Usher Raymond (born on October 14, 1978) is a 45 year-old American R&B singer, songwriter, dancer, businessman, and actor, known for R&B and pop music.
Ever since he started singing professionally, Usher has accomplished great feats in his music career and has made it to the list of global music legends. Having spent over 4 decades in the music industry, he has about nine album credits, numerous singles, and live performances. The singer is also a well-talented actor, with over 20 movie appearances. Here is everything about the age milestone of the iconic artist.
Usher’s Bio
- AGE: 45 years old
- BIRTHDAY: October 14, 1978
- BIRTHPLACE: Dallas Texas, United States
- BIRTH SIGN: Libra
- ETHNICITY: African American
- FATHER: Usher Raymond III
- MOTHER: Jonetta Patton
- SIBLINGS: James Lack (stepbrother)
How Old is Usher Raymond Now?
Usher Raymond is 45 years old. He was born on October 14, 1978, in Dallas, Texas, but was raised by his mother in Chattanooga, Tennessee, before he moved to Atlanta, Georgia. The singer was born to Jonetta Patton, a medical technician who later became his manager. His father, Usher Raymond III, left his mother when he was just a year old.
The singer grew up under the care of his mother and stepfather, alongside his stepbrother, James Lack. He obtained his high school certificate from North Springs High School in Atlanta. However, he has not disclosed details of his other educational background.
He Started His Professional Music Career At Ten Years
Usher discovered his penchant for singing at the age of nine. He was inspired by his mother to join the local church youth choir in Chattanooga. Subsequently, he joined NuBegginings, a local R&B quintet organized by Darryl Wheeler, a local show promoter. However, in 1991, at the age of 10 years, he recorded about 10 songs and one album with the group, which was released only in his region and distributed by mail order.
For this, his mother had to withdraw him from the group because it was a bad experience for her. Usher continued to perform at talent shows, and in 1991, he met Bobby Brown’s bodyguard, A.J. Alexander, who took him to parks and talent shows to perform. Alexander invited Bryan Reid, a representative of LaFace Records, to watch Usher perform at a talent show.
Bryan Reid was impressed by the singer’s performance and set up an audition for Usher with L. A Reid, the co-founder of LaFace Records. However, the young singer, with his smooth voice, impressed L. A Reid and he was signed instantly to the record label.
Usher Released His Debut Album in 1994 at The Age of 16
After Usher was signed to LaFace Records, he began to prepare for his debut album. Though he encountered challenges with his voice, his debut album, Usher, was released on August 30, 1994. It became a huge success, peaked at number 25 on Billboard’s Top R&B/HipHop albums, and sold over 500,000 copies.
At that time, the singer received lots of criticism for the album considering his age. This was because the album was all about sex and didn’t sit well with the public because he was only 15 years old at the time of its release. Meanwhile, many also believed that he was older because of his physique.
He Scored His First Gold and Platinium Certifications At The Age of 19
On September 16, 1997, he released his second album, titled My Way which he co-wrote with Jermaine Dupri. The lead single of the album titled You Make Me Wanna, topped number 1 in the United Kingdom. This became his first top single and also his first gold-and platinum-certified single in the United States.
On January 1998, its second single, Nice and Slow, peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The album has so far been certified platinum six times in the United States.
In early 2001, his third studio album, All About You, was Released. The first lead single, PopYa Collar, became the number 2 hit in the UK but was not successful in the United States. For this, the album was revised and renamed to 8.7.0.1 and was released on August 2001. Its first two singles, U Got It Bad and U Remind Me, made it to the Billboard Hot 100 and were certified Platinium four times in the U.S.
Usher’s First Diamond Certification Was In 2004
On March 23, 2004, the singer released his fourth studio album, titled Confessions. It was a major hit and sold over 10 million copies in the United States, which earned him a Diamond Certification by the RIAA. Some of its singles like Burn, Confessions Part II, My Boo, and Caught Up also made it to the Billboard Hot 100.
Other Studio Albums Released By The Singer
Usher released his fifth studio album, Here I Stand, in the United Kingdom on May 26 and in the United States on May 27, 2008. The album ranked at number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified platinum by the RIAA. The album’s single, Love In This Club, made it to the singles charts of many countries like New Zealand, Canada, Sweden, and many others.
In March 2010, at the age of 32 years, Usher released his sixth studio album, Raymond v. Raymond, in the United States and Germany. In April 2010, he released the album in the United Kingdom.
At the age of 34, his seventh studio album, Looking 4 Myself, was released. The song was well received by the public and got positive reviews from critics.
On September 2016, he released his eighth studio album, Hard II Love. It also received positive reviews from critics and made it onto the US Billboard 200. His ninth studio album, Simply A, was released on October 2018.
Usher Raymond Made His Acting Debut at The Age of 19
In 1997, Usher Raymond made his acting debut in the American television sitcom Moesha, which aired on UPN. Furthermore, he played the role of Jeremy Davis, the lover and classmate of the central character, Moesha, who was portrayed by Brandy Norwood.
He made his first film appearance in 1998 in the movie The Faculty. Subsequently, he began to appear in other films like Light It Up, Twilight Zone, American Dreams, and many others. To date, he has over twenty film credits and will still be bagging more movie roles in the future. In 2006, he made his first appearance on Broadway as lawyer Billy Flynn in the play Chicago.
At 21 Years, Usher Won His First Grammy Award
Usher is a successful artist with about nine successful studio albums and many singles and has won many awards. He won his first Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance for the song U Remind Me in 2001. So far, he has been nominated for the Grammy Awards twenty-two times, winning a total of eight Grammys.
The singer has also won 8 American Music Awards, 18 Billboard Music Awards, 14 BMI Awards, 9 Soul Train Music Awards, and 35 ASCAP Awards. In 2007, at the age of 29, he was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and in 2016, he was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
