Ciara Princess Harris Biography

Summary

"Ciara Princess Harris" (born October 25, 1985) professionally known as "Ciara", is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actress. Ciara made her debut in the summer of 2004 with the "Billboard" number-one single 'Goodies'. The album "Goodies" was released the fourth quarter of 2004 and first quarter of 2005. It produced three top two singles on the Billboard Hot 100, selling over 2.6 million in the U.S., and three million worldwide, and earned various awards and nominations.

Ciara's second album, "Ciara: The Evolution", was released in December 2006. It has spawned the hit singles 'Get Up', 'Promise', and 'Like a Boy'. The album has sold nearly two million copies worldwide.

Biography

Childhood

Ciara was born in Austin, Texas. She is the only child of Carlton and Jackie Harris. She grew up on army bases in Germany, New York, Utah, California, Arizona, and Nevada, since her father Carlton was in the United States Army. During her teens, Ciara and her family settled in Atlanta.

Ciara said that watching Destiny's Child perform on a television program while staying home from school inspired her to pursue a career in music. Then, Ciara joined a girl group called "Hearsay" and worked on her songwriting. The group recorded demos, but began to have differences. Eventually, she left the group, got a publishing deal, and found a 'musical soulmate' when she met producer Jazze Pha. Ciara graduated from Riverdale High School in Riverdale, Georgia in 2003 and was signed by LaFace Records executive L.A. Reid with the help of Jazze Pha. She began production on her debut album. Ciara co-wrote a demo with songwriter Sean Garrett, who was co-writer of Usher's international hit 'Yeah!?.

2004–2005: Goodies

"Goodies" became a commercial success in the U.S., selling 2.63 million copies. The following year, "Goodies" received an international release, but success was limited, although the singles were worldwide hits. Ciara's debut single, 'Goodies' reached number one in United States and United Kingdom. The second and third single '1, 2 Step' featuring Missy Elliott and 'Oh' featuring Ludacris were top five singles in both countries. 'And I', the fourth single, did poorly compared to the first three releases. The song peaked at ninety-six on the Billboard Hot 100.

In the summer of 2005, Ciara released her DVD of music videos, documentaries, and commentaries entitled "Goodies: The Videos & More" and contributed to hip-hop artists' singles during "Goodies" success. She appeared on Missy Elliott's 'Lose Control' from her album "The Cookbook" and Bow Wow's 'Like You' from his album "Wanted", which both peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

In December 2005, Ciara went on tour with Gwen Stefani on her "Harajuku Lovers Tour 2005" and other pop sensations Bow Wow and Chris Brown for the 'Holladay Jam', which stopped at big cities such as New York, Washington D.C., and Atlanta. She also received Grammy nominations for 'Best New Artist', 'Best Rap/Sung Collaboration' for '1, 2 Step', 'Best Rap Song' and 'Best Short Form Music Video' for 'Lose Control?.

Ciara slowly began production on her second album.

2006–present: Ciara: The Evolution

Ciara started a new year by winning her first Grammy Award for Missy Elliott's 'Lose Control'. It won 'Best Short Form Music Video', on February 8, 2006. In April 2006, Ciara was featured on Field Mob's "Billboard" top ten single 'So What'. The following month, she made acting debut in the MTV Films production "All You've Got", also starring Adrienne Bailon and Efren Ramirez. The summer of 2006, Ciara completed her second album, after the release of the "Step Up" soundtrack single 'Get Up' featuring Chamillionaire. It became the second European single in the summer 2007, apart from the UK, where the song was released twice as a download-only single, once in 2006 and again in 2007.

Ciara's second studio album, "Ciara: The Evolution" was released on December 5, 2006. Production included hitmakers such as, Jazze Pha, Rodney Jerkins, Pharrell, Bryan Michael Cox, Will.i.am and many others. The album is about Ciara's personal growth after two years in the public eye. She co-wrote and co-produced most of the songs. The official first single 'Promise', produced by Atlanta producer Polow Da Don, which reached eleven on the Billboard Hot 100. In October 2006, Ciara went on a seventeen city club tour until December, which she previewed new music from the album.

"Ciara: The Evolution" debuted at number one selling over 338,000 copies, which is 213,000 more than Ciara's debut album "Goodies". The album received generally positive reviews and was certified platinum by the RIAA. The second single from "Ciara: The Evolution", the first single in Europe, 'Like a Boy', was released on February 13 2007 in the U.S. The single was the second to be released in the UK with an April 9, 2007 release date. The single was a moderate success peaking at nineteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and sixteen in the UK.

In early May, Ciara teamed with "Glamour Magazine" to direct her first music video for emerging female artists Tiffany Evans, Paula Campbell, or Samantha Jade in the Nissan Reel Music Contest. She signed on to her second film role "Mama, I Want to Sing!" which filmed the summer 2007 and due in theaters February 2008 and she became the face of Jay-Z's Rocawear women campaign entitled 'I Will Not Lose', which debuted in the summer. The official third single 'Can't Leave 'Em Alone',which features 50 Cent was released on June 12, 2007 and peaked at forty on the "Billboard" Hot 100. Ciara headlined with Lloyd, T-Pain, T.I. and Yung Joc on the "Screamfest '07". The tour was scheduled to begin July 24, 2007. but it was changed to August 3, 2007. During this period, Ciara was featured on teen singer Tiffany Evans's debut single, 'Promise Ring.' 'That's Right' will be released as the official fourth single. Ciara will support fellow pop singer Rihanna on the UK leg of the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour.

Film career

In May 2005, Ciara made her acting debut in the MTV Films coming-of-age film "All You've Got", as Becca Watley, the queen bee of a high school volleyball team; the "Little Madonnas". The film was released on DVD May 23, 2006.

Ciara is starring with Patti LaBelle in the upcoming film "Mama, I Want to Sing!", which is based on the off-Broadway musical. Ciara is playing a preacher's daughter in the church choir who becomes a pop star. The movie is currently shooting in Louisiana and due in theaters in February 2008.