Toni Michele Braxton, born in 1967 in Severn, Maryland, emerged as a major figure in American R&B after catching the attention of producers Antonio "L.A." Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. Her 1993 self-titled solo debut reached number one on the Billboard 200, eventually selling 10 million copies worldwide and establishing her as a versatile vocalist and songwriter.
Early Development and Breakthrough
Raised in a religious household by a minister father and a mother who was a former opera singer, Braxton began singing in a church choir. She later attended Bowie State University. Her professional trajectory began in the late 1980s with the group The Braxtons, which included her sisters Traci, Towanda, Trina, and Tamar. Signed to Arista Records in 1989, the group experienced limited success until Braxton transitioned to a solo career under the LaFace Records label. Her breakthrough arrived with contributions to the soundtrack for the film Boomerang, leading to the release of her multi-platinum debut studio album.
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The release of her second album, Secrets, in 1996 expanded her international reach. The project featured collaboration with producers including R. Kelly and David Foster. The record produced two significant hits: her first US Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, "You're Makin' Me High", and the ballad "Un-Break My Heart". This period resulted in multiple Grammy Award wins, confirming her standing in the global pop and R&B landscape.
Later Recordings and Television
Braxton continued to release studio albums, including The Heat in 2000, followed by projects such as Libra and Pulse. Despite industry contractual challenges, she remained active in the recording studio. In 2014, she collaborated with Babyface on the duet album Love, Marriage & Divorce, earning the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. Beyond music, she ventured into television, serving as an executive producer and star of the reality series Braxton Family Values from 2011 to 2020. She also appeared in the reality competition Dancing with the Stars.
Fast facts
- Born: 7 October 1967, Severn, Maryland
- Occupations: Singer, songwriter, actor, pianist, record producer
- Education: Glen Burnie High School, Bowie State University
- Debut Solo Album: Toni Braxton (1993)
- Grammy Award for Best New Artist: 1994
- Grammy Award for Best R&B Album: 2015
- Reality Television: Braxton Family Values (2011–2020)
Questions readers ask
How did Toni Braxton begin her music career?
She started performing with her sisters in an R&B group called The Braxtons, which was signed to Arista Records in 1989.
What was her first number-one hit?
Her first number-one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 was the song You're Makin' Me High, released in 1996.
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