Britney Spears is a popular American singer who became a cultural icon and a controversial role model for millions of teen-age girls in the 1990s and early 21st Century. After the release of her first hit album, she became a key element in a revival of "teen pop" music in the late 1990s.

Britney Jean Spears was born in Kentwood, Louisiana on December 2, 1982. At an early age she displayed talent, appearing on the Star Search television show; later auditioning for the New Mickey Mouse club when she was 8 years old. While attending the Professional Performing Arts School in New York City, she worked in television commercials and acted in Off-Broadway plays. She then auditioned, and was chosen for, the New Mickey Mouse Club television show. She performed as a member of the cast during the 1993 and 1994 seasons.

In 1999, at the age of 17, Britney Spears’ first album, …Baby One More Time, was released and quickly reached the #1 spot on the pop charts. Her second album, Oops!…I Did It Again , (May 2002), and her third album, In the Zone (2003), also sold millions of copies.

Toward the beginning of her career, Spears cultivated the image of virginal wholesomeness. This eventually gave way to her current sexually suggestive, adult image, which caused many parents of teen and pre-teen female fans to lose the enthusiasm they had originally shown toward Britney’s more virginal image.

Her sexually suggestive music videos received nearly constant coverage by MTV, and, combined with her concert tours containing raunchy dance numbers, caused Britney Spears to become a symbol of overcharged teen sex in the late 1990s and early 21st Century.

Controversy seems to surround her; including her public admission of lost virginity, her on stage kiss with veteran pop singer Madonna, her 55-hour marriage and subsequent annulment with childhood friend Jason Alexander, and incessant rumors about possible breast-enhancement surgery.

She married backup singer and stage dancer Kevin Federline in September, 2004 at a wedding chapel in Las Vegas. Several months after this wedding, tabloids began wondering about her alleged weight gain, sparking rumors of a pregnancy. The rumors were ended on April 13, 2005, with the announcement that Britney Spears was, indeed, pregnant with child. Several days later, it was announced that Britney and her husband would host a reality television show revolving around their lives. The show debuted on May 17.

Britney and Kevin’s son, Sean Preston Federline, was born by caesarian section on September 14, 2005. On September 12, 2006, Spears gave birth to their second son, Jayden James Federline. On November 7, 2006, she filed for divorce from her husband.

Apparantly, following her tossing out of Kevin Federline, Britney turned into something of a party girl, hanging out with Paris Hilton, and, like Paris, has taken to clubbing in public places without certain articles of underwear! In other words, the paparazzi are having a field day taking pictures of her without her panties. A partially nude Britney Spears! Quite a fall for a Mouseketeer girl who once claimed a wholesome, virginal appeal to teen girls.

Throughout January and February of 2007, the media enjoyed reporting on Britney’s increasingly odd behavior, as she was spotted at many party locations on both coasts. In mid-February, she shaved her head and was seen at a tattoo parlor in the Los Angeles area getting a tattoo on her neck. Throughout 2007, Spears jolted from one scandal to another, as allegations of drug and alcohol abuse, instances of unstable behavior and a stint in rehab all led to a very public and messy custody battle with Kevin Federline.

Despite a controversial and, to some fans, sad performance at the MTV Awards show, Spears released a new album, Blackout, in October, 2007, to positive reviews.

Education:

–Professional Performing Arts School (New York City)

Discography: Name of Album (Year Released) Chart #/s U.S./UK

Baby One More Time (1999) #1 US, #4 UK

Oops!…I Did It Again (2000) #1 US, #2 UK

Britney (2001) #1 US, #4 UK

In the Zone (2003) #1 US, #13 UK

Greatest Hits: My Prerogative (2004)

Blackout (2007)

Filmography: Name of Film or Television Series (Year (s) Released or on television)

The New Mickey Mouse Club (1993 & 1994 Television Seasons)

Longshot (1999 Movie)

Crossroads (2002 Movie)

Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002 Movie)

Awards:

–Choice Single for ...Baby One More Time the 1999 Teen Choice Awards

–Four MTV Europe Music Awards (1999) (including Best Pop Act, Best Female Act and Breakthrough Act)

–Four Billboard Music Awards (including Female Artist of the Year, New Female Artist of the Year, Hot 100 Female Artist of the Year and Album Artist of the Year, all for …Baby One More Time.

–Nominated for two Grammy awards in 2000 (Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the single "…Baby One More Time", and Best New Artist).

Copyright © 1998-2007 Roger A. Lee and History Guy Media; Last Modified: 10.30.07

"The History Guy" is a Registered Trademark.

Family

Jamie Spears (b. )–Father Lynn Spears (b. ) –Mother Bryan Spears–Brother Jamie Lynn Spears (b. 1991) –Sister Jason Allen Alexander (b. 1981)––1st Husband –wed on 1-3-04; annulled on 1-5-04 Kevin Federline (b. 1978)––2nd Husband–wed on 9-18-04, divorced on 7-30-07 Sean Preston Federline-– Son– (b. Sept. 14, 2005) Jayden James Federline-– Son– (b. Sept. 12, 2006)

Associates, Colleagues, & Connections

Justin Timberlake–Singer (‘N Sync); co-performer on the New Mickey Mouse Club; former boyfriend Christina Aguilero–Singer, Actress;co-performer on the New Mickey Mouse Club Madonna–Singer, Actress; co-performer JC Chasez–Singer (‘N Sync);co-performer on the New Mickey Mouse Club Eric Foster White –Music producer Max Martin –Music producer, Songwriter Kerri Russell–Singer, Actress

Links and Resources on Britney Spears

Britney Spears Official Website VH1–Biography of Britney Spears Crazy About You : Reflections on the Meanings of Contemporary Teen Pop Music–Essay on the cultural impact of today’s packaged pop singers on society. Warning: Uses Academic language. Britney Spears goes bald–CNN, Feb. 17, 2007

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Bio of the History Guy Commentary Site Map--revision in progress

]]> http://www.washingtonstatepolitics.com/2007/11/23/musician-bio-britney-spears/feed/ 0 http://www.washingtonstatepolitics.com/2007/11/23/band-bio-the-rolling-stones/ http://www.washingtonstatepolitics.com/2007/11/23/band-bio-the-rolling-stones/#comments Fri, 23 Nov 2007 21:48:56 +0000 Wa State Pol http://rogersgalaxy.net/washingtonstatepolitics.com/?p=40 The Rolling Stones- Rock music band (founded 1961).

Often billed as the "World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band," the Rolling Stones are a British rock music band formed in 1961, forming a major part of the so-called "British Invasion" of rock bands in the 1960s. Along with the Beatles, the Who, the Kinks, and others, the Rolling Stones became very popular with young Americans when they first appeared in the early 1960s.

Fronted by the charismatic Mick Jagger, the Stones became a symbol of 1960s rebellion and sexual liberation. In the 1970s, the Stones also became symbolic of the drug-induced excesses of that generation, with several members’ drug addictions and drug arrests becoming front-page news. In the 1980s, the band overcame much of their drug problems and internal dissension to re-emerge as a potent rock band; joining the MTV-fueled video revolution and producing songs and videos that received extensive play on MTV’s regular rotation. The 1990s saw a slump in album sales, but the Stones proved a popular draw on tour, regularly selling out such oversized venues as Seattle’s Kingdome and Vancouver’s B.C. Place Stadium. The dawning of the 21st Century found the members of the Rolling Stones as senior citizens who could still put on a driving, energy-laced concert, drawing fans of all ages, from gray-haired remnants of their own generation, to young high school students to whom much of the Rolling Stones’ legacy may as well be written in a history book. Despite their age, they are among the few 1960s rock acts who continue to dominate the music business and receive regular media attention. To highlight this is the fact the Rolling Stones played at half-time of Superbowl XL in on February 5, 2006.

Following a tour of Japan, China, and other Asian nations, Keith Richards sustained a concussion following a fall from a coconut tree while in vacation in Fiji in late April, 2006. He underwent cranial surgery in New Zealand, later making a full recovery.

The Rolling Stones delayed the start of their summer, 2006 "Bigger Bang" tour due to Richards’ injury and Ron Woods’ stay in an alcohol rehab facility. The tour opened in Italy in July, 2006, with Mick Jagger inviting two members of Italy’s winning World Cup football (soccer) team onstage, and making a joke about Keith Richards’ head injury and the head-butt one of the Italian players received in the last game of the Cup finals.

Yahoo News–Report on Richards

CNN–Report on Richards

Original Rolling Stones Lineup

Mick Jagger - Vocals, harp, guitar (1961-Present) Keith Richards – Rhythm Guitar, vocals (1961-Present) Charlie Watts – Drums and percussion (1961-Present) Brian Jones – Lead guitar, Harmonica, (1961-1969) Dick Taylor – Bass (1961-1962) Ian "Stu" Stewart -Keyboards (1961-1962) Current Rolling Stones Lineup Mick Jagger - Vocals, harp, guitar (1961-Present) Keith Richards – Rhythm Guitar, vocals (1961-Present) Charlie Watts – Drums and percussion (1961-Present) Ron Wood - Lead Guitar (1975-Present)

Former Rolling Stones Band Members and Sidemen

Bill Wyman (b. 1936)-Bass guitar (official Stone 1962-1991) Brian Jones-Lead guitar, Harmonica, (official Stone 1961-1969) Mick Taylor (b. 1948)-Lead guitar (official Stone 1969-1975) Ian "Stu" Stewart- (1938-1985)–Keyboards, Road Manager– (member of Stones 1961-1962, unofficial Stone 1962-1985) Billy Preston (1946-2006)–Keyboards– (unofficial Stone 1970-1977) Chuck Leavell –An often-used sideman and touring keyboards player for the Rolling Stones. Nicky Hopkins (1944–1994)–Piano and Organ for the Rolling Stones as a session musician and as a touring keyboardist. Darryl Jones-Bass guitar (unofficial Stone 1991-Present)

Links and Resources on the Rolling Stones

Rolling Stones Official Website Rolling Stones–Wikipedia Article Nicky Hopkins–Wikipedia Article Billy Preston–Wikipedia Article Billy Preston Official Website Ian Stewart–Wikipedia Article Chuck Leavell–Wikipedia Article Bill Wyman’s Official Website

Welcome to the Washington State Politics and Government Website. This site is designed to help citizens, voters, and students of government and politics find information about this state’s political systems.

This site is meant to be an unbiased, non-partisan resource on state, county, and local politics. Many internet resources on Washington politics are both biased and partisan. Websites by local politicians (either their own or paid for by the office they hold), always accent the positive about themselves, while many other sites and blogs may contain factual information, but are also often long on opinion, often with insults and agendas thrown in for good measure.

To the left is a navigational menu with links to pages dealing with specific topics. More topical pages will be added as time allows.

While the content of this site is meant to be non-partisan, this site IS supported by advertising, which may promote one candidate or party over the other. If you are interested in advertising on this site, please refer to the email link found at the bottom all pages.

If you or your organization are highlighted on this site, and you feel that some of the factual information is incorrect, please feel free to contact us.

Why Washington? Why Politics?

Politics is the process that decides who (individuals, groups of people, corporations, political parties, states, cities, nations, etc.) get control over resources. What kind of resources? You name it, it can be considered a resource, and control over it or access to it is determined through politics and government action.

Some examples:

• Money–as in taxes: who pays, who pays more? Who pays less? How the tax money is spent after it is collected?
• Land and property–what government regulations are on the land you own? How much can a landlord charge in rent to his or her renters? Which energy company, if any, can dig for coal in government-owned public lands?
• Water –Should the Columbia River have dams? What is more important, irrigating the Yakima Valley farmlands, or preserving the salmon that sustain the coastal fishing industries and tribal cultures?
• Airwaves–Yes, the government decides which companies or individuals can use radio and TV airwaves, and it uses that control to regulate what is broadcast over those airwaves. See the decision in Federal Communications Commission v. Pacifica (1978) in which famous comedian George Carlin found out that yes, the government can regulate his words on the radio. This is the same reason Howard Stern left traditional radio and hired on with satellite radio.
• The Vote–In a democratic republic, this is the ultimate political resource. Who gets to vote? How often do we vote? Do you have to pass a test in order to vote? Remember, at one point in America, only white, adult, land-owning males had the legal right to vote in this country. It took political protests, lobbying, pressure politics, and court challenges to get African-Americans, Native Americans, women, and 18, 19, and 20-year olds the right to vote.
• Education–Who pays for schools? Who goes to schools? At what age? What curriculum will be taught in the schools? Is school enrollment in a particular area determined by where the student lives, or the color of their skin? How much money will the teachers make? How much paid time will the teachers have to plan their lessons? Does the school, the district, or the state require an exit exam to graduate? (Washington has the WASL test).

These are just a few of the resources regulated and allocated by the government through politics. This website will examine the individuals, the political pressure groups, the political parties, the lobbyists, the citizens, and the processes that make up Washington’s political systems.

And the answer to "Why Washington?" is quite simple. I was born and raised in Washington and have participated in the political system in this state as a voter, appointed commissioner, and as a teacher of Civics and American Government. I see the impact of politics on the world we live in, and have been involved in small, but important ways. I have informally lobbied politicians and office-holders, city councils and school boards, written my congressional representatives, and pigeonholed the mayor a time or two. I volunteered to work on political campaigns, and I even donated money to a candidate once. I am involved in the system, and I believe that the system must be understandable in order to be effective. One purpose of this website is to help make Washington’s political and governmental systems easier for citizens, especially those still in school, to understand how the system works, and how they can participate in that system.