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Amerie music biography continued...

of a Korean mother and an African-American father who was a career military officer, and moved the family to bases all over the world. Settling in Washington D.C., Amerie went to Georgetown University and graduated with a degree in English and Fine Arts & Design. Her first love was music, however, and in Washington she met producer Rich Harrison, who worked with such performers as Mary J. Blige, and began developing demos with him. This led to a deal with Rise Entertainment and, in turn, Columbia Records. In the spring of 2002, Rise/Columbia released Amerie's debut single, "Why Don't We Fall in Love." The single reached number twenty-three on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a top ten hit on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The song created a nice buzz for her album All I Have, which was certified gold. In April 2005, Amerie released her second album, Touch. Amerie co-wrote every track but one, "Come with Me", which Harrison wrote. Touch debuted and peaked at number five on the Billboard 200 and number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and it was certified gold. It received two Grammy Award nominations in 2006: Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for its lead single, "1 Thing", and Best Contemporary R&B Album. "1 Thing" became even more popular when it was featured in the movie, Hitch, and prompted another run up the charts to number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. "1 Thing" also earned two nominations for the MTV Video Music Awards and four nominations for the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, a sure signal that Amerie was on the brink of superstardom.



Amerie's third album, Because I Love It, was her first album not to feature production from her long-time collaborator, friend, and producer Rich Harrison. Other producers—such as Bryan-Michael Cox, The Buchanans, Len Nicholson; were enlisted to work with Amerie. The album failed to make as much of a commercial impression as its predecessor, and in late 2007 Amerie left the Columbia label to form her own indie, Feenix Rising Entertainment, through the Island Def Jam Music Group. Amerie continues to create a stir wherever she performs, a sure indication that her star continues to burn brightly.