Fergie (singer)
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Stacy Ann Ferguson (born March 27 1975), professionally known as Fergie, is a Grammy Award-winning pop and R&B singer. She is a former member of Wild Orchid and the current vocalist of the The Black Eyed Peas. She is currently pursuing a solo career and will release her first solo album, The Dutchess, in 2006.
Biography and music career
Stacy Ferguson was born in in Whittier, California to parents Terri and Pat Ferguson who are of Irish, Scottish and Native American descent. As a child actress, she appeared on the television program Kids Incorporated for several years with Renee Sands, who herself would become another member of Wild Orchid. Her well-scrubbed image on that show presents quite a contrast with the ghetto-funk image she has more recently begun to cultivate. Ferguson was the voice of Sally Brown in two Charlie Brown specials: It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (1984) and Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown (1985). She has one sister, Dana Ferguson, who is an actress.
Later, Ferguson was a member of the female trio Wild Orchid which she fronted with fellow Kids Incorporated star Renee Sands and Stefanie Ridel. Wild Orchid released two albums, but after completing a third album, their record label declined to release it. This prompted an emotional crisis, and Stacy sought therapy. She left the group shortly thereafter.
Her disappointment with Wild Orchid led to an addiction to ecstacy and crystal meth. She told a Glasgow paper: "I started doing Ecstasy. Then I got addicted to crystal methamphetamine. My weight dropped to 90 lb so I lied to my friends and said I was bulimic. Finally, I started going crazy."
On July 2003, she had a guest role on the Rocket Power special, Reggie's Big Beach Break, on Nickelodeon, voicing a fictitious pop music star named Shaffika.
In 2003, Ferguson took over the lead female vocal duties for the band, The Black Eyed Peas. Ferguson replaced background singer Kim Hill, who left the group in 2000. Ferguson recorded five songs with the group before she was invited to join them permanently. Ferguson's addition to the band, which had been formed years earlier, sent the group on a whirlwind of success. In 2005, Ferguson returned to acting, appearing in the movie, Poseidon.
After two hit BEP albums, Ferguson turned her sights on a solo career. The first offering due in September 2006, is entitled, The Dutchess, a take on Sarah Ferguson's, The Dutchess of York royal title, and the common 'Ferguson' surname. The solo deal however, does not mean the demise of the Black Eyed Peas. Ferguson is intending staying with the group, and alternating between the two duties. Music on The Dutchess is expected to be reminicent of the Black Eyed Peas sound, most likely due to fellow BEP member, Will.i.am, featured on production duties. Ferguson worked with an array of talent, and the lyrics will focus on Fergie's own brand of style and delivery.
Ferguson is currently dating actor, Josh Duhamel.
San Diego incident
In July 2005, Fergie gained notoriety as an image of the singer with a small stain surrounding the crotch area of her trousers circulated through the Internet community. The image allegedly was taken in the midst of a Black Eyed Peas performance in San Diego, California. Her publicists quickly asserted that this stain was perspiration, though some who reported on the incident, including Rolling Stone magazine, insisted otherwise. With the spread of this image, the pop star's name quickly proliferated throughout tabloids and entertainment magazines.
Solo discography
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The Dutchess
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Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Rocket Power | Shaffika | Kids Comedy | |
| 2005 | Be Cool | As herself | Comedy | |
| 2006 | Poseidon | Gloria | Horror-Catastrophe | |
| 2007 | Grind House | Tammy | Some footage shot. Resume summer 2006 in Texas | Horror |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Billboard Video Music Award nomination for Best Dance Clip of the Year for "Talk To Me" shared with Wild Orchid |
| 1997 | Billboard Video Music Award nomination for Best Dance Clip of the Year by a new artist for "Talk To Me" shared with Wild Orchid |
| 2003 | Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap / Sung Collaboration for "Where Is The Love?" shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2003 | Grammy Award nomination for Record of the Year for "Where Is The Love?" shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2003 | Billboard Music Award Win for Digital Track of the Year for "Where Is The Love?" shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2003 | American Music Award nomination for Favorite Band, Duo or Group - Rap / Hip-Hop shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2004 | MTV Europe Award Win for Best Pop Act shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2004 | Grammy Award Win for Best Rap Performance - Duo or Group for "Let's Get It Started" shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2004 | Grammy Award nominaton for Record of the Year for "Let's Get It Started" shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2004 | People's Choice Award nomination for Favorite Combined Forces for "Where Is The Love?" shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2004 | MTV Video Music Award Win for Best Choreography in a Video for "Hey Mama" shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2004 | MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Hip-Hop Video for "Hey Mama" shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2004 | MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Dance Video for "Hey Mama" shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2005 | MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Group Video for "Don't Phunk With My Heart" shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2005 | People's Choice Award nomination for Favorite Group shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2005 | Soul Train Music Award Win for Best R&B-Soul Album, Group, Band or Duo for Monkey Business shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2005 | Soul Train Music Award nomination for Best R&B-Soul or Rap Dance Cut "My Humps" shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2005 | Teen Choice Award Win for Choice Party Starter for "Don't Phunk With My Heart" shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2005 | MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Group Video for "Don't Phunk With My Heart" shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2005 | MTV Europe Award Win for Best Pop Act shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2005 | American Music Award Win for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Band/Duo/Group shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2005 | Billboard Music Award Win for Hot Digital Songs Artist shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2006 | Grammy Award Win for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Don't Phunk With My Heart" shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2006 | Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group for "Don't Lie" shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2006 | Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "Gone Going" shared with Black Eyed Peas |
| 2006 | Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Song for "Don't Phunk With My Heart" shared with Black Eyed Peas |