Erykah Badu

Erykah Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singersongwriter, record producer, activist, and actress. Badus career began after opening a show for DAngelo in 1994 in her hometown record label executive Kedar Massenburg was highly impressed with her performance and signed her to Kedar Entertainment. Her first album, Baduizm, was released on February 11, 1997. It spawned three singles On amp On, Next Lifetime and Otherside of the Game. The album was certified triple Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America . Badus first live album, Live, was released on November 18, 1997 and was certified double Platinum by the RIAA.

Erykah Badu was born Erica Abi Wright in Dallas, Texas on February 26, 1971. Her mother raised her, her brother Eevin, and her sister Nayrok alone after their father, William Wright Jr., deserted the family early in their lives. To provide for her family, the childrens paternal grandmother often helped to look after them while Badus mother, Kolleen Maria Wright , worked as an actress in theatrical productions. Influenced by her mother, Badu had her first taste of show business at the age of four, singing and dancing with her mother at the Dallas Theater Center.

Source: Wikipedia