In addition to the multiple artistic achievements of Beyonce's latest release I AM...SASHA FIERCE, she can also be seen playing R&B legend Etta James in "Cadillac Records". Acccording to Beyonce, becoming Etta James was challenging for her emotionally, "one thing she [Etta] taught me is her fearlessness; she was Etta all the time. She was bold and she did not try to change who she was for anyone. She was one of the queens. If it weren't for her crossing over - she was the first African-American woman to cross over on the radio, I wouldn't have the opportunities that I have."
Grammy award winner, Jennifer Hudson recalls that her "first influence was my grandmother and my earliest memory of singing publicly wasat seven when I sang my first solo in church. Then four years later I sang at my great-grandmother's 90th birthday and the members of my family were like, 'she doesn't sound like a little girl!' I didn't realize what I could do. Before that I used to walk around the house imitating Brandy and groups like Xscape. But Whitney [Houston] was always there from when I was a child. I used to create my own little duets with her on 'I Will Always Love You.'"
Growing up Jazmine's mother started teaching her classic R&B. "She played me Aretha [Franklin], Stevie [Wonder], Donny Hathaway, Phyllis Hyman. This was during the age of hip-hop so I wasn't into at first but I soon began to appreciate it" says Jazmine. She started singing in Philly and one of her first stops was Black Lily, a musical collective started by The Jazzyfastnastees in the mid-to-late '90s when Philly was birthing a whole movement of new artists including Jill Scott, The Roots, Floetry and Kindred. "It was booming," recalls Jazmine. "I started singing with a live band, old school songs like Sly's 'Thank You For Lettin' Me Be Myself' and Marvin [Gaye's] 'What's Going On.'"
"Every record I've ever made has had these influences...The Temptations, Al Green, The Four Tops and so on," Raphael explains. Raphael's third solo album is not merely a throwback: it is as close to the kind of record made in Detroit, Chicago, Memphis, Miami or New York by any number of super R&B hit makers to anything recorded since. While other contemporary artists may attempt to emulate the sound and flavor of the '70s soul music, Raphael Saadiq brings real emotion, real feeling and production values that are simply right on.
Spirit has been re-released and this album is a showcase for Leona's powerhouse voice - which has evoked comparisons to Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Celine Dion. "These women are the true divas," Leona insists. "They're amazing performers whom I've listened to for years. These are the people who've inspired me to sing, so it's flattering that I'm being compared to them. But I have a lot of hard work to do first!"
Jamie Foxx released his third album Intuition this past December and watched it debut at number three on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart. Foxx has a wide variety of influences - from gospel artist Steven Harden to R&B singer R. Kelly. Foxx also portrayed Ray Charles in the movie Ray.
Brandy comes from a very musical family. Her father is a former singer and choir director, while her brother Ray J has had many R&B hits. On top of that, she is the cousin of the late Bo Diddly, as well as rapper Snoop Dogg. Her all time singing idol, however, is Whitney Houston. Brandy received the opportunity to work with her idol when Houston hand picked her to play the lead role in her adaptation of Cinderella. Brandy admits to being a "huge, huge fan" of the singer and even refers to her as her "godmother". Brandy's latest album Human debuted at #5 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip Hop albums chart.
In addition to the multiple artistic achievements of Beyonce's latest release I AM...SASHA FIERCE, she can also be seen playing R&B legend Etta James in "Cadillac Records". Acccording to Beyonce, becoming Etta James was challenging for her emotionally, "one thing she [Etta] taught me is her fearlessness; she was Etta all the time. She was bold and she did not try to change who she was for anyone. She was one of the queens. If it weren't for her crossing over - she was the first African-American woman to cross over on the radio, I wouldn't have the opportunities that I have." 
Spirit has been re-released and this album is a showcase for Leona's powerhouse voice - which has evoked comparisons to Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Celine Dion. "These women are the true divas," Leona insists. "They're amazing performers whom I've listened to for years. These are the people who've inspired me to sing, so it's flattering that I'm being compared to them. But I have a lot of hard work to do first!"
Jamie Foxx released his third album Intuition this past December and watched it debut at number three on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart. Foxx has a wide variety of influences - from gospel artist Steven Harden to R&B singer R. Kelly. Foxx also portrayed Ray Charles in the movie Ray.
Brandy comes from a very musical family. Her father is a former singer and choir director, while her brother Ray J has had many R&B hits. On top of that, she is the cousin of the late Bo Diddly, as well as rapper Snoop Dogg. Her all time singing idol, however, is Whitney Houston. Brandy received the opportunity to work with her idol when Houston hand picked her to play the lead role in her adaptation of Cinderella. Brandy admits to being a "huge, huge fan" of the singer and even refers to her as her "godmother". Brandy's latest album Human debuted at #5 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip Hop albums chart.