Biography of Beyonce Giselle Knowles
Beyonce Giselle Knowles, also called B, was born on the 4th September 1981 in
Houston, Texas. She began her musical career when she was 7 years old and met
LaTavia Roberson while auditioning for a children's group. They founded the
group in 1990. Beyonce's cousin, Kelly Rowland, soon joined the girls, and the
trio was finally joined by LeToya Luckett.
Managed by Music World Management's Matthew Knowles, who is also Beyonce's
father and Kelly's legal guardian, the four young girls became Destiny's Child
in 1990.
They started small by performing at local events and moved on to their national
television debut with their performance on Star Search in 1992. They made their
acting debut on Warner Bros.' "Smart Guy" TV show.
Not only their strong voices did standout, but their originality and refreshing
rap performance was only a preview of what the music industry was in store for.
Soon enough, the group had moved up from the ranks of performing at small-time
gigs, to becoming the opening act for popular R&B and Hip Hop acts like Dru
Hill, SWV and Immature. In the USA, the four teens toured extensively as the
opening act for Boyz II Men.
The group's first self-titled album “Destiny's Child” was released in 1998,
under the Columbia Records label. The album features, Beyonce`s favorite rapper
Wyclef Jean, Pras and Jermaine Dupri as collaborating producers, as well as
their hit single "No, No, No", which went nine times platinum.
If the three awards that Destiny's Child received at the 1998 Soul Train “Lady
of Soul Awards” wasn't enough of an indication of their upcoming success, their
next album was sure. In 1999 the album “The Writing's On The Wall” was released
and went into the top ten Billboard album chart. From this album four hit
singles were released, “Bills, Bills, Bills”, “Say My Name”, “Bug a Boo” and “Jumpin',
Jumpin'”. Their album reached triple platinum status by the end of the year, two
Grammys nominations in 1999, an "Image Award" by the NAACP, and contributions to
the soundtracks for the films “Why Do Fools Fall In Love?”, “Life”, and “Romeo
Must Die”.
In March of 2000, it was announced that group members LeToya Luckett and LaTavia
Roberson had left the group. Later it was revealed that the two members were
unhappy with the management of Matthew Knowles, and that they left because of
existing "creative differences." They were replaced by Michelle Williams and
Farrah Franklin. But Farrah Franklin left the group after only five months.
The third Destiny's Child album “Survivor” then was released and went on to sell
more than ten million copies, followed by the group's Christmas album “8 Days Of
Christmas”.
With many of their hit songs co-written and co-produced by Beyonce, the group
has sold more than 33 million records worldwide. When she won the 2001 ASCAP Pop
Songwriter of the Year Award, Beyonce became the first African-American woman
and the second woman ever, to receive the honor.
In 2001, the group got two Grammys. Also the girls have toured worldwide and
performed at events ranging from the Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Concert
Special to the Concert for New York City.
Finally they wanted to collect some experiences as solo artists, which should
not be the end of Destiny`s Child. They just wanted to show a different approach
and the growth they have experienced.
In 2001,
Beyonce made her acting debut as Carmen Brown in "Carmen: A Hip Hopera",
produced by MTV and her second movie was in the Austin Powers’s “Goldmember”
where she played Foxy Cleopatra in 2002. She also made the soundtrack “Work it
out”.
With her success in this movie, Beyonce began getting follow-up offers and
accepted a role in Jonathan Lynn’s movie “The Fighting Temptations“ in 2003.
Many artists took part in her new album, for example Missy Elliot, Jay-Z, Sean
Paul, Mark Batson, Mario Winans, D-Roy & Mr. B, OutKast's Big Boi, Rich
Harrison, Fanatic, Scott Storch and Luther Vandross. Beyonce shared co-executive
producer credits on 2003's “Dangerously In Love” with, her father and manager,
Mathew Knowles. She took an active role in all aspects of the album, from
writing and choosing material to producing, mastering and mixing the tracks.
Selina R. (17 Jahre)