HABAKA KFJ
The Panther of Cremona, Italy
Born in Nashville, raised in Bloomfield, Connecticut, and artistically nurtured across the United States and Europe, Habaka KFJ inherited music as a birthright.
Her musical roots run deep. Her grandmother, Minnie Leona Jackson, was a Gospel singer in Atlanta who filled churches with spirit and grace. Her grandfather, Jeri Jackson, was a pianist, bandleader and promoter who led the Jeri Jackson Review, placing Habaka behind the scenes of live music from an early age. Her mother, Mary Ann Jackson, was a jazz vocalist and international dancer whose artistry helped shape Habaka’s ear for tone and phrasing, while her father, Melvin Jackson, performed internationally as a baritone saxophonist with B.B. King’s orchestra.
From sacred hymns and Gospel choirs to smoky jazz rooms and Blues stages around the world, Habaka absorbed it all and transformed those influences into a career spanning more than three decades.
After making Italy her home for 25 years, she became known as “The Panther of Cremona, Italy,” building a career throughout Europe as a vocalist, performer, vocal coach and Gospel choir director. Her rich four-octave contralto and unmistakable blend of Blues, Jazz, Gospel and Soul have carried her from intimate rooms to major international stages.
Her acclaimed album Heritage Blue continued that musical journey, producing charting recordings and international recognition. In 2019, Habaka received the Black Music Award Las Vegas for Best Female Jazz Performer, adding another chapter to a career built not simply on performance, but on connection.
Today, Habaka’s voice reaches far beyond the stage.
She is a bestselling published author, broadcaster, radio personality, producer and storyteller, sharing the experiences, lessons, humor and extraordinary moments of a life lived across cultures and continents. Through Habaka’s Bee Hive Radio Show, her Habaka’s Honeycomb Hideout podcast, her writing and her growing Honeycomb community, she continues to create spaces where music and storytelling meet.
Whether singing to thousands, telling a story behind a microphone, writing a chapter, or sitting in an intimate room with her Honey Bees, the purpose remains the same: to make people feel something.
Because for Habaka, the stage was never defined by its size.
It was always about the connection.
Habaka KFJ — Music Sweet As Tupelo Honey™
