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Beyoncé Knowles (born September 4, 1981 in Houston, Texas) is an American pop singer, actress and songwriter in the group Destiny's Child. She is sometimes known just by her first name, Beyoncé. Her debut solo album Dangerously In Love topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic as well as the R&B and Canadian charts. It has spawned four top ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100 including "Crazy In Love" featuring partner Jay-Z and "Baby Boy" featuring Sean Paul. Beyonce has won five Grammy Awards for her solo work and three as a member of Destiny's Child.
Destiny's Child
Beyoncé and Destiny's Child toured as an opening act for both Christina Aguilera and TLC before their first hit album, also called Destiny's Child. The band is managed by her father, Matthew Knowles, who is acknowledged as a strong force in her life. Kelly Rowland, another member of the group is her cousin. Beyonce is the main songwriter for the group and is generally regarded as its leader.
The groups self-titled album released in 1998 was produced by Wyclef Jean and Jermaine Dupri featured the million selling single "No No No" and went platinum. Destiny Child's second album The Writing's On The World released in 1999 featured two number one hits in "Bills Bills Bills" and "Say My Name". "Say My Name" would win two awards in the Grammy Awards of 2001 for "Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" and "Best R&B Song" for which she received credit as a songwriter.
The Survivor album proved to be another smash going to number one on the Billboard 200, R&B and Canadian album charts as well as being a success around the world. Two singles from the album went to the top of the Billboard 100 in "Independent Women Part 1" and "Bootylicious" with the title track reaching number 2. "Independent Women Part 1" was the theme song for Charlie's Angels (movie). The title track "Survivor" would win the band their second Grammy for "Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal."
Solo Career
In 2002, she won the title "Songwriter of the Year", from the ASCAP Pop Music Awards. She is the first African American woman to win the award and the second woman.
She co-starred in the 2002 film Austin Powers in Goldmember opposite Mike Myers as Austin Powers, for which she recorded a song and music video "Work It Out". "Work It Out" was a top 40 hit in the Netherlands, Australia and Ireland.
During the fall of 2002, Beyoncé was the featured vocalist on Jay-Z's smash single, "03 Bonnie And Clyde". The couple are engaged with rumours current that they will marry soon.
In 2003, Beyoncé released her debut solo album Dangerously In Love. Its first single, "Crazy In Love" featured a guest rap from Jay-Z and became one of the biggest hits of that summer, staying at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart for ten weeks. Dangerously In Love went to the top of the album charts on both sides of the Atlantic, Canada and the R&B charts.
On July 4, 2003, Beyoncé came under controversy from the Grant Memorial Association for dancing in a "patently inappropriate" way on the steps of the tomb of President Ulysses S. Grant. President Grant's great-grandsons Ulysses Grant Dietz and Chapman Foster Grant, spoke up on Knowles' behalf. "The way the world is now, who cares?" said Chapman Grant, "who knows? If the old guy were alive, he might have enjoyed it."
In the spring of 2003, Beyoncé remade a duet with Luther Vandross, called "The Closer I Get to You", originally performed by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, but they flipped around.
Towards the end of the summer, "Baby Boy", the album's second single which featured reggae star Sean Paul, began to climb the charts. It, too, went on to become one of the biggest hits of 2003, dominating radio airplay for the fall of 2003."Me Myself And I" and "Naughty Girl" from the album have also made the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.
Around the same time, Beyoncé starred in the movie The Fighting Temptations and recorded a song for it called "Fighting Temptation", with rappers Missy Elliott, Free, and MC Lyte. Unlike Beyoncé's own singles, the song did not become popular, although the movie was a moderate success. Beyonce is in pre-production for The Pink Panther in the role of Xania appearing opposite Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau. The film is scheduled to appear in 2005.
Beyonce won five awards in the Grammy Awards of 2004 including:
- Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "Dangerously In Love 2";
- Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for her duet with Luther Vandross for "The Closer I Get To You";
- Best R&B Song for "Crazy In Love" with Jay-Z;
- Best Contemporary R&B Album for "Dangerously In Love"; and
- Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Crazy In Love" with Jay-Z.
She has a younger sister named Solange Knowles.
Discography
- Destiny's Child (album) 1998 (in Destiny's Child)
- The Writing's On The World 1999 (in Destiny's Child)
- Survivor (album) 2001 (in Destiny's Child)
- Dangerously in Love 2003
Filmography
Beyonce Knowles has appeared in the following films:
- Carmen: A Hip Hopera as Carmen (TV) (2001)
- Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)
- The Fighting Temptations (2003)