Justin Bieber Biography and Origins

YouTube

When he was twelve years old, Bieber won second place in a local singing competition. This prompted his mother to upload videos of him singing to YouTube. These videos unexpectedly attracted millions of views as they grew in popularity.

Usher

They also led to his eventual discovery by Scooter Braun, an ex-marketing executive at So So Def Recordings. Bieber was flown to Atlanta, Georgia where he met Braun’s colleagues and sang for R&B singer-songwriter, Usher. He was ultimately signed to a joint venture called Raymond Braun Media Group, and then to Island Records for a recording contract.

Debut

His debut, My World, was released in 2009. The R&B-influenced pop record was positively reviewed and peaked at position number five on the U.S. Billboard 200. The singles, “One Time,” and “One Less Lonely Girl,” both became top twenty hits in North America.

TV Appearances

That same year, Bieber made several television performances in support of My World. Most notably, he covered the Stevie Wonder song, “Someday at Christmas” during the holiday special, “Christmas in Washington,” with U.S. president Barack Obama in attendance.

"Baby"

2010 was Bieber’s busiest year yet. January saw the release of “Baby,” the first single from the second part of his first album, My World 2.0. The mega-hit went on to chart in the top ten of many countries around the world.

Charity Collaborations

In addition, Bieber lent his vocals to two charity singles to benefit relief efforts during the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake. These were “Wavin’ Flag” and “We Are the World: 25 for Haiti,” both of which features a super-group of artists.

"My World 2.0"

My World 2.0 dropped in March. The record debuted in the first position on the U.S. Billboard 200, making Bieber, at the age of sixteen, the youngest male solo act to hit the top since 1963. The pop, hip hop and R&B album was well-received by critics and scored a Grammy nomination. A second single, entitled “Somebody to Love” and featuring Bieber’s mentor, Usher, became his fourth consecutive top twenty hit in the U.S.

Touring and Acting

That year also saw Bieber go on his first official headlining tour and make a guest appearance on the television drama, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.” An album featuring acoustic versions of previously released songs called My Worlds Acoustic came out in November. It also included one new track, named “Pray.”

"Never Say Never"

In early 2011, Bieber’s first concert documentary, called “Never Say Never,” hit theatres in 3D. He also came out with the remix compilation entitled, "Never Say Never: The Remixes".

Online Popularity

Much of Bieber’s early success has been attributed to his online popularity, especially through his fans’ use of social networking channels. For example, the music video accompanying his single, “Baby”, became the most viewed of all-time on YouTube. In addition, he was one of the most searched for celebrities on the internet in 2010, and often the target of many rumors.

A Pop Star

Justin Bieber’s musical talent and perseverance have turned him into a pop star, with undoubtedly much more to come in the future.