Traci Braxton

Traci Braxton
Braxton in 2018.
Background information
Birth name	Traci Renee Braxton
Born	(1971-04-02)April 2, 1971 Severn, Maryland, U.S
Died	March 12, 2022(2022-03-12) (aged 50)
Genres	R&B
Occupations	Singer media personality
Years active	1989–2022
Labels	eOne Soul World
Spouse	Kevin Surrat ​ (m. 1996)​
Website	tracibraxton.com

Traci Renee Braxton (April 2, 1971 – March 12, 2022) was an American singer, reality television personality, and radio personality.

Early life

Traci Renee Braxton was born in Severn, Maryland as the third child of her parents.^[1] Her father, Michael Conrad Braxton Sr.,^[2] was a Methodist clergyman and power company worker, and her mother, Evelyn Jackson, a native of South Carolina, was a former opera singer and cosmetologist, as well as a pastor.^[3][4] Braxton's maternal grandfather was also a pastor.^[5]

Traci Renee Braxton has an older brother, Michael Jr. (born in 1968), and four sisters, Toni (born in 1967), Towanda (born in 1973), Trina (born in 1974) and Tamar (born in 1977). Braxton and her siblings were raised in a strict religious household,^[6] and Braxton's first performing experience was singing in her church choir.^[6]

Career

1989–1991: Career beginnings with The Braxtons

Toni, Traci, Towanda, Trina, and Tamar Braxton signed their first record deal with Arista Records in 1989.^[7] In 1990, they released their first single, "Good Life". It would be their only single as a fivesome.^[1] "Good Life" peaked at No. 79 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart. At the time of the single's release, the members' age differences created a problem with marketing. Subsequently, The Braxtons were dropped from Arista Records.^[8]

In 1991, during a showcase with Antonio "L.A." Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds—who were in the process of forming LaFace Records—Toni Braxton, minus her four sisters, was chosen and signed as the label's first female solo artist. At the time, the remaining members were told that LaFace was not looking for another girl group, since they had just signed TLC.^[9][10]

1992–1995: Career complications and pregnancy

Main article: The Braxtons

After Toni's departure from the group in 1991, the remaining Braxtons ultimately became backup singers for Toni's first U.S. tour, music videos, and promotional appearances. The sisters—Traci, Towanda, Trina, and Tamar—made several televised appearances as backing vocalists with Toni, and gave answers during interviews, such as on The Today Show.^[11] They were also featured in the music video for Toni Braxton's third single, "Seven Whole Days", from her debut album.^{[citation needed]}

In 1993, LaFace Records A&R Vice President, Bryant Reid, signed The Braxtons to LaFace. However, the group never released an album or single for the record label. When Reid moved on to work for Atlantic Records, he convinced executives at LaFace to allow him take the group to Atlantic also.^[10][12]

It was reported in Vibe magazine that in 1995, Traci Braxton had left the group to pursue a career as a youth counselor;^[13] however, it was not revealed until 2004–when Towanda Braxton appeared on season two of the reality show Starting Over—that Traci was not allowed to sign with Atlantic because of her pregnancy at the time.^{[citation needed]}

2011–2014: Reality television and Crash & Burn

In 2011, Braxton reunited with her sisters for the WE tv reality show, Braxton Family Values.^[14] She makes appearances as backing vocal singer of her sisters in some shows over the years. In 2013, Braxton and her husband Kevin Surratt joined the third season of Marriage Boot Camp.^[15]

In 2013, Braxton began her solo career after signing with independent media conglomerate Entertainment One under eOne Music and Soul World Entertainment to release an album.^[16] The same year, she got her own radio show called The Traci Braxton show on the BLIS.F.M. radio.^[17][18][19]

Her solo debut album, Crash & Burn, was released on October 7, 2014. The album's lead single "Last Call" peaked at number 16 on the US R&B Adult.^[20] "Crash & Burn" debuted at No. 108 on the Billboard Hot 200 with sales of 4,000 in its first week.^[21] The album also reached No. 11 on the relaunched Billboard R&B Albums chart and at No. 1 on the Heatseekers Albums chart.^[22][23] A follow-up single "Perfect Time" was released in 2015.^[24]

2015–2022: The Braxtons reunion, films and On Earth

On January 14, 2015, she joined the judging panel of Mrs. DC America 2015.^[25] In October 2015, The Braxtons released their second album, Braxton Family Christmas. The album was released on October 30, and pre-ordered on October 16.^[26][27] Braxton Family Christmas debuted at number 27 on the US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums,^[28] number 10 on the US R&B chart, and number 12 on the US Top Holiday Albums on November 21, 2015.^[29][30] The album charted at number 1 on the US Heatseekers Albums on December 12, 2015.^[31]

On May 17, 2016, during a Facebook live video on the Braxton Family Values page, it was announced that Traci Braxton was releasing a new single in 2016, titled "Body Shots", from her upcoming sophomore studio album.^{[32][non-primary source needed]}

Braxton performing at Howard University in 2014

On May 21, 2017, she starred in the stageplay There's a Stranger in My House.^[33] On September 26, 2017, Braxton was featured on the rapper Kokayi’s track "Moonlight".^[34][35]

On April 20, 2018, she released the single "Broken Things" featuring her sisters Toni, Towanda and Trina.^[36][37] On August 3, 2018, Traci Braxton released "Lifeline" as the official lead single from her second album, On Earth, which was released on August 24, 2018.^[38]

In the same time, she made her movie acting debut in the feature film Sinners Wanted.^[39] On June 13, 2019, she acted in the film, All In, starring Lil Mama.^[40]

On December 12, 2020, she starred in the film (and her last to be released in her lifetime) The Christmas Lottery.^[41]

On September 24, 2021, her final collaboration was featured on the song "Stay with Me", performed by Candiace, taken from her album Deep Space.^[42][43]

Illness and death

Braxton died on March 12, 2022, at the age of 50.^[44] She had been suffering from esophageal cancer for at least one year before her death.^[45]

Discography

Albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		US [21]	US Heat [46]	US R&B [47]	US R&B/HH [48]
Crash & Burn	Released: October 7, 2014 Label: Entertainment One Format: CD, digital download	108	1	11	18
On Earth	Released: August 24, 2018[38] Label: Soul World Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download	—	—	24	—

Singles

Year	Song	Peaks	Album
		US Adult R&B [20]
2014	"Last Call"	16	Crash & Burn
2015	"Perfect Time"	—
2017	"Moonlight" (Kokayi featuring Traci Braxton)	—	—
2018	"Broken Things" (featuring Toni, Towanda and Trina)[32]	—	On Earth
2018	"Lifeline"

Appearances

Film

• 2018: Sinners Wanted: Nana
• 2019: All In: Foster Mom
• 2020: The Christmas Lottery: Announcer

Television

• Braxton Family Values (as herself, 2011–2020)
• Marriage Boot Camp (as herself, 2014)

Radio

• The Traci Braxton Show

Theater

• There's a Stranger in My House (2017)

References

1. Holpuch, Amanda (March 12, 2022). "Traci Braxton, Television Personality and Singer, Dies at 50". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
2. "Jet". Jet. Johnson Publishing whatCompany: 21. June 20, 1994. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
3. Dougherty, Steve (October 9, 2000). "Greener Pastures". People. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
4. "Braxton Family Values – Evelyn Braxton". WE tv. AMC Networks. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
5. Ney, Angela Winter (February 6, 1994). "Award-winning pastor reaches out to teen-agers". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
6. "Toni Braxton Tickets". Premium Seats USA. Retrieved December 18, 2006.
7. "Tamar Braxton, Past, Present, Future". BET.com. May 7, 2023.
8. "Tamar Braxton (artist page)". iHeart. May 7, 2023.
9. "Toni Braxton: From the heart". Bluesandsoul.com. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
10. "Toni Braxton: The Sunday Conversation – latimes". Los Angeles Times. May 22, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
11. "Toni Braxton - Breathe Again Live on the Today Show 1994". YouTube. Clarke, Alex. July 27, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
12. Reynolds, J.R. "'So Many' Braxtons on Atlantic Label Downplays Link To Famous Sister." Billboard. July 6, 1996: 18–19. Print.
13. Davis, Joyce E. "The Braxtons: And then there were three." Vibe Magazine. September 1, 1996: 92. Print.
14. MacIntyre, April (June 17, 2011). "Toni Braxton's Bankruptcy Issues Resolved: Braxton Family Values on We TV". MonstersandCritics.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2011.
15. L'oreal Thompson, May (May 30, 2013). "Traci Braxton on 'Marriage Boot Camp'". Jetmag.
16. Vanessa Barnett, July (July 30, 2014). "Traci Braxton's Solo Career Set To "Crash & Burn"?". HipHollywood.
17. Traci Braxton show on soulbounce.com
18. Traci Braxton bio on lushradioonline.com
19. Traci Braxton show on alwayssalist.com Archived February 6, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
20. Traci Braxton Last Call Single Charts on Billboard.com
21. "Top 200 Albums Billboard 25 October 2014". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
22. Traci Braxton charts
23. Caulfield, Keith (October 16, 2014). "Keyshia Cole Collects Third No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
24. Traci Braxton [@TraciBraxton] (May 21, 2015). "Check out my new single 'Perfect Time' Written by: Talented singer and songwriter (Tank) @TheRealTank" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
25. "Traci Braxton joined the judging panel of Ms Dc Ameerica Pageant sur www.wsu9.com". Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
26. "Braxton Family Christmas". Braxton Sisters to Release Christmas Album. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
27. "The Braxtons". Braxton Family Christmas. Target. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
28. "The Braxtons – Chart history". Billboard. October 5, 1996. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
29. "The Braxtons – Chart history". Billboard. October 5, 1996. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
30. "The Braxtons – Chart history". Billboard. October 5, 1996. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
31. "The Braxtons Chart History". The Braxtons. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
32. "Hi all! So excited to be Live and answering your q's. Braxton Family Values premieres on We tv Thursday May 19 at 9 pm EST". Facebook. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
33. Traci Braxton There's a stranger in my house stageplay on www.eventsinpa.com
34. Kokayi Moonlight featuring Traci Braxton on itunes.com
35. Kokayi featuring Traci Braxton Moonlight single on amazon.com
36. "Tamar Braxton release single Broken Things featuring her sisters on tracibraxton.com". Archived from the original on March 22, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
37. Traci Braxton release the single Broken Things on thatgrapejuice.net
38. "On Earth by Traci Braxton on Apple Music". Apple Music (US Store). August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
39. "Sinners Wanted". IMDb. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
40. All In Movie on www.imdb.com
41. The Christmas Lottery on www.imdb.com
42. "Album Stream: Candiace Dillard – 'Deep Space' – That Grape Juice". thatgrapejuice.net. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
43. "Stream: Candiace Dillard Bassett's Debut Album 'Deep Space'". JoJoCrews.com. September 24, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
44. Croft, Jay (March 12, 2022). "Singer Traci Braxton of 'Family Values' dies at 50". CNN. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
45. "Traci Braxton Dead at 50 from Cancer". TMZ. March 12, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
46. "Heatseekers Album Chart: October 25, 2014". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
47. "R&B Albums Chart: October 25, 2014". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
48. "Top R&B Hip Hop Albums Chart: October 25, 2014". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2016.

External links

• Official website
• Traci Braxton at IMDb
• Traci Braxton discography at Discogs