Traci Braxton | |
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 Braxton in 2018. | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Traci Renee Braxton (1971-04-02)April 2, 1971 Severn, Maryland, U.S |
| Died | March 12, 2022(2022-03-12) (aged 50) |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1989–2022 |
| Labels |
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Spouse | |
| Website | tracibraxton |
Traci Renee Braxton (April 2, 1971 – March 12, 2022) was an American singer,reality television personality, and radio personality.
Traci Renee Braxton was born inSevern, Maryland the third child of her parents.[1] Her father, Michael Conrad Braxton Sr.,[2] was aMethodist clergyman and power company worker, and her mother, Evelyn Jackson, a native ofSouth Carolina, was a former opera singer and cosmetologist, as well as a pastor.[3][4] Braxton's maternal grandfather was also a pastor.[5]
Traci Renee Braxton has an older brother, Michael Jr. (born in 1968), and four sisters,Toni (born in 1967),Towanda (born in 1973),Trina (born in 1974) andTamar (born in 1977). Braxton and her siblings were raised in a strict religious household,[6] and Braxton's first performing experience was singing in her church choir.[6]
Toni, Traci, Towanda, Trina, and Tamar Braxton signed their first record deal withArista Records in 1989.[7] In 1990, they released their first single, "Good Life". It would be their only single as a fivesome.[1] "Good Life" peaked at No. 79 on theBillboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart. At the time of the single's release, the members' age differences created a problem with marketing. Subsequently, The Braxtons were dropped from Arista Records.[8]
In 1991, during a showcase withAntonio "L.A." Reid andKenneth "Babyface" Edmonds—who were in the process of formingLaFace Records—Toni Braxton, minus her four sisters, was chosen and signed as the label's first female solo artist. At the time, the remaining members were told that LaFace was not looking for another girl group, since they had just signedTLC.[9][10]
After Toni's departure from the group in 1991, the remaining Braxtons ultimately becamebackup singers for Toni's first U.S. tour, music videos, and promotional appearances. The sisters—Traci, Towanda, Trina, and Tamar—made several televised appearances as backing vocalists with Toni, and gave answers during interviews, such as onThe Today Show.[11] They were also featured in the music video for Toni Braxton's third single, "Seven Whole Days", from herdebut album.[citation needed]
In 1993, LaFace RecordsA&R Vice President, Bryant Reid, signed The Braxtons to LaFace. However, the group never released an album or single for the record label. When Reid moved on to work forAtlantic Records, he convinced executives atLaFace to allow him take the group to Atlantic also.[10][12]
It was reported inVibe magazine that in 1995, Traci Braxton had left the group to pursue a career as a youth counselor;[13] however, it was not revealed until 2004–when Towanda Braxton appeared on season two of the reality showStarting Over—that Traci was not allowed to sign withAtlantic because of her pregnancy at the time.[citation needed]
In 2011, Braxton reunited with her sisters for theWE tv reality show,Braxton Family Values.[14] She makes appearances as backing vocal singer of her sisters in some shows over the years. In 2013, Braxton and her husband Kevin Surratt joined the third season ofMarriage Boot Camp.[15]
In 2013, Braxton began her solo career after signing with independent media conglomerateEntertainment One undereOne Music andSoul World Entertainment to release an album.[16] The same year, she got her own radio show called The Traci Braxton show on the BLIS.F.M. radio.[17][18][19]
Her solo debut album,Crash & Burn, was released on October 7, 2014. The album's lead single "Last Call" peaked at number 16 on theUS R&B Adult.[20] "Crash & Burn" debuted at No. 108 on theBillboard Hot 200 with sales of 4,000 in its first week.[21] The album also reached No. 11 on the relaunchedBillboardR&B Albums chart and at No. 1 on theHeatseekers Albums chart.[22][23] A follow-up single "Perfect Time" was released in 2015.[24]
On January 14, 2015, she joined the judging panel of Mrs. DC America 2015.[25] In October 2015,The Braxtons released their second album,Braxton Family Christmas. The album was released on October 30, and pre-ordered on October 16.[26][27]Braxton Family Christmas debuted at number 27 on the USBillboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums,[28] number 10 on theUS R&B chart, and number 12 on the US Top Holiday Albums on November 21, 2015.[29][30] The album charted at number 1 on the USHeatseekers Albums on December 12, 2015.[31]
On May 17, 2016, during a Facebook live video on theBraxton Family Values page, it was announced that Traci Braxton was releasing a new single in 2016, titled "Body Shots", from her upcoming sophomore studio album.[32][non-primary source needed]
On May 21, 2017, she starred in the stageplayThere's a Stranger in My House.[33] On September 26, 2017, Braxton was featured on the rapperKokayi’s track"Moonlight".[34][35]
On April 20, 2018, she released the single "Broken Things" featuring her sisters Toni, Towanda and Trina.[36][37] On August 3, 2018, Traci Braxton released "Lifeline" as the official lead single from her second album,On Earth, which was released on August 24, 2018.[38]
In the same time, she made her movie acting debut in the feature filmSinners Wanted.[39] On June 13, 2019, she acted in the film,All In, starringLil Mama.[40]
On December 12, 2020, she starred in the film (and her last to be released in her lifetime)The Christmas Lottery.[41]
On September 24, 2021, her final collaboration was featured on the song "Stay with Me", performed by Candiace, taken from her albumDeep Space.[42][43]
Braxton died on March 12, 2022, at the age of 50.[44] She had been suffering fromesophageal cancer for at least one year before her death.[45]
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crash & Burn |
| 108 | 1 | 11 | 18 |
| On Earth |
| — | — | 24 | — |
| Year | Song | Peaks | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | "Last Call" | 16 | Crash & Burn |
| 2015 | "Perfect Time" | — | |
| 2017 | "Moonlight"(Kokayi featuring Traci Braxton) | — | — |
| 2018 | "Broken Things"(featuring Toni, Towanda and Trina)[32] | — | On Earth |
| 2018 | "Lifeline" |
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Film
Television
Radio
Theater
