Singer Amerie is the daughter of a Korean mother and an African-American father who was a military member. She grew up on bases from Alaska to Germany, meanwhile gaining an appreciation of the classical arts from her mother and of R&B music from her father. She studied dance from an early age and performed in talent contests throughout her youth. After her high school graduation, her family finally settled down in Virginia, while she began to attend Georgetown University, from which she later graduated with a degree in English and Fine Arts. While living in Washington, D.C., she met producer Rich Harrison, who worked with such performers as Mary J. Blige, and began developing demos with him. They led to a deal with Rise Entertainment and, in turn, with Columbia Records. In the spring of 2002, Rise/Columbia released Amerie's debut single, "Why Don't We Fall in Love." By the time her first album, All I Have, appeared that July, the single had reached the Top 20 of the R&B/hip-hop charts and the Top 40 of the pop charts. Three years she released her second album Touch which featured the smash hit "1 Thing", sampling the old-time favourite "Oh Calcutta!"

Sound Files (MP3)
1 Thing - from the album Touch
Touch - from the album Touch

DISCOGRAPHY

All I Have
Released: 2002
Label: Rise/Columbia

Touch
Released: 2005
Label: Sony/Columbia

RETURN TO MAIN MENU