He told the paper: "I’ve known about the relationship for ages. Joss is always texting me about how happy she is. And it’s the real deal."

Joss met Raphael when he played bass on her last album, Introducing Joss Stone, and she has previously tried to hide their relationship.

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."

Lemar added: "I’m really happy for her. She’s great girl and she’s really into him.

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

Stone enjoys US album chart success - Mar 29 2008
Joss Stone’s third album has entered the US Billboard chart at number two.

Introducing Joss Stone becomes the highest-placed new entry by a British female artist for 20 years.

The placing is good news for the 19-year-old after she was lambasted for her mid-American twang at the Brits and for turning up late at a recent gig.

Chart archivists are currently researching whether Introducing Joss Stone smashes the record for the highest album chart new entry ever on the Billboard album chart by a British female.

But so far, they have only been able to research back over the last 20 years.

The Brit Award winner’s album placing beat new entries from the likes of Dido, Annie Lennox and the Spice Girls.

The singer’s previous two albums Soul Sessions and Mind Body and Soul peaked at 38 and 11 respectively.

Both went on to sell one million copies each in the US with combined worldwide sales of over seven million.

Stone appeared on Star For A Night on BBC TV singing You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman at the age of 14 and got a record deal a year later.

Her debut album, The Soul Sessions, was released when she was just 16.

Joss backs ’Little Britain’ in New York - Mar 22 2007
Joss Stone made a surprise appearance in New York to back a bid to have a corner of Manhattan renamed Little Britain.

The soul singer, who was mocked for speaking in an American accent at the Brits last month, waxed lyrical about the UK and said success for the campaign would help the world "blend and become one".

A group led by legendary English-themed cafe Tea & Sympathy and Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic wants the new branding for the area around Greenwich Avenue in honour of the numerous British businesses in the district.

It would follow the tradition of ethnic enclaves of New York being named accordingly.

"Britain deserves its own ’little’ version," Joss said.

"Why not? They have Chinatown and Little Italy and Indian streets. Britain is a wicked place full of culture and great people.

"You won’t find a proper English pub or chippy anywhere but England. Even a proper cup of tea is difficult.

"So why not bring a Little Britain to New York and other cities?

"We can all blend and become one, then the world will be a happier place in the great scheme of things."

She added: "I’m English; it would be wrong if I wasn’t backing the campaign."