Joss Stone is Dating Raphael Saadiq  4/4/07

Teenage singer Joss Stone is dating music producer Raphael Saadiq, her close friend R&B star Lemar has confirmed.

The 19-year-old and her publicists have tried to hide her romance with 40-year-old Saadiq, who played bass on her latest album.

She recently said, "He is from Oakland, I'm from Devon, England; he is 40, I am 19; he is American, I'm English. It's, like, two completely different people."

But Lemar insists Stone has confessed the truth to him. He says, "I've known about their relationship for ages. Joss is always texting me about how happy she is. And it's the real deal.

"I'm happy for her. She's a great girl, and she's really into him.

"She's doing really well in the States right now so it's nice that she is settling down too."