Early Life and Career Beginnings
Usher was born Usher Raymond IV on October 14, 1978 in Dallas, Texas. He moved to Atlanta, Georgia with his family as a young child where he joined his church choir and realized his singing talent. By the 1990s, Usher was discovered and signed by LaFace Records when he was still a teenager. His first, self-titled album “Usher” was released in 1994 when he was just 16 years old.
Breakthrough with “My Way” and “8701”
In 1997, Usher released his second album “My Way” which catapulted him into stardom. It included his first Billboard Hot 100 #1 single “Nice & Slow” as well as other smash hits like “You Make Me Wanna”. His third album “8701” debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts in 2001, making him a top selling R&B artist. Major singles from this album included “U Remind Me” and “U Got It Bad”.
Historic Success with “Confessions”
2004 marked Usher’s most commercially successful album to date – “Confessions”. It sold over 20 million copies worldwide and firmly cemented Usher’s status as a pop culture icon. Record breaking tracks from “Confessions” included “Yeah!” with Ludacris, “Burn”, and “Confessions Part II”. This album is considered his magnum opus, fusing R&B, hip hop, pop.
Continued Music Success and Other Ventures
Usher has continued releasing chart topping music over the past 20 years including albums “Here I Stand”, “Raymond v. Raymond”, “Looking 4 Myself”, “Hard II Love” and more. He has dabbled in acting, Broadway, business, music production, and philanthropy. Today Usher remains an influential figure in R&B and pop music.
Impact and Legacy
With 8 Grammy Awards, 9 Billboard Music Awards, 21 American Music Awards and countless other accolades, Usher is firmly placed as one of the best-selling musical artists of all time. His career has spanned over 25 years and he has shaped R&B music across generations. From breakout teenage star to experienced entertainment mogul, Usher continues to evolve and impact culture globally.