Janet Jackson

Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966 in Gary, Indiana) is a Grammy winning and Oscar nominated American pop, R&B and soul singer-songwriter and the youngest child of the hugely successful Jackson music family. She rose out of the shadows of her famous brothers to become one of the most successful female entertainers of all time. She ranks as the ninth-most successful artist in the history of rock and roll, and is the youngest artist in the top ten of that group, according to Billboard magazine in 2004. She is well known for her high-octane dance moves, influencing many female artists such as Aaliyah, Missy Elliott, Beyoncé and Britney Spears among others.

Trivia

• Janet's first biography was released in 1977 as a joint bio about her and brother Randy
• Janet's first musical recording was a duet with brother Randy on the b-side to his modest charted hit single, "How Can I Be Sure" on a song titled "A Love Song for Kids", in 1978 when she was only twelve.
• Janet participated in demo recordings of brother Michael's "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" and "Working Day & Night" playing percussion and singing backgrounds with brother Randy.
• Janet sung background vocals on brother Michael's Top 10 hit, "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)", in 1983.
• Janet wore a key earring throughout her early years starting when she released her 1982 debut.
• Brother Michael claims in his "Home Movies" documentary in 2003 that Janet emulated his choreography from his "Captain EO" short movie into her "Rhythm Nation" music video which she choreographed with Anthony Thomas four years later.
• Janet's first nickname was "Dunk", given to her by brother Michael.
• Janet got her first kiss from Ralph Carter after the end of their series, "Good Times", in 1979.
• Janet's debut tour has been dubbed the all time greatest debut tour in history.
• Janet is the #2 most successful artist on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, behind only Madonna with seventeen #1 hits.
• Janet's breakthrough album Control had one single - "When I Think Of You" hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, the other five singles ("What Have You Done For Me Lately," "Nasty," "Control," "Let's Wait Awhile" and "The Pleasure Principle") all hit #1 on the R&B Chart. "When I Think Of You" hit #3 on the R&B chart.
• Janet remains the only Jackson family member to be nominated for an Academy Award. Her single "Again" was nominated for Best Original Song in 1994.
• Janet held a record for having the most Top 10 hits in a succession of years: 9 (1989-1998) and held a record for the most consecutive Top 10 hits of any artist: 19
• Janet became the first artist to score a simultaneously #1 hit on Billboards Hot 100 singles chart and the Mainstream Rock Singles Chart with "Black Cat", in 1990 surpassing efforts made by singers Prince, brother Michael and Tina Turner.
• In 1994, Jackson had the second longest-running #1 single of the year on the R&B charts when "Any Time, Any Place" stayed at #1 for a record 10 weeks surpassed only by R. Kelly's "Bump & Grind" (12 weeks)http://www.soulsystem.it/yend.asp?date=12-31-1994&image2.x=9&image2.y=8.