Born in Chattanooga Tennessee on October 14, 1978, Usher
Raymond was raised by his single mother (and current manager) Jonnetta Patton.
The family moved to Atlanta when Usher was 12. A devout Christian, Jonnetta
raised her sons in the Baptist faith as well as coaching Usher as the local
church’s choir director. As early as 12, Usher began entering local talent
shows. He was performing at a Star Search competition a year later when he was
spotted by an A&R rep from LAFace Records who arranged an audition with
L.A. Reid (co-owner of LAFace Records). A record contract soon followed.
In the fall of 1994, Usher, his
self-titled debut album, was released with the help of co-executive producer
Sean “Puffy” Combs. It rose to #25 on the R&B chart on the strength of
three singles: “Can U Get Wit It,” “Think Of You,” and “The Many
Ways.”
Three years later, Usher released his second album, My
Way, under the guidance of friend and mentor Jermaine Dupri. My
Way, earned 6-times platinum album sales in the U.S. alone aided by
singles such as “You Make Me Wanna” (Usher’s first Platinum single),
“Nice & Slow,” and the title track “My Way.” Usher received his
first Grammy Award nomination as Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for
"You Make Me Wanna," which was also nominated for a "Soul
Train" Music Award as Best Male R&B/Soul Single. With his popularity
soaring, Usher began his acting career with appearances on UPN’s “Moesha”
opposite fellow songwriter Brandy and a lead role in the 1998 film, “The
Faculty.”
On August 7, 2001, Usher released his third studio album
entitled, 8701 (the date of its release). With this album Usher did much of his own writing for the
songs, a task which was done for him for all of the self titled album and half
of the My Way album. As Usher himself put it at the time, “I like to tell stories in my songs…
I did a lot of writing this time. It was like an evolution and I was involved
conceptually this time with every tune.” 8701 has sold over 8 million
records worldwide aided by the strength of its singles
“U Remind Me,” “U Got It Bad,” “U Don't Have To Call,” and
“Can U Help Me.” The four singles each hit number one on the billboard
charts for either pop or R&B. Usher also won the Best Male R&B Vocal
Grammies for “U Remind Me” (2002) and “U Got It Bad” (2003).
Confessions, Usher’s fourth
studio record, was released in March of 2004. The album's
1.1 million unit first week was not only the highest first week numbers ever
scanned by a male R&B artist in Soundscan's 13-year history (breaking the
record previously held by R. Kelly of 540,000 for TP-2.com back in 2000)
– but also the highest first week scans by any male artist since Eminem's Marshall
Mathers LP (also in 2000, with 1.7 million units). Usher's success also
marked the biggest debut week in the 30 years of Arista's existence.
This sales success was succeeded by success throughout the awards
period. Usher took home such notable awards as Male
R&B Artist of the Year at the Source awards and Cingular Artist of the Year
at the Nordic Music Awards.
With a career that keeps taking him to new heights of
achievement and accomplishment, Usher remains – in his own words –
"the master of the moment. I feel like I'm in the prime of my life,
physically, emotionally, spiritually – and musically. And knowing there is
still love for me in the marketplace, that gives me energy." Indeed, there
is love for Usher and his music the world over.
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