Brandy

Though still in her teens, singer Brandy was among the biggest and brightest
new stars to emerge during the 1990s; a multimedia sensation, she was a success
not only on the pop and R&B charts, but also on television. Born in McComb,
MO, in 1979, Brandy Norwood was raised in California, first attracting attention
singing with area youth groups. From there she moved on to a series of television
award shows and specials, and later co-starred in the short-lived ABC sitcom
Thea. Brandy's self-titled debut LP appeared in 1994, launching a series of hits,
among them "I Wanna Be Down," "Baby," and "Brokenhearted"; by now a major
star, she returned a year later with the blockbuster "Sittin' Up in My Room," a
cut from the soundtrack to the film Waiting to Exhale. "Missing You," from the
soundtrack to 1996's Set It Off, was also a hit, but instead of immediately releasing
a follow-up LP, Brandy returned to acting, starring in the acclaimed UPN sitcom
Moesha and also appearing in the title role of the 1997 Disney telefilm Cinderella,
one of the biggest success stories of the television season. Her long-awaited
sophomore album, Never Say Never, was finally issued in mid-1998. Despite
following four years later, Full Moon maintained her profile, spawning another
handful of chart hits. Her fourth album, Afrodisiac, was released in 2004. Its lead
single — "Talk About Our Love" — was produced by Kanye West.