Beyoncé Knowles

(born September 4, 1981), often known simply as Beyoncé (pronounced /biˈjɒnseɪ/ bee-YON-say), is an American Pop/R&B singer, songwriter, actress and fashion designer. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child. Knowles rose to fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the R&B girl group Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time.

During the hiatus of Destiny's Child, Knowles released her debut solo album Dangerously in Love (2003), which spawned the number one hits "Crazy in Love" and "Baby Boy" and became one of the most successful albums of that year, earning her a then record-tying five Grammy Awards.[2][3] Following the group's disbandment in 2005, Knowles released B'Day in 2006. It debuted at number one on the Billboard charts and included the hits "Déjà Vu", "Irreplaceable" and "Beautiful Liar". Her third solo album I Am... Sasha Fierce, released in November 2008, included the anthemic "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)". The album and its singles earned her six Grammy Awards, breaking the record for most Grammy Awards won by a female artist in one night.[4][5][6] Knowles is one of the most honored artists by the Grammys, and third among female artists, with 16 awards—13 as a solo artist and three as a member of Destiny's Child.[7][8]

Knowles began her acting career in 2001, appearing in the musical film Carmen: A Hip Hopera. In 2006, she starred in the lead role in the film adaptation of the 1981 Broadway musical Dreamgirls, for which she earned two Golden Globe nominations. Knowles launched her family's fashion line, House of Deréon, in 2004, and has endorsed such brands as Pepsi, Tommy Hilfiger, Armani and L'Oréal. In 2010, Forbes ranked Knowles at number two on its list of the 100 Most Powerful and Influential Celebrities in the world;[9][10] she was also listed as the most powerful and influential musician in the world.[11] Time also included Knowles on its list of the "100 Most Influential People in the World".[12]

Knowles has attained five Hot 100 number one singles as a solo performer and four with Destiny's Child. As a solo artist, Knowles has sold over 11.2 million albums and nearly 25 million singles in the United States.[13] According to Columbia Records her record sales, when combined with the group, have surpassed 130 million.[14] On December 11, 2009, Billboard listed Knowles as the most successful female artist of the 2000s decade and the top Radio Artist of the decade.[15] In February 2010, the RIAA listed her as the top certified artist of the decade.[16][17] In 2010, VH1 listed Knowles at number 52 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time

Early life and career beginnings
Knowles was born in Houston, Texas, the daughter of Mathew Knowles, a professional record manager, and Tina Knowles, a costume designer and hair stylist. Knowles' father is African American and her mother is of Creole (African, Native American, and French) descent.[19] Knowles was baptized after her mother's maiden name, as a tribute to her mother.[19] She is the elder sister of Solange, a singer-songwriter and actress.

Knowles was schooled at St. Mary's Elementary School in Texas, where she enrolled in dance classes, including ballet and jazz. Her talent in singing was discovered when her dance instructor began humming a song and she finished it, hitting the high-pitched notes.[20] Knowles' interest in music and performing began after participating in a school talent show.[21] She sang John Lennon's Imagine and won the competition.[22][23] At age seven, Knowles started gaining attention from the press, having been mentioned in the Houston Chronicle as a nominee for the local performing arts award The Sammy.[24] In the fall of 1990, Knowles enrolled in Parker Elementary School, a music magnet school in Houston, where she would perform on-stage with the school's choir.[20] She also attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston[25] and later went to Alief Elsik High School, located in the Houston suburban munincipality, Alief.[19][26] Knowles was a soloist in the choir of her church, in St. John's United Methodist Church.[20] She only lasted in the choir for two years.[27]

At the age of eight, Knowles met LaTavia Roberson while in an audition for an all-girl entertainment group.[28] They, along with Knowles' friend Kelly Rowland, were placed into a group that performed rapping and dancing. Originally named Girl's Tyme, they were eventually cut down to six members.[20] West coast R&B producer Arne Frager flew into Houston to see them. He eventually brought them to his studio—The Plant Recording Studios—in Northern California, with Knowles' vocals being featured.[20] As part of efforts to sign Girl's Tyme to a major label record deal, Frager's strategy was to début them in Star Search,[21] the biggest talent show on national TV that time.[20] Girl's Tyme participated in the competition but lost it because the song they performed was not good, Knowles herself admitted.[29][30] Knowles had her first "professional setback" after that defeat but regained confidence after learning that pop stars Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake had also the same experience.[20] To manage the group, Knowles' father (who was at that time a medical-equipment salesman) resigned in 1995 from his job.[31] He dedicated his time and established a "boot camp" for their training.[21] The move reduced Knowles' family's income by half and her parents were forced to move into separated apartments.[19] Not long after the inclusion of Rowland, Mathew cut the original lineup to four,[20] with LeToya Luckett joining in 1993.[28] Rehearsing in Tina's Headliners Salon and their backyards, the group continued performing as an opening act for other established R&B girl groups of the time;[28] Tina contributed to the cause by designing their costumes, which she continued to do throughout the Destiny's Child era. With the continued support of Mathew, they auditioned before record labels and were finally signed to Elektra Records. They moved to Atlanta to work on their first recording, only to be cut by the record company in 1995. They would return home to start over again.[19] This would put a strain on the Knowles, and Beyoncé's parents separated briefly when she was 14. In 1996, the family reunited, and to coincide with that, the girls got a contract with Columbia Records.[22]