India Arie

India Arie Simpson was born on October 3, 1975, in Denver, Colorado. Her early life was influenced by music; her mother, a former Motown singer, and her father, Ralph Simpson, encouraged her musical development. After her parents’ divorce when she was 13, Arie relocated to Atlanta. During her time at the Savannah College of Art and Design, her interest in the guitar led her to songwriting and performing. She co-founded the independent music collective Government Earthseed, and a performance at the 1998 Lilith Fair led to a record deal with Universal/Motown.

Arie released her debut album, “Acoustic Soul,” on March 27, 2001. The album achieved commercial and critical success, debuting at number ten on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It was certified double platinum by the RIAA, selling over 2 million copies in the U.S. and 3 million worldwide. The lead single, “Video,” peaked at number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her second album, “Voyage to India,” released in 2002, debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. This album earned her a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album and a Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the single “Little Things.”

Throughout her career, Arie has released several successful albums including “Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship” (2006), “Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics” (2009), “Songversation” (2013), “Christmas with Friends” (2015), and “Worthy” (2019). She has garnered four Grammy Awards from 23 nominations and has sold over five million records in the US and 10 million worldwide. Arie is known for her advocacy for positive representation in music, participating in humanitarian and wellness initiatives, and discussing topics such as self-acceptance, race, and cultural identity. She has been recognized on Oprah Winfrey’s “SuperSoul100” list for her influential contributions. Her lifestyle/music brand, SoulBird, launched in 2011, further extends her mission.