Pharrell Williams at The Lion King European Premiere in 2019 photo by Sassy – Wikimedia commons

Top 10 Facts  about Pharrell Williams


 

Pharrell Lanscilo Williams, sometimes known as simply Pharrell, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, film producer, and businessman. As a musician, composer, and producer, Pharrell Williams has established himself as a major figure in contemporary music. He has had a long, excellent music career that includes both the music he has created for himself and others. It might be challenging to keep track of all of the successes that the American performer has achieved.

He’s been working on his music career for a long time, so it’s not surprising that he’s one of the most popular and financially successful musicians right now in America hailing from Virginia. He has collaborated with several well-known musicians and worked on a wide range of musical genres. His presence will always be vibrant. He not only contributed to changing how pop music is seen, but he also stole every stage with his ambience. Let’s check out some top 10 facts about the entertainer.

1. Pharrell was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on April 5, 1973

Pharrell Lanscilo Williams, the oldest of the three sons of teacher Carolyn and handyman Pharoah Williams, was born in Virginia Beach on April 5, 1973. His family has a long history in Virginia and North Carolina. One of his ancestors travelled to West Africa in 1831, and as a result, more family members left the United States for Liberia in 1832.

2. Pharrell met Chad Hugo at a band camp in seventh grade

Chad Hugo performing with N.E.R.D. at The Warfield in San Francisco in July 2009 photo by Seher Sikandar for rehes creative – Wikimedia commons

Williams played percussion in the school band when he was younger, and he connected with saxophone Chad Hugo because of their same interests. Known professionally as Chad Hugo, Charles Edward Hugo is an American record producer, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Williams and Hugo committed their lives to making beats and music, and in high school, they adopted the moniker “the Neptunes.”

Many of Pharrell Williams’ songs are co-produced and co-written by the legendary Chad Hugo, a phenomenal musician in his own right who has collaborated with Pharrell from the beginning of their respective careers. They have known each other for years and are the greatest of friends. At a music summer camp, they first connected when they were 12 years old, and they hit it off right away. They clicked musically and personally, and they almost immediately began working together.

3. He was discovered by Teddy Riley at a high school talent show

Teddy Riley photo by Christopher Diont’e – Wikimedia commons

Producer Teddy Riley spotted Pharrell in a high school talent event; his first taste of fame was writing a verse to Wreckx-n-Effect hit “Rump Shaker” in 1992. In the early 1990s, Williams (together with Hugo, Timbaland, and Magoo) created the hip-hop trio Surrounded by Idiots, which disintegrated before recording any songs.

He subsequently founded the Neptunes, a four-piece “R&B-type” band with pals Shay Haley and Mike Etheridge. They joined a high school talent event, where they were spotted by producer Teddy Riley, whose studio was just next to the school. The group signed with Riley after graduation.

4. He dropped out of Northwestern University to pursue music full time

He participated in the school band while he was a student at Princess Anne High School. Williams left high school in 1991 and spent two years at Northwestern University before dropping out. Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world.

5. He became the lead vocalist of the band N.E.R.D in 1999

Pharrell Williams performing with N.E.R.D in Pori Jazz 2010 photo by kallerna – Wikimedia commons

He established the band N.E.R.D., which he co-founded with Hugo and drummer Shay Haley, as the main vocalist in 1999. No-one Ever Really Dies is the backronym for N.E.R.D., an American hip-hop and rock group that was founded in Virginia Beach in 1999. Teddy Riley signed the duo known as The Neptunes, which consists of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, to Virgin Records.

As a side project of The Neptunes, the duo founded the band with Shay Haley in 1999 after writing songs for several singers in the late 1990s. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) awarded Gold certification to N.E.R.D.’s debut album, In Search Of…, for sales of 603,000 copies in the country.

6. Williams’ debut studio album was released in July 2006

Pharrell Williams performing on September 30, 2008, in Montreal. photo by Jazminmillion – Wikimedia commons

‘In My Mind,’ Williams’ debut studio album, was released in July 2006. It turned out to be a huge success. It debuted at number three on the ‘US Billboard 200.’ Even though numerous tracks from the album had been leaked on the internet before its release, the album sold over 142k copies in its first week.

Over the next few years, he worked with several well-known vocalists, including Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. He was a co-writer and producer on Lopez’s hit song “Fresh Out of the Oven.”

7. Pharrell says he experiences synesthesia

He owes his love of music to his synesthesia, which gives him the capacity to more easily “see” and link colours with music. When you have synesthesia, you hear music while seeing shapes. You may also see a colour the moment you hear a word or a name. When you perceive one of your senses via another, it’s known as synesthesia. For instance, you could see green when you hear the word “Alex.”

8. Pharell is really into fashion

The American rapper Pharrell Williams photo by Eurockéennes de Belfort – Wikimedia commons

You may be familiar with Pharrell’s favoured Vivienne Westwood hat, which has already made red carpet history, and the clothing labels Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Crea, which he co-founded. He also created a line of jewellery and eyeglasses for Louis Vuitton. He collaborated with Uniqlo on the ” I am OTHER” line, contributed to Gap’s 40th-anniversary collection, worked with Moncler, built a bike, and developed bizarre seats for Domeau & Pérès.

He is an investor and a spokesperson for Bionic Yarn, a firm that partners with brands like Adidas, G-Star Raw, Kiehl’s, and others to produce textiles from recycled plastic. In 2005, Esquire ranked him the best-dressed man on the planet. In 2013, he served as a coach on Rihanna’s Styled to Rock program.

9. He married his longtime partner Helen Lasichanh in 2013

For more than five years, Pharrell Williams dated his long-term partner. Pharrell and Helen Lasichanh married in 2013, although their child was born in 2008. The rocket-themed song in the ‘Despicable Me’ tune was written in honour of Pharrell’s son. The couple had triplets in early January 2017, which was a wonderful way to begin the year.

10. He has garnered a slew of awards and nominations

Pharrell receiving – The XPRIZE Visioneering Grand Prize photo by Steve Jurvetson – Wikimedia commons

Williams has garnered a slew of awards and nominations. He has 13 Grammy Awards, including three for Non-Classical Producer of the Year (one as a member of the Neptunes). He is also a two-time Academy Award nominee, for Best Original Song in 2014 for “Happy” (from Despicable Me 2) and Best Picture in 2017 as a producer of Hidden Figures.

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