Born: September 4, 1981
Place of Birth: Houston, Texas
Major Notes:
Beyonce Knowles, often referred to as just "Beyonce", is a multi-talented musical superstar.
Both her parents were involved in the music industry where her father was a record designer and her mother a costume designer.
When Knowles started elementary school and was taking dance lessons, her dance teacher recognized that she also had a talent for singing.
Knowles entered a talent contest and, at only seven years old, won the contest singing the John Lennon's Imagine.
Part of her early groundwork in music was as a singer in both her school choir and her church choir.
By the time Knowles was in her early teens, she worked in a singing, rapping, and dance group known as Girl's Tyme.
The group began to be known to a wide audience when they appeared on Star Search, a popular national TV show.
Knowles' father started managing the group full time and they were able to get bookings as the opening act for popular R & B groups.
In 1993, the group changed its name to Destiny's Child, continuing to perform at local events, and in 1997 signed a record contract with Columbia Records.
Over the next few years, Destiny's Child released many successful award-winning songs such as Killing Time, Jumpin' Jumpin', and Say My Name.
While still part of the group, Knowles was making some solo appearances and, in 2000, signed a personal contract with Columbia.
Around the same time, Destiny's Child was having internal problems and some of the members were replaced.
Knowles continued her solo work even embarking on an acting career for TV and the movies.
In 2004, the Grammy award-winning Destiny's Child performed their final album as a group.
Soon the name Beyonce was recognized in the same fashion as that of Madonna or Cher.
Knowles took a starring role in the Academy award-winning movie Dreamgirls where she was featured as Deena Jones, a character based on the lead singer of the Supremes, Diana Ross.
During her career, not only has Knowles co-written or written many successful songs and but also has been a creditable fashion designer.
Beyonce Knowles has won numerous honors and awards including Songwriter of the Year and was the first woman ever to win the American Music Awards International Artist Award.
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