Melissa Jiménez

Listen to Melissa Jiménez with your eyes closed and you might think the 22-year-old beauty with an impressive set of pipes is the new Mariah Carey record.

Born in Queens, New York to a Mexican father and Greek mother, Jiménez began her musical career at an early age, joining her father's wedding band, the Somethin' Special Orchestra, at fourteen. After high school, the New Jersey-bred Jiménez teamed up with the Ruff Ryders crew, appeared on the Swizz Beatz-produced Take the Lead (Wanna Ride) and has contributed to Roc-a-fella stalwart Beanie Sigel's Feel It in the Air as well as Los Cocorocos' Claro de Luna.

Now signed with SRC Records/Universal Motown Music Group, Jiménez joined heavy hitters will.i.am, Mary J. Blige and T.I., among others, on Wyclef Jean's forthcoming album, Carnival 2: Memoirs of an Immigrant. Jiménez' first single, Untouchable, is a driving club jam filled with horn stabs and pounding kick drums. Her debut, Signed Sealed Delivered, is scheduled for release early next year.

see: myspace.com/melissajimenez0