Namie Amuro 安室奈美恵 (placeholder)

Birth name 安室奈美恵
Born September 20, 1977 (age 29)
Origin Okinawa, Japan
Genre(s) Pop/R&B
Occupation(s) Singer
Instrument(s) Singing
Years active 1992 – 1995 (group)
1995 – present (solo)
Label(s) Toshiba-EMI (1992 – 1995)
Avex Trax (1995 – present)
Associated
acts SUPER MONKEY’S
SUITE CHIC
MAX
Website http://www.avexnet.or.jp/amuro

Namie Amuro is a Ryukyuan Japanese pop singer. Often known as the “Queen of J-pop” who preceded Ayumi Hamasaki, she was noted in her early years for her Westernized dance music and popularized fashion whose followers came to be nicknamed Amurā (Amurer in English).[1]

Debuting in 1992 as part of the quintet, Super Monkey’s, she later debuted solo in 1995 to phenomenal success with producer Tetsuya Komuro. Severing her ties with Komuro in 2001, Amuro has since attempted to establish herself as a R&B artist. Her latest album, Queen of Hip-Pop (2005) debuted at #2 and has been certified double platinum since its release.[2] She has nine #1 singles, five of which have sold over 1,000,000 copies.

Early life
Namie Amuro was born in Naha City, Okinawa, Japan. She is the daughter of Emiko Taira who is Japanese-Italian. Emiko’s father’s identity is unknown. Amuro is the last of three children Emiko had with her biological father before their divorce. Amuro’s parents divorced when she was a toddler.

Amuro got her start when she was discovered by Masayuki Makino, the president of Okinawa Actors’ School, after coming along with a friend who was currently enrolled in the school.[3] It was him who later at the age of 14 placed her in a group called Super Monkeys along with Minako Ameku, Nanako Takushi, Hisako Arakaki and Anna Makino. They left the school and made their major label debut with the double a-side single, “Koi no Cute Beat / Mr. USA” on September 15, 1992 on Toshiba-EMI.

1992-1994: Meager beginnings
Amuro started her career within the group Super Monkeys, who throughout their time together suffered several setbacks. Although their debut single peaked within the top 30, subsequent singles failed to match its success. The group also went through several member changes. After their initial debut, Anna Makino, left the group. She would be replaced by Rino Nakasone who left the group without recording any material.[4] In 1993, they changed their name from Super Monkey’s to Super Monkey’s 4 and released the single “Dancing Junk” and “Aishite Masukatto.” The group later became regulars on music television program, Pop Jam, as part of the dancing and singing troupe PJG. Between the group, Amuro acted in television dramas and even starred in a children’s program called Ponkikies dressed in a rabbit suit.[3] The group changed its name again in 1994 to Namie Amuro with Super Monkey’s and released the single, “Paradise Train.” It did not chart. Hisako Arakaki left the group soon after the release of the single.

more info can be found at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namie_Amuro