a speaker with the Project Reality abstinence education group.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-82069601.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160314003119/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-82069601.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 14 March 2016|title = Bush to Tap AIDS Panel Chiefs Soon|last = Wetzstein|first = Cheryl|date = 23 January 2002|work = The Washington Times|access-date = 9 January 2016}}</ref> She also released her first CD, "Love is Not a Game" in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://missdc.org/about/where-are-they-now/|title = Where Are They Now?|access-date = 10 January 2016|website = Miss District of Columbia}}</ref>
Jolley competed on ''America's Got Talent'' in 2009.<ref name=":1" /> Jolley played harp for Lady Gaga on her 2010-2011 Monster Ball World Tour.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/click-track/post/rashida-jolley-on-touring-with-lady-gaga-and-being-an-randb-divaharpist/2012/01/31/gIQAIcELfQ_blog.html|title = Rashida Jolley on Touring With Lady Gaga and Being an R&B Diva/Harpist|last = Stewart|first = Allison|date = 31 January 2012|newspaper = The Washington Post|access-date = 9 January 2016}}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' called Jolley a "head-banging harpist."<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url = http://blog.washingtonpost.com/clicktrack/2010/09/in_concert_lady_gaga_at_verizo.html|title = In Concert: Lady Gaga at Verizon Center|last = Richards|first = Chris|date = 8 September 2016|newspaper = The Washington Post|access-date = 9 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101113190701/http://blog.washingtonpost.com/clicktrack/2010/09/in_concert_lady_gaga_at_verizo.html|archive-date = 13 November 2010}}</ref> Jolley released her second album in 2011, titled "There's No One Else Like You."<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.gagafrontrow.net/2011_07_01_archive.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110806163009/http://www.gagafrontrow.net/2011_07_01_archive.html|url-status = usurped|archive-date = August 6, 2011|title = Rashida Jolley Party|date = 1 July 2011|access-date = 10 January 2016|website = Gaga Front Row}}</ref> She partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of DC in an anti-bullying program in 2013.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://washingtoninformer.com/news/2013/nov/11/boys-girls-club-partners-lady-gaga-harpist/|title = Boys and Girls Club Partners with Lady Gaga Harpist Rashida Jolley to End Bullying|date = 11 November 2013|work = The Washington Informer|access-date = 10 January 2016}}</ref>
Jolley has also performed on the BET Rap It Up Tour and at the Ludacris Foundation's Tribute to Quincy Jones.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/content/harpist-singer-rashida-jolley-perform-arts-and-humanities-festival|title = Harpist, singer Rashida Jolley to perform at Arts and Humanities Festival|date = 14 August 2013|access-date = 10 January 2016|website = Hill Rag|last = Monroe|first = Steve}}</ref>
== References == <!--- See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes on how to create references using <ref></ref> tags, these references will then appear here automatically --> {{Reflist|2}}
== External links == * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P6_VWVZKkM Jolley in performance] (2011 video)
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jolley, Rashida}} <!--- Categories ---> Category:Singers from Washington, D.C. Category:Nyack College alumni Category:American women harpists Category:Miss America 2000 delegates Category:America's Got Talent contestants Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:21st-century African-American women singers Category:21st-century American women singers Category:21st-century harpists Category:American harpists