Toni Michelle Braxton (born October 7, 1967)[1] is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, actress, television personality, and philanthropist. Braxton has won 6 Grammy Awards, 7 American Music Awards, and 9 Billboard Music Awards. Throughout the years, she has sold over 66 million records worldwide.
Braxton topped the Billboard 200 with her 1993 self-titled debut album and continued that streak with her second studio album, Secrets, which spawned the number-one hits "You're Makin' Me High" and "Unbreak My Heart". Although she had successful albums and singles, Braxton filed for bankruptcy, but then returned with her chart-topping third album, The Heat (2000) which included the international hit single "He Wasn't Man Enough". In 2009, she returned to the spotlight with "Yesterday", a #12 R&B hit which served as the first single from her new album Pulse, released on May 4, 2010, which debuted at #1 on Billboard R&B Album Chart.[2] Braxton was involved in the 7th season of the reality show Dancing with the Stars. Her professional partner was Alec Mazo. She was voted off in week five of the competition. It was announced on October 6, 2010 that Braxton had once again had filed for bankruptcy and was reporting somewhere between $1-$50 million in debts. A reality series entitled Braxton Family Values, starring Toni and her sisters, debuted April 12, 2011 on WE tv. WE tv ordered a 13-episode second season of the show after the third episode of the first season. On September 18, 2011, Braxton was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
Braxton has been recognized for her distinctive dramatic contralto voice.[78][79] Her voice has been called "husky, sultry, elegant and sexy."[80] Due to the huskiness of her voice, Braxton often used male singers such as Michael McDonald, Luther Vandross and Stevie Wonder as vocal style models.[81] Chaka Khan and Anita Baker were two of the few female singers that she could stylize. Steve Huey of Allmusic cites a key to Braxton's success is the versatility of her voice, which he states as being "soulful enough for R&B audiences, but smooth enough for adult contemporary; sophisticated enough for adults, but sultry enough for younger listeners; strong enough in the face of heartbreak to appeal to women, but ravishing enough to nab the fellas."
Braxton began her career singing traditional R&B and adult contemporary ballads and love songs on her debut and sophomore albums. However, hip-hop soul and dance music elements begun to get spun into her sound on The Heat,[82] More Than a Woman,[83] and Pulse. She also showcased her classical training while performing in Broadway plays Beauty and the Beast and Aida as well as her duet with Il Divo, "The Time of Our Lives"
Braxton met musician Keri Lewis when his group, Mint Condition, opened for her on tour.[84] On April 21, 2001, they were married.[84] On December 2, 2001, she gave birth to their first child,[85] a son named Denim Cole Braxton-Lewis. In 2002, while gearing up for the release of her fourth studio album, Braxton discovered she was pregnant with her second child, due to a complicated pregnancy, that confined her to bed rest. The couple's second son, Diezel Ky Braxton-Lewis, was born on March 31, 2003.[85] The younger child, Diezel, has been diagnosed with autism. As a result of Diezel's diagnosis, Braxton has become very involved with Autism Speaks, serving as their International Spokesperson. In November 2009, through her attorney Antavius Weems, Braxton announced that she and her husband had separated. She is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Birth name Toni Michelle Braxton
Born October 7, 1967 (age 45)
Severn, Maryland, U.S.
Genres R&B, soul, pop, hip hop
Occupations Singer-songwriter, record producer, actress, philanthropist, television personality
Instruments Vocals, piano
Years active 1989-present
Labels LaFace, Arista, Blackground, Atlantic
Associated acts The Braxtons, Tamar Braxton, Trina Braxton, Babyface, Kenny G, Lisa Lopes, Method Man & Redman
Website www.tonibraxton.com