Usher's “My Way” residency, which kicked off in 2021 in Las Vegas (a city Frank Sinatra himself once raved about), saw the R&B singer record 100 consecutive sold-out shows through celebrity courtship and viral social media moments. The stage was lively, filled with roller skates and stripper poles.
But the sights weren't the only attraction. Water level, the 45-year-old says in a retrospective that he reflects on the hallmarks of his 30-year music career: clean vocals, polished yet effortless dance moves and a heart in the tradition of his idol Sammy Davis Jr. and his godfather Ben Vereen. He showed off his charm that melts people. Then, the 8-time winner of the Grammy Awards on February 11th There will be a halftime show In ~ Super Bowl LVIII He performed in Las Vegas just days after he was scheduled to release his ninth studio album, “Coming Home,” which he called “a love letter to the legacy of my career.” The eras that defined Usher's career included:
After starting out in a church choir, Usher began singing professionally at age 10 in an R&B group in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee. His solo performance of “Star Search” in 1991 led him to audition with LaFace Records co-founder L.A. Reid. , signed with the Atlanta-based label. Usher moved there at age 12 and worked under the tutelage of producer Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs, who developed Jodeci and Mary J. Blige.
Combs lent his signature song New Jack Swing to Usher's self-titled debut album, released in 1994, on which the 15-year-old sang a sexually explicit song that he later said he had little opinion about. Singles from the LP, including “Think of You”, performed well at Black R&B radio, but the LP peaked at number 167.
From 1995 to 2001
Coming of Age in Atlanta
In his late teens, Usher developed his artistic persona through various mentorships. The adolescent Usher temporarily lost his voice after recording his first album, so he focused on honing his dancing skills and stage presence. He moved in with Jermaine Dupri, a songwriter and producer who helmed platinum albums by teenage rap duo Kris Kross and R&B group Xscape, in the process of building the So So Def record label.
Dupri encouraged Usher to incorporate his experiences into his songs, draw on Atlanta's musical and cultural identity, sing with crunchier hi-hats and bottom-heavy bass, and work with other local artists such as singer Monica.
The resulting album, “My Way” (1997), was full of hard-hitting slow jams and youthful confidence, producing Usher's first number one hit (“Nice & Slow”) and first Grammy nomination (“You Make Me Wanna”). was recorded. ”) sold 7 million copies. He expanded the formula on his next album, “8701” (2001), which spawned two number one singles, “U Got It Bad” and “U Remind Me,” and earned him two Grammy Awards.
Usher parlayed his musical success into appearances in teen-oriented TV shows and movies, including 'Moesha,' 'The Faculty,' and 'She's All That.'
2004
With the diamond-selling “Confessions” (2004), Usher and Dupri created a masterpiece of semi-autobiographical R&B, combining a playboy story with lively, captivating production peppered with the raucous crunk music that emerged in Atlanta in the early 2000s. .
The grounds of the affair story sparked speculation that Usher's relationship with multi-platinum girl group TLC's Rozonda (Chilli) Thomas was over. In the end, the music outshined the exciting drama, and the album garnered four No. 1 hits, led by the ubiquitous club jam “Yeah!,” featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris. The album was followed by Usher's second single, “Burn”, which reached number one. ”Her duet with Alicia Keys, 'Confessions Part II' and 'My Boo', which were added to the album reissue, both topped the charts.
“Confessions” won Usher three Grammy Awards and became the second best-selling album of the 2000s.
2007-2019
Explore EDM and TV
As Usher entered his 30s, he sought greater control over his personal and creative life. He quit his longtime mom, Jonetta Patton, in 2007 when she briefly took part in the Broadway revival of the musical “Chicago.” That same year, he married Tameka Foster and welcomed their first son, Usher Raymond V, an event reflected in the touching “Here I Stand” (2008).
His follow-up, “Raymond vs. Raymond” (2010), chronicled their divorce and saw Usher explore collaborations with the up-and-coming Nicki Minaj on “Lil Freak” and Pitbull on “DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love.” ,' and 'OMG' with Will.i.am ranked first for four weeks. 'Raymond vs. With ‘Raymond’ and ‘Looking 4 Myself’ (2012), Usher leaned into the electro-pop that dominated the music scene. He collaborated with producers like Max Martin and Diplo, but fell short of replicating the critical and sales impact of “Confessions.”
In 2013, Usher joined the reality TV show 'The Voice' as a coach for two seasons and mentored Josh Kaufman, winner of the 2014 season. His recording efforts over the next few years again drew attention to the dominant rap influence coming out of Atlanta. “Hard II Love” (2016) featured Young Thug and Future, while the simply titled “A” (2018) was produced entirely by Zaytoven, who has provided the soundscape for the rise of rappers like Gucci Mane, 21 Savage and Migos. . .
2021-present
The reemergence of Las Vegas
Once pandemic restrictions were lifted in 2021, Usher signed on to open a “My Way” residency at Caesars Palace. With a stage that embraced Atlanta's culture through a roller rink set, spectacular dancing, and spectacular costume changes, the show quickly captivated audiences and became a huge hit. Celebrity Viral Moments From classic hits to melting hearts as Usher serenaded us (see: Keke Palmer).
The show commanded expansion at the MGM Grand and Paris as other active recording artists such as Adele, Garth Brooks and Bruno Mars began their own Las Vegas residencies. Usher also revisited NPR's popular Tiny Desk Concert series catalog in June 2022.
As he prepares for his Super Bowl halftime show, Usher told Vogue last month that the 13-minute performance will be a showcase of the R&B music that has influenced his career, including possible cameos from the genre's architects. “I specifically planned this night in my mind to have R&B take the main stage,” he said.