MARY J BLIGE BIOGRAPHY

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Mary J Blige

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Mary J Blige Biography

Birthday: January 1, 2000

Mary J. Blige is a famous recording artist as well as a record producer. She is also considered an actress, being part of the film �Prison Song�, tv shows such as �The Jamie Foxx Show�, �The Ghost Whisperer�, etc. She was born in January 11, 1971 in New York, and has sold millions of albums all over the world and has won nine Grammy Awards.

Mary J. Blige is the second child of Thomas Blige and Cora Blige. Thomas Blige was responsible for teaching Mary to sing, but left the family when Mary was just four years of age. As early as five years of age, Blige went through sexual abuse, done by a friend of the family. As for her education, Blige dropped out of school during her eleventh grade.
At the age of seventeen, Blige recorded �Caught Up in Rapture�, an Anita Baker hit at a mall booth. Her record was then played for Jeff Redd, one of Uptown Records� recording artists, then eventually for Andre Harrell, Uptown�s CEO. In 1989, Mary J. Blige signed a contract with the said label and became its very first female artist.

Mary J. Blige started recording her debut album: �What�s the 411?� in 1991, overseen by Puff Daddy who was at that time an Uptown Records executive. The year after, the album was released, with the single �You Remind Me� becoming number one under the R&B chart in the summer of 1992. �Real Love� was the second single, which also became a chart-topper, and ultimately her first single to be included in the top 10 Hot 100.
In 1994, �My Life�, Blige�s second album was released and characterized by moodier tempo, with Blige writing most of the songs, and based those on her personal life. The album turned triple platinum with �Be Happy�, the lead single, becoming number 29 on the R&B chart. Even during her fame for the said period, Mary J. Blige was into drugs and alcohol. She also experienced depression, especially because of being in an abusive relationship with Jodeci�s K-Ci Hailey who was her boyfriend at that time.

In the summer of 1995, Blige had a duet Method Man for his track "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" which also gave her the first out of her many Grammy Awards: �Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group�. In 1997, Mary�s third album was launched. �Share My World� was said to be recorded during the time when the singer was trying to combat her alcohol and drug addictions, at the same time splitting up with Hailey. As she tried to let go of her very unhealthy lifestyle, Blige was able to produce happier songs found in the said album, which became number one in the Billboard 200 Chart.

In 2001, Mary J. Blige�s �Family Affair� single was released and became her first number one hit in Billboard�s Hot 100. Two years after, Blige�s �Love and Life� which was again made together with �Puff Daddy�, was released and was regarded as their most excellent work, reaching the first spot at the Billboard Hot 200 and becoming certified platinum. In 2007, Blige�s �Growing Pains� was launched which was nominated for �Best Contemporary R&B Album�. Currently, Mary J. Blige is working on her new album, to be recorded starting June of this year �09, and to be released in the last quarter of the year. She has also been given recognition recently at the BET Honors ceremony.