India Arie

Background

India Arie Simpson is a phenomenal singer and songwriter whose talents have not only endeared her to fans worldwide, but have also set her apart in the music industry. The singer was born on October 3, 1975, in Denver, Colorado. She is the daughter of Joyce, a former singer, and Ralph Simpson. Arie’s musical interests were encouraged by her parents. She is of African-American descent and has ties to Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, and Liberia. She is a Libra by design and has two siblings. Her parents divorced when she was 13, and her mother then moved the family to Atlanta, Georgia. There, she attended Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, where she began to study songwriting and performing.

Arie signed with Universal/Motown records in 1999. In March 2001, she released her debut album “Acoustic Soul.” The album was successful, debuting at number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and, after a few months, it was certified as Double Platinum by the RIAA, selling three million copies worldwide. She went on to release her second studio album, “Voyage to India,” in September 2002, which won the ‘Best R&B Album’ award at the 2003 Grammys. By 2006, Arie had brought out her third studio album, “Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship,” which earned her a ‘Gold Certification’ from the RIAA. After her fourth album, “Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics,” was released in February 2009, it debuted at number two and three on the Billboard R&B and 200 charts, respectively. In 2010, Arie was one of the 70 artists that sang ‘We Are the World: 25 for Haiti’ in aid of the Haiti earthquake. Her fifth studio album, “Songversation,” came out in June 2013.

Arie uses her music to heal, incite change and inspire. She’s a talented singer and songwriter who has an impressive discography and an arsenal of awards, including four Grammys, two BET Awards, and four N.A.A.C.P. Image Awards. Contrary to her professional life, Arie’s personal life is under wraps. However, reports claim she dated Chris Rock over a decade ago, although Arie is presently single and has no kids.