Usher
He's been named one of the best-selling artists in America, sold more than 45 million albums and doesn't seem to be slowing down!
August 4, 2010, 4:32 p.m.
Chances are, you’re already familiar with the famous R&B artist Usher and if not, you should start listening now!
Usher was born Usher Raymond the fourth, and spent most of his youth in Chattanooga. Usher joined the choir at his church at the urging of his mother when he was nine, and his grandmother immediately realized his talent. At 11, Usher sang in the R&B group NuBeginnings, but didn’t experience success until he competed on Star Search at age 13, where he was immediately spotted and signed by LaFace Records.
Usher rose to fame in the 1990s and after releasing albums My Way and 8701, he became a household name worldwide. My Way has been certified by the RIAA six times and 8701 has been certified 4 times. When his album Confessions was released in 2004, it sold more than 10 million copies in the US and was diamond certified by the RIAA. Confessions has the highest first week sales for any R&B artist in history and had a record-breaking four singles that topped the Billboard Hot 100. Usher's 2008 album, Here I Stand, didn't disappoint and was certified platinum by RIAA and went on to sell more than 5 million copies.
In March 2010, Usher released his sixth album, Raymond v. Raymond, which quickly debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart and sold 329,000 in its first week. Raymond v. Raymond is Usher’s third consecutive number-one album and his singles, “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)”, “Lil Freak”, “There Goes My Baby”, and “OMG”, have all reached chart-topping success. Production began on the album in 2008, after Usher filed for divorce from wife Tameka Fisher. Usher told People magazine the album would be, “racy, risky and edgy, and sometimes about personal experiences.” The album’s title is from the 1979 film about divorce, Kramer vs. Kramer.
So far, Usher’s sold more than 45 million albums worldwide and has received several awards including five Grammys, four American Music Awards, four World Music Awards, eight Soul Train Music Awards and an amazing 19 Billboard Music Awards. The RIAA also has ranked Usher as one of the best selling musical artists in American Music History. Obviously he’s doing quite well and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon!
Coming up this August 6 in Atlanta, Usher will be attending the World Leadership Awards. He’ll be joining other celebrities like former President Clinton, Ciara, Justin Bieber and more on stage for the first annual World Leadership Awards. The New Look Foundation will be honoring celebrities and normal people who work hard to make a difference in others’ lives every day. You can get your own tickets for this event here.