Traci Braxton
Traci Renee Braxton (born April 2, 1971), is an American singer, reality television personality and radio personality. She is the younger sister of American R&B singer Toni Braxton. In 2011, Braxton reunited with her sisters for the WE tv reality show Braxton Family Values. The first season was the No. 1 rated reality show on WE tv, and the network ordered a 13-episode second season of the show after the third episode.[1][2]
Traci Braxton | |
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![]() Braxton performing at Howard University, 2014. | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Traci Renee Braxton |
Born | Severn, Maryland, U.S. | April 2, 1971
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Singer, actress, media personality |
Years active | 1989–present |
Labels |
|
Associated acts | |
Website | tracibraxton |
In 2013, she got her own radio show called The Traci Braxton Show on the BLIS.F.M. radio.[3] The show is a success.[4][5]
Her solo debut album, Crash & Burn, was released on October 7, 2014, preceded by the single "Last Call".[6] "Last Call" peaked at number 16 on the US R&B Adult.[7] "Crash & Burn" debuted at No. 108 on the Billboard Hot 200 with sales of 4,000 in its first week[8] and reached No. 11 on the relaunched Billboard R&B Albums chart and at No. 1 on the Heatseekers Albums chart.[9][10]
On April 20, 2018, she released the single "Broken Things" featuring her sisters Toni, Towanda and Trina.[11][12][13] On August 3, 2018 Traci Braxton released a song "Lifeline" as the official lead single from her second album, "On Earth", which was released on August 24, 2018.[14]
In the same time, she made her movie acting debut in the feature film Sinners Wanted.[15] On June 13, 2019, she was acting in the movie All In, starring Lil Mama.[16]
Early life
She was born in Severn, Maryland. Her father, Michael Conrad Braxton, Sr.,[17] was a Methodist clergyman and power company worker, and her mother, Evelyn Jackson, a native of South Carolina, was a former opera singer and cosmetologist, as well as a pastor.[18][19] Braxton's maternal grandfather was also a pastor.[20]
Braxton has an older brother Michael, Jr. (born in 1968) and four sisters, Toni (born in 1967), Towanda (born in 1973), Trina (born in 1974), and Tamar (born in 1977). Braxton and her siblings were raised in a strict religious household,[21] and Braxton's first performing experience was singing in her church choir.[21]
Career
1989–1991: Career beginnings with The Braxtons
Toni, Traci, Towanda, Trina, and Tamar Braxton signed their first record deal with Arista Records in 1989. In 1990, they released their first single, "Good Life". It would be their only single as a fivesome. "Good Life" was not a hit, peaking at No. 79 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart. At the time of the single's release, the members' age differences created a problem with marketing. Subsequently, The Braxtons were dropped from Arista Records.
In 1991, during a showcase with Antonio "L.A." Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, who were in the process of forming LaFace Records, Toni Braxton, minus her four sisters, was chosen and signed as the label's first female solo artist. At the time, the remaining members were told that LaFace was not looking for another girl group since it had just signed TLC.[22][23]
1992–95: Career complications and pregnancy
After Toni's departure from the group in 1991, the remaining Braxtons members became backup singers for Toni's first U.S. tour, music videos, and promotional appearances. Traci, Towanda, Trina, and Tamar were featured in the music video for Toni Braxton's third single, "Seven Whole Days", from her debut album.
In 1993, LaFace Records A&R Vice President, Bryant Reid, signed The Braxtons to LaFace. However, the group never released an album or single for the record label. When Reid moved on to work for Atlantic Records, he convinced executives at LaFace to allow him take the group to Atlantic also.[23][24]
It was reported in Vibe magazine that in 1995 Traci Braxton had left the group to pursue a career as a youth counselor.[25] However, it was not confirmed until 2004 when Towanda Braxton appeared in season 2 of the reality show Starting Over, that Traci was not allowed to sign with Atlantic because of her pregnancy at the time.
2011–2014: Reality television
In 2011, Braxton reunited with her sisters for the WE tv reality show, Braxton Family Values.[1] She makes appearances as backing vocal singer of her sisters in some shows over the years. In 2013, Braxton and her husband Kevin Surratt joined the third season of Marriage Boot Camp.[26]
In 2013, Braxton began her solo career after signing with independent media conglomerate Entertainment One under eOne Music and Soul World Entertainment to released an album.[27] The same year, she got her own radio show called The Traci Braxton show on the BLIS.F.M. radio.[3][4][5]
Her solo debut album, Crash & Burn, was released on October 7, 2014. The album's lead single "Last Call" peaked at number 16 on the US R&B Adult.[7] "Crash & Burn" debuted at No. 108 on the Billboard Hot 200 with sales of 4,000 in its first week.[8] The album also reached No. 11 on the relaunched Billboard R&B Albums chart and at No. 1 on the Heatseekers Albums chart.[9][10] A follow-up single "Perfect Time" was released in 2015.[28]
2015–present: The Braxtons reunion, films and On Earth
On January 14, 2015, she joined the judging panel of Mrs. DC America 2015.[29] In October 2015, The Braxtons released their second album Braxton Family Christmas. The album will be released on October 30 and pre-order on October 16.[30][31] Braxton Family Christmas debuted at number 27 on the US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums,[32] number 10 on the US R&B Chart and number 12 on US Top Holiday Albums on November 21, 2015.[33][34] The album charted at number 1 on the US Heatseekers Albums on December 12, 2015.[35]
On May 17, 2016, during a Facebook live video on the Braxton Family Values page it was announced that Braxton will be releasing a new single in 2016 titled "Body Shots" from her upcoming second studio album.[36]
On May 21, 2017, she was starred on the stageplay There's a Stranger in My House.[37] On September 26, 2017, Braxton was featured on the Kokayi rapper title "Moonlight".[38][39]
On April 20, 2018, she was released the single "Broken Things" featuring her sisters Toni, Towanda and Trina.[11][12] On August 3, 2018 Traci Braxton released "Lifeline" as the official lead single from her second album, "On Earth", which was released on August 24, 2018[14]
In the same time, she made her movie acting debut in the feature film Sinners Wanted.[15] On June 13, 2019, she acted in the film, All In, starring Lil Mama.[40]
Discography
Albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
[8] |
Heat [41] |
R&B [42] |
R&B/HH [43] | ||
Crash & Burn |
|
108 | 1 | 11 | 18 |
On Earth |
|
— | — | 24 | — |
Singles
Year | Song | Peaks | Album |
---|---|---|---|
Adult R&B [7] | |||
2014 | "Last Call" | 16 | Crash & Burn |
2015 | "Perfect Time" | — | |
2017 | "Moonlight" (Kokayi featuring Traci Braxton) | — | — |
2018 | "Broken Things" (featuring Toni, Towanda and Trina)[36] | — | On Earth |
2018 | "Lifeline" |
Appearances
Film
- 2018: Sinners Wanted : Nana
- 2019: All In : Foster Mom
Television
- Braxton Family Values (as herself, 2011–present)
- Marriage Boot Camp (as herself, 2014)
Radio
- The Traci Braxton Show
Theater
- There's A Stranger in My House (2017)
References
- MacIntyre, April (June 17, 2011). "Toni Braxton's Bankruptcy Issues Resolved: Braxton Family Values on We TV". MonstersandCritics.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2011.
- Rhett, Starr (June 17, 2011). ""Braxton Family Values" Renewed For Second Season". BET.
- Traci Braxton show on soulbounce.com
- Traci Braxton bio on lushradioonline.com
- Traci Braxton show on alwayssalist.com Archived February 6, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
- eOne, October (October 7, 2014). "Traci Braxton". eOneMusic. Archived from the original on October 19, 2014.
- Traci Braxton Last Call Single Charts on Billboard.com
- "Top 200 Albums Billboard 25 October 2014". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- Traci Braxton charts
- Caulfield, Keith (October 16, 2014). "Keyshia Cole Collects Third No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- Tamar Braxton release single Broken Things featuring her sisters on tracibraxton.com
- Traci Braxton release the single Broken Things on thatgrapejuice.net
- Traci Braxton was release a new single Broken Things on thisisrnb.com
- "On Earth by Traci Braxton on Apple Music". Apple Music (US Store). Retrieved August 24, 2018.
- "Sinners Wanted". IMDb. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
- All In Movie on www.imdb.com
- Jet. Johnson Publishing whatCompany. June 20, 1994. p. 21. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
- Dougherty, Steve (October 9, 2000). "Greener Pastures". People. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
- "Braxton Family Values – Evelyn Braxton". WE tv. AMC Networks. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
- Ney, Angela Winter (February 6, 1994). "Award-winning pastor reaches out to teen-agers". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
- "Toni Braxton Tickets". Premium Seats USA. Retrieved December 18, 2006.
- "Toni Braxton: From the heart". Bluesandsoul.com. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
- "Toni Braxton: The Sunday Conversation – latimes". Los Angeles Times. May 22, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
- Reynolds, J.R. "'So Many' Braxtons on Atlantic Label Downplays Link To Famous Sister." Billboard. July 6, 1996: 18–19. Print.
- Davis, Joyce E. "The Braxtons: And then there were three." Vibe Magazine. September 1, 1996: 92. Print.
- L'oreal Thompson, May (May 30, 2013). "Traci Braxton on 'Marriage Boot Camp'". Jetmag.
- Vanessa Barnett, July (July 30, 2014). "Traci Braxton's Solo Career Set To "Crash & Burn"?". HipHollywood.
- Traci Braxton [@TraciBraxton] (May 21, 2015). "Check out my new single 'Perfect Time' Written by: Talented singer and songwriter (Tank) @TheRealTank" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- Traci Braxton joined the judging panel of Ms Dc Ameerica Pageant sur www.wsu9.com
- "Braxton Family Christmas". Braxton Sisters to Release Christmas Album. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
- "The Braxtons". Braxton Family Christmas. Target. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
- "The Braxtons – Chart history". Billboard. October 5, 1996. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
- "The Braxtons – Chart history". Billboard. October 5, 1996. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
- "The Braxtons – Chart history". Billboard. October 5, 1996. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
- "The Braxtons Chart History". The Braxtons. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- "Hi all! So excited to be Live and answering your q's. Braxton Family Values premieres on We tv Thursday May 19 at 9 pm EST". Facebook. Facebook. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
- Traci Braxton There's a stranger in my house stageplay on www.eventsinpa.com
- Kokayi Moonlight featuring Traci Braxton on itunes.com
- Kokayi featuring Traci Braxton Moonlight single on amazon.com
- All In Movie on www.imdb.com
- "Heatseekers Album Chart: October 25, 2014". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- "R&B Albums Chart: October 25, 2014". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- "Top R&B Hip Hop Albums Chart: October 25, 2014". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
External links
- Official website
- Traci Braxton on IMDb
- Traci Braxton at Last.fm