Dawn Robinson

Dawn Sherrese Robinson (born November 24, 1966) is an American singer and actress best known as a founding member of the R&B/pop group En Vogue, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time.

Born on November 24, 1966 (some sources cite her birth year as 1968) in New London, Connecticut, Robinson was the oldest of three children born to John W. Robinson (1943–2014) and Barbara Alexander.

During her childhood, Robinson sang in the choir at AME Zion Church in Connecticut.

Shortly thereafter, Robinson began recording music in the studio, traveling from New London to Massachusetts.

During a Stephanie Mills concert, Robinson's mother was able to get the band to listen to a tape of Robinson.

The band advised Robinson's mother to send her to California.

In 1980, Robinson then-aged 13, relocated to California, where she lived with an older cousin.

Robinson's mother and sister later joined her in California, settling in the city of Oakland in 1981.

For high school, Robinson first attended Oakland High School and later graduated from San Leandro High School in 1984.

She later attended the Institute of Cosmetology in Oakland.

In July 1989, Robinson auditioned for a female group.

Robinson was one of four women selected to become part of the group which became En Vogue.

The four began recording their debut album in August 1989 and completed in December of the same year.

In 1990, En Vogue released their first single "Hold On", which became a number-one single.

Later that year, the group released their debut album Born to Sing, which went platinum.

The group released their next multi-platinum album, Funky Divas in 1992.

Robinson sang lead vocals on the album's top-charting singles which included "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)", "Giving Him Something He Can Feel", and "Free Your Mind", which remains one of their signature songs.

"Free Your Mind" won two MTV Video Music Awards, for "Best R&B Video" and "Best Dance Video".

En Vogue released an EP in September 1993, titled Runaway Love.

The extended play featured Robinson's lead vocals on the number-one hit "Whatta Man", which featured Salt-n-Pepa.

The song also appeared on Salt-N-Pepa's Very Necessary album.

In 1996, En Vogue recorded "Don't Let Go (Love)" with Robinson singing lead vocals.

The song featured on the soundtrack to the motion picture Set It Off.

Released in the autumn, it became the group's biggest hit to date going number one worldwide.

It also sold millions of copies and became certified platinum by the RIAA.

Inadvertently, it would also be the last En Vogue single to feature Robinson.

One of Robinson's last performances with the group came in October of that year, when the group sang the last national anthem rendition in the history of Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, which came in game five of the 1996 World Series.

In response to the large commercial success of "Don't Let Go (Love)", the group steadfastly went to work on its third album.

In March 1997, as the album was nearing completion, Robinson chose to leave the group and sign with Dr. Dre's label Aftermath after difficult contractual negotiations reached a stalemate.

Despite Robinson's abrupt departure, En Vogue resolved to continue as a trio.

Later that year, Robinson contributed to The Firm on their song "Firm Biz" which sampled Teena Marie's single "Square Biz".

In 1999, Robinson appeared in and recorded the jazz classic "Drop Me Off in Harlem" for the movie Life.

Following her departure from En Vogue, Robinson joined Lucy Pearl and released their self-titled debut album Lucy Pearl in 2000, which went platinum worldwide and produced the successful singles "Dance Tonight" and "Don't Mess with My Man".

In 2002, Robinson released her first solo album Dawn, which produced the single "Envious".

In 2005, Robinson rejoined En Vogue for a tour, but departed from the group before they could record another album.

In 2009, Robinson briefly returned to En Vogue again for their 20th Anniversary Tour.

In 2010, she left En Vogue once again due to poor management and compensation of work.

In 2013, she joined the cast of R&B Divas: Los Angeles for the first season of the series.

Throughout her career, Robinson has sold a combined total of over 11 million records as a member of En Vogue, Lucy Pearl and a solo artist.

Her work with En Vogue has earned her several awards and nominations, including two American Music Awards, a Billboard Music Award, seven MTV Video Music Awards, four Soul Train Music Awards and eight Grammy nominations.