Usher is a Black American songwriter, singer, dancer and actor born on 14 October 1978 as Usher Raymond IV. The 45-year-old is known for being a prodigy in contemporary R&B and pop music. He was born in Dallas, Texas in United States of America to Jonnetta Patton, his mother and Usher Raymond III. His mother was the choir director of St Elmo’s Missionary Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee where he spent most of youth.
His family moved to Atlanta, Georgia and there he attended North Springs High School. He was part of a singing group Nu Beginning, which released the 1992 album Keep Dreamin’. At 13, Usher met A.J. Alexander at a local talent show in Atlanta, who then invited Bryant Reid, an A&R representative from LaFace Records to watch Usher perform on the television talent show Star Search.
CAREER.
An audition L.A. Reid was arranged and Usher was signed in immediately. Usher sang “End of the Road” by Boyz II Men. His journey was not easy as he faced vocal challenges due to puberty. He almost lost the deal since he was struggling with his voice. Despite all this, his first album was released in 1994 although it is said people did not like the idea of a 15-year-old singing about sex.
Usher released his first single, “Call Me a Mack” from the Poetic Justice soundtrack, at age 14 and made his solo debut album the next year. He released his first album at 15 in 1994 and his second album ‘My Way’ in 1997. His third album was released in 2001 and won him his first two Grammy Awards for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 2002 and 2003.
His 2004 album ‘Confessions’ sold over 20 million copies worldwide and received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Three singles from this album; “Yeah!” featuring Lil’ Jon and Ludacris, “Burn” and “Confessions Part II” made it to the Top 10 in the same week.
He later on released more albums, after splitting with his mother and manager, Here I Stand (2008) and Raymond v. Raymond (2010). His single, “There Goes My Baby” won him his third Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. Ever since then he has been able to release successful albums including ‘Looking 4 Myself’, ‘The Voice’, ‘Hard II Love’ and ‘Hands of Stone’.
Usher is the fifth-most awarded artist at the Billboard Music Awards with 18 awards. He is involved in various charity efforts, including the Hurricane Katrina relief concert, and his own organization, Usher’s New Look, which aims to provide young people with a new perspective on life through education and hands-on experiences. Usher’s New Look was founded in 1999.
On the 2024 BET awards, Usher accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award