Ava Bella

Ava Bella, born Melissa Jones, is a colorful, creative vocalist, songwriter producer, poet, and author born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. Ava developed her passion by listening to artists her father played on Saturday nights such as Anita Baker, Luther Vandross, Donnie Hathaway, and Frankie Beverly and Maze. It’s no surprise the soulfulness of her contralto voice captivates you within minutes!

She actively studied her craft from an early age, and further embraced her destiny by auditioning and acceptance to the Paseo Academy of the Fine and Performing Arts! This is only once she began formal operatic training at age 14. In New Orleans, Louisiana she became active in the music industry while still in college. Her professional entertainment career began with a bang working with Coca Cola, entertaining on weekends alternating between the Grand Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi and the Famous Cats Meow in New Orleans.

To date she has performed at numerous venues/events nationally, including:

The Famous Cats Meow, New Orleans, LA - Vocalist
Howl at the Moon, New Orleans, LA - Vocalist
Vieux Carre’ Café, New Orleans, LA - Vocalist
San Diego Chargers, Toys for Tots Annual Toy Drive, San Diego, CA - Vocalist
The Cantina, Baltimore, MD - Lead Vocalist
L. A. Posse Connection Band, New Orleans, LA - Lead Vocalist
Isle of Capri, Kansas City, MO - Lead Vocalist
The Peachtree Restaurant (Power & Light) - Lead Vocalist
The Blue Room, Kansas City, MO - Special Guest/Featured Vocalist
Harper’s, Kansas City, MO - Special Guest Vocalist
The Juke House, Kansas City, MO - Featured Vocalist
Kansas City Power & Light 2012 Day of the Diva Competition - Grand Prize Winner
Opening Support for Morris day & The Time,Kansas City Power & Light, Kansas City, MO
Opening Support for Estelle - BET Music Matters Tour, Kansas City, MO
Opening Support for Hip Hop Legend Masta Ace & Canadian DJ Marco Polo - Midwest Leg, Chicago, KCMO, StL, MO
Opening Support for Hip Hop Band The Knux, Kansas City, MO

Ava has completed her debut effort the "LadyGun”EP available world wide April 29, 2012 as well as book of poetry "Roses and Thorns" available Fall 2012. “LadyGun is for everyone. The creative, passionate vessel that is so full of good, raw energy(that) it overflows”, she conveys. “My poetry and my music is about my good and my not so great, my love and my loss, but in all of these things finding the peace and truth in the thorns that may try to entangle our spirit. I humbly just want to share this joy, passion, and pain: my story,” she says. “I appreciate my journey as well as the blessings of new beginnings and I want to convey that to my readers and listeners.”

For booking inquires: guerillamovement@gmail.com