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Rihanna Profile |
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Birth Date: February 20, 1988
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Birth Place: St. Michael, Barbados, West Indies
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Birth Name: Robyn Rihanna Fenty
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Height: 5'8"
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Biography |
Rihanna was born in the parish of St. Michael,
Barbados, on February 18, 1988. Growing up, Rihanna led a
relatively simple, average life on her island home. She
attended Combermere, a kind of technical high school, and,
despite having a natural singing talent, she didn't give
much thought to performing -- aside from singing with her
friends for fun.
At one point, though, Rihanna did enter a beauty and talent
pageant at her school. Singing Mariah Carey's "Hero" as part
of the talent component, Rihanna went on to win the
competition. But that performance -- and singing in the
shower or in front of the mirror -- was the extent of her
musical experience before 2004.
During Christmas 2003, a series of chance events unfolded
that would change Rihanna's life forever. A New York City
record producer, Evan Rogers, was vacationing with his
Barbadian wife Jackie near Rihanna's home. A mutual friend
introduced them, and after Rihanna belted out a few tunes
for Rogers, he realized her potential and invited her to New
York to record some demo songs. Rihanna jumped at the
opportunity to sing professionally, and she took Rogers up
on his offer the following spring.
It wasn't long before Rihanna was auditioning for Shawn
"Jay-Z" Carter, head of Def Jam Recordings. Despite her
nervousness, Rihanna wowed the Def Jam record execs, and was
signed to a deal before she walked out the door. Work
immediately began on her singles, starting with "Pon de
Replay," one of the punchy dance numbers that had first
impressed Jay-Z. The hip-hop mogul, however, had initial
concerns that the number would upstage its performer, but he
was ultimately convinced that Rihanna's deeper vocal talents
would keep her from being a one-hit wonder.
The faith Def Jam placed in Rihanna's talent paid off when
"Pon de Replay" became a summer smash in 2005. The song hit
the third slot on the Billboard charts, and by late August,
Rihanna had a second single, "If It's Lovin' That You Want,"
released, and her debut album, Music of the Sun, was out in
stores.
The wave of Rihanna's impressive debut carried her onto the
small screen. She's been on Live with Regis and Kelly, The
Ellen DeGeneres Show and Today, and has performed at the
2005 Video Music Awards, World Music Awards and MTV Awards.
She's also helped kick off sports events, from a performance
alongside Kanye West at the start of the NFL season to a
show for the start of the 2005 US Lawn Tennis Open
Championships.
Rihanna is now based in Stamford, Connecticut, where she
lives with Evan and Jackie Rogers. |
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Other
Information |
Was signed to Def Jam Records
Her musical inspirations include Alicia Keys, Beyoncé
Knowles, and Mariah Carey.
Attentend Combermere which is a sixth form school similar to
technical school in America
Performed Hero at her school's talent show
Won a Beauty Pageant contest at her school
Born to a white Barbadian father Ronald Fenty and a black
Guyanese mother Monica Fenty.
She has two younger brothers Rorrey and Rajad.
Stated in an interview that her friend and former Island Def
Jam record label artist Fefe Dobson was someone that she
admired and looked up to. Having a fellow black artist
writing, singing, and performing the music she truly loves. |
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