This page is all about the actress, singer, model, writer, producer etc. Brandy. I'm guessing that you absolutely adore Brandy but what's not to like about her? She has made 2 fantastic albums, which even her idols' wish that they could have wrote. Her first self-titled album, 'Brandy', sold over 4 million copies around the release date; the numbers now are obviously higher. Her second album, 'Never Say Never', which also went Platinum sold over 5 mill ion around the release dates. The total last counted around summer '99 was 14 million copies! Brandy is obviously a very talented person and she has been ever since her early years. Brandy was born on the 11th February 1979. Her mother sang to her every night and she was singing before she could even speak. Brandy even made her first debut at church singing, 'Jesus Loves Me', at the age of two! Brandy slowly had the urge with the help of her mother and father to go out there and be famous. She auditioned; played roles in plays, sung every chance she could to get recognised. She found it hard and then she was invited to go to Hollywood High School, (A school made to help people get recognised and sent on auditions.) But Brandy found that she wasn't getting sent out on auditions, and she never made lead roles. She went to councillor and asked why, she was told, 'You're not drop dead gorgeous!' Brandy replied, 'But what about my talent and what about what I've got inside of me?' She was told that this wasn't going to work in Hollywood. Brandy said that this is crushing someone's self esteem! Brandy decided to forget it and give in. But then her demo catches the ear of a producer, Brandy goes to audition. She is signed to Atlantic Records. Brandy then releases her first two singles and they obviosely go to number 1!
Superstar singer Brandy was born in Mississippi but moved to Southern California early. She's the daughter of a minister father and a financial analyst mother and her parents have been very supportive in her career and help her to push forward.
Brandy has been singing since childhood together with her parents in their local church. Her first musical influence was her father, who is a good vocalist too. She used to study him and thereby improve on her own vocal skills.
A major change in her life came about when Whitney Houston entered the world of R&B. During the following years she watched Whitney and one day she told her dad:
'Daddy, Daddy I sing like her a little bit. I want to go out and be a singer like her'. So, to put it in simpler terms, they where the sparks that sealed her motivation: her father's inspiration and Whitney Houston's influence. Although it seems that Brandy is very young and has got overnight success, nothing could be further from the truth. With the support of her parents, who serve as managers today, Brandy took part in theatrical productions, local talent shows, banquets, dinners, family gatherings and anyplace else where people could listen to her sing. Brandy says:
"I started going out and doing a lot of talent shows and stuff like that and eventually I ran into a producer. He started shopping me around in LA, when I was 11 to different record companies and at the age of 14 I came to Atlantic Records and that's where I got my record deal".
In these early years Brandy also did some background singing for the group Immature as well as acting in an ABC sitcom called Thea.
Brandy got her record deal by Darryl Williams, artist and repertoire executive of Atlantic Records, a recording label that today works with black artists like MC Lyte, All-4-One, Changing Faces, Aaliyah. Her debut album came out in 1994 and was a major success with hits like "Baby", "Best Friend"; "I Wanna Be Down" and "Broken-hearted". The album has sold over 4 million copies in USA which is very much for a youngster like Brandy, she must be one of the most successful 15-year olds ever! The success was followed by a huge (85 cities or something) tour with her friends Boyz II Men who had the album II out at that moment. II sold about 15 million copies for BIIM so she really chose a popular act to tour with! The album also gave her several awards like the FOUR awards at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards in late 1995. She was nominated for four awards and got them all! That's quite an accomplishment. Here's what Brandy says about those awards: "It felt like the world was totally on my side. It showed me that there are many people who appreciate my music. To have won in all categories, I thank God. I'm blessed."
Brandy is an experienced actress too. From the early role in Thea she was hooked on acting and in 1995 she also did a pilot for the show Moesha. A pilot is the first episode of a television series that you let companies look at and see if they want to continue with it. The pilot was about a teenager dealing with regular teenage problem, and was at first not picked up by any network. Now we all know what happened though, it's broadcasting at UPN and has become very popular!!
Well, as it wouldn't be enough with two multiple platinum albums and a leading role in a TV-show, in 1997 Brandy made a movie together with her childhood idol Whitney Houston! The film is based on the classic Cinderella story and Brandy played Cinderella with Whitney as the Fairy Godmother. Whoppi Goldberg also had a part in the film, which is broadcasted on ABC. And it was the most watched NBC show for several years!!! So it was a big success for Brandy. The movie is truly wonderful!
Brandy says: "Whitney Houston has been a mentor of mine for a long time. Just listening to her sing on the set and talking with her was like a blessing. It's an honour to work with her. She gave me a lot of advice about the business and never disappointing my fans, to treat myself to good things and always give back to my family. We were friends for a while before we made Cinderella. She called me up one day and said, "Brandy, I want you to do a movie with me." I said, 'Oh my God! It doesn't have to be a big part-just a small part and I'll be happy.' Then she said she wanted me to play Cinderella and I just went crazy. She's a very direct person. When I call her, I get straight through to her. I don't have to go through like nine people. And she calls me directly. Sometimes when I talk to her I forget she's Whitney Houston."
Finally in June 1998 the long awaited follow-up to the Brandy album is out. It's called "Never Say Never" and the first single is a duet with Monica called "This Boy Is Mine". This album has taken a long time to make and Brandy said about the delay: "Because I've been so busy, I've had to do one thing at a time, so everything will be alright. Now I'm working on the album and Moesha and that's a lot easier."
And also in 1998 Brandy stars in her first big movie. It's called "I Still Know What U Did Last Summer" for now and it's a sequel to the very successful "I Know What You Did Last Summer". It premiered in USA on November 13.
Brandy then released 4 other chart topping songs, "Top Of The World, Have You Ever, Almost Doesn't Count & U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To) " She also made an excellent film with Diana Ross, "Double Platinum" Moesha is still on and is still as popular as ever, I wish you all the success Brandy, even though you don't need it!