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Born Usher Terry Raymond IV on October 14, 1978 in Dallas, Texas, the future R&B superstar's family later relocated to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where the 9-year old began singing in the church choir.

By age 12 he was part of NuBeginnings, a local R&B group, and a two years later appeared on national television, ultimately winning Best Teen Vocalist on Star Search. The teenager's singing style and young ladies-man image was about to go under a major transformation, however, when up and coming producer, Sean "Puffy" Combs took the 15-year old under his wing and moved him to New York for a gangsta makeover.

Combs influence was quickly evident in Usher's self-titled debut album containing explicit lyrics and an attitude that most critics panned as, at best, unconvincing. Dropping the tough-guy image in favor of a more natural R&B lilt, Usher's second appropriately titled album My Way in 1997 went multi-platinum with the single You Make Me Wanna nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

Following that success, Usher next released his biggest-selling album, 8701 which produced the hit singles U Remind Me and U Don't Have To Call, both of which eventually went on to win Grammy awards for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. Later, his Confessions album broke a record for R&B albums selling over a 1 million copies its first week.

Usher walked away with the lion's share of accolades at the 2004 Billboard Music Awards with a total of 11 trophies including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Confessions and Hot 100 Single of the Year for Yeah!

In 2005, the singer continued to vie for, and win, similar top honors at international awards shows.

He is also currently on the way to movie stardom with his role in the Hollywood comedy In the Mix (movie trailer) following up in 2006 with a live appearance on Broadway in New York City in the hit musical Chicago.

Offstage, Usher and longtime girlfriend, Tameka Foster announced in early 2007 that they were are expecting the couple's first baby in Fall 2007 and, although a wedding date had been planned for late July, a gala wedding was cancelled the very weekend that the marriage would have occurred. The following week, however, the couple were rumored to be married in a very private ceremony at the Atlanta office of the singer's lawyer.

In 2008, the R&B superstar has put his name on a new line of cologne and fragrances, and is set to release a new album, "Here I Stand" set for release on May 27. His most recent national U.S. TV appearances include May 2008 finales on ABC's Dancing with the Stars and as musical guest on Saturday Night LIve.

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