Biography - Beyonce

Before she was a teenager she had already won over thirty local talent shows, and despite suffering a loss on “Star Search” in 1992, it was clear from a young age that the Houston native was destined to become a star. Born Beyonce Giselle Knowles on September 4, 1981, by the age of 24 she has sold more the 50 million records, won nine Grammy awards and starred in one of the most successful comedy movies of all time.

Beyonce began her music career singing with the R&B group, Destiny’s Child.  After earning its stripes playing in local Houston clubs, the quartet (which by its third album was a trio) was offered a record contract, and in February of 1998 the group released its first album.  The self-titled album received mixed reviews.  Destiny’s Child quickly returned to the studio and recorded the album that would put them on their way to superstardom.  1999’s The Writing’s on the Wall debuted at number six on the Billboard Top 200 and had several hugely successful singles.

With the release of the group’s third album, Survivor, Beyonce’s talent for writing and producing became obvious.  The album, on which Beyonce co-wrote and co-produced all the songs, shot straight to the top, selling almost 700,000 copies in its first week and reaching number one on the Billboard Top 200.

After Survivor, Beyonce made a move toward a solo career.  Her first record without her fellow Destiny’s Child singers put Beyonce into a new league of performers.  Beyonce’s Dangerously in Love rocketed to number one and sold over four million copies in the US alone. The album netted her five Grammy Awards and eventually sold eight million copies worldwide.

But Beyonce wasn’t happy being just a top selling musician.  Her next move brought her into films.  Her first acting role was with Mekhi Phifer in the made for television MTV film, Carmen: A Hip Hopera.  She then went on to make the 2002 blockbuster Austin Powers in Goldmember.  In 2003 she landed a role in The Fighting Temptations, which placed her on the screen with the Oscar winning actor, Cuba Gooding Jr.

Beyonce’s successes in the studio and on the big screen have put her on both the music and film industries’ A-lists.  In 2006, she was once again coupled with a Hollywood giant.  Her latest film, The Pink Panther, stars Steve Martin and was number one at the box office in its opening week.  It appears Beyonce has once again hit it big.

With The Pink Panther already released and "Dreamgirls" set for a Christmas premiere (which puts Beyonce in the company of Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, and red-hot newcomer Jennifer Hudson), Beyonce is showing that she is a star prepared for longevity.  Besides making films, 2006 has seen Beyonce release her new solo album, "B'Day", which features Pharrell Williams, and launching her own clothing line, House of Dereon.