Usher Raymond

USHER RAYMOND

Date of Birth: October 14, 1978

Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Raymond moved to Atlanta at the age of 12 with his family. His mother was a choir director, and it was at church that he discovered and developed his singing talent.

His exceptional voice and musical gift led him to R&B music. He released his first record in 1994 with a self-titled album. He hit pay dirt with his second album, "My Way," which hit platinum and spent three weeks at the top of the R&B charts. It also brought him nominations from the Grammys and Train Awards. He even spent a summer touring with Janet Jackson.

In 1995 he decided to use the electric presence he developed on stage, and made a guest appearance on the series The Parent Hood. The experience tweaked his interest, and by the next year, he was a regular on the series Moesha, playing Jeremy. Continuing down the acting road, he landed a regular gig on the soap, The Bold and the Beautiful. His performance garnered him an Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama.

By 1998 he had done commercial work for Tommy Hillfiger Jeans, and his first feature film, The Faculty. Playing the supporting role of Gabe in the teen thriller, the film opened the door to more feature work such as She's All That (1998), Light It Up (1999), Texas Rangers (2001) and How Do You Know (2010). He lent his voice to the film Muppets Most Wanted (2014) and will appear in the comedy Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016).

Off screen and off stage, Raymond has involved himself in several community activities including serving as the national spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Transportation's "Get Big On Safety" campaign. He also participated in an NBA Stay in School program and performed at several of the franchises' jamborees entertaining students while showing them the importance of education.