What qualities best capture the essence of international superstar Usher? Is it his soul-stirring vocals, electrifying dance moves, or charming sense of chivalry? Whatever his secrets are, this bona fide superstar and 2 X Grammy Award-winning soul aficionado isn't one to brag about his remarkable abilities.
Humbled by the 10 years he's spent paying dues in the often-fickle music industry, Usher lets his extraordinary pop pedigree speak for itself. Blasting into the new millennium with his current breakthrough, the 7-time platinum-selling album 8701, (#3 US and #1 International) which has yielded two #1 Billboard Pop hits like this year's most popular party groove "U Remind Me" (for which he earned his first Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance), and the love jones confessional "U Got It Bad," and the #1 hit bass-heavy party-starter "U Don't Have To Call," (for which he earned his second Grammy for Best R & B Vocal Performance) in the US. "U Don't Have To Cal"l was also #1 overseas. It's clear that Usher's ascension to the top is long overdue.
Having already achieved more in his 24 years on earth than most artists accomplish in a lifetime, the Atlanta-bred singer, songwriter, actor and producer has acquired a bevy of awards over the span of his career, including 2 Grammy Awards, Three Soul Train Music Awards, one BET Award, one Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award, Two Teen Choice Awards, three Billboard Music Awards, Three R&B Hip Hop Conference Awards, three ASCAP Awards, one Blockbuster Music Award, not to mention countless other international awards from several countries.
Performing in front of sold-out crowds at the world-renowned Madison Square Garden in New York City to the prestigious Wembley Arena in London and entertaining international luminaries like Prince Charles, President Bush and the First Lady. Usher has toured Nigeria, South Africa, Australia and Europe. Usher continues to prove that his triple-threat entertainer status is not a fluke. He's a sultry singer with four gold and multi-platinum-selling albums under his belt-Usher, My Way, Usher Live and 8701; a dynamic dancer who's shuffled alongside Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson in their respective high-rated television specials-Michael Jackson's: 30th Anniversary Special and MTV ICON; and a blossoming actor who's appeared in films like Light It Up, The Faculty, She's All That, Disney's Geppetto and Texas Rangers. He's appeared in star roles on network television shows like American Dream, Twlight Zone, The Bold And Beautiful, Moesha, Seventh Heaven and to top it all off, he's launched his own music label, US Records, last year with a few acts currently in development.
"I have been building my career since I was a little boy because singing had always been what I wanted to do," explains the Chattanooga, Tenn. native. "At first I thought about playing [professional] football, then I wanted to play basketball, but in the end it was all about the music. It's my biggest passion and my biggest joy.
Even though he grew up close to the country music capital of Nashville, it was gospel music that nine-year old Usher discovered a passion for after becoming a member of the St. Elmo's Missionary Baptist Church choir where his manager / mom, Jonnetta Patton, served as choir director. Usher cherished singing so much that eventually he decided to turn his beloved hobby into a career. A starry-eyed Usher and his mom eventually packed up and headed south in search of a record deal. Relocating to Atlanta in 1993 at the age of 13, Usher was performing at a local Star Search competition when an A&R rep approached him from the Atlanta-based LaFace Records. Having heard him sing, the excited rep arranged an audition for Usher with the then LaFace (and now Arista) label chief LA Reid, who, after listening to Usher perform, signed the young performer on the spot.
"There was a look in [Usher's] eyes when I met him at 13 years old," Reid says, "and that look said if you intend to associate yourself with the next major superstar, you'd better associate yourself with me. Whenever you have someone who is that dedicated and that committed to their career, it's contagious.
To launch his new virtuoso's star high into the stratosphere, Reid commissioned music midas Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs to produce Usher's self-titled debut, which was released less than 12 months later. The ambitious project, which spawned the synth-heavy club single "Think of You," written by Arista label mate Donell Jones, provided the youngster with his first Top 10 hit.
Teaming up next with hip-hop hit maker Jermaine Dupri and veterans Teddy Riley and Babyface in 1997 to produce his sophomore album, the 7-time platinum-selling My Way, Usher converted a whole new legion of fans with chart-topping monsters like the saucy "You Make Me Wanna" and the romantic groove "Nice & Slow".
After releasing Usher Live in 1999, a compilation of hits and music medleys that he'd performed on the road, the singer, armed with an arsenal of producers, including Philly newcomer Edmund "Eddie Hustle" Clement and Mike City, as well Dupri, The Neptunes, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, dropped 8701 on August 7, 2001. Quickly heralded by critics as Usher's most definitive work to date, the project not only earned him his first Grammy win but it also helped to cement his role as one of the world's most multi-faceted ambassadors of groove.
"I feel the love from my fans now more than ever," Usher says excitedly, describing the throngs of adoring fans he encountered during his recent sold-out "Evolution 8701 World Tour". "Their responses are like instant gratification. It's like after all of these years my hard work is paying off and my dreams are being answered. It's definitely a wonderful feeling."
