LaTavia Roberson
Encyclopedia
LaTavia Marie Roberson (born November 1, 1981) is a two-time Grammy Award–winning American contralto
singer-songwriter
, as well as an original member of Girl's Tyme which later became Destiny's Child
. She was eventually replaced by Farrah Franklin
in 2000. She was an original founder of the group with Beyoncé as they were best friends. Since parting ways with the group, she has ventured into the realm of acting in plays. She currently resides in Atlanta
, Georgia
. When she was younger she also was the face of Soft and Beautiful's Just For Me Hair Care relaxer for kids.
formed a group with other local girls, the group eventually became Destiny's Child
. After singing at local events, they got their break when they entered Star Search. The group, then named "Girl's Tyme", were heartbroken after losing the competition. The group then developed into a quartet, the members being Beyoncé Knowles
, LeToya Luckett
, Kelly Rowland
, and LaTavia. They also underwent several name changes—Girl's Tyme, the Dolls, Something Fresh, and Cliché—before sticking with Destiny's Child. Graduating from the Houston club scene, the group began opening for such acts as Dru Hill
, SWV
, TLC
and Immature
. They were shortly signed to Elektra Records
in which LaTavia and Beyoncé made a video for the song "One Time". After Elektra dropped the girls they were signed by Columbia Records
in 1997.
In 1998, Destiny's Child released their self-titled debut album Destiny's Child
. The singles were "No, No, No
" featuring Wyclef Jean
and "With Me
". Their song "Get on the Bus
" featuring Timbaland
(which was released as a single in Europe) was on the Why Do Fools Fall In Love
soundtrack. Destiny's Child toured as an opening act on TLC
's FanMail Tour
and Christina Aguilera
's debut tour.
In 1999, Destiny's Child released their second album, The Writing's on the Wall
. It became one of the biggest selling albums released by a female group and was certified eight-times platinum in the U.S. The album includes four hit singles, "Bills, Bills, Bills
", "Bug a Boo
", "Say My Name
", and "Jumpin' Jumpin'
".
In January 2000, in the midst of the success of The Writing's on the Wall, Roberson and member LeToya Luckett
tried to make a break with manager Mathew Knowles
because they claimed he favored his daughter Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland and was retaining too much of the group's profits. The pair said at the time they were only looking to secure outside management, but they soon found themselves on the outs with Knowles. When the "Say My Name" video debuted in February 2000, they were shocked to find themselves replaced by two new members, Michelle Williams
and Farrah Franklin
.
Roberson and Luckett filed a lawsuit in March 2000 against Mathew Knowles and the group. This began a media battle in which the two sides exchanged barbs in magazine and newspaper interviews. Near the end of 2000, they agreed to a settlement that required them to drop the part of their lawsuit that targeted their former group members (though they retained the suit against Mathew Knowles) and required both sides to stop disparaging each other in public.
When it seemed as if the drama had subsided, shortly following the release of Destiny's Child remix album This Is the Remix
in March 2002, Roberson and Luckett filed another suit against Destiny's Child. They claimed that the first single, "Survivor", from Destiny's Child's 2001 album Survivor violated their previous settlement due to its lyrics which they believed to reference the ugly split.
(1998)
2. The Writing's On The Wall
(1999)
Also Vocals (Remixes and Original Versions) included other Destiny's Child
Albums
created a group called Anjel with two other Girls, and did 22 tracks however did not release the albums, - but the tracks where leaked onto sites.
The Group Parted their ways for Solo Careers
LaTavia featured in the song 'Swagga Check' by Young Sween, in the album of 'The Goodie Room' in 2009, which could be brought at iTunes, however the song on iTunes is mistakenly named as 'Holdin On To You' and the song on iTunes 'Swagga Check' is 'Holdin On To You' with LaTavia's name still featuring in them both. Artist Young Sween was signed to 'Fleet Streat Records' when he made this album.
for love in all the wrong people". It ran from April 18, 2008 to July 12, 2008
In November 2010, LaTavia appeared on an episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta
.
Contralto
Contralto is the deepest female classical singing voice, with the lowest tessitura, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. It typically ranges between the F below middle C to the second G above middle C , although at the extremes some voices can reach the E below middle C or the second B above...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, as well as an original member of Girl's Tyme which later became Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
. She was eventually replaced by Farrah Franklin
Farrah Franklin
Farrah Destiny Franklin is an American singer, actress, and model. She is an ex-member of Destiny's Child who replaced LaTavia Roberson; she left the group after 5 months.-Recording & movie career:...
in 2000. She was an original founder of the group with Beyoncé as they were best friends. Since parting ways with the group, she has ventured into the realm of acting in plays. She currently resides in Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. When she was younger she also was the face of Soft and Beautiful's Just For Me Hair Care relaxer for kids.
Destiny's Child
When LaTavia was nine years old, she and former best friend Beyoncé KnowlesBeyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
formed a group with other local girls, the group eventually became Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
. After singing at local events, they got their break when they entered Star Search. The group, then named "Girl's Tyme", were heartbroken after losing the competition. The group then developed into a quartet, the members being Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
, LeToya Luckett
LeToya Luckett
LeToya Nicole Luckett , known professionally as LeToya, is an American R&B singer-songwriter and actress. She was a member of the R&B group Destiny's Child, with whom she won two Grammy Awards and released many successful commercial recordings.After signing a record deal with Capitol Records, she's...
, Kelly Rowland
Kelly Rowland
Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child...
, and LaTavia. They also underwent several name changes—Girl's Tyme, the Dolls, Something Fresh, and Cliché—before sticking with Destiny's Child. Graduating from the Houston club scene, the group began opening for such acts as Dru Hill
Dru Hill
Dru Hill is an American singing group, most popular during the late 1990s, whose repertoire included R&B, soul, and gospel music. Founded in Baltimore, Maryland, and active since 1992, Dru Hill recorded seven Top 40 hits, and is best known for the R&B #1 hits "In My Bed", "Never Make a Promise", ...
, SWV
SWV
Sisters with Voices, better known as SWV, is an American female R&B trio from New York. Formed in 1990 as a gospel group, SWV became one of the most successful R&B groups of the 1990s. They had a series of hits, including "Weak", "Right Here/Human Nature", "I'm So Into You", and "You're the One"....
, TLC
TLC (band)
TLC is an American musical trio whose repertoire spanned R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, and new jack swing. Originally consisting of singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper-singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas it found success in the 1990s while also enduring a series of spats...
and Immature
IMx
IMx , are an American R&B group, managed by record producer Chris Stokes. Its members include Marques "Batman" Houston , Jerome "Romeo" Jones , and Kelton "LDB" Kessee , all natives of Los Angeles, California, where the group was formed...
. They were shortly signed to Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
in which LaTavia and Beyoncé made a video for the song "One Time". After Elektra dropped the girls they were signed by Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 1997.
In 1998, Destiny's Child released their self-titled debut album Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child (album)
Destiny's Child is the self-titled debut album of R&B group Destiny's Child, released by Columbia Records in 1998. It featured the singles "No, No, No" and "With Me" and won Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, but due to both singles having a remix as well as...
. The singles were "No, No, No
No, No, No (Destiny's Child song)
"No No No" is an R&B song performed by American group Destiny's Child for their debut studio album Destiny's Child and the track was produced by Vincent Herbert, Rob Fusari and Wyclef Jean and received a positive reception from music critics...
" featuring Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean is a Haitian musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country...
and "With Me
With Me
"With Me", the first single in the UK, is an R&B song performed by American group Destiny's Child for their debut studio album Destiny's Child . The song was produced by Jermaine Dupri and Manuel Seal Jr. and received a positive reception from music critics. According to the group "With Me" was...
". Their song "Get on the Bus
Get on the Bus (song)
"Get on the Bus" is a song by Destiny's Child, released as the group's third single. The song features rapper/producer Timbaland and is lifted from the original motion picture soundtrack of Why Do Fools Fall in Love . It was the second single to be lifted from the soundtrack following Melanie B's...
" featuring Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
(which was released as a single in Europe) was on the Why Do Fools Fall In Love
Why Do Fools Fall in Love (film)
Why Do Fools Fall in Love is an American romantic drama, directed by Gregory Nava and released by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film is a biographical film of the brief but intense life of R&B/Rock & Roll singer Frankie Lymon, lead singer of the pioneering rock and roll group Frankie Lymon & the...
soundtrack. Destiny's Child toured as an opening act on TLC
TLC (band)
TLC is an American musical trio whose repertoire spanned R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, and new jack swing. Originally consisting of singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper-singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas it found success in the 1990s while also enduring a series of spats...
's FanMail Tour
FanMail Tour
The FanMail Tour was the first concert tour performed by the American pop/R&B group TLC. In support of their album FanMail, the arena tour ran from late 1999 into early 2000. It covered the United States and Canada. There were six dates scheduled for Japan, but all dates were canceled.The Tour...
and Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
's debut tour.
In 1999, Destiny's Child released their second album, The Writing's on the Wall
The Writing's on the Wall
-Credits and personnel:*Bill Ortiz – trumpet*Daryl Simmons – drum programming, keyboard programming*D'Wayne Wiggins – guitar, producer*Rodney Jerkins – producer*Claudine Pontier – assistant engineer*James Hoover – engineer...
. It became one of the biggest selling albums released by a female group and was certified eight-times platinum in the U.S. The album includes four hit singles, "Bills, Bills, Bills
Bills, Bills, Bills
"Bills, Bills, Bills" is a 1999 hit single by Destiny's Child, released as the first single from their second album The Writing's on the Wall. It echoed the female empowerment sentiments of TLC's single "No Scrubs", and featured the same producer and songwriter...
", "Bug a Boo
Bug a Boo
"Bug a Boo" is a song by Destiny's Child, which appears on their second album The Writing's on the Wall. It peaked at number thirty-three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart...
", "Say My Name
Say My Name
"Say My Name" is a song by American R&B group Destiny's Child. The song was the third single from the group's 1999 album The Writing's on the Wall, released through Columbia label in 2000 . The single is the most successful of the four releases from the album and is considered to be one of their...
", and "Jumpin' Jumpin'
Jumpin' Jumpin'
"Jumpin', Jumpin" is 2000 R&B hit song by American girl group Destiny's Child. It was the fourth and final single from the group's second album, The Writing's on the Wall. The single achieved success in the charts...
".
In January 2000, in the midst of the success of The Writing's on the Wall, Roberson and member LeToya Luckett
LeToya Luckett
LeToya Nicole Luckett , known professionally as LeToya, is an American R&B singer-songwriter and actress. She was a member of the R&B group Destiny's Child, with whom she won two Grammy Awards and released many successful commercial recordings.After signing a record deal with Capitol Records, she's...
tried to make a break with manager Mathew Knowles
Mathew Knowles
Mathew Knowles is an American music executive and manager. He is the father and former manager of R&B singer Beyoncé , Knowles also managed Kelly Rowland as well as girl group Destiny's Child . He was also the manager of Solange Knowles.-Manager and producer:Knowles is an alumnus of Fisk...
because they claimed he favored his daughter Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland and was retaining too much of the group's profits. The pair said at the time they were only looking to secure outside management, but they soon found themselves on the outs with Knowles. When the "Say My Name" video debuted in February 2000, they were shocked to find themselves replaced by two new members, Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams (singer)
Tenitra Michelle Williams , commonly known as Michelle Williams, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress...
and Farrah Franklin
Farrah Franklin
Farrah Destiny Franklin is an American singer, actress, and model. She is an ex-member of Destiny's Child who replaced LaTavia Roberson; she left the group after 5 months.-Recording & movie career:...
.
Roberson and Luckett filed a lawsuit in March 2000 against Mathew Knowles and the group. This began a media battle in which the two sides exchanged barbs in magazine and newspaper interviews. Near the end of 2000, they agreed to a settlement that required them to drop the part of their lawsuit that targeted their former group members (though they retained the suit against Mathew Knowles) and required both sides to stop disparaging each other in public.
When it seemed as if the drama had subsided, shortly following the release of Destiny's Child remix album This Is the Remix
This Is the Remix (Destiny's Child album)
-Chart success:The album was relatively successful. This Is The Remix debuted at #29 on the Billboard 200 selling over 37,000 copies in its first week, but after only seven weeks, the album had fallen off the chart and has to date sold an estimated 100,000 copies in the US...
in March 2002, Roberson and Luckett filed another suit against Destiny's Child. They claimed that the first single, "Survivor", from Destiny's Child's 2001 album Survivor violated their previous settlement due to its lyrics which they believed to reference the ugly split.
Album's With Destiny's Child -
1. Destiny's ChildDestiny's Child (album)
Destiny's Child is the self-titled debut album of R&B group Destiny's Child, released by Columbia Records in 1998. It featured the singles "No, No, No" and "With Me" and won Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, but due to both singles having a remix as well as...
(1998)
2. The Writing's On The Wall
The Writing's on the Wall
-Credits and personnel:*Bill Ortiz – trumpet*Daryl Simmons – drum programming, keyboard programming*D'Wayne Wiggins – guitar, producer*Rodney Jerkins – producer*Claudine Pontier – assistant engineer*James Hoover – engineer...
(1999)
Also Vocals (Remixes and Original Versions) included other Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
Albums
Album's With Anjel
LaTavia and ex-member of Destiny's Child LeToya LuckettLeToya Luckett
LeToya Nicole Luckett , known professionally as LeToya, is an American R&B singer-songwriter and actress. She was a member of the R&B group Destiny's Child, with whom she won two Grammy Awards and released many successful commercial recordings.After signing a record deal with Capitol Records, she's...
created a group called Anjel with two other Girls, and did 22 tracks however did not release the albums, - but the tracks where leaked onto sites.
The Group Parted their ways for Solo Careers
Debut album
In July 2007 it was confirmed by LaTavia herself said that she has been secretly recording her debut album on and off since March. So far she has collaborated with producers such as Scott Storch and hopes to work with Houston rappers Mike Jones and Slim Thug in the future, but was quick to point out this is in no way an attempt to recreate the success of former bandmate LeToya Luckett. Currently, she is in the studio working on her rumored album titled "Black Summer's Night" that should appear sometime in 2009, with help from Swizz Beatz, Polow da Don and Andre 3000 of OutKast. In August 2009, she revealed in a video on Ustream, with fellow former Destiny's Child member LeToya, that she will not be releasing an album. On December 3, Via Twitter, La Tavia stated that "it was good to be in the Studio recording, and said 2011 it's all going to happen", which meant she should be creating a song and should come out in the year, 2011.Albums as a featured artist (solo)
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| "Swagga Check" |
|
LaTavia featured in the song 'Swagga Check' by Young Sween, in the album of 'The Goodie Room' in 2009, which could be brought at iTunes, however the song on iTunes is mistakenly named as 'Holdin On To You' and the song on iTunes 'Swagga Check' is 'Holdin On To You' with LaTavia's name still featuring in them both. Artist Young Sween was signed to 'Fleet Streat Records' when he made this album.
Stage play
On 2008, LaTavia was in a stage play called, Those Jeans. It's described as "a truly well written love story, about a fashion designer and a high fashion photographer, lookingfor love in all the wrong people". It ran from April 18, 2008 to July 12, 2008
Television
1998 Smart Guy Herself "A Date With Destiny" (season 3, episode 10)In November 2010, LaTavia appeared on an episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta
The Real Housewives of Atlanta
The Real Housewives of Atlanta is an American reality television series on the Bravo cable network that premiered in the fall of 2008. Following the format of its predecessors , in 2009 the Atlanta series was not only the highest rated show of the The Real Housewives of... franchise, it was the...
.
Grammy Awards
-
- 2001, Best R&B Song "Say My NameSay My Name"Say My Name" is a song by American R&B group Destiny's Child. The song was the third single from the group's 1999 album The Writing's on the Wall, released through Columbia label in 2000 . The single is the most successful of the four releases from the album and is considered to be one of their...
" - 2001, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals "Say My NameSay My Name"Say My Name" is a song by American R&B group Destiny's Child. The song was the third single from the group's 1999 album The Writing's on the Wall, released through Columbia label in 2000 . The single is the most successful of the four releases from the album and is considered to be one of their...
"
- 2001, Best R&B Song "Say My Name