Based: Johannesburg
She first became famous when she entered a SABC 1 reality show, Coca Cola Popstars in 2004. Teaming up with Mariechan Luiters and Liesl Penniken, the girls were runners up to the winning boy band Ghetto Lingo. They called themselves Jamali – the name taken from the first two letters of each of their names. Although Ghetto Lingo was the winners of Popstars, Jamali has outsold Ghetto Lingo in terms of popularity and TV appearances. As the lead vocalist of the group, Jamali produced four smashing albums. Jamali (2004) their debut album was certified gold for sales in excess of 25 000. It soon went platinum. The album produced the huge hit singles ‘Greatest Love’, ‘Love Me for Me’ and ‘Dalile’. Their other equally succesful albums include YOURS FATALLY (2006), 3rd Base (2008) and TOXIC CANDY ALBUM (2010). They were nominated as many as six times for a South Africa Music Award, 3rd Base gave them that honour.
Working endlessly on gigs around South Africa, Jacqui was hungry for more. She took on one of her other passions, Acting, during her spare time.
Having grown up in Eldorado Park in the South of Johannesburg, she says she always wanted to be a performer. She started dancing at the age of seven.
Effortlessly oozing both emotional and performance maturity, she took to the at age 12 on the Reach for the Stars talent competition.
She was also a runner up in the “Jam Alley be a megastar” competition in 1997, Finalist in the Keur “Ryk ne die sterre” singing competition in 1994 and 1995.
In 1999 she got her first corporate gig which she says paid a pretty penny that helped her remodel her modest bedroom.
The tenacious songstress sneaked into a closed audition 2003. They were looking for a performer to sing at a beautiful holiday resort in Turkey and it was an invite-only audition. She made it her mission to audition and by no surprise got the job.
Carpede is the epitome of perfection and extremely hardworking. Working corporate gigs and travelling the country with her group, she also found the time to venture into acting. Specialising in theatre she made the stage her own. She has since been in theatre productions at the Market Theatre, the Civic Theatre and the Performer Theatre in Pretoria, and has worked with the likes of Des and Dawn Lindberg.
2013 and Jacqui has finally come into her own with the decision to release her solo debut album – Ready To Love.
She is confident that fans will get to see what she is really all about for the first time. The songs on the album speak of love to friendships and past experiences. A reflection of the real Jacqui Carpede.
The complete album, Ready To Love, is an up-beat house dance album. It will be released later this year.
But that’s not all. Carpede, who has always dreamt of being an actress, will be gracing the small screen on Kyknet and e.tv in August.
Career highlights:
Having performed for Nelson Mandela, Oprah, Mary J Blige, Tyler Perry, Patti Labelle, Babyface, and India Arie.
She also opened for international acts Akon and Snoop Dogg/Lion.
Description
JACQUI CARPEDE is a South African singer and actress. She first became famous when she entered a SABC 1 reality show, Coca Cola Popstars in 2004. Teaming up with Mariechan Luiters and Liesl Penniken, the girls were runners up to the winning boy band Ghetto Lingo. They called themselves Jamali .