CHRIS BROWN

Biography

Born Chris Maurice Brown on May 5, 1989, in small-town Virginia, Chris Brown originally wanted to be a rapper. He hoped to be the first rapper from Tappahannock, Virginia to really hit the big time. As a natural performer, he knew early on that he wanted to be on stage. It was actually during time spent with an aunt in Arkansas that he first took the stage, performing in local talent shows with his younger cousins.

He credits his parents, Clinton Brown and Joyce Hawkins, for passing on their eclectic taste in music to him. His exposure to artists like Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, Donnie Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, and Anita Baker got him singing around the house. But it was some of his other favorite artists, like Run DMC, Rakim and Lil Wayne, that made him want to rap, and none other than Michael Jackson that made him want to move.

However, it wasn't until the age of 11 that he began to realize his unique talent as a singer. His mother encouraged him ceaselessly, and two years later, a local production team discovered his talent while visiting his father’s gas station.

chris brown signs with jive records

In order to further his career, Brown had to leave his small-town home. A move to NYC followed, as well as auditions for his future manager and then Def Jam vice president Tina Davis. Davis took Brown to a number of labels, and at the age of 15, Chris was offered a deal with Jive Records. On his self-titled debut, the young singer worked with a who’s who of producers, including Dre, Vidal, Bryan Cox, Scott Storch, The Underdogs, Jermaine Dupri, and Bow Wow.

Adjusting from small-town American life to a new, extravagant existence meant some struggles along the way, but once the album was complete, it didn’t take long for Brown’s work to pay off. The combination of his kid-next-door good looks and his impressive voice was an instant hit. The first track, “Run It!,” featuring Juelz Santana and produced by Scott Storch, went to No. 1 in the U.S.

chris brown wins awards

Within a week of its release, the album sold over 150,000 copies, and within a year, it went double platinum. Four additional singles from the record followed, three of which made the top 10. Brown quickly began to take a more active role in his career, including codirecting his videos for “Yo (Excuse Me Miss)” and “Gimme That.”

The strong impression he made on the public led to two exceptionally hectic but wildly successful years. Throughout 2005 and 2006, Brown’s music and videos garnered him numerous awards and nominations, including a Grammy nod for Best Contemporary R&B Album. He also took Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist for "Run It!" at the 20th Annual Soul Train Awards, and picked up New Artist and Viewers Choice awards at the 2006 BET Awards.

That same year, Chris won a Teen Choice Award and three Billboard Music Awards in major categories. He also appeared in “Shortie Like Mine,” a video with Bow Wow, and his fourth single, “Say Goodbye,” was featured in the film Step Up. Chris didn't stop there, as he also made promo trips to the UK and Japan, and embarked on a major tour entitled The Up Close and Personal Tour.

chris brown the actor
Brown is also working on his acting career, which has taken him from brief appearances on a number of television shows, including a recurring bit part on The O.C, to his big-screen debut in Stomp The Yard (2007). Brown took on his first large big-screen role as a member of the Whitfield family in This Christmas (2007).

His next record is tentatively titled Exclusive. The initial tracks brought a number of A-list producers to the table, including Scott Storch, Timbaland, Kanye West, will.i.am, Bryan Michael Cox, and Pharrell.

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