Usher Raymond IV (born October 14, 1978), who performs under the
mononym Usher, is an American recording artist and actor. He rose to fame in the 1990s, releasing the multi-platinum album
My Way (1997) and
8701 (2001). His success continued with the release of his breakthrough album,
Confessions (2004), which has sold over ten million copies in the United States, and been
certified diamond by the
RIAA. To date, he has sold over 40 million albums worldwide and has won five
Grammy Awards.
In 2008, Usher was ranked as the 21st most successful Hot 100 Singles Artist of all-time by
Billboard magazine.
He ranked higher than any other artist of his generation. According to the
Recording Industry Association of America, Usher has sold over 21.5 million albums in the United States.
Aside from recording, Usher ventured in to other business. He had established his own record label, US Records, and is a part owner of the
Cleveland Cavaliers franchise. He has also been appearing in films, debuting in the 1998 film
The Faculty.
