Beyoncé Knowles

Born: September 4, 1981 (age 31), Houston, Texas, United States
Height: 5' 7" (1.69 m)
Parents: Mathew Knowles, Tina Knowles
Siblings: Solange Knowles, Nixon Knowles

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, also known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter and actress.

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, also known simply as Beyoncé was born September 4, 1981, is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas and performing in singing and dancing competitions as a child, she began her music career as lead singer of R&B girlgroup Destiny's Child. Managed by her father Mathew Knowles, the group became one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. Their hiatus saw the release of Knowles' debut album Dangerously in Love (2003), which established the singer as a viable solo artist worldwide, selling 11 million copies, earned five Grammy Awards and featured the Billboard number one singles "Crazy in Love" and "Baby Boy".

A self-described "modern day feminist", Knowles' songs are often characterized by themes of love, relationships and monogamy, as well as female sexuality and empowerment. On stage, she has attracted comparisons to entertainers Tina Turner, Prince and Michael Jackson for her dynamic, highly choreographed performances. Throughout a career spanning 15 years, she has won 17 Grammy Awards, and has sold over 13 million albums in the US and 118 million records worldwide (as well as a further 60 million records with Destiny's Child), making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. The Recording Industry Association of America recognized Knowles as the Top Certified Artist of the 2000s.In 2009, Billboard named her the Top Radio Songs Artist of the Decade,the Top Female Artist, and the fourth Artist of the Decade. In 2013, she was also included in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Following the disbandment of Destiny's Child in 2005, she released her second solo album B'Day (2006), which contained hits "Irreplaceable" and "Beautiful Liar". Knowles also ventured into acting, with a Golden Globe nominated performance in Dreamgirls (2006), and starring roles in The Pink Panther (2006) and Obsessed (2009). Her marriage to rapper Jay-Z and portrayal of Etta James in Cadillac Records (2008) influenced her third album I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008), which saw the birth of her alter-ego Sasha Fierce and earned her a record-setting six Grammy Awards in 2010, including Song of the Year for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)". Knowles took a hiatus from music in 2010, took over management of her career and explored 1970s R&B, rock and roll, and African and funk styles. As a result, her fourth album 4 (2011) deviated towards a more traditional R&B sound. In January 2012, Knowles gave birth to a daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.

Early life

Knowles was born in Houston, Texas, the daughter of Mathew Knowles, a Xerox sales manager and Tina Knowles (née Beyincé), a hairdresser and salon owner. Mathew is African American; Tina, a Louisiana Creole, has African, French, Irish, and Native American ancestry, and is a descendant of Acadian leader Joseph Broussard. Beyoncé's name is a tribute to her mother's maiden name. She is the elder sister of Solange Knowles, also a singer, songwriter, and actress.

Aged eight, Knowles and childhood friend Kelly Rowland met LaTavia Roberson while in an audition for an all-girl entertainment group. They were placed into a group with three other girls as "Girl's Tyme", and performed rapping and dancing on the talent show circuit in Houston. After seeing the group, R&B producer Arne Frager brought them to his Northern California studio and placed them in Star Search, the largest talent show on national TV at the time. Girl's Tyme failed to win, with Knowles later saying the song they performed was not good. In 1995 Knowles' father resigned from his job to manage the group. The move reduced Knowles' family's income by half, and her parents were forced to move into separated apartments. Mathew cut the original lineup to four and the group continued performing as an opening act for other established R&B girl groups. Tina designed their costumes until the group split. The girls auditioned before record labels and were finally signed to Elektra Records, moving to Atlanta Records briefly to work on their first recording, only to be cut by the company. This put further strain on the family, and Knowles' parents separated. On October 5, 1995, Dwayne Wiggins's Grass Roots Entertainment signed the group. In 1996, the girls began recording their debut album under an agreement with Sony Music, the Knowleses reunited, and shortly after, the group got a contract with Columbia Records.

Knowles was educated at St. Mary's Elementary School in Fredericksburg, Texas, where she enrolled in dance classes. Her singing talent was discovered when her dance instructor began humming a song and she finished it, hitting the high-pitched notes. Knowles' interest in music and performing continued after winning a school talent show aged seven, singing John Lennon's "Imagine" to beat 15 and 16-year-olds. In fall of 1990, Knowles enrolled in Parker Elementary School, a music magnet school in Houston, where she would perform with the school's choir. She also attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and later Alief Elsik High School. Knowles was also a member of the choir at St. John's United Methodist Church for two years, performing as a soloist.