Britney Spears
Britney Spears, born in Kentwood, Louisiana, U.S.A. on December 2nd 1981, took America by storm back in November 1998 with her debut single Baby One More Time, which smashed into the American Billboard charts at #1. Her debut album of the same title was released only a few weeks later also debuting at #1, making her the first ever female artist to have a simultaneous Billboard #1 single and album with a debut release. The impact was mirrored on charts throughout the world. Britney Spears had arrived on the music scene in a very big way.

Appearing in talent shows and choirs around her hometown, Britney’s talents were obvious from a young age. She auditioned for The Disney Channel’s ‘Mickey Mouse Club’ at the age of eight. Too young for the show, but too talented to dismiss, a Disney producer helped her to get an agent in New York where she spent the next three summers studying performing arts. She began to act in TV commercials and off-Broadway shows. At age 11, with varied and invaluable entertaining experience already behind her, Britney graduated to a coveted place in Disney’s ‘Mickey Mouse Club’.

After a couple of years on the show, Britney went back to New York to start a music career hoping to follow in the footsteps of her idols Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Brought to Jive Records’ attention, Britney had an opportunity to sing ‘a’cappella’ for record company executives.

Her talent and natural presence were undeniable. She hooked up with Backstreet Boys’ producer Max Martin and Whitney Houston producer Eric Foster White who loved her voice, so they set about recording some great pop songs, the first of which was Baby One More Time. An album soon formed under the name of this first song, which subsequently became the first single. With the high-energy video and infectious groove, Baby One More Time was welcomed by the World of pop music with open arms.

A cover of ‘Rolling Stone’ (April Issue 1999) increased the frenzy. Britney was rocketed from pop-starlet to mega-star. She became a phenomenon across the World and was in demand from virtually every corner of the globe. Her 2nd single, Sometimes - a soft summer ballad - was released in June 1999 and was warmly received by a rapidly growing fan base.

In 2001, the reigning Queen of Teen Pop shows us a fresh and more mature side. The new songs on her third album, Britney, reflect the changes in her life and her development from a teenage girl to a mature, young woman. Working with producers such as The Neptunes, on the first single I’m a Slave 4 U has allowed her to move on to the next level. Other producers and songwriters on the album include Max Martin, Rami, Riprock ‘n’ Alex G, Dido, Josh Schwartz and Brian Kierulf of KNS Productions, Rodney Jerkins, Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears herself.