Black Music Month: Usher

This Black Music Month, we celebrate a true icon: Usher Raymond. From singing in church at just four years old, Usher's destiny was clear. His powerful voice and undeniable talent quickly propelled him to superstardom.

He dominated the charts with hits like 'Confessions,' 'Yeah!', 'U Remind Me,' and the unforgettable duet 'My Boo' with Alicia Keys, solidifying his place as a R&B legend. But Usher's impact extends far beyond the stage.

In Atlanta, Georgia, he's a dedicated philanthropist through his New Look Foundation, empowering young people to achieve their dreams. And his business acumen is just as impressive! 

Usher Raymond: a singer, writer, performer, philanthropist, and businessman – a true testament to the enduring power and influence of Black music

Mike Moore breaks down Usher’s journey from prodigy to global icon.

Listen now! 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
I'm Mike Moore. Welcome to the celebration of Black Music
Month on the Black Information Network, honoring the sounds that
shaped our culture. African American singer Usher Raymond Fourth is
in the One Name club, joining the likes of Sinatra,

(00:23):
Fiance and Michael the Singer, songwriter, dancer, an actor. Was
born October fourteenth, nineteen seventy eight, in Dallas, Texas. He's
forty seven. It was at a young age that he
found music and began singing in his church choir when
he was just six years old. Fast forward, he is
now being referred to as the King of R and B.

(00:43):
The eight time Grammy winner is best known for his
album Confessions.

Speaker 2 (00:47):
Confessions, She Got Done on the Way, Some Confession.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
And hit songs like You Got Advanced, You Remind Me
and then do It with Alicia Keys my Boot.

Speaker 2 (01:03):
There's always that one person that will always have your heart.
You'll never seecause you've planted from the stuff.

Speaker 1 (01:14):
But he can cross into pop as well, giving fans
a taste of his musical range and diversity. Not only
does Usher gift through his music, but he also gives
through his community. Case in point, Usher's Nulook Foundation, a
nonprofit organization in Atlanta, George that he founded in nineteen
ninety nine with his mother, Janetta Patton, the very same
charity that was also involved in rebuilding New Orleans after

(01:37):
Hurricane Katrina devastated the Crescent City back in two thousand
and five. The organization provides funding for children in foster
care and service program, holds conferences and camps for at
risk youth, and works to promote leadership skills for kids
in impoverished community. The foundation lists areas of concerns like mentorship,
leadership development, and providing resources for young people to achieve

(01:58):
their goals. He echoed the notion of following dreams and
achieving goals during a recent Emerald University graduation ceremon.

Speaker 3 (02:05):
Don't be afraid to wander into space that you don't understand,
as long as you are bringing passion with you. Be
willing to stretch, be a little unrealistic, be a little
delusional even in your pursuit of happiness and fulfillment, and
at the same time be patient, be respectful of the process,
because life is filled with challenges and they would either

(02:27):
make you or break you life.

Speaker 2 (02:28):
Don't want to stream and dame between the sentence in
say can matain?

Speaker 4 (02:33):
We can't name it anyway in celebrity, through his music
and performances, has helped with business pursuits, including part ownership
and the streaming service Title and the NBA labeling Cavaliers
NBA franchise.

Speaker 1 (02:46):
He also displayed his political voice when he supported Vice
President Kamala Harris during her presidential bid.

Speaker 3 (02:53):
And we had the opportunity to choose a news generation
of leadership for our country, and then we need air.
You want to get out there and to support this campaign.

Speaker 2 (03:02):
It doesn't matter.

Speaker 3 (03:02):
Rather, it's going from door to door. Every call matters,
every conversation matters. All of it makes a difference in
closing this race.

Speaker 1 (03:14):
June is a Black music mine. I'm Mike Moore. I'm
the Black Information Network.