Katy Perry Biography

Edgy and non-typically including herself in the good girl image, Katy Perry may be one great example of the future musician. Born on October 25, 1984 in a strict Christian family, Perry was later known for her song "Ur So Gay". Her parents are two devoted pastors who directed their daughter into singing in churches or local restaurants. Perry said that her mother used to ban her from listening to what they call "secular music". Thus, young Perry was apt in gospel music until one day during a slumber party she heard the voice of Freddie Mercury.
Inspired by the Queen frontman's style of singing she was metaphorically 'opened' to another possible side of music, although it was not until much later that this side of her will come out as her main music style. At the age of 15 she moved from birth town Santa Barbara, Calif. to Nashville to work closely with songwriters. Steve Thomas and Jennifer Knapp of Red Hill Records signed her to the label to release her debut album which was self-titled while she used her name Katy Hudson. The album that contained Christian songs was released in 2001.
At 17, she met Glen Ballard who is responsible for the extreme success of Alanis Morissette in the album "Jagged Little Pill". Citing Morissette as one of her influences, Perry found comfort in working with Ballard who then gave her necessary mentor. In 2004 she became the vocalist of The Matrix production team and recorded some songs with Ballard that made her dubbed "The Next Big Thing" by Blender magazine. Through her sessions with Ballard, Perry was heard by Capitol Music executive, Jason Flom who then agreed to sign her in Spring 2007.
By being in the club, Perry was introduced to a number of renown musicians such as Greg Wells, Butch Walker, Dr. Luke and Max Martin. In November 2007 she offered free download of the song "Ur So Gay" on her MySpace account. It was an instant hit, but it was the second single "I Kissed a Girl" that propelled her to chart success. The latter song was used in an episode of teen drama series "Gossip Girl", thus prompting it to climb up the Billboard Hot 100 chart at #2.
Perry constantly added her live experience by scoring the opening act slots for big singers like Mika and The Starting Line. Her full-length debut album "One of the Boys" then hit the U.S. stores on June 17, 2008, peaking at No. 9 on Hot 200.
While pursuing a singing career, Perry met Travis McCoy when she recorded a song in a studio in New York and dated him soon afterwards. They played a couple in Gym Class Heroes' "Cupid's Chokehold" music video. After having a causal dating for several years, she was given a promise ring in 2008, but they broke up several months later. They rekindled their romance in April 2009 only to go their separate ways again few months after.
In summer at the same year, Perry was romantically linked to British comedian Russell Brand after meeting at MTV Video Music Awards. She got proposed by the funnyman on New Year's Eve of 2010, and talks about their impending wedding floated the web ever since.
Beside moving on to a new love, Perry also rushed a new album "Teenage Dream". The album is set for August 24 U.S. release and was already preceded with two hit singles "California Gurls" and the title track. Both tracks charted at the Top 5 of U.S. singles chart in the same week, making her the 10th solo female in the Hot 100's 52-year history to concurrently place two titles in the top five of the list.