Biography | Artist Actors Biography

Black Eyed Peas are an American hip-hop (musical styles Crossover Rap/Hip-Hop and Alternative Rap/Hip-Hop) group from Los Angeles, who have enjoyed massive international pop success. The group is currently composed of will.i.am, Apl.de.ap, Taboo, and Fergie.

History

As Atban Klann, the group signed to Ruthless Records (run by Eazy-E), but their album was never released because Ruthless did not consider the positive themes reflected in the group’s music to be marketable to their audience.

After Eazy-E died of AIDS in 1995 (see 1995 in music), Atban Klann reformed as the Black Eyed Peas and released a debut, Behind the Front (1998, 1998 in music) that earned the group (and their accompanying live band) critical acclaim. The hit single from the album was “Joints and Jams”, and featured on the Bulworth soundtrack. Their second album was 2000’s Bridging the Gap (2000 in music). Their breakthrough album, Elephunk, was released in 2003, featuring a new female vocalist, Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson, previously a cast member of Kids Incorporated and a member of teen pop band Wild Orchid. She is the replacement of background singer Kim Hill, who departed the band during 2000.

From Elephunk came the anti-war anthem “Where is the Love?“, which became their first major hit, peaking at #8 on the US Hot 100, but topping the charts practically everywhere else, including six weeks at #1 in the UK where it became the biggest-selling single of 2003. The album subsequently spawned “Shut Up“, which peaked at UK #2 (despite being referred to by one reviewer as “the single most vacuous, pointless, vile and generally loathsome song in a generation”) and topped the charts in many other European countries including France and Germany. Indeed the band have enjoyed greater mainstream success in Europe than in the US with Elephunk going Top 10, gold and (sometimes multi-)platinum in the UK, Germany and many other European markets, yet ultimately failing to break the US Top 10, although it did go platinum there. The third single from the album, “Hey Mama” hit the Top 10 in the UK, Germany and several other European countries, and reached the Top 30.

During Black Eyed Peas’ concert tour in Asia in 2004, Apl.de.ap’s life story was featured in a weekly Filipino TV drama special called Maalaala Mo Kaya (Do You Think You Can Remember), which explained his childhood with his poor family in Pampanga, Philippines, back then when he was teased “baluga” (a derogatory word for Negro), before sadly parting with them to live a better life in the US at the age of 14. “The Apl Song”, with the chorus written in Tagalog (Filipino), from their album Elephunk, tells the story of Apl.de.ap. The Tagalog lyrics and backing melody were based on the song “Balita”, an original composition of the 1970s Filipino folk rock group Asin. The group eventually produced an exclusive video of the song in the Philippines while touring the country as part of their album promotion.

The Black Eyed Peas’ song “Let’s Get Retarded” was restyled as “Let’s Get it Started” for an NBA Finals worldwide commercial. New, less offensive, lyrics gave the tune a basketball theme, as opposed to the original’s theme dealing with getting heavily intoxicated and partying, and the spot featured Carlos Santana. The revised song had great success as a single, particularly on the iTunes music download service.

Their next album, Monkey Business, was released on June 7, 2005. The album’s first single, “Don’t Phunk With My Heart”, was a major hit in the US peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. This is the highest peak yet of their career. The song is also at #3 in the UK, and #5 in Canada, and #1 in Australia. (Some radio stations skittish about complaints of obscenity, play an alternate version, “Don’t Mess With My Heart.”) “My Humps”, another song from the album, immediately achieved commercial success in the U.S. and fairly substantial radio play despite the sexually suggestive content. The album Monkey Business itself debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart, selling over 295,000 copies in its first week.

Some commentators have noted the consistent theme of black men and blonde women in Black Eyed Peas videos, raising the question of racial fetishes or jungle fever. Whether or not it has been a conscious decision, more recent videos have featured a wider range of racial groups.

In September 2005, The Black Eyed Peas released an iTunes Essentials playlist of their greatest hits, as well as some that were re-recorded especially for purchase through iTunes. The playlist includes popular songs such as “Don’t Lie”, “Shut Up” and a new version of “Where is the Love?”. It also has small stories containing info and commentary about the songs and how the group first met.

Erika Jo Heriges (born November 2, 1986 in Angleton, Texas), known on stage simply as Erika Jo, is an American country music recording artist who rose to stardom after winning the 2005 season of the Nashville Star television program at the age of eighteen.

She is the youngest person to win the competition, as well as the first female winner. Erika Jo was also a national finalist in the 1999 True Value Country Showdown (now called the Colgate Country Showdown [1]), a talent competition consisting of regional winners from across the United States. She also holds the distinction of being the youngest person ever to perform the National Anthem at University of Kentucky’s famed Rupp Arena.

Erika Jo is the daughter of Bo and Paige Heriges, and is the elder of two children (sister Shelby Lynne is three years younger). The family makes its home in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, 15 miles east of Nashville.

Erika Jo is a 2005 graduate of Wilson Central High School in Gladeville, Tennessee. Her first single, “I Break Things”, was released to radio immediately upon her Nashville Star victory. Her first album, Erika Jo, was released by Universal South Records on June 14, 2005 and debuted at #5 on Billboard’s country album chart. She currently headlines the Nashville Star Tour, which will continue through September, 2005. Erika Jo has also become a regular performer on the Grand Ole Opry since her Nashville Star triumph.

Erika Jo is the debut album of country music singer Erika Jo. It was released on June 14, 2005 by Universal South Records, following Erika Jo’s victory on the 2005 season of reality tv series Nashville Star. The album debuted at the #5 spot on the Billboard country albums chart.

Track Listing

* 1. I Break Things
* 2. Who You Are
* 3. There Are No Accidents
* 4. Go
* 5. Strong Tonight
* 6. Good Day for Goodbye
* 7. Wish You Back To Me
* 8. They Say Love Is Blind
* 9. Going ‘Til You’re Gone
* 10. Love Is
* 11. I’m Not Lisa

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erika_Jo

Joaquin (pronounced “Wah KEEN“) Rafael Phoenix (born October 28, 1974 in San Juan, Puerto Rico), also known as Leaf Phoenix, is an actor in the USA. He often plays supporting roles as conflicted, insecure characters, and often with a dark side.

His Irish-Spanish father, John Bottom, and Bronx-born Jewish mother, Arlyn Sharon Dunetz, joined the Children of God cult and became missionaries, traveling throughout South America and adopting the surname “Phoenix”. Joaquin, who was born in Puerto Rico, lived in the island until he was six years old. After leaving the cult and returning to the United States, they encouraged their children (Joaquin was the third of five) to develop their creative instincts. Since his siblings had nature-related names – “River”, “Rain” (or “Rainbow”), “Liberty Butterfly”, and “Summer” – Joaquin changed his name to “Leaf”.

The family moved to Los Angeles from Puerto Rico. His mother started working as a secretary for NBC, and his father became a landscaper. His parents hired an agent, who eventually got the five children acting work. Joaquin’s first acting jobs were guest appearances on two television shows with his brother River: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1982) and Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia (1984).

He made his big-screen debut in Space Camp (1986), and his first starring role was in Russkies (1987). He went on to establish himself as a child actor in Parenthood (1989), before deciding to withdraw from acting for a while and move to Mexico with his father.

Joaquin came back into public view under tragic circumstances — he was the person who dialled 9-1-1 when his brother River Phoenix suffered a fatal drug overdose outside Hollywood nightclub The Viper Room. Joaquin was reluctant to re-enter the world of acting, but he did so at the insistence of his friends. He changed his name from “Leaf” back to “Joaquin”.

He portrayed a troubled teen in Gus Van Sant’s To Die For, and has earned positive reviews for adult roles as Commodus in Gladiator (for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor), a priest in Quills, the washed-up baseball player Merrill Hess in M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs, and stoic Lucius Hunt in Shyamalan’s The Village.

Phoenix is a strict vegan, and will not wear costumes made from animal products. He has recently admitted himself into rehab to deal with his increasing alcohol problem. He is also a chain smoker.

Contrary to popular belief, the scar on his lip is not the result of a repaired cleft lip. It is a birth scar. Joaquin Phoenix has stated in interviews that, his mother, while pregnant with him, felt a sharp pain one day and he was born with a scar on his lip.

source: www.wikipedia.org

Samantha Karen Fox (born April 15, 1966, Mile End, London, United Kingdom) is a former British glamour model and singer. She should not be confused with a pornographic film actress of the 1970s and 1980s named Samantha Foxx.

As an unknown 16 year old she came in second in a topless photograph competition organised by The Sunday People in 1983. She soon became nationally famous and became a regular “page three girl” in the Sun newspaper, subsequently appearing as a nude model in girlie magazines. She is 5 feet 1 inch tall. The shots were not explicit by modern standards and appear natural.

In the mid-1980s she started a successful singing career. She scored three Top 10 hits in both the United States and England, but, oddly, only her debut single, “Touch Me (I Want Your Body),” made the lists in both countries. In the U.S., “Naughty Girls (Need Love Too)” and “I Wanna Have Some Fun” cracked the Top 10 and also crossed over to the R&B charts; British audiences put “Do Ya Do Ya (Wanna Please Me)” and “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now” into the Top 10.

In 1989, she co-presented The Brit Awards with Mick Fleetwood, in a TV presenting appearance that was sui generis.

In 1994, it was reported that she had become a born-again Christian and was invited to play at Christian music festival Greenbelt. When queried about how she could reconcile topless modelling with her Christian beliefs, she said:

“Easily. God gave me my body. I know it has made many people happy. There is no conflict there. I don’t and have never promoted pornography. I’m not a born-again Christian because I have always been one. I am doing what God wants me to do. My prayer each night is: Let me go my way and make people happy. Let me do the right thing.”

In 1995, Fox attempted to revive her singing career by participating in the Song for Europe, the competition to select the UK’s entry for the annual Eurovision Song Contest. She performed “Go for the Heart” as lead singer of the group Sox, but failed to reach the Eurovision after finishing 4th in the public vote.

After many years of rumours about a relationship with her female manager, Fox confirmed in her autobiography, published in 2003, that she was a lesbian, and that the rumours were true.

In August 2005 she was featured in a music video with Swedish music artist Günther, in the song “Touch Me” (a remix of her earlier version). The link can be found below.

During her modelling career, her measurements were reported as 155cm tall, 91cm/58cm/79cm (B/W/H).

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Alejandra Guzman (born 9 February 1968) is a Mexican singer and actress, the daughter of Mexican actress Silvia Pinal and Venezuelan rock and roll singer Enrique Guzmán. After traveling with her mother’s theater troupe, Guzmán recorded her debut album in Bye Mama after deciding she wanted to focus on singing. She has had an extremely enthusiastic and dedicated fanbase throughout Latin America in the late 1980s and 1990s. Her latest album is Algo Natural released in 1999.

In 1988, Guzmán scored one of the biggest hits of her career, her song, Eternamente Enamorada (Eternally in Love) becoming a number one hit in Mexico and many other Hispanic countries. The song is considered a classic by many Spanish rock fans.

In 1991, she gave birth to her only daughter Frida, named after Frida Kahlo. Later in 2000 she married a German businessman who was soon convicted of a crime in the United States, they divorced shortly after.

Despite being constantly harassed by paparazzi and being in the middle of multiple controversies, Guzman still remains relatively accessible to her fans, and she signs autographs for them whenever she can. One of these such controversies occurred in April 2003 when Guzmán suffered a miscarriage. She blamed the media for the tragic ending of her pregnancy.

While Guzman has been dubbed since the beginnings of her career “The Queen of Rock and Roll” by both mainstream media and fans, all-rock media have shown rejection at this title, therefore no radio stations devoted to rock music play her songs and written rock media such as magazines rarely write about her, and then only to mock her “queen” status.