Ray J. Norwood 
Major Works
- Everything You Want (1997)
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Ray J: A Biography
The superstar Ray J. is known for his musical performances and his acting roles. Stepping in his sister, Brandy's shadow, Ray J. has made an effort to pursue his own career. Starting at an early age to sing and act in McComb, Mississippi, he has overcome many obstacles to become a star in his own right.
Ray J. was born in McComb, Mississippi, but moved to California with his family when he was two years old. In a short time this young man put his talents to good use. (Music Urban Showcase). "Learned to walk and talk at an amazing early age," states a heading marking the first year of his birth (Siblings Who Are Also Celebrities). As he auditioned at an early age, he has always had fun. He says: "Make me feel comfortable. We have fun and I couldn't be doing all this at such a young age if it wasn't fun."
He finished an R&B album before he could get his driver's license. He got his first acting job at the age of eight. "My father directed the choir at our church, so I sang there at an early age. My mother always recognized I had a special knack for singing but never pushed me. My family has always been musical, so I progressed naturally. Even though my sister (Brandy) started a lot earlier than me, I always knew I would get a chance to show the singer inside of me," he said (Music Urban Showcase). "I always heard my sister and my dad sing," Ray J. says. "But I was kind of shy. One day I started feeling that I could do it, so I sang a couple of leads at church, and it went over real well."
Ray J. has been acting since age eight in TV commercials and became a regular on Fox's "The Sinbad Show" at twelve. He also costars with his new friend Shaquille O'Neal in an action adventure film called Steel (Kindred Spirits).
 More than willing to add to the family's legacy, Ray J. is different than any other young singer. He has a knowledgeable musical ear for confident vocals. His musical talent comes from both parents. He "put off the singing career for awhile to pursue acting." According to him, he has always had "an album inside his head waiting to get out." His career goals are increasing everyday. He will continue to act, sing, and produce (Music Urban Showcase). "Some people still look at me as Brandy's brother," he says, "but others are saying Ray J. now (Kindred Spirits). The great thing now is I'm able to do both, which hopefully will help me to grow. Well, at least I have time to grow." ere is always a ray of hope (Music Urban Showcase).
He likes to draw music from Jodeci, Brandy, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Da Brat, Bobby Brown, and Whitney Houston. "I like a lot of hip hop, when I'm out with my friends are singers or into show business somehow when we're playing ball or riding dirt bikes, which I love to do, will revolve around what we're listening to, what we're working on. I listen to a lot of music; it doesn't matter whether it's old or new, and I don't rule anything out," he says about the influences that have brought him such an early musical maturity. Ray J. is all for brainstorming about ideas and or jamming in the studio (Music Urban Showcase).
The funk-lite album, "Everything You Want", hit Billboard's R&B chart, and "Let It Go", a single from the "Set It Off" movie soundtrack, is nearing gold. Ray J., 16, insists he's his own man. "I think performing live on stage is the place where I'll be able to use what I've learned in acting," he says. "Whether you're doing a scene in a TV show or a movie or you're trying to get an emotion across when you're singing some ballad, you're still coming from the same place (the heart). You're trying to reach people so that they come away feeling what you want them to feel." "I do keep active, I'll admit to that, " he laughs. "I've always been motivated to act and perform, I guess, to express myself." His performing experience including touring with Boyz 2 Men and Brandy in 1995, a stint at New York's famous Apollo Theater, and a month long role in an off Broadway Musical, "Twist", in Philadelphia. His acting roles include L.J., the son of Sinbad on the 1993 TV sitcom "Sinbad, " participation in 1995's BET presentation "When We Were Colored, " with director Tim Reid and Phylicia  Rashad; the 1994 HBO Special " the Enemy Within, " with Forrest Whitaker; and many commercials over the years including McDonald's, Denny's, Walt Disney and Nintendo. He has recently finished a role in the 1996 movie Mars Attacks and has just completed the upcoming movie "Steel" with Shaquille O'Neal (Music Urban Showcase). Ray J's debut single, "Let It Go", first appeared on a movie soundtrack, Set It Off.
Ray J. appeared in the movies, Once Upon A Time......, When We Were Colored, and Mars Attack. Ray J. has also teamed up with his superstar sibling, Brandy, for their first television special together called, "Ray J. and Brandy In Concert". The Show has been aired on the Disney Channel (The Hottest New Black Singers, 58). This fall (1999) he will be a regular on his sister's show called "Moesha."
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Timeline
1981- Born in McComb, Mississippi
1989- First acting job
1993- Acting role on "The Sinbad Show"
1994- Acting role on "The Enemy"
1995- Acting role in Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored
1996- Acting role on Mars Attacks and also just completed the movie Steel
1999- Joins sister Brandy as a regular on Moesha.
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Review of Everything You Want
by Trineeta Bardwell (SHS)
From the Everything You Want , I have learned that Ray J takes a lot of time making and creating his first album. I like the CD overall, but there are some songs that are not interesting to me. He has the same singing style as his sister, but he also has his own style in his music. Knowing that he has been inspired by Jodeci and his sister, he has taken a lot of advice from the many people that he has come in contact with.
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Related Websites
This is Ray J.'s home page, which includes an e-mail address, and lots of links to other Ray J sites.
This is a brief biography of Ray J., discography, and other info from Ray J. Fan Club.
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Bibliography
"Siblings Who Are Also Celebrities". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company, 1998. 56. [Online] Available http://gw4.epnet.com/
"Kindred Spirits". People. 1997. 80.
"The Hottest New Black Singers". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company, 1997. 58. [Online] Available http://gw1.epnet.com/
;Music Urban Showcase-Ray J. [Online] Available http://www.imusic.com/showcase/urban/rayj.html
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