JENNIFER HUDSON

Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Kate Hudson (born September 12, 1981) is an American recording artist, actress and spokesperson. She came to prominence in 2004 as a finalist on the third season of American Idol, coming in seventh place. She made her film debut in Dreamgirls (2006), which won her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award, an NAACP Image Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

She won a Grammy Award for her eponymous debut album, Jennifer Hudson, which was released in 2008 on Arista Records and was certified gold by the RIAA for selling over 800,000 copies in the US; sales exceeded 1 million copies worldwide. Additionally, it spawned the hit single "Spotlight". Her second album, I Remember Me, was released in March 2011, and reached number two on the Billboard 200, selling 165,000 copies in its first week of release. The album was certified gold by the RIAA, for shipping over 500,000 copies in the US.

In late 2008, after Hudson's mother, brother and nephew were killed in a shooting, Hudson stepped out of the limelight for three months. Hudson resumed her public appearances in 2009, and has since performed at the Super Bowl XLIII, the Grammy Awards, American Idol, and The Oprah Winfrey Show. Hudson has been described as a friend of President Barack Obama, who invited her to appear with him at a fundraiser in Beverly Hills in May 2009. She also performed at the White House at the "Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement" event. Her vocal range is mezzo-soprano. Hudson has sold 1,280,000 albums and 2,237,000 tracks in the United States as of February 2012.

Birth name: Jennifer Kate Hudson

Born: September 12, 1981. Chicago, Illinois, United States

Genres: R&B, soul

Occupations: Singer, actress, spokesperson

Instruments: Vocals

Years active: 2004–present

Labels:RCA Records (2011–present)

Associated acts: Ne-Yo

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IYEOKA OKOAWO

Iyeoka Okoawo

Iyeoka Okoawo (pronounced ee-yo-kah) is a Nigerian/American poet, recording artist, singer, activist, educator and TEDGlobal Fellow. Her music includes elements from soul, R&B, rock, hip hop, and jazz.

Birth name: Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo

Born: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Genres: Neo soul, R&B, soul, funk, jazz hip hop soul, hip hop

Occupations: Singer-songwriter, poet, educator

Instruments: Vocals, tambourine

Years active: 1996–present

Labels: Underground Sun, Phanai Media Group

Associated acts: The Rock By Funk Tribe

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NE-YO

Ne-Yo

Shaffer Chimere Smith (born October 18, 1979), better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American Grammy Award winning R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario. The single's successful release in the United States prompted an informal meeting between Ne-Yo and Def Jam's label head, and the signing of a recording contract.

In 2006, he released his debut album, In My Own Words, which contained the US number one hit "So Sick", as well as the top 10 hit "Sexy Love". Then in 2007, he released his second album, Because of You, which contained the US top 3 hit, "Because of You". In 2008, he released his third album, Year of the Gentleman, which contained the top 10 hits "Closer", "Mad" and "Miss Independent". His fourth studio album, Libra Scale, was released on November 22, 2010.

In 2009, Billboard ranked him as the 57th Artist of the 2000s decade. In addition to a successful recording career, Ne-Yo has amassed a catalog of chart-topping songs that he has written for other artists.

Birth name: Shaffer Chimere Smith

Also known as: Ne Yo

Born: October 18, 1979 (age 32)

Camden, Arkansas, United States

Origin: Omaha, Nebraska, United States

Genres: R&B, pop, dance, soul, hip hop

Occupations: Singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer, Actor

Instruments: Vocals, guitar, piano

Years active: 1999–present

Labels: Compound, Motown

Associated acts: Rihanna, Kanye West, Calvin Harris, Keri Hilson, 50 Cent, Bridget Kelly, Jay-Z, Beyoncé Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, Fabolous, Rick Ross, Jadakiss, Pitbull, Chris Brown, Afrojack, Trey Songz, T-Pain, LL Cool J, Timbaland, DJ Felli Fel

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KIMBRA

Kimbra

Kimbra Lee Johnson (born 27 March 1990), known mononymously as Kimbra, is a New Zealand singer-songwriter/guitarist. On 29 August 2011, she released a debut album Vows which reached the top 5 in New Zealand and Australia. On 22 May 2012, the album was released in North America, debuting at number 14 on the Billboard charts. Kimbra featured in the multi-platinum single "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye.

Birth name: Kimbra Lee Johnson

Born: 27 March 1990 (age 22)

Hamilton, New Zealand

Genres: Pop, soul, jazz

Occupations: Singer, songwriter, musician

Instruments: Vocals, guitar, tambourine

Years active: 2000–present

Labels: Forum 5, Warner Bros. Records

Associated acts: Miami Horror, Gotye, As Tall As Lions, Mark Foster, Nesian Mystic

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EMELI SANDE

Emeli Sandé

Adele Emeli Sandé  (born 10 March 1987), best known as Emeli Sandé, is a Scottish recording artist and songwriter. Sandé first became known to the public eye after she featured on the track "Diamond Rings" by the rapper Chipmunk. It was their first top 10 single on the UK Singles Chart. In 2010, she featured on "Never Be Your Woman" by the rapper Wiley, which became another top ten hit. Simon Cowell called Sandé "his favourite songwriter at the minute". She has written for a number of artists, including Cher Lloyd, Parade, Susan Boyle, Gabrielle, Preeya Kalidas, Leona Lewis, Alesha Dixon, Cheryl Cole, Tinie Tempah, and Mutya Keisha Siobhan.

In 2010, she signed a publishing deal with EMI Music Publishing. She later announced that Virgin Records had given her a record deal. Sandé released her first solo single "Heaven" in August 2011. Sandé has two number-one singles across the United Kingdom and Ireland with "Read All About It" with Professor Green and "Next to Me". Her album Our Version of Events peaked at number one in the UK, soon after its release in February 2012 . In 2012 she performed in both the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the London Olympics.

Birth name: Adele Emeli Sandé 

Born: 10 March 1987 (age 25)

Origin: Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Genres: Soul, R&B

Occupations: Singer, musician, songwriter

Years active: 2009–present

Labels: Virgin (2010–present), Capitol Records (2012-present) 

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Emeli Sandè Live @ T in the Park 2012 

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