Toni Braxton

Toni Michelle Braxton is a famous American R&B, pop and soul singer. She has won six Grammy Awards. Toni started to sing in her childhood: her father was a priest, and she began singing in the Church choir. Professional musical career started in the late 80’s, when Toni and four her younger sisters performed as The Braxtons. The young singer’s talent was noticed and she was invited to participate in the record of the demo version of Love Shoulda Brought You Home. Later that composition was included into Boomerang movie soundtrack. After that Toni started to work on her debut solo album, which was issued in 1993. It is worth mentioning that not every artist can have such a powerful debut: Toni’s first album Toni Braxton reached number 4 on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart. Braxton won several awards for that album, including three Grammy Awards. She won in such nominations as “Best New Artist” and twice in “Best Female R&B Vocal Performance” in 1994 and 1995. More than 15 million copies of Toni Braxton album were sold all over the world, which means that the record was certified 8x platinum.

The second album Secrets turned out to be even more successful: more than 20 million copies were sold. That record won several awards, including two Grammy awards and two American Music Awards. Toni wrote two songs for that album, and one of them, How Could an Angel Break My Heart was included on Diana Princess of Wales Tribute, a Princess Diana memorial album.

In 1998 Toni had to experience the unpleasant surprise – she had to announce her bankruptcy. As the result the singer had to set out all her property, including music awards. But even these circumstances could not stop her. Braxton was offered the role in Disney musical Beauty and the Beast and she was performing in Broadway in 1998 and 1999. Toni was the first Afro-American singer, playing the leading role in Disney musical. In 1999 all the financial problems were solved and Toni continued to record on LaFace label. Third studio work titled The Heat (2000) and the composition He Wasn’t Man Enough brought Braxton the third Grammy award. The Heat was certified 2x Platinum and in 2001 it won American Music Awards in the nomination “Best Soul/R&B album”. Toni’s fourth studio work titled More Than a Woman was issued in 2002. In comparison with previous albums it was not so commercially successful. Nevertheless, the next record Libra (2005) debuted on number 4 of Billboard 200 Albums and by the end of the year it was certified Gold.

Toni Braxton’s new studio album Pulse was released in 2010. It is Toni’s first record in five years and it has all the chances to please old fans and to attract attention of new music lovers.