Chris Brown grew up in the small town of Tappahannock, Virginia, population 2000. He was influenced by the music played by his parents. Among his favorites are Michael Jackson, Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, Donnie Hathaway, Anita Baker, and Aretha Franklin. L

By the age of 13, Chris Brown and his mother began looking for recording opportunities. Brown is a multi-talented performer who exhibits skills as a songwriter and dancer in addition to his vocal prowess. For his first album, Jive Records hooked him up with hot producer Scott Storch, the man behind such hits as 50 Cent's "Candy Shop" and Beyonce's "Naughty Girl." Chris Brown's first single "Run It!", featuring Juelz Santana, began to climb the charts in September 2005. The first album, titled Chris Brown, is due for release at the end of November.