GREAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN

Beyonce Knowles

Christine Webster

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Published by Weigl Publishers Inc.350 5th Avenue, Suite 3304, PMB 6GNew York, NY USA 10118-0069Web site: www.weigl.com

Copyright 2006 WEIGL PUBLISHERS INC.All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the priorwritten permission of Weigl Publishers Inc.

All of the Internet URLs given in the book were valid at the time of publication. However, due to the dynamicnature of the Internet, some addresses may have changed, or sites may have ceased to exist since publication.While the author and publisher regret any inconvenience this may cause readers, no responsibility for any suchchanges can be accepted by either the author or the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Webster, Christine.Beyoncé Knowles / Christine Webster.

p. cm. -- (Great African American women)Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.ISBN 1-59036-331-0 (hard cover : alk. paper) -- ISBN 1-59036-337-X (soft cover : alk. paper)1. Knowles, Beyoncé--Juvenile literature. 2. Singers--United States--Biography--Juvenile literature. I. Title.II. Series.ML3930.K66W43 2006782.42164'092--dc22

2004029955

Printed and bound in the United States of America1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 09 08 07 06 05

Project Coordinator Janice L. Redlin Copy Editor Heather C. Hudak Design Terry Paulhus Layout Kathryn Livingstone Photo Research Kim Winiski and Annalise Bekkering

Photograph CreditsEvery reasonable effort has been made to traceownership and to obtain permission to reprintcopyright material. The publishers would bepleased to have any errors or omissions broughtto their attention so that they may be correctedin subsequent printings.

Cover: Beyonce Knowles is talented in many areas, including music, acting, andfashion design.

Cover: Getty Images/Brad Barket (front); GettyImages/Carlo Allegri (back); Corbis: page 17(Bettman), 22BR; Getty Images: pages 1 (FrankMicelotta), 3 (Brad Barket), 4 (Kevin Winter), 5(Carlo Allegri), 6T (Frank Micelotta), 6B (FrankMicelotta), 7TL (MPI), 7R (Photodisc Green),7ML (Photodisc Green), 7BL (PhotodiscGreen), 8 (Digital Vision), 9 (Kevin Winter),10 (John Bulmer), 11 (Kevin Winter), 12 (Chris Hondros), 13TL (Peter Kramer), 13TR(John Loengard/Time Life Pictures), 13BL(Frank Micelotta), 13BR (Scott Gries), 14(Getty Images Publicity), 15L (Vince Bucci),15R (Fredrick M. Brown), 16 (Frank Micelotta),18 (Kevin Winter), 19T (David Westing), 19B(Dave Benett), 20 (Frank Micelotta), 21L (ScottGries), 21R (Timothy A. Clary/AFP), 22T(Photodisc Green).

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Beyonce Knowles

Who is Beyonce Knowles? ................ 5

Growing Up in Houston .................... 6

Learning to Sing.............................. 8

Taking the Stage ........................... 10

What Music Influenced Beyonce?.... 12

Recording the Music ...................... 14

Overcoming Obstacles .................... 16

Special Achievements .................... 18

Beyonce on the Big Screen............. 20

Time Line ..................................... 21

Making a Home Video .................... 22

Further Research........................... 23

Words to Know/Index..................... 24

CONTENTS

Who is Beyonce Knowles? ................ 5

Growing Up in Houston .................... 6

Learning to Sing.............................. 8

Taking the Stage ........................... 10

What Music Influenced Beyonce?.... 12

Recording the Music ...................... 14

Overcoming Obstacles .................... 16

Special Achievements .................... 18

Beyonce on the Big Screen............. 20

Time Line ..................................... 21

Making a Home Video .................... 22

Further Research........................... 23

Words to Know/Index..................... 24

CONTENTS

GREAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN

Beyonce Knowles

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Who is

Beyonce Knowles?

Beyonce Knowles is a member of one of the best-known female rhythm and blues (R&B) groups, Destiny’s Child.

She is also a pop singer. Beyonce writes songsand books, and acts in movies.

Beyonce always knew she wanted to sing. At 11 years of age, Beyonce recorded a home video.On the video, she talked about her goals in life.Beyonce wanted to record a gold album and a platinum album, and write and produceanother album. She achieved all these goals before she turned 21 years of age.

5Beyonce Knowles

…when I’m on stage it feels incredible. There are certain nights that you know you hit that crazy note and you know that spinspinned extra fast. …you look out and people are just into it…you’ve worked so hard and now it’s paying off… you can see why you dedicated your life to this.

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6

Growing Up in Houston

Beyonce Knowles was bornon September 4, 1981, inHouston, Texas. Beyonce’s

first name is her mother’s maidenname. Beyonce said, “I grew up in a very nice house inHouston… and I’ve never even been to the ’hood.”Religion has always been an important part ofBeyonce’s life. She attended weekly church services.She also sang in the church choir. Beyonce and heryounger sister, Solange, both attended private school.Her father, Matthew, was a salesperson. Her mother,Tina, owned a beauty salon.

When Beyonce was 8 years old, sheauditioned for a singing group inHouston. Here, she met up withLaTavia Robertson, a future memberof her music group. Beyonce, hercousin Kelly Rowland, andLaTavia Robertson formedtheir own singing group.A girl named LeToyaLuckett also joined.Beyonce’s fathermanaged the group.

Beyonce’s father, Matthew,is her manager. Beyonce’smother, Tina, designs many of her on-stage costumes.

Great African-American Women

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7Beyonce Knowles

TEXAS Tidbits

FLAG SEAL BIRD TREE FLOWER

Pecan BluebonnetMockingbird

The city of Houston was named after Sam Houston.He was a military leader inthe Texas Revolution that

occurred from 1835–1836.

Houston has a population of more than 2 million people. The area surroundingHouston has almost 5 million people.

Houston is located nearlarge oil and gas fields.

It is the center of the petroleum

industry in theUnited States.

Houston is the largest city in Texas. It is the fourth-largest city in the United States,behind New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

The major crops grown in Texas are rice and citrus fruits.

The present state flag of Texas was adopted in 1839. The design of the flag has not changed since Texas became a state in 1845.

How might living in the state of Texas haveinfluenced Beyonce? Research your state’ssites and symbols, and write about how theymight have influenced you and your family.

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