Name:

Notable Achievement:

Holds the record for most Grammys (6) won in a single night by a female artist (a record shared with Adele who has also won 6)

Born:

September 4, 1981 in Houston, Texas

Education:

Attended The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston

Family Background:

Born to Matthew and Tina Knowles, Beyoncé was the first of two children. She and her younger sister Solange were raised in an upscale neighborhood of Houston, Texas.

Matthew Knowles had a successful career as a six-figure salesman of medical requirement. Tina worked at a bank and eventually opened up a beauty salon.

Childhood and Early Career Influences:

To help her make friends, Beyoncés mother signed her up for dance classes. It soon became apparent that singing was what Beyoncé enjoyed the most. She started performing at a young age; she was already entering talent competitions at 7. Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 were the most influential to Beyoncé. In 1992 she joined the six-piece girls group, Gyrls Tyme. The group competed on Ed McMahons Star Search. Beyoncés parents encouraged her from the start; although they didnt win Star Search, Matthew Knowles left his job and started to manage the girl band that was re-named Destinys Child. Tina Knowles went on to make costumes for Destinys Child, which at this point consisted of four girls including Beyoncés cousin Kelly Rowland.

High School and Career with Destinys Child:

Although Beyoncé attended high school, Destinys Child eventually prompted home-schooling. After signing with Columbia Records, the group released their first record in 1998. Destinys Child experienced continued success into the early 2000s. In 2001, Destinys Child won a Grammy for their song Say My Name. In 2002, Beyoncé won ASCAPs Pop Songwriter of the Year Award, becoming the first African-American female to do so.

Solo Career:

Beyoncé released her first solo album, Dangerously in Love in the spring of 2003. Both the single Crazy in Love and the album itself dominated the music