Born:
May 5, 1989 - Tappahannock, Virginia.
Advice For Chris Brown From Music Industry Veterans:
"Just be focused and stay humble."
Growing Up:
Chris Brown grew up in the small town of Tappahannock, Virginia, population 2000. He was influenced by the music played by his parents. Among his favorites are Michael Jackson, Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, Donnie Hathaway, Anita Baker, and Aretha Franklin. Like many of his generation, he wanted to be a rapper, but, at the age of 11 or 12 his mom heard him singing around the house, and she pointed out that he had a great singing voice.
Trivia Fact About Chris Brown:
Chris Brown came up with the concept for the video for "Run It!"
Watch the video at his Official Site.
Early Career:
By the age of 13, Chris Brown and his mother began looking for recording opportunities. Brown is a multi-talented performer who exhibits skills as a songwriter and dancer in addition to his vocal prowess. For his first album, Jive Records hooked him up with hot producer Scott Storch, the man behind such hits as 50 Cent's "Candy Shop" and Beyonce's "Naughty Girl."
"Run It!":
Chris Brown's first single "Run It!", featuring Juelz Santana, began to climb the charts in September 2005. The first album, titled Chris Brown, was released at the end of November. "Run It!" reached #1 on the pop singles chart late in the year. It was followed by the single "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)"
Chris Brown Is a Pop Star:
Chris Brown's self-titled debut album ultimately sold over 3 million copies, and he became a top pop and r&b star. Stunning live performances spread his reputation as a phenomenal dancer in addition to musical success. While not matching the success of "Run It!," such singles as "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)" and "Say Goodbye" kept Chris Brown on pop radio playlists.
Chris Brown Reviews:
Read more details on key Chris Brown releases. Find out the best of Chris Brown's music and what makes it stand out.
- July 2005 - "Run It!" - #1 Pop
- November 2005 - "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)" - #16 Pop
- November 2007 - Exclusive - #4 Album
- December 2007 - "Without You" - #2 Pop
- February 2008 - "No Air" with Jordin Sparks - #2 Pop
- April 2008 - "Forever" - #1 Pop
MTV Video Music Awards Comeback:
In the spring of 2007, with great anticipation from Brown's legion of teen fans, the single "Wall to Wall" was released in advance of a second album. The response was lukewarm with the song barely making it inside the pop top 40 and missing the top 20 of the r&b chart entirely. The release date for the album Exclusive was pushed back 3 months to early November. Meanwhile, Chris Brown turned in a stunning performance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards reminding audiences of what an electrifying performer he can be.
Chris Brown - The Hottest of Pop Stars:
A second single "Kiss Kiss" featuring T-Pain was released close to the appearance of Exclusive and Chris Brown was soon back in the pop top 5 with both album and single. A 3rd single from the album, "With You," reached #2 on the pop singles chart.
In 2008, Chris Brown mania took the pop music industry by storm. "With You," "No Air," a duet with Jordin Sparks, and Chris Brown's 2nd #1 pop single "Forever" were huge hits in quick succession. Chris Brown joined support for Team USA in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics with the release of the single "Dreamer".
