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India Arie Information
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'India.Arie' (born 'India Arie Simpson' on October 3, 1976 in Denver, Colorado) is an American neo soul and R&B singer, songwriter, and guitarist.
Biography
India.Arie learned the transforming power of music early in life, encouraged by both parents: her mother, Joyce, herself a former singer, and now India.Arie's stylist; and her father, basketball star Ralph Sampson. She had taken up a succession of musical instruments throughout her schooling in Denver, Colorado, but her discovery of the guitar at college in Savannah, Georgia, led to a personal revelation about songwriting and performing. "When I started tapping into my own sensitivity, I started to understand people better. It was a direct result of writing songs," she said at the press release of her debut album, Acoustic Soul.
Co-founding an Atlanta-based independent music collective, her one-song turn on a locally released compilation led to a second-stage gig at the Lilith Fair, where a Universal/Motown music scout spotted her and made an introduction to Motown CEO Kedar Massenburg. Sidestepping all the devices of flavor-of-the-month record-making, Acoustic Soul acquainted listeners with a brave and eloquent new voice, drawing an uncommonly broad swath of listeners from hip-hop, neo-soul, blues, folk and classic troubadour-style singer/songwriting, all at once. The album, released in 2001, debuted at #10 on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart and #3 on the R&B album chart. Within months, without the concentrated radio play that typically powers pop and rap albums, Acoustic Soul was certified double-platinum.
India.Arie followed the success of her debut in 2002 with the release of Voyage to India. Debuting at #6 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the R&B chart, the album eventually earned a Grammy for Best R&B Album. One of the singles from the record, "Little Things", also won a Grammy the same year for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. Soon after its release, Voyage to India was certified gold.
India Arie's two-volume third album, India.Arie's Song is to be released on 14 March 2k6. According to billboard.com; Volume 1 will focus on life and relationships while volume 2 will focus on love and politics:
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000970996
On the September 2005 premiere of The Tyra Banks Show, Arie performed Just 4 2day. She wrote this song especially for Tyra's show. Arie also wrote What About The Child, a song that did not air but was made available as a $1 internet download to support child victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
India Arie may also be heard on Stevie Wonder's album A Time 2 Luv that came out on 18 Oct 2k5. India Arie and Stevie Wonder duet on the title track A Time 2 Luv; whic is nominated in the 2k6 48th Grammy Awards for Best Pop Vocal Collaboration With Vocals.
Discography
Albums
*2001: Acoustic Soul #10 US, #3 R&B (US Certification: 2x Platinum)
*2002: Voyage to India #6 US, '#1' R&B (US Certification: Gold)
Singles
*from Acoustic Soul:
**2001: "Video" #47 US, #45 R&B
**2001: "Brown Skin" #39 R&B
**2001: "Strength, Courage, & Wisdom" #76 R&B
**2001: "Intro" #14 R&B
*from Voyage to India:
**2002: "Little Things" #89 US, #33 R&B
**2003: "Can I Walk With You"
**2003: "The Truth"
*from Diary of a Mad Black Woman soundtrack:
**2005: "Purify Me"
*from India.Arie's Song, to be released 14 March 2k6:
**2005/6: "I Am Not My Hair"
**2005/6: "Just 4 2day"
**2005/6: "What About The Child"
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