Toni Michelle Braxton (born October 7, 1968) is an American R&B singer, songwriter and actress. Braxton has won six Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and five Billboard Music Awards and has sold over 60 million records worldwide. She has a contralto vocal type.^[1]

Braxton topped the Billboard 200 with her 1993 self-titled debut album and continued that streak with her second studio album Secrets, which spawned the number-one hits "You're Makin' Me High" and "Un-Break My Heart". Although she had successful albums and singles, Braxton shortly filed for bankruptcy, but then returned with her chart-topping third album, The Heat. In 2009, she returned to the spotlight with "Yesterday", a #12 R&B hit which serves as the first single off her new album Pulse, released on May 4, 2010, which debuted at #1 on Billboard R&B Album Chart.^[2] Braxton was involved in the 7th season of the reality show Dancing with the Stars. Her professional partner was Alec Mazo. She was voted off in week five of the competition. It was announced on October 6, 2010 that Braxton once again had filed for bankruptcy. A reality series entitled Braxton Family Values, starring Toni and her sisters, debuted April 12, 2011 on WE tv. WE tv ordered a 13-episode second season of the show after the third episode of the first season. (Wikipedia).

Last season  - there was hype about the Braxton Family Values - a reality TV show featuring Toni Braxton and her sisters.  Unfortunately, having temporarily implemented the 'NO REALITY TV SHOWS" rule, I didn't watch it. I didn't want to be addicted to another show - Flavor Flav with his huge clock just had done it for me.  But the other day, I just found myself surfing the web and one of her clips surfaced and I was hooked.  This show showed a different part of Toni Braxton.  A Toni that was a sister and part of  a family and not just a superstar and it was just great. 

Toni Braxton has impacted the world with her voice.  When many female musicians seem focused on hitting that note and getting  as high as they can.  Toni sings in a voice that is very different from the norm - almost Anita Bakerish with a little bit of Sade in there (at least the old Toni). 

Sassy,sexy and elegant Toni has made it cool and okay to sing differently and still make it into the world of music (we aren't talking finances and bankruptcy here).  She has gotten so many awards, critical acclaim and her CDS often go Platinum.  She is great.  Today - take a listen to two of my favorite tracks from this artist.

1) Yesterday - from her most recent cd

2)Why Should I care?  -

Every Friday, we hope to showcase reviews of concert performances or an introduction to any great world musician who is creating an impact outside his or her region of the world with his or her music.  if you just want to write about a concert that you went to (positive and negative reviews welcomed) or if you know a great musician you just want to write about, please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it