Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill was born to musicians Valerie Hill (also a High School English teacher) and Mal Hill (also a computer programmer). Her father was a singer, her mother a pianist and her older brother Melaney, played many instruments: saxophone, guitar, drums, harmonica, violin and piano. She is married to Rohan Marley, who is the son of the late reggae musician, Bob Marley. They have five children together and reside in Florida.

Ms. Hill's first performance was in 1988, at 13 years old: she appeared as an Amateur Night at the Apollo contestant. She sang Smokey Robinson’s song, Whos Loving You, a song that was also covered by the Jackson 5 in the 1970’s.

Lauryn Hill started out as the only female member of the group The Fugees, with Wyclef Jean. On August 25, 1998 she launched her solo career and released an album entitled The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. After a four year hiatus, she released MTV Unplugged No. 2.0, playing acoustic guitar. She has won eight Grammy Awards. Lauryn briefly reunited in The Fugees in 2005. She also does live concerts with her brother-in-law, Ziggy Marley, who does vocals as well as guitar.

• 1996: If I Ruled the World

• 1997: The Sweetest Thing, All My Time

• 1998: Cant Take My Eyes Off Of You, Doo Wop, Everything Is Everything, Lost Ones, Ex-Factor, To Zion

1977: Two Grammy Awards for Best R&B song by a duo or group, for Killing Me Softly with His Song and for best rap album, The Score.

1998: Triple Platinum Certification for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Recording Industry Association of America.

1998: Five Grammy Awards, including two for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, best R&B song for Doo Wop (That Thing), best new artist, and best female R&B vocalist.

1998: Essence Award, for humanitarian work.

1999: Three NAACP Image Awards.

2000: Two American Music Awards for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.