Jamie Foxx biography
Jamie Foxx (born Eric Marlon Bishop; December 13, 1967) is an Academy Award winning United States actor, singer, musician and stand-up comedian. Foxx is possibly best known for his portrayal of musician Ray Charles in
Ray (film). With
Ray, he became one of the few African Americans to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. Foxx received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 14 2007.
Early life
Foxx was born in Terrell, Texas, the son of Louise Annette Talley Dixon and Darrell Bishop, who sometimes worked as a stockbroker and changed his name to Shahid Abdula after converting to Islam. Marie (married and maiden names Nelson), a domestic worker and nursery operator, and Mark Talley, a yard worker. He has frequently cited his adoptive grandmother's influence on his life.
At his grandmother's urging, Foxx began piano lessons at the age of five. He went on to play for church groups in Terrell, and studied classical music in college. He also played American football (quarterback) at Terrell High School, and had an ambition to play for the Dallas Cowboys.
He has a daughter named Corrine who was born in 1995.
Career
Foxx started his stand up career in San Diego while attending USIU. Fellow comedian Dante (comedian), drove him to his first show at the La Jolla Comedy Store. Foxx changed his name while doing stand up comedy , when he found out that female comedians were often called first to perform. He felt Jamie Foxx was an ambiguous enough name to disallow any biases. His last name was chosen as a tribute to Redd Foxx.
In Living Color
Foxx joined the cast of
In Living Color in 1991.
Following this success, Foxx appeared in three more movies:
Jarhead (film),
Miami Vice (film), and
Dreamgirls (film) which were hits at the box office and lifted Foxx even higher as a bankable star in Hollywood. 2007 brought him the lead role in the film
The Kingdom (film), opposite Chris Cooper (actor), Jennifer Garner and Ashraf Barhom.
In September 2007, Foxx was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He said, upon receiving the honor, "it was one of the most amazing days of my life."
Music career
Foxx began piano lessons at age three, and later took classical piano lessons while attending college. In 1994, Foxx released an album (on the FOX record label) entitled
Peep This. In 2001, he hosted the MTV
MTV Video Music Awards.
His music career went into a higher gear when, in 2004, he was featured on rapper Kanye West's song, "Slow Jamz", which also featured Twista. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart, as well as number three on the UK singles chart. Foxx's second collaboration with Kanye West, "Gold Digger", in which he sang the "I Got a Woman" Ray Charles-influenced hook, went straight to 1 on the
Billboard Top 100, and remained there for 10 weeks. In 2005, Foxx was featured on the hit single "Georgia" by Atlanta rappers Ludacris and Field Mob. The song sampled Ray Charles' hit "Georgia on My Mind".
Unpredictable is Jamie Foxx's second studio release. It sold over 598,000 copies in its first week but reached the U.S. number one spot in its 2nd week.
Debuting at number two,
Unpredictable rose to the top of the
Billboard pop album chart, with 2nd-week sales of 200,000 copies in the United States. The album also charted in the UK top 10 album chart, peaking at number nine. It has since been certified RIAA Certification. Foxx became the fourth artist to have won an Academy Award for acting and to have achieved a number-one record album in the US. (The other three to accomplish this feat were Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Barbra Streisand.) Foxx's first single from the album, the title track, "Unpredictable" (featuring Ludacris) samples "WildFlower" by New Birth (band). The song peaked inside the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 and also made the UK top 20 singles chart. The second US single from the album was "DJ Play A Love Song", which reunited Foxx with Twista. In the UK, however, the second single was "Extravaganza", which saw Foxx once again collaborate with Kanye West. He was not, however, featured in the song's music video.
At the 2006 BET Awards, Foxx won two awards: Best Duet/Collaboration with Kanye West for "Gold Digger" and Video of the Year for the same video. Kanye's video tied with Mary J. Blige's (Be Without You) for Video of the year. On December 8 2006, Foxx received a 4 Grammy nominations:
- Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for
Love Changes feat Mary J. Blige.
- Grammy Award for Best R&B Album for
Unpredictable.
- Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for
Georgia by Ludacris & Field Mob feat Jamie Foxx.
- Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for
Unpredictable feat Ludacris.
On January 22 2007, Foxx was on Sirius Satellite Radio, announcing his new "Foxxhole" channel. This channel now features comedy and music by Jamie but also music and comedy by those Jamie respects most.
Foxx recorded a song with country superstars Rascal Flatts entitled "She Goes All The Way" for their album, "Still Feels Good".
Foxx also does background vocals for artist/songwriter Tank.
He and The-Dream are featured on Plies' (rapper) "Please Excuse My Hands"
He is to feature in a remix version of "Miss Independent" by Ne-Yo from his third album,
Year of the Gentleman.
Jamie Foxx collaborated with rapper The Game on the song "Around The World".
Legal issues
In April of 2003 Foxx involved in an incident with two police officers who were attempting to escort him and his sister out of Harrah's casino in New Orleans. Employees claimed they had failed to show Identity document upon entry. Originally charged with trespassing, disturbing the peace, battery (crime) on police officers and resisting arrest, Foxx pleaded Nolo contendere to disturbing the peace in exchange for the other charges being dropped, and was sentenced to a six month suspended jail term with two years probation and a $1500 fine.
Jamie Foxx in the news
Jamie Foxx, New Edition Open BET Awards With Rousing Michael ... - ...
Washington PostJamie Foxx, New Edition Open BET Awards With Rousing Michael ...MTV.comFollowing the Jackson 5 songs, host Jamie Foxx walked onstage dressed like vintage Jackson: The Thriller-era red leather jacket and a single sparkling ...Jamie Foxx -- Moonwalkin' Ain't EasyTMZ.comThe 9th Annual BET AwardsWashington PostJamie Foxx's Moonwalk homage gets mixed reviews VIDEOSMonsters and Critics.comEntertainment Weekly -Boston Globe -MTV.comall 8,233 news articles »
read moreJamie Foxx to perform at New Orleans Arena - The Times-Picayune - N...
The Times-Picayune - NOLA.comJamie Foxx to perform at New Orleans ArenaThe Times-Picayune - NOLA.comJamie Foxx is bringing his "Intuition" tour to the New Orleans Arena on Aug. 27. The local stop is part of a 50-city North American tour that kicks off July ...and more »
read moreDepp, Foxx to play Jacko in biopic? - Times of India
E! OnlineDepp, Foxx to play Jacko in biopic?Times of IndiaJamie Foxx has been mentioned, as has Johnny Depp. It all depends on how his family decide to honour him," said an insider. Depp however insisted he hasn't ...Johnny Depp to Play Michael Jackson in Biopic?PrefixmagJohnny Depp to Play Michael Jackson?Showbiz Spyall 132 news articles »
read moreJamie Foxx -- Intuition Tour - Yes! Weekly
In EntertainmentJamie Foxx -- Intuition TourYes! WeeklyThe Undisputed "King of all Media" Jamie Foxx Set To Fire Up Stages Across The Country With a 50-City North American Concert Tour -Intuition Tour. ...Jamie Foxx to Produce MTV Sketch Comedy ShowThe BoomBoxJamie Foxx Tour Dates 2009In Entertainmentall 3 news articles »
read moreMichael Jackson's death sparks TV discussion of race - Balt...
Telegraph.co.ukMichael Jackson's death sparks TV discussion of raceBaltimore SunAP) Lee and Couric focused on the controversial words Jamie Foxx used to open the BET Awards Show Sunday night. I wrote about them in my Sunday post as well ...Remembering Michael JacksonMarietta TimesJanet Jackson, Jamie Foxx and Others Pay Tribute to Michael at BET ...Popeaterall 4,699 news articles »
read moreAsk Myron: MJ's death still does not seem real - Tri State ...
MiamiHerald.comAsk Myron: MJ's death still does not seem realTri State DefenderMy highlights list from the show include Neyo's performance of “The Lady in my Life” as well as the Neyo-Jamie Foxx performance of “I'll be There. ...Michael, rest in peace: The human being beyond the tabloidsSt. Louis AmericanHas Race Become a Factor in Michael Jackson Coverage?FOXNewsIn Wake Of His Death, Jackson Blazes To The Top Of The ChartsRTT NewsExaminer.com -Seattle Times -BeatCrave.comall 2,538 news articles »
read more'Teen Wolf' update, Jamie Foxx, Seth Meyers highlig...
Variety'Teen Wolf' update, Jamie Foxx, Seth Meyers highlight MTV ...Entertainment WeeklyThe network also announced the development of new sketch comedy show starring Jamie Foxx and a half-hour animated show called The Awesomes from Saturday ...Audrina Patridge, Seth Meyers in at MTVReutersMTV greenlights eight projectsVarietyMTV Announces Dynamic Development Slate of Programming Featuring ...PR Newswire (press release)Zap2it.com -Rolling Stone -World Screen Newsall 38 news articles »
read moreJamie Foxx is a force as singer, actor and comic - USA Today
Jamie Foxx is a force as singer, actor and comicUSA TodayBy Henny Ray Abrams, AP By Kelley L. Carter, USA TODAY "If there's any doubt that America is not the most incredible country in the world," he says, ...and more »
read moreA NOT-SO-GREAT ESCAPE - Diamondback Online
Irish TimesA NOT-SO-GREAT ESCAPEDiamondback OnlineColin Farrell and Jamie Foxx were awful in Miami Vice. Foxx and Tom Cruise were just right in Collateral. The obscenely talented Depp and Bale, however, ...Featured Filmmaker: Michael MannIGNCinema Beat: Starting July Off with a Bang95.5 WBRU NewsWill 'Public Enemies' With Christian Bale And Johnny Depp Make The ...Starpulse.comSan Jose Mercury News -Edmonton Sunall 1,648 news articles »
read moreThe race industry is alive and well; conservatism misunderstood - E...
The race industry is alive and well; conservatism misunderstoodExaminer.comThe gears of racism are constantly being lubed by entertainers like Jamie Foxx who, at the BET Music Awards proclaimed that Michael Jackson was a black man, ...Reverse Racism 2: Bobo - The New RacismThe Young Turksall 3 news articles »
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