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Beyonce music biography continued...

Destiny's Child. She released a hit solo debut album in 2003, has another on the way and has starred in two major box Office films. Beyoncé is also a passionate record producer and fashion designer.

The singer's talent was apparent by the age of seven as the soloist in her church choir. She was also attending a dance school, which inspired her many local singing and dancing competition wins. Destiny's child was originally Girl's Tyme and performed at local events eventually competing in Star Search. Matthew Knowles, Beyoncé's father saw the potential in these young stars and dedicated his time to helping the girls reach the top.

Destiny's Child was signed to Elecktra in 1995 but was shortly dropped before an album was even recorded. In 1996, the group was signed to Columbia Records where their career quickly took off. The female group achieved many commercial successes with four top selling albums and won three Grammy Awards. In 2001, members Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams and Beyoncé took a break to attempt their solo careers.

Beyoncé's solo career sparked during the fall of 2002 when featured as a backing vocal on Jay-Z's hit track "03 Bonnie & Clyde". Rumors about the real life romance of the two stars were soon confirmed true. In 2003, Knowles remade the duet "The Closer I Get to You" with the late Luthar Vandross which earned a Grammy award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

Dangerously in Love, Beyoncé's debut solo album was released in 2003 achieving chart topping success. "Crazy In Love" featuring rapper Jay-Z was the first hit single lingering at number one on the Billboard 100 for eight weeks. The album quickly topped the R&B and Billboard 200 charts in the U.S. The second smash hit, "Baby Boy" featuring dancehall artist Sean Paul, became one of the biggest hits of 2003. The song invaded radio airplay spending nine weeks at number one. The next two singles, "Me, Myself and I" as well as "Naughty Boy" faired extremely well positioning at number three on the Billboard 100.

In 2004, Knowles won five Grammy Awards in one night. The record-tying accomplishment was previously celebrated by Alicia Keys, Lauryn Hill and Norah Jones.
Beyoncé Knowles was honored with the ASCAP Pop Songwriter of the Year Award causing her to be the first female African American and second woman artist ever to receive the award.

She has also starred in several films. The first an MTV made for television movie, Carmen: a Hip Hopera, in 2001. The following year, she took on the role of Foxxy Cleopatra in Austin Powers in Goldmember. The film holds the Guinness World Record for Highest-Grossing Box Office Comedy. The also appeared in The Fighting Temptation in 2003 and The Pink Panther in 2006.

Beyoncé is expected to release a second solo album, B'Day, on September 4, 2006. The album celebrates her 25th birthday. The first single "Déjà vu" features real life boyfriend Jay-Z. The album is co-produced, written and arranged by Beyoncé. Other co-producers are Rich Harrisson, The Neptunes, and Swizz Beats.