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).
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.