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Revision as of 23:23, 20 July 2006 by Musicpvm (talk | contribs) (rv incorrect birthdate and genres)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Not to be confused with Anthony Braxton.Template:Infobox musical artist 2 Toni Michelle Braxton (born October 7 1966) is a six-time Grammy Award winning American R&B singer. She is most notable for her dark, deep, thick contralto vocals, which are low even by contralto standards.
Early years
Braxton was born in Severn, Maryland, and is the oldest of six children. She attended Richard Henry Lee Elementary School, Corkran Middle School, and Glen Burnie High School in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Her father was a clergyman, and the Braxton children were raised in a strict religious household. Braxton's first performing experience was singing with a church choir. She attended Bowie State University to obtain a teaching degree but decided to pursue a musical career.
Music career
The Braxtons (1989-1991)
Braxton and her four sisters (Traci, Trina, Towanda, and Tamar) began performing as The Braxtons in the late 1980s and were signed to Arista Records in 1989. Their first single, "The Good Life", was released in 1990. Though the song was not very successful, it attracted the attention of producing team Antonio "L.A." Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.
With Braxton's low register sounding similar to that of Anita Baker, Reid and Babyface recruited her to record a demo of "Love Shoulda Brought You Home", a song that they had written specifically for Baker to appear on the soundtrack to the Eddie Murphy film, Boomerang. Baker passed on the song but suggested that Braxton herself record the final version. The endorsement worked in Braxton's favor, as her recording was included on the soundtrack along with "Give U My Heart", a duet by Braxton and Babyface. Both songs garnered radio attention in the closing months of 1992 and effectively introduced Braxton to the record buying public. Braxton, meanwhile, was signed to Reid and Edmonds' Arista-distributed imprint, LaFace Records, and immediately began recording her solo debut album.
Toni Braxton
On July 13, 1993, LaFace Records released Braxton's self-titled debut album, Toni Braxton. With a bulk of the production serviced by Reid, Babyface, and Daryl Simmons, the album became a critical and commercial success — peaking at #1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart, where it remained for two weeks. The first single, "Another Sad Love Song", peaked at #7 and #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 and R&B Singles charts respectively. The album's second single, "Breathe Again," fared better — peaking in the top five of both the Hot 100 and R&B singles charts. More singles from Toni Braxton were released into 1994, including the top ten "You Mean The World To Me," "Seven Whole Days," and "How Many Ways".
Braxton's debut album won her several awards, including three Grammy Awards (one for Best New Artist and two consecutive ones for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance) and three American Music Awards (for Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist, Favorite New Adult Contemporary Artist, and Favorite Soul/R&B Album). Toni Braxton was certified 8x platinum and sold over 10 million worldwide.
Secrets
Braxton entered the studio in 1995 to begin recording her sophomore album, Secrets. The album, released in 1996, is her most successful work to date. Braxton, Babyface, and Reid stuck with the same formula for the album but added more soul to the sound. Braxton has said about the album, "The motivation for this album was to include a little bit of everything. Our aim was to come up with material that would have a familiar 'feel' to the people who bought the first album without being musically redundant." Along with Babyface, Braxton also worked with R. Kelly, Tony Rich, and David Foster on the album. Braxton was the co-executive producer of the album and co-wrote two of its songs, including the 1997 single "How Could An Angel Break My Heart" which was also later included on a Princess Diana memorial album.
With help from the album's first single, "You're Makin' Me High" (which became Braxton's first #1 hit on the Hot 100 singles chart), the album debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. "You're Makin' Me High" also topped the R&B singles chart for two weeks and saw similar success in Europe and Asia, expanding the prominence of Braxton on an increasing international clientele. The album's second single, "Un-Break My Heart" (written by Diane Warren), which would later become the singer's signature song, became the biggest hit of her career spending eleven weeks at #1 on the Hot 100 and also topping the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart for eleven weeks and the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart for four weeks. Other singles from the album included the double-side "I Don't Want To"/"I Love Me Some Him" (which also topped the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart) and the above-mentioned "How Could An Angel Break My Heart" which featured Kenny G, who Braxton later toured with.
Braxton topped the Billboard Year-End Charts as the Top Hot 100 Singles Artist - Female, Top R&B Artist - Female (singles and albums), Top Hot R&B Singles Artist - Female, Top Hot Dance Club Play Artist, and Top Hot Adult Contemporary Artist, while "Un-Break My Heart" became the Top Hot Dance Club Play Single and Top Hot Adult Contemporary Track of the year. She won two Grammy Awards for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and two American Music Awards for Favorite Female Soul/R&B Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Album.
The Heat
In January 2000, LaFace Records released "He Wasn't Man Enough", the first single from Braxton's third studio album, The Heat. By June, the song peaked at #2 on the Hot 100 chart. Braxton's music video for "He Wasn't Man Enough", which also featured actress Robin Givens, was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards including Best Female Video and Best R&B Video and a Billboard Music Video Award for Best R&B Clip of the Year.
The Heat, meanwhile, was released in April. Debuting at #2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with first week sales of 205,000, it remained in the top 20 for fifteen consecutive weeks. Braxton again worked with producers Babyface and Foster; also included in the staple were Rodney Jerkins, and new beau musician Keri Lewis. Braxton herself also took a more hands-on approach, co-writing and co-producing a handful of the tracks.
The albums second single, "Just Be A Man About It", peaked at a modest #32 on the Hot 100 chart while the third and final single, "Spanish Guitar", peaked at a disappointing #98. By the end of the year, The Heat was certified double platinum which showed a noticeable decline from her previous two albums. Braxton topped the Billboard Year-End Charts as the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist - Female, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album Artist - Female, and Top Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Artist - Female. She also received the 2000 Aretha Franklin Award for Entertainer of the Year at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.
More Than a Woman
In November 2002, Braxton's fourth studio album More Than a Woman was released. Opening to an instant commercial disappointment, the albums peaked at #13, with first week sales of 95,000. The first single, the The Neptunes-produced, "Hit The Freeway", failed at radio and peaked at #86 on the Hot 100. The three singles that followed ("Lies, Lies, Lies", "Give It Back", and "A Better Man") also failed to make a dent and missed the Hot 100 completely.
Prior to the release of the album, a dispute erupted between Braxton and Irv Gotti when he played a rough cut of "No More Love", a song that he produced for the album that was to be the first single. Disapproving of Gotti broadcasting the unfinished track, Braxton withheld it from being released. The same year, Braxton was further annoyed when rapper Jay-Z used the same sample of 2Pac's "Me And My Girlfriend" that she had already used on her track "Me And My Boyfriend" for his and Beyonce's "'03 Bonnie & Clyde". Furious, Braxton lashed out in a radio interview, accusing Jay-Z and producer Kanye West of taking money out of her children's college fund.
Many fans, and allegedly Braxton herself, considered this to be her worst album. Unlike her previous releases, with More Than a Woman, Braxton awkwardly delved into hip hop with a bevy of guest rappers including Baby and Loon. The album sold approximately 435,000, falling horribly short of expectation.
Libra
In April 2005, Braxton's new label, Blackground/Universal, released "Please" — the first single from her forthcoming fifth album, Libra. The album was originally planned for a June release, but it was pushed back several times and was finally issued on September 27. Unfortunately for Braxton, her troubles with weak album promotion and lack of label commitment weren't over. "Please" peaked at #36 on Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Tracks Chart, while altogether missing the Hot 100. The albums lack of promotion by Blackground, caused it to go under the radar of many.
Despite this, Libra still managed to debut at #4 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart, selling 114,593 copies in the first week. Libra also peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums; on November 4th, 2005 the album was certified Gold by RIAA for shipments of 500,000 copies. Although that is strong for an album with little to no promotion, it became yet another commercial disappointment for Braxton.
The albums second single, "Trippin' (That's the Way Love Works)" received less airplay and it only peaked at #67 on Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Tracks Chart, even underquoting the moderate success of "Please". The failure was ascribed to the non-video presence of the single and nil label support. As of 2/8/06, Libra has sold roughly 380,000 copies (Soundscan)and has been certified Gold for shipments of 500,000 copies.
Braxton, meanwhile, recorded a song with Il Divo titled "The Time Of Our Lives". The song was used as the official 2006 FIFA World Cup anthem and was performed at the championship's opening day in Berlin, Germany on June 9. As a result Edel Records decided to re-relased Libra in Germany, including a new album cover, artwork and the new anthem.
On May 19, 2006, the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas announced that Braxton will replace Wayne Newton as the casino’s new headlining act starting August 3, 2006. The show, "Toni Braxton: Revealed", will be performed six nights a week and run through March 2007.
Braxton made an appearance on the season finale of American Idol 5 where she performed Elvis Presley's "In the Ghetto" with soon-to-be winner Taylor Hicks.
Career troubles
Bankruptcy
In January 1998, Braxton filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Los Angeles. Although her bankruptcy petition ostensibly was filed on the grounds that her liabilities exceeded her assets, music industry pundits believe that the core reason she filed was so the bankruptcy court would void her existing recording agreement with her record label LaFace. The label countersued Braxton for breach of contract.
Braxton's 1993 debut album and her 1996 follow-up sold an estimated 15+ million units worldwide. According to her label, following the success of the 1996 release, Braxton demanded more money and said that she would no longer record for the label if it did not meet her demands. She made this demand even though she contractually owed the label more albums. The label did not acquiesce and Braxton apparently implemented the bankruptcy action in an attempt to extricate herself from what she viewed as an inequitable contract. Her publicist said of the action: "…the only sensible option… She is confident that with the court's protection, she will be able to make a fresh start." A bankruptcy judge ruled in Braxton's favor by denying the dismissal of the claim (as filed by her record label). Braxton has said of the lawsuit: "I can't talk about the suit, but I love those guys very much. It's just business."
Record sales decline
Braxton and LaFace resolved their legal conflict in early 1999. Issued with a brand new contract worth a reported $25 million, a satisfied Braxton continued to record for the label. Though the legalities with her LaFace and Arista subsided, Braxton saw a steep sales decline with her fortcoming releases with the label.
While gearing up for the release of her fourth studio album, Braxton discovered she was pregnant with her second child. Knowing that she wouldn't be able to promote the album properly, she unsuccessfully lobbied to get the label to postpone its release until after she was to give birth. Subsequently, the album was released as planned and received very little promotion from the label or Braxton herself, due to a complicated pregnancy that confined her to bed rest. Braxton accused the company of being unwilling to compromise and punishing her from not putting her career over family.
On the show "VH1 Inside Out - Family Comes First," she documented the hardships of being pregnant with her second child at the same time as promoting an album.
Label switch
In April 2003, Braxton abruptly left Arista Records (her home of fourteen years) and immediately signed with Blackground Records — headed by Barry Hankerson, her manager at the time. The change of scenery, however, did not ultimately help her recording career. As had been the case during her final years at Arista — Braxton's fifth album, and first release on Blackground, Libra was released with scant promotion and accumulated poor sales.
Almost immediately after Libra's release, Blackground halted promotion of the album and later scrapped plans for a re-release. Rumor has it, the label chose to use the money intended for continued promotion to instead promote other artists on the roster. Many of Braxton's fans were furious, so much so that an online petition was created to encourage J Records to sign her. Braxton's fans later hoped that "I Wanna Be (Your Baby)" would be a next single off from Libra due to her performing at numerous events, including "Good Morning America" in December 2005, but it was not to be.
As of early 2006, rumor suggested that Braxton was back in the studio recording new material for a re-packaging of Libra. Whether or not this is true remains to be seen. It has also been rumored that Universal Records (Blackground's parent label), from this point on, will have more dominance over Braxton's future releases — while Blackground will remain involved, but will take a more submissive position.
Personal life
Braxton met musician Keri Lewis in 1997, when the group Mint Condition (which he was a member of at that time) opened up for her while she was on tour. The two began dating following Braxton's breakup with Curtis Martin of the New York Jets in 1998. In April 2001, they married. On December 2, 2001, she gave birth to their first child, a son named Denim Cole Braxton-Lewis. The couples second son, Diezel Ky Braxton-Lewis was born on March 31, 2003..
Acting
Braxton has appeared on Broadway in two Disney shows: "Beauty and the Beast" (as Belle) in 1998 and "Aida" (as Aida) in 2003,Her role in "Beauty and the Beast" marked the first time an African American commanded the leading role of Belle. In 2001, she made her acting debut in the feature film Kingdom Come. In August 2005, Braxton announced that she would be shooting a sitcom pilot for The WB's fall 2006 line-up.
Discography
- For complete discography information, see Toni Braxton discography.
Filmography
- Play'd: A Hip Hop Story (2002) (TV)
- Kingdom Come (2001)
Notes
- Toni Braxton's birthdate is sometimes stated as October 7 in 1966, 1967, or 1968. According to People magazine, who verify their information with DMV records, she was born in 1966.
See also
- Toni Braxton awards & career achievements
- List of best-selling music artists
- List of number-one hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
- List of Number 1 Dance Hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart
External links
Categories:- 1966 births
- African-American singers
- American dance musicians
- American female singers
- American rhythm and blues singers
- Arista Records musicians
- Bowie State University alumni
- Braxton family
- American contraltos
- Dance/Club music artists
- Grammy Award winners
- Living people
- People from Maryland
- Rhythmic Top 40 acts
- Super Bowl halftime performers