TONI BRAXTON

Born: October 7, 1967 Height: 5' 2"
Toni Michelle Braxton is a six-time Grammy Award-winning American R&B singer, songwriter, and actress who was popular during the '90s. She is famous for her husky alto vocal timbre. The RIAA named Braxton as one of the top selling artists of all time.

Toni was born in Severn, Maryland. Her father was a clergyman, and the Braxton children were raised in a strict religious household. Encouraged by her vocally trained mother, young Toni and her sisters began singing in church and competed in the local talent-show circuit. Graduating from Glen Burnie High School, she intended to become a music teacher and studied at Bowie State University.

Braxton and her four sisters (Traci, Trina, Towanda, and Tamar) began performing as The Braxtons in the late 1980s and were signed to Arista Records. Though they were not successful, they attracted the attention of Antonio "L.A." Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. Reid and Babyface recruited Toni to record "Love Shoulda Brought You Home", for the soundtrack of Eddie Murphy's film, Boomerang. Braxton, signed to Reid and Edmonds' Arista-distributed, LaFace Records, and immediately began recording her solo debut album.

Toni Braxton reaped numerous Grammy Awards and American Music Awards through her multi-platinum recordings, the 1993 debut album and the sophomore recording Secret (1996). “Breathe Again” (1993) won a Grammy Award and made her an international rising star. She continued to impress the music industry with “Unbreak My Heart” (1996), “Another Sad Love Song” and “You’re Makin’ Me High.” Facing some hard times during her career, the singer recently hit the charts with “The Time of Our Lives” (2006), her duet with Il Divo, which was made into a 2006 FIFA World Cup anthem.

Toni exchanged wedding vows with the keyboardist of the Mint Condition band, Keri Lewis. She has two sons from the marriage.

Braxton has appeared on two Disney Broadway shows: "Beauty and the Beast" (as Belle) in 1998 and "Aida" (as Aida) in 2003. Her role in "Beauty and the Beast" marked the first time an African American commanded the leading role of Belle. In 2001, she made her acting debut in the feature film Kingdom Come.

On May 19, 2006, the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas announced that Braxton will replace Wayne Newton as the casino’s new headlining act. Her show is called: Toni Braxton Revealed.









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