Usher Raymond

Facts about Usher Raymond

Date of Birth:	14 October 1978
Birthplace:	Atlanta, Georgia,
Age:	31
First Name:	Usher
Last Name:	Raymond
Build:	Athletic
Height:	5' 8?" (174 cm)
Eye Color:	Black
Hair Color:	Brown - Dark
Star Sign:	Libra
Claim to Fame:	My Way
Occupation:	Singer, Songwriter, Record Executive and Actor
Occupation Category:	Singer
Nationality:	American
Alternative Names:	Big Ush, Big Tyme, Mr. Entertainment
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Biography for Usher

Usher Raymond IV (born Oct. 14, 1978 (34 years ago)), who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American recording artist and actor. He rose to fame in the 1990s, releasing the multi-platinum album My Way (1997, 15 years ago) and 8701 (2001, 11 years ago). His success continued with the release of his breakthrough album, Confessions (2004, 8 years ago), which has sold over ten million copies in the United States, and been certified diamond by the RIAA. To date, he has sold approximately 38 million albums worldwide and has won five Grammy Awards. In 2008 (4 years ago), Usher was ranked as the 21st most successful Hot 100 Singles Artist of all-time by Billboard magazine. He ranked higher than any other artist of his generation. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Usher has sold over 21.5 million albums in the United States.

Aside from recording, Usher ventured in to other business. He had established his own record label, US Records, and is a part owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise. He has also been appearing in films, debuting in the 1998 (14 years ago) The Faculty.

Philanthropy

Usher had founded New Look, a non-profit charity organization which aims to "provide young people with a new look on life through education and real-world experience". Its flagship project, camp New Look, run from Jul. 11 to Jul. 23, 2005 (7 years ago) in Clark Atlanta University. In 2006 (6 years ago), the charity started an initiative called Our Block, for which it helped rebuild and revitalize city blocks in New Orleans. The project went on one street at a time, and the funding was helped through part of the proceeds of Usher's team-up with Armani Exchange in creating "Love 4 Life" dog tags, which were made available at the company's stores and Web site.

In 1999 (13 years ago), Usher participated in "Challenge for the Children", a benefit basketball game hosted by American boy band 'N Sync. The event, which was held on the campus of Georgia State University, had raised an estimated $50,000 for several local charities. In 2005 (7 years ago), Usher is one among the artists who signed on for a Hurricane Katrina relief concert.

Usher has also performed a public service announcement to promote Do Something's campaign for civic engagement.

Early life

Usher was born on Oct. 14, 1978 (34 years ago) in Dallas, Texas the son of Jonetta Patton (née O'Neal) and Usher Raymond III. Usher spent the majority of his young life in Chattanooga: her husband left Jonetta Patton when Usher was one year old, and they relocated to Chattanooga, where Usher lived with his mother, then-step father, and half-brother, James Lackey, born in 1984 (28 years ago). As a child, Usher joined in their local church youth choir in Chattanooga when he was nine years old, as directed by his mother, in which event his grandmother discovered his ability to sing, although it was not until Usher joined a singing group that she considered he could sing professionally. In 1990 (22 years ago), he won in a local talent show while attending middle school. In the belief that a city would provide greater opportunities for showcasing his talent, Usher's family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where there was a more conducive environment for beginning singers. While in Atlanta, Usher attended North Springs High School. Usher's father came back after Usher attained fame and a steady income, however Usher and his mother were not willing to let him back into their lives. He became a religious minister in an attempt to regain their trust and love but this failed. in an attempt to save a corner shop in Atlanta from armed robbers, Usher's father was shot 8 times and died in Jan. 2008 (4 years ago).

Personal life

In 2001 (11 years ago), Usher began dating former TLC member Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, who had a child with producer Dallas Austin. Their relationship lasted for two years: they broke-up in dec. 2003 (9 years ago), followed by a media frenzy surrounding the personal nature of Usher's fourth album, Confessions. His fans inferred the reason he and Thomas split is due to infidelity on his part, giving allusions to the lyrics of the songs. In an interview on The Bert Show on Atlanta's Q100 in Feb. 2004 (8 years ago), Thomas claimed that Usher cheated on her: "Usher did the ultimate no-no to me... I will never be with him again, and that is that". Usher defended: "... it just didn't work out. But cheating is not what caused the relationship to collide and crash. That ain't what broke it up". Following their break-up, Usher briefly dated English model-actress Naomi Campbell in sep. 2004 (8 years ago).

In Jan. 2007 (5 years ago) he proposed to his then stylist girlfriend Tameka Foster. She has a son from when she was a teenager, as well as two sons with Atlanta clothier Ryan Glover. In Feb. 2007 (5 years ago), Usher announced his engagement. After the sudden cancellation of a planned Jul. wedding due to medical concerns, the two were wed on Aug. 3, 2007 (5 years ago) in a private ceremony. Their son Usher Raymond V was born on Nov. 26 of the same year. On dec. 10, 2008 (4 years ago), Tameka gave birth to their second child, Naviyd Ely Raymond. In Feb. 2009 (3 years ago), in São Paulo, Brazil, Tameka Raymond suffered a cardiac arrest prior to having cosmetic surgery. The procedure, reportedly liposuction was never performed, and Raymond was put into a medically induced coma to aid her recovery. She was later transferred to a larger hospital. Usher canceled his performance at the Recording Academy and Clive Davis's pre-Grammy Gala. Davis told party-goers the singer had to bow out due to a "serious injury in the family ". After a week of recovery, Raymond's surgeon issued a statement saying that she "is doing very well". In Jun. 2009 (3 years ago), Usher filed for divorce from Foster after living separately for nearly a year.

Filmography

• Moesha as Jeremy (1997-1998)
• The Bold And The Beautiful as Raymond (1998, 14 years ago)
• The Faculty (1998, 14 years ago)
• She's All That (1999, 13 years ago)
• Light It Up (1999, 13 years ago)
• Texas Rangers (2001, 11 years ago)
• In the Mix (2005, 7 years ago)
• Five Killers (2010, 2 years ago)

Discography

• Usher (1994, 18 years ago)
• My Way (1997, 15 years ago)
• 8701 (2001, 11 years ago)
• Confessions (2004, 8 years ago)
• Here I Stand (2008, 4 years ago)
• Monster (2009, 3 years ago)

Tours

• The Truth Tour (2004, 8 years ago)
• One Night Stand - Ladies Only Tour (2008, 4 years ago)

Source: en.wikipedia.org

External links to Usher Raymond

• HotFlick.net: Usher Raymond
• Usher Raymond at PerfectPeople.net

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