Biography

Actress. Model. Singer. Those three words chronicle the eative evolution of Raven-Symone.

For some, Raven-Symone will always be precocious three-year-old Olivia Kendall, who captivated viewers' hearts on The Cosby Show. For others she is high school teen Raven Baxter, engaged in various comedic yet life-teaching situations on the Disney Channel's That's So Raven series. Still others know her as a film actress whose edits include the Eddie Murphy vehicles, Dr. Doolittle and Dr. Doolittle 2, as well as current box-office favorite, The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement.

But with the September 21st release of her Hollywood Records solo debut, This is My Time, Raven-Symone reclaims the musical persona of her eative muse.

"Though acting came first, I love to sing," says Raven-Symone. "At five, I told my dad I wanted to do my own album."

With that declaration, the five-year-old became the youngest artist ever to sign with MCA Records. The affiliation yielded her 1993 recording debut, the rap-oriented Here's to New Dreams, which featured the single, "That's What Little Girls are Made Of." The tune's writer: another then-rising talent, Missy Elliott.

At 13, Raven-Symone opted to sing instead of rap on her second album, Undeniable. The sophomore offering was released on her own label, Rayblaze Records. This time, none other than Stevie Wonder contributed a track and guest vocals. And to help promote the project, she found herse opening for 'N Sync on tour and later headlining her own international tour.

With This is My Time, Raven-Symone puts people on notice that she's indeed serious about her music. Inspired by a diverse range of artists from Jay-Z, Maroon 5 and Alanis Morissette to Bjork and Janet Jackson, she enlists several of contemporary music's cutting-edge songwriter/producers. The goal: a diverse, yet cohesive musical vision that encompasses R&B, pop and alternative rock with flavorful dashes of electronic trip-hop, Latin and Indian-inspired rhythms.