Destiny's Child stars busy with solo projects

01/06/2006 8:39 PM, Reuters
Gail Mitchell

A gold record. That was the one goal a young female group from Houston hoped to achieve after signing with Columbia Records in 1997.

Not only did Destiny's Child realize its golden dream, but during the past decade, Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams made history as one of the world's top-selling female acts.

That history includes platinum plaudits and international acclaim -- selling 50 million records worldwide, according to Sony BMG -- as well as a host of Grammy Awards and other industry accolades.

"Ever since we were little, we were so on fire for our dreams," Rowland says. "We never let anyone blow our flames out."

And those flames are still burning, although now they smolder under the burgeoning solo endeavors of the group's members.

Signing off as a trio last year in the wake of their successful "Destiny Fulfilled" farewell album and tour, the three ladies are busily pursuing their individual careers in music, theater, TV and film.

This year will bring new solo albums from Rowland and Williams, as well as Knowles' anticipated co-starring roles in the feature films "The Pink Panther" and "Dreamgirls."

In announcing its retirement, Destiny's Child did what few acts in any genre, of either gender, have been able to accomplish: bowing out while still on top. The group's current Sony Urban Music/Columbia album, the hit compilation "#1's," debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

"Destiny Fulfilled," the group's final studio album issued in 2004, received a nomination for best contemporary R&B album for the upcoming 48th annual Grammy Awards. Two of the album's tracks, "Cater 2 U" and "Soldier," are up for best R&B song and best rap/sung collaboration, respectively.

Ask those who have worked with the group for the reasons behind its phenomenal success, and the following factors are invariably ticked off: talent, passion and determination.

Robert Waller, who co-wrote "Cater 2 U" and penned songs (including "Me, Myself and I") for Beyonce's solo album "Dangerously in Love," credits the group's strong work ethic and focus.

"They are always trying to be better in addition to the initial talent they have and the strong people behind them," he says. "It wasn't a game, about trying to be cute or stepping on each other's toes. They were all committed to a common goal: success."

Original group members Beyonce and her friend LaTavia Roberson were only nine years old when Destiny's Child was initially established in 1990. With Knowles' father, Mathew Knowles, as manager, the fledgling act sang and rapped.

Knowles' cousin Kelendria "Kelly" Rowland signed on in 1992, after which the trio appeared on "Star Search." The threesome morphed into a quartet a year later with the addition of LeToya Luckett.

The group underwent several name changes -- Girls Time, the Dolls and Cliche -- before sticking with Destiny's Child (a phrase that appears in the book of Isaiah in the Bible). But one thing didn't change: the youngsters' enthusiasm for this musical venture.

"The key thing is this was always their passion," Mathew Knowles says. "This wasn't a parent or manager putting together a group to see about getting a record deal. This was young girls saying, 'This is what we want.' "

Stoking that passion, Knowles booked them for everything from luncheons to fashion shows to church gigs. And practice became a way of life. In sessions he tagged as "boot camp," Knowles helped the preteens develop their choreography and vocal skills. Also on the agenda: stamina building and media training.

"It was fun, but I wouldn't call it 'boot camp,' though," his daughter says during a rehearsal break on the "Dreamgirls" set. "That sounds a little crazy for kids. But all we wanted to do was sing and have somebody watch us. We'd go to my mother's hair salon and perform at times when I know they (the customers) didn't feel like watching us. But we would make them."

"We were weird kids, performing and practicing all the time," Rowland adds. "We had childhoods, because we did get the chance to play outside and visit theme parks. But when all of our friends were in cheer squads, we were in rehearsal and loving it."

All the practicing and performing paid off. Graduating from the Houston club scene, the group began opening for such acts as SWV, Dru Hill and Immature. The quartet had also caught the ear of Atlanta producer/songwriter Darryl Simmons of Silent Partner Productions, which eventually led to a record/production deal through Elektra Records. When that liaison ended after two years and no record, Knowles reapproached an earlier suitor, Columbia Records. The label signed Destiny's Child in 1997.

Still in their mid-teens, the girls made their first recorded appearance on the 1997 "Men in Black" soundtrack with the song "Killing Time." A year later, the group's self-titled debut album arrived, featuring such guest producers as Wyclef Jean and Jermaine Dupri. Those early dreams of a gold record came true when the Jean-produced lead single "No, No, No" ascended to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Sony Urban Music president Lisa Ellis recalls that early on, the girls' talent and determination left a lasting impression. She witnessed both qualities during the group's first radio promo show for top 40 WJJS Roanoke, Va.

"They were in a parking lot in front of a department store on a one-foot riser with a stage," she says. "Yet those girls came prepared like they were playing Madison Square Garden. They were doing their own hair and makeup, complete with costume changes. Tina (Beyonce's mother) literally sewed all the clothes back then. There were no lights or cameras. Just them and a crowd of people. And they killed it."

Working with producer Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs, Destiny's Child scored its first No. 1 pop hit and second R&B chart-topper in 1999 with "Bills, Bills, Bills." It joined "Say My Name" and "Jumpin, Jumpin" as the three R&B/pop out-of-the-ballpark hits from the group's sophomore album, "The Writing's on the Wall."

Despite the success, seeds of dissension were sprouting. In December 1999, Roberson and Luckett sought different management, questioning Knowles' share of profits and alleging preferential treatment for Beyonce and Rowland.

When two new members, Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin, appeared in the "Say My Name" video, Roberson and Luckett filed suit against the Knowles' and Rowland for breach of partnership, among other charges. By July 2002, the pair had settled their cases against their former group mates as well as a separate suit against Mathew Knowles.

In the meantime, Franklin left Destiny's Child five months after joining, returning the group to a trio format. And the burden was on Williams to prove her singing talent could make the grade.

"It was hard for me to come in," Williams remembers. "I was coming into an organization already in existence. I couldn't show myself weak, but it's hard when you know God has given you a talent and you want everybody to accept it. It turns out you can be stronger than what you think you are."

Destiny's Child became a more potent musical force following the 2000 release of "Independent Women Part 1," the theme song for the film version of "Charlie's Angels." The single, which spent 11 weeks at No. 1, marked Beyonce Knowles' emergence as a writer.

"Still to this day my father and I argue about him playing my songs for people," she says with a laugh. "I was so mad at my father then for sneaking off and playing 'Independent Women' for the Columbia executives. But I'm so happy he did."

Knowles also added production credits to her resume with the release of the third Destiny's Child album, "Survivor," in 2001. Debuting at No. 1, the album featured two more R&B/pop hits, the title track and "Bootylicious." That same year, the trio issued a holiday record, "8 Days of Christmas."

Three years would elapse before Destiny's Child released another group studio album. During this hiatus, they released their first solo albums.

First up was Williams with the inspirational/gospel project "Heart to Yours" in April 2002. Rowland hit No. 1 in her own right with the single "Dilemma" featuring Nelly, which appeared on her solo album "Simply Deep." Beyonce Knowles -- going by her first name -- netted multiple Grammy Awards for the 2003 release "Dangerously in Love."

Besides upcoming solo albums, the ladies' new goals include a variety of projects. Rowland, still a spokeswoman for hair care product maker Soft Sheen, has wrapped a guest stint on UPN's "Girlfriends" that is slated to air in February/March. Her romantic comedy "Seat Filler," also starring Duane Martin, arrives on DVD in February.

Rowland's second solo album is due in April. Describing the project as "very personal," she is doing more writing in collaboration with Williams, Sean Garrett, Beyonce's sister Solange Knowles and Rich Harrison, among others. "I want a new sound," Rowland says of the album. "So I've got everybody thinking about clever lyrics, new beats and new instruments."

Williams has completed taping episodes of the UPN series "Half & Half." After stepping into the role of "Aida" a couple of years ago, she is contemplating some new Broadway offers. This month, she's due to go back into the studio to record an album currently targeted for a summer release. "This album will still have an inspirational twist, but it will be R&B," Williams says.

Knowles is concentrating on her "Dreamgirls" role right now. Discussions are under way about her possibly shifting back into recording mode in May, with an eye toward a September release date. That hinges, naturally, on when the "Dreamgirls" filming ends.

"I'm not going to write for the album until I finish doing the movie," she says. "I've never been so excited about a movie in my life. I want to give 100% to this film, because I know I was born for this role."

As for the chances of a Destiny's Child reunion down the road, the ladies aren't shutting that door.

"We haven't said that we'll never perform together," Knowles points out. "It's not 'the end' like we're never going to perform together or be on each other's records."

Reuters/Billboard