Toni Michelle Braxton (born October 7, 1968 in Severn, Maryland) is a half a dozen-instance Grammy Award winning African American R&B singer. She is virtually all notable for her dark, deep, heavy contralto vocals, which are moo possibly by alto standards. In April 21, 2001, Braxton married Mint Condition keyboardist Keri Lewis. That equivalent month, she got her number one tike, the boy known as Denim Cole Braxton-Lewis. Braxton's 2nd boy, Diezel Ky Braxton-Lewis, was innate inside 2003.

Early years
Braxton is the oldest of sixer toddlers. Her father was the man of the cloth, & the Braxton tykes were raised within a nonindulgent religious menage. Braxton's 1st performing case was singing sustaining the church choir. She attended Bowie State University to obtain the teaching degree however decided to pursue a musical career. She & her quatern sisters (Traci, Trina, Towanda & Tamar) performing as The Braxtons, released their 1st individual "The Good Life" within 1990. This individual attracted a attention of producer Antonio "L.A." Reid which led to Braxton recording demos of songs written for Anita Baker for a new Eddie Murphy film, Boomerang. Pregnant, Baker passed & suggested a "girl in the demos". That was a break Braxton required, & her songs "Give U My Heart" & "Love Shoulda Brought You Home" ended au courant the soundtrack to Boomerang inside 1992.

Debut album: Toni Braxton

Inside 1993, Braxton released her self-titled debut album, Toni Braxton, under LaFace/Arista with anticipation from a only "Love Shoulda Brought You Home" from either a Boomerang soundtrack which was as well involved on the debut.

the album was a critical & popular profits peaking at total-of these on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart where it remained for fortnight.

Along with "Love Shoulda Brought You Home", Toni Braxton likewise featured a 1993 U.S. top tenner hit singles "Another Sad Love Song" & "Breathe Again" & a 1994 singles "Seven Whole Days," "You Mean The World To Me," & "How Many Ways". "Breathe Again" topped a Hoarding Hot 100 Airplay chart.

In the period of this erthe, Braxton won many awards including a Grammy Award for Best New Artist and two American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist and Favorite New Adult Contemporary Artist.

Secrets

Braxton entered a studio around 1995 to start recording her second-year album, Secrets. A album, freed inside 1996, is her most successful operate up to now. Braxton, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, and Antonio "L.A." Reid stuck to the same formula with this album but added more soul to the music. Braxton has said all about a album, "The motivation for this album was to include a little bit of everything. Our aim was to come up with material that would have a familiar 'feel' to the people who bought the first album without being musically redundant." Along by using Babyface, Braxton besides worked with R. Kelly, Tony Rich, and David Foster on the album. Braxton was a co-executive producer of a album & co-wrote ii of its songs, including the 1997 single "How Could An Angel Break My Heart" which was likewise late involved in the Princess Diana memorial album.

By owning aid from either either a number 1 individual from a album, "You're Makin' Me High", which became Braxton's total 1 number-1 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, the album debuted at total-2 on the Billboard 200. "You're Makin' Me High" as well topped a Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart for two weeks.

A 2nd individual from either a album, Braxton's signature ballad "Un-Break My Heart" written by Diane Warren, spent eleven weeks at number-a single on a Hot 100 chart & as well topped the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart for eleven weeks and a Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart for four weeks.

More singles from either a album involved "I Don't Want To" (which as well topped a Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart), "I Love Me Some Him", & a above-above-named "How Could An Angel Break My Heart" which featured Kenny G, who Braxton late toured by having.

In the period of this erthe, Braxton too took a turn at modeling whilst she participated in the "Fashion Week" shows around New York City and became a irregular runway model for the designs of Mark Bower.

Toni manufactured history at a 1997 Grammy Awards by existence a lone creative person to win Right Pop Female Vocal Performance for "Unbreak My Heart" & Better R&B Female Performance for "You're Makin' Me High". Braxton topped a Billboard Season-Prevent Stock and index charts when a Top Hot Centred Singles Artist - Female, Top R&B Artist - Female (singles & albums), Top Hot R&B Singles Artist - Female, Top Hot Dance Club Play Artist, Top Hot Adult Contemporary Artist, and with the Top Hot Dance Club Play Single and Top Hot Adult Contemporary Track ("Un-Break My Heart").

She was likewise nominated for deuce American Music Awards for Favored Female Artist Rock/Pop & Favorite Female Artist Soul/R&B.

Toni troubles

Inside 1998, Braxton filed a cause against her label, LaFace/Arista. She claimed that she experienced fulfilled what her original vii-month locate a label got expected, & she wished to exist as freed from either her contract. Arista, but, experienced non agreed to let Braxton last. It was reported that she experienced received far less for her deuce albums than virtually all creative person of her status. Sustaining simply 2 album releases, Braxton experienced sold assibilate 15 million albums at that point.

At a prevent of January, Braxton filed for bankruptcy protection by having liabilities totaling to a higher degree $1 million. the filing was a symptom of recent disputes on top her locate Arista. Her publiciser said of the action: "...the only sensible option... She is confident that with the court's protection, she will be able to make a fresh start."

The bankruptcy judge ruled inside Braxton's favor by denying a dismissal of the claim (equally filed by her record label). Braxton has said of the cause: "I can't talk about the suit, but I love those guys very much. It's just business."

Besides to add to the bad month, Braxton's so groom-to-be, Curtis Martin of the New York Jets, ended his relationship with her going away Braxton pain & forgoing the record contract.

Toni reborn and in Heat

By Feburary of of 1999, Braxton had resolved her conflicts using her record label & began recording freshly lesson by using a label. Babyface told MTV: "We're getting ready to head back in the studio with Toni and we've got everything worked out..." Braxton's newly treat by having Laface/Aristthe was worth a reported $25 million.

Within January of 2000, Braxton released her 1st individual since a bankcruptcy filing & since 1998. "He Wasn't Man Enough" was freed to radio & peaked at #2 within Billboard Hot 100 in June.

Inside April, Braxton freed her hanker awaited album The Heat, and it debuted at #2 in Billboard 200 albums chart using foremost week sales of 205,00& stayed in the top 20 of the chart for 15 consecutive weeks.

Braxton's 2nd lone from either a album, "Just Be A Man About It", peakead at #32 on the Hot 100, when "Spanish Guitar" was less successful & peaked at #98.

Braxton's music streaming videos for "He Wasn't Man Enough" was nominated for ii MTV Video Music Awards including Better Female Videos & Best R&B Video and a Billboard Music Video Award for Best R&B Clip of the Year. Braxton too topped a Billboard Season-Prevent Stock and index charts when a Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist - Female, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album Artist - Female, and Top Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Artist - Female. She besides received a 2000 Aretha Franklin Award for Entertainer of a Year at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.

Braxton became engaged to keyboardist Keri Lewis of Mint Condition, and it married within April of 2001. Within June, she gave birth to her number one tyke, the boy known as Denim Cole Braxton-Lewis.

More Than A Woman
Within November of 2002, Braxton released her 4th studio album More Than A Woman. It was Braxton's last debut however on the Billboard 200 albums chart at #13 sustaining number one week sales of 95,000. A just individual freed from either that album was "Hit The Freeway" featuring Loon, which only managed to peak at #82 on the Hot 100.

Around April of 2003, Braxton gave birth to her second little one, the boy known as Diezel Ky Braxton-Lewis. When you took that equivalent year, she announced that she experienced left her page of 12 years, Arista Records, & was sign language sustaining Blackground/Universal headed by her manager at the period, Barry Hankerson. A few reports stated that Braxton experienced signed an $18 million locate a label.

Libra

Around April of 2005, Braxton released her fresh lone "Please" digitally & to radio. She got aforethought for the June release of her fresh album, however it was repel & finally freed in September 27 on Blackground/Universal.

"Please" performed decently, however failing to debut on the Hot 100 chart. A album's 2nd only is "Trippin' (That's the Way Love Works)".

Within September, Braxton hosted the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards & too opened a indicate using a performance of "Please".

Braxton might as well exist as headlining a Tertiary Annual VH1 Save The Music favorite.

Despite a lead only "Please" merely peaking at #36 in Hoarding R&B/Hip-Hop Tracks Chart, the album was decently promoted and managed to debut at #4 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, selling 114,593 copies in the first week. Libra as well debuted at #2 on the Hoarding Hot R&B Albums Chart.

Acting
Braxtin has appeared on Broadway in two Disney shows, "Beauty and the Beast" (as Belle) in 1998 and "Aida" (as Aida) in 2003.

Around 2001, she made her acting debut in the film Kingdom Come.

Inside August 2005, Braxton announced plans to begin her have sitcom on The WB for the fall 2006 line-up.

Filmography
Kingdom Came (2001) ''Play'd: The Hip Hop Story (2002) (TV)

Discography
Albums

Toni Braxton (1993) #4 UK, #1 US - 8x Pt, 10 million worldwide Secrets (1996) #10 UK, #2 US - 8x Atomic number 78, 12 million worldwide The Heat (2000) #3 UK, #2 US - 2x Atomic number 78, Five million worldwide Snowflakes (200One) #119 US - Gold, 1 million worldwide More Than A Woman (2002) #13 US - Gold, One million worldwide Ultimate Toni Braxton (2003) #23 UK, #119 US - Gold, One million worldwide Platinum & Gold Collection (2004) Un-Break My Heart: The Remix Collection (2005) Libra (2005) #4 US

The states sales: Nineteen.Five million (inside album sales), 6 million (around singles sales)

Worldwide sales: 30 million (inside album sales), 10 million (within singles sales)

Sum album/singles sales: 40 million

Singles

|rowspan="2"|Year |rowspan="2"| Title |colspan="3"| Chart positions |rowspan="2"| Album |-

| US Hot 100 | US R&B/Hip-Hop | UK Singles Chart |- | 1992 | "Give U My Heart" (sustaining Babyface) | - | #2 | - | Boomerang (Soundtrack) |- | 1992 | "Love Shoulda Brought You Home" | #33 | #4 | #33 | Toni Braxton |- | 1993 | "Another Sad Love Song" | #7 | #2 | #15 | Toni Braxton |- | 1993 | "Breathe Again" | #3 | #4 | #2 | Toni Braxton |- | 1994 | "Seven Whole Days" | #26 | - | - | Toni Braxton |- | 1994 | "You Mean the World to Me" | #7 | #3 | #30 | Toni Braxton |- | 1994 | "How Many Ways" | - | - | - | Toni Braxton'' |- | 1996 | "You're Makin' Me High" | #1 (Single week) | #1 (Deuce weeks) | #7 | Secrets |- | 1996 | "Un-Break My Heart" | #1 (Eleven weeks) | #2 | #2 | Secrets |- | 1997 | "I Don't Want To" | #19 | - | #9 | Secrets |- | 1997 | "I Love Me Some Him" | - | #9 | - | Secrets |- | 1997 | "How Could an Angel Break My Heart" (effort. Kenny G) | - | - | #22 | Secrets |- | 2000 | "He Wasn't Man Enough" | #2 | #1 (Foursome weeks) | #5 | A Heat |- | 2000 | "Just Be a Man About It" | #32 | #6 | - | A Heat |- | 2000 | "Spanish Guitar" | #98 | - | - | A Heat |- | 2002 | "Christmas in Jamaica" (effort. Shaggy) | - | - | - | Snowflakes |- | 2003 | "Hit the Freeway" (deed. Loon) | #82 | #32 | #29 | To the higher degree a Woman |- | 2003 | "Let Me Show You the Way (Out)" | - | - | - | To the higher degree a Woman |- | 2005 | "Please" | - | #36 | - | Libra |- | 2005 | "Trippin' (That's the Way Love Works)" | - | - | - | Libra |}