Joan Renée Cartwright was born in Queens, New York. She is a musician, composer, author, poet and historian who currently resides in Florida. In addition to her CDs, Cartwright is the author of nine books including the poetry collection, GaiaMind Poem, published in 2006, and Joan Cartwright Song Book, submitted to the Guinness Book of Records for designation as the "First woman in the world with a jazz and blues song book."

Her essays, articles and interviews have been published locally and internationally online, in magazines, journals, anthologies and newspapers.