Usher
Singer / Actor
Name at birth: Usher Raymond IV
Called an "R&B teen dream" by Rolling Stone, Usher was only 15 years old when he released his self-titled first album in 1994. (The album was executive produced by hitmaker Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.) Usher's 1997 hit single "You Make Me Wanna..." gained him international fame, and his album My Way earned him the 1998 Billboard Best Performer of the Year award. A sultry R&B singer in the old-school mode of Marvin Gaye and Luther Vandross, Usher has never been afraid to show off his muscular new-school physique. He has also dabbled in acting, with a recurring role on the teen sitcom Moesha, and roles in the films The Faculty (1998, with Jon Stewart), She's All That (1999, with Freddie Prinze, Jr.) and Texas Rangers (2001, with Ashton Kutcher). His other albums include 8701 (2001) and Confessions (2004). Confessions featured the singles "Burn" and "Yeah" (the latter a collaboration with Ludacris and Lil' Jon) and earned Usher four American Music Awards and eight Grammy nominations.
Extra credit: Usher made his Broadway debut in August of 2006, playing slick lawyer Billy Flynn in the long-running revival of Chicago for six weeks... Many sources list his place of birth as Chattanooga, Tennessee. According to his Thomson Gale biography, "Usher was born... in Dallas, Texas. Within a year of his birth, he moved with his mother to Chattanooga, Tennessee."
Other young singing stars of Usher's era include Nelly, Aaliyah and Alicia Keys.
Four Good Links
UsherWorld
His official site, heavy on razzle-dazzle
RollingStone.com: Usher
Biography, archived articles and photos of those fabulous abs
Usher Rising
Slick commercial fan site, heavy on wallpapers and other visuals
Thomson Gale: Usher
A formal biography from the publisher's Black History site
Vital Stats
Birth
14 October 1978
Birthplace
Dallas, Texas
Death
--
Best Known As
The R&B star who did "You Make Me Wanna..." and "Yeah"
Actor - filmography
(In Production) (2000s) (1990s)
The Ballad of Walter Holmes (2007) (announced)
In the Mix (2005) (as Usher) .... Darrell
"Saturday Night Live"
... aka SNL (USA: informal title)
... aka SNL 25 (USA)
- Episode #29.18 (2004) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Musical Guest
"Soul Food"
- Attracting Opposites (2003) TV Episode .... Cameron Marks
"7th Heaven"
... aka 7th Heaven: Beginnings (USA: rerun title)
... aka Seventh Heaven
- A Cry for Help (2002) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Will
"American Dreams"
... aka Our Generation (Australia) (USA: working title)
- Cold Snap (2002) TV Episode .... Marvin Gaye
"The Twilight Zone"
- To Protect and Serve (2002) TV Episode .... Officer Eric Boggs
"Sabrina, the Teenage Witch"
... aka Sabrina (USA: promotional abbreviation)
... aka Sabrina Goes to College (USA: promotional title)
- I Think I Love You (2002) TV Episode .... Doctor Love
Texas Rangers (2001) .... Randolph Douglas Scipio
"The Famous Jett Jackson"
- Step Up (2000) TV Episode .... Zander 'Z-Ride' Hall
Geppetto (2000) (TV) .... Ring Leader
Light It Up (1999) .... Lester Dewitt
"Moesha"
- Independence Day (1999) TV Episode .... Jeremy
- Pajama Jam (1998) TV Episode .... Jeremy Davis
- Double Date (1997) TV Episode .... Jeremy Davis
- Keepin' It Real (1997) TV Episode .... Jeremy Davis
"Promised Land"
... aka Home of the Brave
- Baby Steps (1999) TV Episode .... Winston
She's All That (1999) .... Campus DJ
"The Bold and the Beautiful" (1987) TV Series .... Raymond (#1) (1998)
... aka Belleza y poder (USA: Spanish title)
The Faculty (1998) .... Gabe Santora
Filmography as: Actor, Producer, Soundtrack, Composer, Sound Department, Writer, Director, Self, Archive Footage
Producer - filmography
(In Production) (2000s)
The Ballad of Walter Holmes (2007) (announced) (executive producer)
In the Mix (2005) (executive producer) (as Usher)
One Night One Star: Usher Live (2005) (TV) (producer)
Rhythm City Volume One: Caught Up (2005) (V) (executive producer)
Usher: Evolution 8701: Live in Concert (2002) (V) (executive producer)
Filmography as: Actor, Producer, Soundtrack, Composer, Sound Department, Writer, Director, Self, Archive Footage
Soundtrack - filmography
In the Mix (2005) (writer: "Sweat", "Get Acquainted", "Be What It's Gonna Be", "Against the World", "Take Me Away")
The 47th Annual Grammy Awards (2005) (TV) (performer: "Caught Up")
"Como uma Onda" (2004) TV Series (performer: "My Boo")
Deliver Us from Eva (2003) (performer: "She's Got the Part")
The Sweetest Thing (2002) (writer: "U Got It Bad") (performer: "U Got It Bad")
Filmography as: Actor, Producer, Soundtrack, Composer, Sound Department, Writer, Director, Self, Archive Footage
Composer - filmography
(2000s) (1990s)
Rhythm City Volume One: Caught Up (2005) (V) (as Usher)
Kazaam (1996) (song "I Swear I'm in Love")
Panther (1995) (song "Let's Straighten it Out")
Filmography as: Actor, Producer, Soundtrack, Composer, Sound Department, Writer, Director, Self, Archive Footage
Sound Department - filmography
(2000s) (1990s)
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) (VG) (audio programming)
... aka Vice City (USA: short title)
Grand Theft Auto (1998) (VG) (sound)
... aka GTA (USA: promotional title)
Filmography as: Actor, Producer, Soundtrack, Composer, Sound Department, Writer, Director, Self, Archive Footage
Writer - filmography
One Night One Star: Usher Live (2005) (TV)
Filmography as: Actor, Producer, Soundtrack, Composer, Sound Department, Writer, Director, Self, Archive Footage
Director - filmography
Rhythm City Volume One: Caught Up (2005) (V) (as Usher)
Filmography as: Actor, Producer, Soundtrack, Composer, Sound Department, Writer, Director, Self, Archive Footage
Self - filmography
(2000s) (1990s)
"The View"
- Episode dated 21 September 2006 (2006) TV Episode .... Himself
- Episode dated 23 November 2005 (2005) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
Legends Ball (2006) (TV) (as Usher) .... Himself
2006 Trumpet Awards (2006) (TV) (as Usher) .... Himself
In the Mix: 25 Days and Not a Minute More (2006) (V)
Brain Fart (2005) (TV) .... Himself
"Late Night with Conan O'Brien"
- Episode dated 17 December 2006 (2005) TV Episode .... Himself
- Episode dated 22 November 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Himself
"Total Request Live"
... aka TRL (USA: promotional abbreviation)
... aka Total Request with Carson Daly (USA)
- Episode dated 23 November 2005 (2005) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
- Episode dated 9 September 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Himself
- Episode dated 30 July 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
"Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show"
- Episode dated 21 November 2005 (2005) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
- Episode dated 13 May 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Musical Guest
"Live with Regis and Kathie Lee"
... aka Live with Regis (USA: new title)
... aka Live with Regis & Kelly (USA: new title)
- Episode dated 21 November 2005 (2005) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
- Episode dated 24 March 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
"The Tonight Show with Jay Leno"
- Episode dated 14 November 2005 (2005) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
- Episode dated 10 May 2004 (2004) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
- Episode dated 14 January 2002 (2002) TV Episode .... Himself
- Episode dated 13 August 2001 (2001) TV Episode .... Himself
"TV One on One"
- Episode dated 7 November 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Himself
25 Strong: The BET Silver Anniversary Special (2005) (TV) (as Usher) .... Himself
"The Tyra Banks Show"
- Cougars: On the Prowl for Younger Men (2005) TV Episode .... Himself
Usher's Project Restart (2005) (TV) .... Himself
"The Oprah Winfrey Show"
... aka Oprah (USA: short title)
- Episode dated 20 September 2005 (2005) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
The 2005 World Music Awards (2005) (TV) (as Usher) .... Himself/Performer
MTV Video Music Awards 2005 (2005) (TV) (as Usher) .... Himself - Presenter
"CD:UK"
- Episode dated 11 June 2005 (2005) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
- Episode dated 6 March 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
- Episode dated 14 February 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
36th NAACP Image Awards (2005) (TV) .... Himself/Winner
The 19th Annual Soul Train Music Awards (2005) (TV) .... Himself
Making of 'Rhythm City Volume One: Caught Up' (2005) (V) .... Himself
One Night One Star: Usher Live (2005) (TV) .... Himself
The 47th Annual Grammy Awards (2005) (TV) (as Usher) .... Nominee - Male R&B Vocal Performance for 'Burn'
The 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (2005) (TV) .... Himself - Co-presenter: Best Original Score and Best Original Song
Rhythm City Volume One: Caught Up (2005) (V) (as Usher) .... Himself
"Top of the Pops"
... aka All New Top of the Pops (UK)
... aka TOTP
- Episode dated 25 December 2004 (2004) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
- Episode dated 15 October 2004 (2004) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
- Episode dated 2 July 2004 (2004) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself - Performer
- Episode dated 26 March 2004 (2004) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
- Episode dated 5 March 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
(1 more)
"The Barbara Walters Special"
... aka Barbara Walters: Interviews of a Lifetime (USA: rerun title)
... aka The Barbara Walters Summer Special (USA: repeat compilations title)
- The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
The 2004 Billboard Music Awards (2004) (TV) .... Himself
VH1 Big in 04 (2004) (TV) .... Himself
MTV Europe Music Awards 2004 (2004) (TV) (as Usher) .... Himself - Winner and Performer
"Retrosexual: The 80's" (2004) (mini) TV Series (as Usher) .... Himself
Fade to Black (2004) .... Himself
The 10th Annual Walk of Fame Honoring Smokey Robinson (2004) (TV) .... Himself
2004 Radio Music Awards (2004) (TV) .... Himself-Performer
Nordic Music Awards 2004 (2004) (TV) (as Usher) .... Himself - Award Winner (Best International Male Artist)
Genius: A Night for Ray Charles (2004) (TV) .... Himself
Amplified Guide to New Orleans (2004) (TV) .... Himself
The 2004 World Music Awards (2004) (TV) (as Usher) .... Himself - Performer
MTV Video Music Awards 2004 (2004) (TV) (as Usher) .... Himself - Performer
The Teen Choice Awards 2004 (2004) (TV) .... Himself
"I Love the '90s" (2004) (mini) TV Series (as Usher) .... Himself
Maxim Hot 100 (2004) (TV) (as Usher) .... Himself (Interviewee)
4th Annual BET Awards (2004) (TV) (as Usher) .... Himself
I Wanna Thank My Mama: The BET Awards*04 Nomination Special (2004) (TV) .... Nominee Commentator
"Later with Jools Holland"
... aka A Little Later (USA: cut version)
- Episode #23.5 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
"Good Morning Australia"
... aka G.M.A. (Australia: short title)
- Episode dated 27 May 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
"On-Air with Ryan Seacrest"
- Episode dated 14 May 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
"Jimmy Kimmel Live"
- Episode dated 13 May 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
"Late Show with David Letterman"
... aka Late Show Backstage (USA: title for episodes with guest hosts)
... aka The Late Show (USA: informal short title)
- Episode dated 7 April 2004 (2004) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
"Last Call with Carson Daly"
- Episode dated 1 April 2004 (2004) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
The 18th Annual Soul Train Music Awards (2004) (TV) .... Himself
"Popworld"
- Episode dated 14 March 2004 (2004) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
"T4"
- Episode dated 14 March 2004 (2004) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
"Total Request Live"
... aka TRL UK (UK: promotional title)
- Episode dated 8 March 2004 (2004) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
"Top of the Pops Saturday"
- Episode dated 28 February 2004 (2004) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
"Tinseltown TV"
- Episode dated 29 November 2003 (2003) TV Episode .... Himself
"Punk'd"
- Episode #2.1 (2003) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
"I Love the '80s Strikes Back" (2003) (mini) TV Series .... Himself
"Banzai"
- Episode #1.6 (2003) TV Episode (uncredited) .... Himself
"200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons" (2003) (mini) TV Series .... Himself/Interviewee
3rd Annual BET Awards (2003) (TV) .... Himself
"Duets" (2003) TV Series (as Usher) .... Himself
... aka MTV's Duets (USA: complete title)
"Star Search"
- Episode dated 7 March 2003 (2003) TV Episode .... Guest Judge
The 45th Annual Grammy Awards (2003) (TV) (as Usher) .... Himself
The Disco Ball... A 30-Year Celebration (2003) (TV) .... Himself
Dear Santa (2002) (TV) (as Usher) .... Himself
Usher: Evolution 8701: Live in Concert (2002) (V) .... Himself
"Becoming"
- Becoming P. Diddy & Usher (2002) TV Episode .... Himself
MTV Video Music Awards 2002 (2002) (TV) (as Usher) .... Himself - Performer/Presenter
... aka VMAs 2002 (USA: short title)
2nd Annual BET Awards (2002) (TV) .... Himself
"Making the Video"
- I Need a Girl: Part 2 (2002) TV Episode .... Himself
- You Don't Have to Call (2002) TV Episode .... Himself
"Star Boulevard"
- Episode dated 29 April 2002 (2002) TV Episode .... Himself
The 16th Annual Soul Train Music Awards (2002) (TV) .... Himself
"Boogie"
... aka Boogie Århus (Denmark: alternative title)
... aka Boogie listen (Denmark: alternative title)
- Episode dated 9 March 2002 (2002) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
"The Nick Cannon Show"
- Nick Takes Over Music (2002) TV Episode .... Himself
"Mad TV"
- Episode #7.12 (2002) TV Episode .... Himself
- Episode #4.1 (1998) TV Episode .... Himself
Christmas in Washington (2001) (TV) .... Himself/Performer
Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration (2001) (TV) .... Himself
"The E! True Hollywood Story"
- Aaliyah (2001) TV Episode .... Himself
- Joan Rivers (2001) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
"The Rosie O'Donnell Show"
- Episode dated 26 September 2001 (2001) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
Party in the Park 2001 (2001) (TV) (as Usher) .... Performer
MTV 20: Jams (2001) (V) (as Usher) .... Himself (segment "My Way")
1st Annual BET Awards (2001) (TV) .... Himself
Young Hollywood Awards (2001) (TV) .... Himself
MTV Icon: Janet Jackson (2001) (TV) (as Usher) .... Himself
"The Base"
- Episode dated 25 January 2001 (2001) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence (2001) (TV) (as Usher) .... Himself
"The Road Home" (2000) TV Series .... Himself
"The Martin Short Show"
- Episode #1.42 (1999) TV Episode .... Himself
Usher Live (1999) (V) .... Himself
"The Parent 'Hood"
- Color Him Father (1998) TV Episode .... Himself
- Flaked Out (1998) TV Episode .... Himself
"The Chris Rock Show"
- Episode dated 28 November 1997 (1997) TV Episode .... Himself
Filmography as: Actor, Producer, Soundtrack, Composer, Sound Department, Writer, Director, Self, Archive Footage
Archive Footage
"100 Greatest Teen Stars" (2006) (mini) .... Himself
Stars on Trial (2005) (TV) (uncredited) .... Himself
"Video on Trial"
- Episode #1.13 (2005) TV Episode (uncredited) .... Dancer
- Episode #1.4 (2005) TV Episode .... Himself - Accused
"Celebrities Uncensored"
- Episode #2.3 (2004) TV Episode (as Usher) .... Himself
"Wannabe"
- Usher (????) TV Episode .... Himself