Raven-Symone

Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman (born December 10, 1985), known professionally as Raven-Symoné, or simply Raven, is an American actress, singer, songwriter, comedian, dancer, television producer and model. Symone launched her successful career in 1989 after appearing in The Cosby Show as Olivia. She released her debut album, Here's to New Dreams in 1993; the single, "That's What Little Girls Are Made Of" charted number sixty-eight on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Symoné appeared in several successful television series, such as The Cosby Show and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 2003, Symone went on to star in the highly successful Disney Channel series, That's So Raven in which Symone starred as Raven Baxter, a psychic teenager who tried her best to keep her psychic powers a secret. Symone starred in the series from 2003 until 2007. Symone's co-stars of That's So Raven went onto appear in the follow up, Cory In the House; however, Symone did not feature permanently, as she only appeared as a guest in one episode. During her time on That's So Raven, Symone released her third studio album, This is My Time (2004) which was Symone's best selling solo album to date, charting at number fifty-one on the Billboard 200. In 2008, she followed up This Is My Time with the release of her fourth album, Raven-Symoné (2008), charting at number #159 on the Billboard 200.
She transitioned to a film career, starring in several films aimed at teenage audiences, including Dr. Dolittle (1998), Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001), College Road Trip (2008), and successful television movies, including The Cheetah Girls (2003), Cheetah Girls 2 (2006), Revenge of the Bridesmaids (2010). Raven has also lent her voice to the animated series Kim Possible, for the character Monique and films such as Disney‘s Tinker Bell. Raven-Symoné also owns a "how-to" video website, Raven-Symoné Presents.

Double Dutch Bus, Raven-Symone, College Road Trip



"Superstition"- Raven-Symone





Life and career

[edit]1985–1992: Early life and career beginnings
Raven-Symoné was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Lydia (née Gaulden) and Christopher B. Pearman. At age three, her family moved to Ossining, New York where she attended Park School.[5][6] As an infant, she worked for Atlanta's Young Faces Inc. Modeling Agency and was featured in local print advertisements. At age two, she worked with Ford Models in New York City and appeared in ads for Ritz crackers, Jell-O, Fisher-Price, and Cool Whip.
In 1989, Raven-Symoné auditioned for a part in the Bill Cosby movie, Ghost Dad. At three years old she was considered too young for the role, but Bill Cosby liked her so much that he found a part for her on his show, The Cosby Show, as his step-granddaughter Olivia. Raven-Symoné played the part of Olivia until 1992. She then appeared as the younger version of Halle Berry's starring character, a headstrong biracial slave, in the TV movie Queen: The Story of an American Family, based on the book by Alex Haley.
[edit]1993–2001: Here's to New Dreams, Undeniable and film debut
Raven-Symoné began her singing career at the age of five, when she signed with MCA Records. She spent that year and the next taking vocal lessons from Missy Elliott. Her debut album, Here's to New Dreams, was released on June 22, 1993, which spawned two singles: "That's What Little Girls Are Made Of" and "Raven Is the Flavor". "That's What Little Girls Are Made Of" reached #68 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album however was not successful, and due to low sales she was dropped from MCA Records in 1995.
Within a year after The Cosby Show ended, she landed the role of Nicole Lee on the show Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. During her time on the show, she had her first big screen role in the movie The Little Rascals, playing Stymie's girlfriend.
In 1996 Raven-Symoné and her father founded RayBlaze Records, in which she signed a distribution deal with Crash Records for her second album Undeniable, which was released in May 1999. The album yielded one single: a cover of Stevie Wonder's "With a Child's Heart". She was cast in the Eddie Murphy comedy Dr. Dolittle and then Dr. Dolittle 2 as Charisse Dolittle, the oldest daughter of Murphy's character. Meanwhile, she also appeared in Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, her first production under Disney.
[edit]2002–2007: That's So Raven, This Is My Time, and The Cheetah Girls
In 2002, Raven-Symoné auditioned for a role on an up-coming series for the Disney Channel titled Absolutely Psychic, about a teenager with psychic abilities.[7] She actually auditioned for the recurring role of Chelsea Daniels, but her role was changed to the lead character Raven Baxter and the series name changed to That's So Raven. The series debuted on January 17, 2003, becoming the Disney Channel's highest-rated and longest-running series. It spawned a franchise including soundtracks, dolls, episode DVDs, and video games. That's So Raven was nominated for Outstanding Children's Program during the 2005 and 2007 Emmy Awards. The show also launched the channel's first spin-off series, Cory in the House.
During her time on the show, Raven-Symoné provided the voice of Danielle in Fat Albert and also as Marti in Everyone's Hero. She made an appearance in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (during which she sang a duet with Julie Andrews). In 2003, she starred as lead singer Galleria Garibaldi in The Cheetah Girls, a Disney Channel Original Movie about four city girls who dream of becoming superstars. The movie was the channel's first musical and was the basis for another franchise, including dolls, video games, platinum-selling soundtracks and more.[8] In 2006, Raven-Symoné reprised the role in The Cheetah Girls 2. Raven-Symoné served as executive producer of the film.[9] The film brought in more than 8 million viewers opening night, making it (at the time) Disney Channel's most-watched movie. The films soundtrack debuted at #5 on the Billboard Top 200 and is certified for platinum-level sales by the RIAA.
In early 2003, she signed a deal with Hollywood Records, a Disney-owned label. On September 21, 2004, she released her third studio album This Is My Time, which included the single "Backflip", which received heavy rotation on Disney Channel, and premiered on BET via an Access Granted special. The album debuted and peaked at #51 on the Billboard 200 selling 19,000 copies in its first week of release and becoming her most successful album. Symoné released a five-track EP with Hollywood Records on January 1, 2004[10][11] prior to the release of This Is My Time, containing "Backflip", "Bump", "Overloved", "What Is Love?", and "Mystify".[12] Released to promote the full-length album, the EP was only available in select stores and is now very rare.
Recorded late into the production of the album, "Backflip" was the lead single official from This Is My Time. Four songs from the album were incorporated into soundtracks from Disney films: The Lion King 1½ with "Grazing in the Grass"; The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement with "This Is My Time"; Ice Princess with "Bump"; and Go Figure with "Life Is Beautiful".
During 2004, Raven-Symoné also recorded music for That's So Raven's first original television soundtrack. The soundtrack debuted and peaked at #44 on the Billboard 200 and is now certified Gold by the RIAA for sales of 500,000 copies.[13]
In support of her third studio album and That's So Raven Too! soundtrack, which was the second soundtrack album from the series. Raven-Symoné embarked on her first headlining tour. The This Is My Time Tour kicked off on May 19, 2006 in Richmond, VA and concluded on October 21, 2006 in Columbia, SC.[14]
In 2008, The Cheetah Girls: One World began production, however Raven-Symoné did not return for another film, citing "territorial issues" and "catfights" on the set of Cheetah Girls 2, which led to a strained friendship with the other three actors.[15] In a later interview, Adrienne Bailon, Sabrina Bryan and Kiely Williams denied the rumors, saying they all get along well.[16]
[edit]2008–2009: College Road Trip, Raven-Symoné, and Tinker Bell
In 2008, Raven-Symoné starred in her first leading role. The comedy College Road Trip surrounds Melanie Porter a 17-year-old college-bound girl who is eagerly looking forward to her first big step towards independence, when she plans a girls only road trip to check out prospective universities. But when her overbearing police chief father (Martin Lawrence) insists on escorting her instead in hopes to sway her decision, soon finds her dream trip has turned into a nightmare adventure full of comical misfortune and turmoil. In its opening weekend, the film grossed approximately $14,000,000 in 2,706 theaters in the United States and Canada, ranking as the #2 film at box office. It went on to gross more than $60,000,000 worldwide.[17]


Raven performing at the Disson Skating & Gymnastics Spectacular.
Her fourth studio album Raven-Symoné was released on April 29, 2008.[18] The album features production by Sean Garrett (Beyoncé), The JAM (Leona Lewis), Knightwritaz, and The Clutch (Timbaland, Ciara). The only single released was "Double Dutch Bus", a cover of Frankie Smith's 1981 funk track. The single was released to radio on February 9, while the video was released on February 18, 2008. The album debuted at #159 on Billboard's Top 200. To promote the album she planned to headline her first all-arena tour "The Pajama Party Tour" in Spring 2008, but due to what promoters call "unforeseen difficulties" the tour was postponed until further notice.[19] Later on, Raven-Symoné confirmed that the tour would be re-scheduled and would kick off in the Summer of 2008. The tour now dubbed the Raven-Symoné: Live Tour kicked off in July 2008,[20] and continued through 2009.
During her 2008 Summer tour, it was officially announced that after completing her 2 CD deal with Hollywood Records, she would not renew her contract with the label.
During 2008 and 2009, Raven-Symoné provided her voice for Iridessa the light-fairy[21] in the Disney Fairies direct-to-DVD film series, Tinker Bell, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, and Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue. Raven-Symoné is expected to return to the franchise for the films Tinker Bell and the Mysterious Winter Woods and Tinker Bell: Race Through the Seasons. Raven also appeared in Chris Rock’s 2009 documentary Good Hair.
In an interview with Teenmag.com, she announced that in late 2009, she would return to the studio to record her next album.[22] She said that the album will be "R&B, most definitely.....with an alternative base for the lyrics". She said, "It's good to go out there and spread your wings and find new talent and work with people you haven't worked with before. I'd love to find the next Timbaland or the next someone who's coming up and no one really knows yet. At the same time, I'd love to work with the Clutch and the J.A.M. again".[23]
[edit]2010–present: Revenge of the Bridesmaids, upcoming fifth studio album and State of Georgia


Symone in February 2010
In 2010, Raven-Symoné starred in an ABC Family, made-for-tv film, Revenge of the Bridesmaids. Revenge of the Bridesmaids surrounds two childhood friends who attempt to thwart the wedding of a no-good, money hungry ex-friend by going undercover as bridesmaids so that true love can prevail. The film garnered 2.5 million viewers on its premiere, making it the number 1 movie on basic cable in women 18-34, and ranked among the Top 5 programs in its time period in Total Viewers that week.[24]
Raven-Symoné also made a guest appearance on the Disney Channel Original Series Sonny with a Chance. She portrayed the character Amber Algoode, the president of Chad Dylan Cooper's fan club.
She was a guest performer, along with pianist Chau-Giang Thi-Nguyen, and jazz trumpeter and pianist Arturo Sandoval, at the December 9 performance of Debbie Allen's new dance-theater piece, The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, at UCLA's Royce Hall. Proceeds from the performance, as well as from its run from December 10–11, benefited the children of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy.[25]
In an interview in January 2011, she told to OnTheRedCarpet.com that she has filmed a pilot for ABC Family and was working on her fifth album.[26] The TriGz may be working on the project,[27] with Manny Streetz (from The TriGz) as executive producer.[28] Raven revealed to Billboard that she would like to work with Sean Garrett again and that it will be R&B with an "alternitve base for lyrics".[29]
Raven-Symoné is returning to television as the star of ABC Family's multi-camera comedy pilot State of Georgia. The project, from ABC Studios, centers on Georgia (Symoné), an exuberant and curvy performer from the south who is trying to make it big as an actress in New York City. Also cast in the pilot is Brock Cuchna (Melrose Place) as Georgia's Southern ex-boyfriend who, still madly in love with her, comes to New York to bring her back home. The pilot was written by author Jennifer Weiner (In Her Shoes) and Jeff Greenstein (Desperate Housewives). The series premiere has been announced to air in June 2011.[30]
[edit]Filmography

[edit]Film
Year Title Role Notes
1994 The Little Rascals Stymie's Girlfriend
1998 Dr. Dolittle Charisse Dolittle Nominated - Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie
1999 Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century Nebula Wade Disney Channel Original Movie
Nominated - YoungStar Awards for Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Mini-Series/Made for TV Film
2001 Dr. Dolittle 2 Charisse Dolittle Genesis Awards for Feature Film
Nominated - Image Awards for Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress
Nominated - Kids' Choice Awards for Favorite Female Movie Star
Nominated - Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie
2003 The Cheetah Girls Galleria Garibaldi Disney Channel Original Movie
Nominated - Black Reel Award for Best Actress: T.V. Movie/Cable
2003 Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time Monique (voice) Disney Channel Original Movie
2004 Zenon: Z3 Nebula Wade Disney Channel Original Movie
2004 The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement Princess Asana
2004 Fat Albert Danielle (voice) Nominated - Teen Choice Awards for Choice Movie: Animated/Computer Generated
2005 Kim Possible: So the Drama Monique (voice) Nominated - Disney Channel Original Movie
BET Comedy Awards for Best Performance in an Animated Theatrical Film
2006 For One Night Brianna McCallister Lifetime movie
2006 The Cheetah Girls 2 Galleria Garibaldi Disney Channel Original Movie
Also executive producer
2006 Everyone's Hero Marti Brewster (voice)
2008 College Road Trip Melanie Porter Nominated - Teen Choice Award for Choice Comedy Movie
Nominated - Golden Icon Awards for Favorite Teen Movie
Summer Fort Myers Beach Film Festival for Fav Summer Teen Flick Comedy
2008 Tinker Bell Iridessa (voice) Direct-to-video film
2009 Good Hair Herself Cameo appearance
Black Reel Awards for Best Documentary
Image Awards for Outstanding Documentary (Theatrical or Television)
2009 Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure Iridessa (voice) Direct-to-video film
2010 Revenge of the Bridesmaids Abigail "Abby" Scanlon ABC Family Original Movie
Nominated - People's Choice Awards for Favorite Family TV Movie
2012 Tinker Bell and the Mysterious Winter Woods Iridessa (voice) Direct-to-video film
2012 What's after College? Melanie Porter Movie Theatres
[edit]Television Series
Year Title Role Notes
1989 A Different World Olivia Kendall "Forever Hold Your Peace" (Season 3, episode 5)
1989 to 1992 The Cosby Show Olivia Kendall Seasons 6–8, 64 episodes
1990 ABC TGIF Nicole Unknown episodes
1990 The Muppets at Walt Disney World Young Girl
1992 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Claudia "Vying for Attention" (Season 2, episode 21)
1993 Queen: The Story of an American Family Queen (age 5) Uncredited
1993 to 1997 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Nicole Lee Seasons 2–5, 79 episodes
1995 Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child Goldilocks / Olivia / Zoe (voice) "The Princess and the Pauper" (Season 2, episode 8)
"Goldilocks and the Three Bears" (Season 3, episode 8)
1996 Bill Nye the Science Guy Herself "Human Transportation" (Season 3, episode 56)
1997 Space Ghost Coast to Coast Herself "Piledriver" (Season 3, episode 18)
2001 My Wife and Kids Charmaine "Mom's Away: Part 1" (Season 2, episode 1)
"Mom's Away: Part 2" (Season 2, episode 2)
2001 The Proud Family Stephanie "Seven Days of Kwanzaa" (Season 1, episode 11)
2002 to 2007 Kim Possible Monique (voice) Recurring role, 27 episodes
2003 to 2007 That's So Raven Raven Baxter Lead role, All 100 episodes.
2004 Fillmore! Maryanne Greene /
Alexandria Quarry (voice) "Code Name: Electric Haircut" (Season 2, episode 9)
"Field Trip of the Just" (Season 2, episode 13)
2005 Higglytown Heroes Playground Monitor (voice) "Wayne's Ripping Adventure" (Season 1, episode 14)
2006 The Suite Life of Zack and Cody Raven Baxter "That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana" (Season 2, episode 20)
2007 Cory in the House Raven Baxter "That's So in the House" (Season 1, episode 16)
2008 American Dad! Katie / Wife (voice) "Office Spaceman" (Season 3, episode 14)
"Stanny Slickers II: The Legend of Ollie's Gold" (Season 3, episode 15)
2010 Sonny With a Chance Amber Algoode[31] "That's So Sonny" (Season 2, episode 14)
2010-Present State of Georgia[32] Georgia 2 seasons, Lead role
[edit]Discography

Main article: Raven-Symoné discography
1993: Here's to New Dreams
1999: Undeniable
2004: This Is My Time
2008: Raven-Symoné
[edit]See also

List of awards and nominations received by Raven-Symoné
List of Raven-Symoné songs
Reference from Wikipedia.com