No doubt you've seen Usher, the R&B
singing sensation and sex symbol and likely, throngs of swooning young
girls were at his feet, his shirt doffed to expose his muscular frame. First
introduced to the world with his self-titled 1994 debut album, Usher's
early achievements recording and performing only set the stage for the monster
success he is currently enjoying for his sophomore release, My Way.
Following Frank Sinatra's famous motto, Usher is certainly living
life his way, winning legions of new fans over with the velvety voice and
trademark smile that have made the Atlanta-based singer an international
superstar.
Usher Raymond IV began singing when he was
six years old, joining the local church choir at the behest of his mother,
Jonnetta Patton, who acted as choir director. Patton, a single mom, raised
Usher and his younger brother, James, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, before
moving the family to Atlanta, Georgia, when Usher was twelve years
old. Cited by the singer as his best friend, Usher's mother continues
to guide the teen star's career as his manager, a duty she assumed after
quitting her full-time office job four years ago.
Usher recorded and released his debut album
on LaFace in 1994. The record, which was co-executive-produced by Reid and
Sean "Puffy" Combs, generated the minor hit "Think of You." Usher
was only fourteen when he worked on the album, and puberty proved somewhat
of an impediment to the process. As a result, the producers brought in several
vocal coaches in order to help him complete the record. Their efforts were
not in vain, as the album captured Usher's youthful exuberance and
native singing prowess, not to mention the interest of many listeners.
The success of My Way proved that the teenage
crooner had won over the hearts of legions of listeners. It also illustrated
the artistic maturation he had undergone since his debut recording. This
time around, Usher wrote his own songs, penning five of the album's
nine tracks. The remaining four songs were contributed by such R&B
heavyweights as Babyface, Teddy Riley, and producer Dupri. Usher spent
six months living at Dupri's house while recording the album; the time together,
he says, helped them understand each other, and helped Dupri realize the
genuine growth Usher was experiencing in his life. "What we ended
up writing and recording," Usher has related, "is about my life
about what I've dealt with, being a teenager who's going into manhood. It's
my feelings."