Brandy

Artist Image: Brandy
Attribution
Image Credit: Mike D. Photography (The uploader on Wikimedia Commons received this from the author/copyright holder via photosubmissions.), CC BY 4.0

Biography

Brandy Rayana Norwood (born February 11, 1979), known professionally as Brandy, is an United States R&B and pop recording artist, songwriter, producer, model, actress, and dancer. Born into a musical family in McComb, Mississippi and raised in Carson, California, Norwood first appeared in a supporting role on the short-lived ABC sitcom Thea in 1993. Her engagement led to her own star vehicle, successful UPN sitcom Moesha in 1996, and resulted in roles in the 1998 horror sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, and the TV films Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997) and Double Platinum (1999), two of television's best-rated special programs. In 1993, she signed a recording contract with Atlantic, releasing her self-titled debut album a year after. Following a major success with Grammy Award-winning "The Boy Is Mine", a duet with singer Monica, and her second album Never Say Never in 1998, a series of successful records established her as one of the most successful of the new breed of urban R&B female vocalists to emerge during the mid-to late 1990s. Her latest studio album, Human (2008), was her first effort to be released on the Epic label after a label change in 2005. Norwood has sold over 8.62 million copies of her five studio albums in the United States, and over 30 million records worldwide. Additionally, she has won over 100 awards as a recording artist. In 1999, Billboard ranked Norwood among the top 20 of the Top Pop Artists of the 1990s. In 2010, Billboard included Norwood in their Top 50 R&B and Hip Hop Artists list of the past 25 years.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1979
Number of Albums 41
Record Label Atlantic
Website www.4everbrandy.com
Wikipedia Brandy on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

When did she move to Los Angeles with her parents?

1983

... first began singing along with her father in the church choir. Later in 1983 , she relocated to Los Angeles, California, with her parents. She was spo...
Who helped her sign a recording deal with Atlantic Recoding Corporation?

Her parents

... backing vocalist for Chris Stokes and Earl Harris boy band Immature. Her parents then assisted her in signing a recording deal with Atlantic Recoding...
Who did Brandy study with?

a home tutor

...re time to manage Norwood. Thus, Brandy left school and studied with a home tutor . The album was selftitled and comprised of a streetlike breezy hipho...
When was the album Brandy released?

1994

...m was selftitled and comprised of a streetlike breezy hiphop edge to rhythmandblues. The album Brandy was launched in 1994 and did magnificently well....
Where was Brandy Rayana Norwood born?

McComb, MS

...Born Brandy Rayana Norwood on February 11, 1979, in McComb, MS ; daughter of Willie (a choir director), and Sonia (Brandy's manager) Norwood; one child...
What was the name of the daughter of Willie Norwood and Sonia Norwood?

Brandy Rayana

...Born Brandy Rayana Norwood on February 11, 1979, in McComb, MS; daughter of Willie (a choir director), and Sonia (Brandy's manager) Norwood; one child...
Where did they move their family?

Los Angeles

...the entertainment industry. They moved the family from Mississippi to Los Angeles when Brandy was four and RayJ was two, and started their vocal train...
What was Brandy's father's job?

choir director

... Norwood on February 11, 1979, in McComb, MS; daughter of Willie (a choir director ), and Sonia (Brandy's manager) Norwood; one child, Sy'rai. Brandy N...
What was her mother's role in the church?

business managerchaperone

...handled the kids' musical grooming, while her mother served as business managerchaperone . Brandy called her mother Momager, and Sonia took the job to ...
What did Brandy call her mother?

Momager

...er mother served as business managerchaperone. Brandy called her mother Momager , and Sonia took the job to heart. Sonia had to approve clothing, costu...
Sonia had to approve what?

clothing, costume, diet, and social and career choices

...erone. Brandy called her mother Momager, and Sonia took the job to heart. Sonia had to approve clothing, costume, diet, and social and career choices ....
When was Brandy born?

February 11th, 1979

...She was born on February 11th, 1979 . Brandy was born into a family that was inclined to music. This contributed to her early involvement in music. By ...
What was the name of Brandy's first self-titled album?

I Wanna Be Down

... released a selftitled album. Her first album featured the hit song I Wanna Be Down . Early Years Brandy was born on February 11th, 1979. She recalls f...
Brandy was born into a family that was inclined to what?

music

... February 11th, 1979. Brandy was born into a family that was inclined to music . This contributed to her early involvement in music. By the time she wa...
Whos voice inspired Brandy to pursue her music career?

Houstons

...arly Years Brandy was born on February 11th, 1979. She recalls finding Houstons voice as powerful, and this inspired her much to pursue her music care...
In what year was Brandy born?

1979

...She was born in McComb, Mississippi, in 1979 and was the eldest child of a church pastor named William Ray Norwood Sr. and his wife Sonja Norwood. Her...
What television show did Brandy appear on?

Thea

...cords. Soon, she also received a role on an ABC television sitcom called Thea . After signing up with Atlantic Records, Brandy began working on her deb...
Brandy signed a recording contract with what company?

Atlantic Records

...orts paid off as Brandy received her first recording contract with Atlantic Records . Soon, she also received a role on an ABC television sitcom called...
How long did the song I Wanna Be Down stay on the Billboard charts?

4 weeks

...d the No. 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, staying there for 4 weeks . Brandys mother acted as her manager in the early part of her career. ...
Who acted as Brandys manager in the early part of her career?

Brandys mother

...osition on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, staying there for 4 weeks. Brandys mother acted as her manager in the early part of her career. Her songs wer...
What did she never use in her lyrics?

profanity

... in them, which audiences found refreshing. She made sure never to use profanity in her lyrics or to overstep the boundaries her parents had set for h...
Who had set boundaries for her?

her parents

... them, which audiences found refreshing. She made sure never to use profanity in her lyrics or to overstep the boundaries her parents had set for her....
Brandy has recorded less often since the mid 2000s, with what two albums?

Human (2008) and Two Eleven (2012)

... Since the mid2000s, Brandy has recorded less often, with Human (2008) and Two Eleven (2012) maintaining her unbroken streak of Top Ten R&Bhiphop albu...
Where was Brandy Norwood born?

McComb, Mississippi

...bum, B7 (2020), early the next decade. Brandy Norwood was born in McComb, Mississippi , and began singing in church at age two. When she was four, her ...
When did Brandy begin singing in church?

two

...rwood was born in McComb, Mississippi, and began singing in church at age two . When she was four, her father was hired as music director at a church i...
Who inspired Brandy to pursue a professional singing career?

Whitney Houston

...s, she decided to pursue a professional singing career, inspired by Whitney Houston . With the help of her family, she began hunting for a record contr...
When did Brandy begin singing backup for the young R&B group Immature?

1992

... the help of her family, she began hunting for a record contract, and in 1992 began singing backup for the young R&B group Immature. Brandy enrolled i...
What was the name of the group that Brandy sang for in 1992?

Immature

...ord contract, and in 1992 began singing backup for the young R&B group Immature . Brandy enrolled in the Hollywood High Performing Arts Center and laun...
Where was Brandy enrolled?

Hollywood High Performing Arts Center

...for the young R&B group Immature. Brandy enrolled in the Hollywood High Performing Arts Center and launched an acting career, appearing in films like ...
How old was she when she landed her record deal with a performance at an Atlantic Records talent showcase?

14

..., appearing in films like Arachnophobia and Demolition Man. At the age of 14 , she landed a record deal with a performance at an Atlantic Records talen...
Which two albums were Billboard Top Ten hits?

I Wanna Be Down and Baby

...hich immediately produced Billboard Hot 100 Top Ten smashes in I Wanna Be Down and Baby , both of which hit number one on the R&Bhiphop chart; Brokenhe...
Brokenhearted and Best Friend went on to what?

smaller successes

... smashes in I Wanna Be Down and Baby, both of which hit number one on the R&Bhiphop chart; Brokenhearted and Best Friend went on to smaller successes ....
What church did Brandy sing at an early age?

Brookhaven church of Christ

...omb, Mississippi on February 11, 1979. She started singing at Brookhaven church of Christ in Brookhaven, Mississippi at an early age of two and when s...
Brandy wanted to record what?

her own album

...acking vocalist for boybands Norment and Immature. Wanting to record her own album , she then sought a record deal with major label but didn't get any ...
Who offered Brandy a recording contract?

Darryl Williams

...e was then offered a recording contract by the company's executive, Darryl Williams . Brandy's first record is a selftitled album released in 1994. Wor...
The album landed at what number on the Billboard Hot 200 Albums chart?<extra_id_51> Be Down earned how many Grammy Award nominations for her album?

20

... at number 6 on Billboard Top R&BHipHop Albums chart and landed at number 20 on Billboard Hot 200 Albums chart. Also, the album earned her two Grammy ...
When was Atlantic Records established?

October 1947

...contract with Atlantic Records, a famous record label established in October 1947 . Soon after getting into a deal, Brandy launched her debut album in ...
How many albums have she sold in the US alone?

8.62 million

..., she has sold over 40 million records worldwide, with approximately 8.62 million albums sold in the United States alone. Her work has earned her nume...
Norwood was raised in what state?

Mississippi

...including a Grammy Award and an American Music Award. Born in McComb, Mississippi , Norwood was raised in Carson, California, beginning her career as a...
How many copies of Norwood's self-titled debut album sold worldwide?

six million

...he released her selftitled debut album the following year, which sold six million copies worldwide. Her second album, Never Say Never, won Norwood her...
What was Norwoods second album called?

Never Say Never

...ng year, which sold six million copies worldwide. Her second album, Never Say Never , won Norwood her first Grammy Award. In 2002, Norwood starred in t...
What reality series did Norwood star in in 2002?

Brandy: Special Delivery

...t Grammy Award. In 2002, Norwood starred in the reality series Brandy: Special Delivery , documenting the birth of her daughter. Her third and fourth a...
What was the name of Norwood's third album?

Full Moon

...y, documenting the birth of her daughter. Her third and fourth albums, Full Moon (2002) and Afrodisiac (2004), were released to critical success. Norw...
What was the name of Norwood's fifth album?

Human

...ved in a heavily publicized car accident in 2006. Norwood's fifth album, Human (2008), was released to positive reviews, although it was a commercial ...
At what age did Brandy begin her career?

fifteen

...This famous Rhythm and Blues Soul singer began her career at the age of fifteen . Her first album, Brandy, opened up a whole new world for her. This ta...
Brandy made history by having the major role in the first mixedcast performance of what?

Cinderella

...istory by having the major role in the first mixedcast performance of Cinderella . Brandy also won the 1996 Lady Of Soul Entertainer of the Year Award,...