RAYMOND, Usher 1978–

(Usher)

PERSONAL

Full name, Usher Raymond IV; born October 14, 1978, in Chattanooga, TN (some sources cite Dallas, TX); son of Usher Raymond III and Johnetta Patton (a manager).

Addresses: Office—LaFace Records, 3350 Peachtree Rd. Northeast, Suite 1500, Atlanta, GA 30326. Agent— Holly Davis Carter, Agency West Entertainment, 6255 West Sunset Blvd., Suite 923, Los Angeles, CA 90028; International Creative Management, 8942 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211. Manager—Steven Greener, 3 Arts Entertainment, 9460 Wilshire Blvd., Seventh Floor, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.

Career: Actor, rapper, and singer. Performer in musical groups, including Black Men United; performer at various venues as a solo performer and in groups; performer on the Evolution 8701 World Tour and No Way Out tours. Appeared in advertisements.

Awards, Honors: Champion on Star Search, 1992; Soul Train Award, best R & B single by a male, 1997, Pop Music Award, American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), c. 1997, and Grammy Award nomination, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, best male R & B performance, c. 1998, all for "You Make Me Wanna"; Soul Train Award, best R & B/soul single, c. 1998, for "My Way"; Billboard Award, hot 100 singles artist of the year, c. 1998, for My Way; Blockbuster awards, favorite male singer and favorite male artist, c. 1998; Image Award nomination, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, outstanding actor in a daytime drama series, 1999, for The Bold and the Beautiful; named one of "twenty–one hottest stars under twenty–one," Teen People, 1999; Young Hollywood Award, one to watch—male, 2001; Teen Choice Award, best love song, c. 2001, for "U Got It Bad"; Billboard Award, R & B artist of the year, c. 2001; Billboard R & B Hip–Hop Conference awards, top R & B/hip–hop artist, top R & B/hip–hop artist male, and top R & B/hip–hop singles artist, all c. 2001; Pop Music awards, ASCAP, c. 2001, for "Nice & Slow" and "U Got It Bad"; Grammy awards, best male R & B performance, 2001, for "U Remind Me," and 2002, "U Don't Have to Call"; BET Award, best R & B male artist, Teen Choice Award, favorite R & B artist, and Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award, favorite male singer, all c. 2001, and Soul Train Award, best R & B album—male, 2002, all for 8701; Soul Train award, best R & B performance and R & B/soul single male, c. 2002, for "U Remind Me"; platinum and gold awards from the Recording Industry Association of America.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

Gabe Santora, The Faculty (also known as Parasite), Dimension Films, 1998.

Campus disc jockey, She's All That, Miramax, 1999.

Lester Dewitt, Light It Up, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1999.

Randolph Douglas Scipio, Texas Rangers, Miramax, 2001.

Jackie Wilson, Ray, Universal, 2004.

Television Appearances; Series:

Jeremy, Moesha, UPN, 1997–1998.

Raymond, The Bold and the Beautiful (also known as Glamour, Top Models, and Belleza y poder), CBS, 1998.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

I Love the '80s Strikes Back (documentary), VH1, 2003.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Ring leader, "Geppetto," The Wonderful World of Disney (musical), ABC, 2000.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Champion, Star Search (also known as Teen Star Search), syndicated, 1992.

A Gift of Song, TNT, 1997.

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve '98, syndicated, 1998.

America's Millennium, CBS, 1999.

Teen People's 21 Hottest Stars Under 21, ABC, 1999.

Himself, Christmas in Washington, TNT, 2001.

Himself, Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration, CBS, 2001.

Himself, MTV Icon: Janet Jackson, MTV, 2001.

Miss Teen USA 2001, CBS, 2001.

Party in the Park 2001, 2001.

75th Anniversary Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NBC, 2001.

United We Stand, ABC, 2001.

(As Usher) Himself, Dear Santa, ABC, 2002.

Himself, The Disco Ball ... A 30–Year Celebration, ABC, 2003.

The 2003 Essence Music Festival, UPN, 2003.

Himself, E! Entertainment's Who's Your Momma?, E! Entertainment Television, 2004.

Himself, Maxim Hot 100, VH1, 2004.

Himself, Summer Music Mania 2004, Fox, 2004.

Himself, VH1 and Self Magazine's Top 10 Rock Bodies, VH1, 2004.

Himself, VH1 Divas, VH1, 2004.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

The American Music Awards, ABC, 1995.

The 1997 Billboard Music Awards, Fox, 1997.

Presenter, The 40th Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1998.

Presenter, The 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, MTV, 1998.

Presenter, The 25th Annual American Music Awards, ABC, 1998.

The 1998 Billboard Music Awards, Fox, 1998.

12th Annual Soul Train Music Awards, syndicated, 1998.

The Fifth Annual Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, Fox, 1999.

The 26th Annual American Music Awards, ABC, 1999.

Judge, The 49th Annual Miss USA Pageant, CBS, 2000.

The Teen Choice Awards 2000, Fox, 2000.

Presenter, The 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, MTV, 2001.

First Annual BET Awards, BET, 2001.

The Teen Choice Awards 2001, Fox, 2001.

Young Hollywood Awards, 2001.

Himself, The MTV Music Video Awards 2002 (also known as VMAs 2002), MTV, 2002.

Himself, Second Annual BET Awards, BET, 2002.

Himself, 16th Annual Soul Train Music Awards, syndicated, 2002.

The 29th Annual American Music Awards, ABC, 2002.

(As Usher) Himself, The 45th Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 2003.

Third Annual BET Awards, BET, 2003.

The 18th Annual Soul Train Music Awards, The WB, 2004.

2004 BET Awards, BET, 2004.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

ABC in Concert, ABC, 1991.

"Me'Shell Ndege'Ocello/J. T. Taylor/Usher Raymond," Soul Train, syndicated, 1993.

"Bebe & Cece Winans/RajaNee/Usher," Soul Train, syndicated, 1995.

Himself, "Brownstone/Usher/Queen Pen Featuring Teddy Riley," Soul Train, syndicated, 1997.

Himself, The Chris Rock Show, HBO, 1997.

Himself, "Color Him Father," The Parent 'Hood, The WB, 1998.

Himself, "Flaked Out," The Parent 'Hood, The WB, 1998.

Winston, "Baby Steps," Promised Land, CBS, 1999.

Himself, The Martin Short Show, syndicated, 1999.

Zander "Z–Ride" Hall, "Step Up," The Famous Jett Jackson, The Disney Channel, 2000.

Himself, The Road Home, MTV, 2000.

(As Usher) Himself, "Joanne Laurer (Chyna)/Tony Hawk/Usher," Cribs (also known as MTV's Cribs), MTV, 2001.

Himself, Aaliyah: The E! True Hollywood Story (documentary), E! Entertainment Television, 2001.

Himself, Joan Rivers: The E! True Hollywood Story (documentary), E! Entertainment Television, 2001.

(As Usher) Himself, The Base, [Great Britain], 2001.

Himself, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC, 2001.

Doctor Love, "I Think I Love You," Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, The WB, 2002.

Marvin Gaye, "Cold Snap," American Dreams, NBC, 2002.

Officer Eric Boggs, "To Protect and Serve," The Twilight Zone, UPN, 2002.

Himself, "Becoming P. Diddy & Usher," Becoming, MTV, 2002.

Himself, "I Need a Girl: Part 2," Making the Video, MTV, 2002.

Himself, "Nick Takes over Music," The Nick Cannon Show, Nickelodeon, 2002.

Himself, "U Don't Have to Call," Making the Video, MTV, 2002.

Will, "A Cry for Help," 7th Heaven, The WB, 2002.

(As Usher) Himself, Boogie, 2002.

Himself, Mad TV, Fox, 2002.

(As Usher) Himself, Top of the Pops, 2002.

Cameron Marks, "Attracting Opposites," Soul Food, Showtime, 2003.

Guest judge, Star Search, CBS, 2003.

(As Usher) Himself, Duets (also known as MTV's Duets), MTV, 2003.

(As Usher) Himself, Punk'd, MTV, 2003.

Himself, Tinseltown TV, 2003.

Himself, VH1 the Greatest, VH1, 2003.

(As Usher) Musical guest, Saturday Night Live (also known as NBC's Saturday Night, Saturday Night, and SNL), NBC, 2004.

Himself, CD:UK, multiple episodes in 2004.

(As Usher) Himself, Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show (also known as The Ellen DeGeneres Show), syndicated, 2004.

Himself, Jimmy Kimmel Live, ABC, 2004.

(As Usher) Himself, Last Call with Carson Daly, NBC, 2004.

Himself, Later with Jools Holland, BBC, 2004.

(As Usher) Himself, The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS, 2004.

Himself, On–Air with Ryan Seacrest, syndicated, 2004.

(As Usher) Himself, Popworld, 2004.

(As Usher) Himself, T4, 2004.

(As Usher) Himself, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC, 2004.

(As Usher) Himself, Top of the Pops, multiple episodes in 2004.

(As Usher) Himself, Top of the Pops Saturday, 2004.

(As Usher) Himself, Total Request Live (also known as TRL), MTV, 2004.

(As Usher; in archive footage) Himself, Celebrities Uncensored, E! Entertainment Television, 2004.

Appeared in Driven (also known as VH1's Driven), VH1. Appeared as himself in MTV News, MTV; and Pokemadness 3000.

RECORDINGS

Albums:

Usher, BMG/Arista/LaFace, 1994.

(With others) Rhythm of the Games (Olympics album), LaFace, 1996.

My Way, BMG/Arista/LaFace, 1998.

Usher Live (also known as Live), LaFace/Arista, 1999.

8701, LaFace/Arista, 2001.

Confessions, LaFace, 2004.

Singles:

"Think of You," c. 1994.

"Nice & Slow," 1997.

"You Make Me Wanna," 1997.

"Bedtime" (concept version), 1998.

"Bedtime" (live version), 1998.

"My Way," 1998.

"Pop Ya Collar," 2001.

"U Got It Bad," 2001.

"U Remind Me," 2001.

"U Don't Have to Call," 2002.

"Burn," 2004.

"Confessions II," 2004.

(With Lil' John and Ludacris) "Yeah," 2004.

Recorded other singles, including "Dreamin'" and "The Many Ways." Songs have appeared in films.

Music Videos:

"Think of You," c. 1994.

"Nice & Slow," 1997.

"You Make Me Wanna," 1997.

"Bedtime" (concept version), 1998.

"Bedtime" (live version), 1998.

"My Way," 1998.

"Pop Ya Collar," 2001.

"U Got It Bad," 2001.

"U Remind Me," 2001.

"U Don't Have to Call," 2002.

"Burn," 2004.

"Confessions II," 2004.

(With Lil' John and Ludacris) "Yeah," 2004.

Other music videos include "Dreamin'" and "The Many Ways."

Music Videos of Other Artists:

"The Party Continues," by Jermaine Dupri, 1998.

"U Know What's Up," by Donell Jones featuring Left Eye, 1999.

"I Need a Girl: Part 1," by P. Diddy, 2002.

"Naughty Girl," by Beyonce, 2004.

"Rubber Band Man," by T. I., 2004.

Videos:

(And executive producer) Usher: Evolution 8701: Live in Concert, EagleVision, 2002.

WRITINGS

Albums with Others:

My Way, BMG/Arista/LaFace, 1998.

Usher Live (also known as Live), LaFace/Arista, 1999.

8701, LaFace/Arista, 2001.

Confessions, LaFace, 2004.

Singles with Others:

"Nice & Slow," 1997.

"You Make Me Wanna," 1997.

"Bedtime" (concept version), 1998.

"Bedtime" (live version), 1998.

"My Way," 1998.

"Pop Ya Collar," 2001.

"U Got It Bad," 2001.

"U Remind Me," 2001.

"U Don't Have to Call," 2002.

"Burn," 2004.

"Confessions II," 2004.

(With Lil' John and Ludacris) "Yeah," 2004.

Recorded other singles, including "Dreamin'" and "The Many Ways." Songs have appeared in films.

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

Contemporary Musicians, Volume 23, Gale, 1999.

Who's Who among African Americans, Seventeenth Edition, Gale, 2004.

Periodicals:

Billboard, July 23, 1994, p. 22.

Ebony, January, 1998, p. 46; August, 1998, p. 118.

Entertainment Weekly, April 3, 1998, p. 96.

Interview, May, 1998, p. 102.

Jet, December 14, 1998, p. 38.

People Weekly, August 31, 1998, p. 166; January 11, 1999, p. 83.

Teen People, October, 1998, pp. 54–58; June, 1999, p. 64.

Time, February 23, 1998, p. 93.

Time for Kids, September 11, 1998, p. 8.

Electronic:

Usherworld (official site), http://www.usherworld.com, June 17, 2004.