Usher Raymond IV is a Dallas-based lyricist, dancer, and vocalist. Usher rose to prominence after releasing his first self-titled album in 1994. His second album delivered his first Billboard Hot 100 success in the United States.
Usher has released a vast number of albums and songs throughout the course of his career and is widely regarded as one of the top R&B singers of the twenty-first century.
Early Years
On October 14, 1978, Usher Raymond IV was born. Usher’s mother Jonetta and father Usher Raymond II recognized his singing potential at a young age when he was born in Texas but reared in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
They pushed him to join the Chattanooga church choir when he was nine years old. To aid in the development of Usher’s music career, the family relocated to Atlanta, where Usher began professional recording and guest vocal appearances. North Springs High School was his alma mater.
Is Usher married?
Yes, he is married. Also, he has kids too
Career
Following a performance on Star Search when Usher was 13, a representative from LaFace Records set up an audition with the label’s co-founder. After hearing Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road,” they immediately signed Usher. Usher’s mum quit her job to help him with his profession.
He was going through puberty at the time he was preparing his debut record, and he was having trouble modulating his singing voice. Usher was brought to New York in 1994 by his record label to live with Puff Daddy as a singing/coaching “camp.” Usher’s self-titled debut album was released on August 30, 1994. He was only 16 years old at the time. On the Billboard charts, it reached No. 25.
In September 1997, Usher released his second album, My Way. The first song, “You Make Me Wanna…”, went to No. 1 in the United Kingdom. In the United States, it was his first gold and platinum-certified hit. In January 1998, “Nice & Slow” reached No. 1. The album has received six platinum certifications.
Usher’s third album, “8701,” was released in August 2001, with the lead singles “U Remind Me” and “U Got It Back” charting at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
It debuted with 1.1 million units sold in its first week, giving it the best first-week sales by a male R&B artist ever. “Yeah!” was the first single to reach No. 1 and stayed there for six weeks. Usher won a slew of honors and accolades for Confessions, including three Grammys.
Several of his albums debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States. The RIAA has certified five of its albums platinum (My Way, 8701, Confessions, Here I Stand), with Confessions selling over 10 million copies and earning a diamond certification in the United States.
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U Remind Me (8701), OMG (Raymond v. Raymond), and Yeah! (Confessions), which reached number one in nine countries and was the best-selling song of 2004 in the United States, is among his 10 hit number one singles. Usher has also benefited from partnerships and endorsements with major brands such as Samsung, Mastercard, and Pepsi over the years, establishing him as a household figure.
Usher has been in a number of other songs and albums in addition to his own, including How Much (Mariah Carey, Rainbow), Same Girl (R. Kelly, Double Up), and First Dance (Justin Bieber, My World). Four American Music Awards, five Grammy Awards, and nineteen Billboard Awards are among his honors.
Usher’s Net Worth
Usher has a net worth of $180 million and is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and actor. Usher has sold more than 75 million records worldwide, making him one of the most successful musicians of all time. He also co-founded RBMG Records, Justin Bieber’s record label, with Scooter Braun.
RBMG Records
Raymond Braun Media Group, often known as RBMG Records, was created in 2008 by Usher and music manager Scooter Braun. They formed the company in collaboration with Island Def Jam with the express purpose of launching Justin Bieber, an adolescent artist.
Bieber was spotted on YouTube by Braun, who brought him to Atlanta for an audition with Usher. Usher then had Justin audition for LA Reid of Island Def Jam. A contract was promptly reached.
Philanthropy
Usher launched New Look, a non-profit organization dedicated to “giving young people a new perspective on life via education and real-world experience.” He’s started chapters in a number of big U.S. cities. The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis honored Usher with the Freedom Award for his work with New Look.
This award honors those who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of justice, equality, and civil and human rights. He started Project Restart after Hurricane Katrina to assist over 700 households in obtaining or restoring houses. Usher was granted the key to the city of New Orleans in 2008 for his extraordinary efforts, and the mayor of the city declared Usher Day in his honor.
Personal Experiences
From 2001 until 2003, Usher dated TLC’s, Chilli Thomas. In 2007, he married stylist, Tameka Foster. He became a stepfather to her three sons from a previous relationship when they married. They have two boys together as well.
In 2009, Usher and Foster split, resulting in a highly publicized child custody battle. It wasn’t resolved until 2012 when Usher was granted primary custody of their two sons by a judge. In September 2015, Usher married his longtime girlfriend and manager Grace Miguel. Usher filed for divorce in December 2018.
Purchasing Real Estate
Usher purchased a 10,000-square-foot mansion in Alpharetta, Georgia, for $1.2 million in 1998. In 2018, he sold this house for $1.5 million. He had hoped to sell this home for $2.5 million at one point. He first saw this house in 1991, while he was still a teenager. LA Reid, the music industry’s tycoon, owned it at the time.
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He bought the house when he was only 20 years old, seven years later. Reid’s ex-wife Perri “Pebbles” Reid, the founder of the girl group TLC, was the seller at the time. Usher purchased a 13,000 square-foot palatial mansion in Roswell, Georgia for $3.04 million in 2007. In 2013, he sold this house for $2.2 million.
Usher paid $3.37 million for a property in the Hollywood Hills above the Sunset Strip in 2015. He originally offered the house for $4.2 million, but when he found a buyer in November 2018, he negotiated for $3.3 million.