Solange Knowles

Solange Knowles
Knowles in 2019
Born
Solange Piaget Knowles

(1986-06-24) June 24, 1986 (age 38)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Other namesSolange Knowles-Smith
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • producer
  • actress
  • performance artist
Years active2001–present
Spouses
  • Daniel Smith
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2004; div. 2007)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 2014; sep. 2019)​
Children1
Parents
Relatives
AwardsFull list
Musical career
Genres
Instrument
  • Vocals
Labels
Websitesolangemusic.com

Solange Piaget Knowles (/soʊˈlɑːnʒ/; born June 24, 1986)[1][2][3] is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Knowles expressed an interest in music from an early age and had temporary stints as a backup dancer for Destiny's Child, which featured her older sister Beyoncé among its members, before signing with her father's label, Music World Entertainment. At 16, Knowles released her first studio album Solo Star (2002). She also appeared in the films Johnson Family Vacation (2004), and Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006).

In 2007, Knowles began to record music again. Heavily influenced by Motown girl groups, her second studio album Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams (2008) deviated from the pop-oriented music of her debut to Motown-inspired sounds from the 60's and 70's. It peaked at number nine on the US Billboard 200 and received positive reviews from critics. She followed this up with the 1980s pop and R&B-inspired extended play True (2012) on Terrible Records and her imprint Saint Records. Her third studio album, A Seat at the Table (2016) was released to widespread critical acclaim and became her first number-one album in the United States. The album's lead single, "Cranes in the Sky" won the Grammy for Best R&B Performance. Her fourth studio album, When I Get Home, was released in March 2019 to further critical acclaim.

Knowles says that her first passion is songwriting. Frequently compared by the media to her sister Beyoncé, Knowles has claimed that they have different aspirations and are musically different. She has been ranked by Billboard as the 100th most successful dance artist of all time,[4] and in 2017 was honored with the "Impact Award" at the Billboard Women in Music event.[5] Her other ventures include an endorsement deal with Rimmel London and a line of hip-hop-oriented merchandise for young children.

Knowles has also ventured into performance art, working in several international museums and exhibitions, such as the Elbphilharmonie, the Venice Art Biennale and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. In 2022, Knowles became the third woman and first African American to compose a score for the New York City Ballet.

  1. ^ "Solange' Birthday: As Star Turns 26, A Look At Fabulous Celebrity Sisters (PHOTOS)". The Huffington Post. June 24, 2012. Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  2. ^ "Solange Biography". The Biography Channel. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  3. ^ "Solange Piaget Knowles - Texas Birth Index". FamilySearch. June 24, 1986. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  4. ^ "Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists : Page 1". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 4, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  5. ^ "Solange Honored As Billboard Impact Award Winner for 2017 Women In Music". billboard.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2017.