Toni Braxton从小就与她的四个姊妹在教堂唱诗班表演,并且深受Stevie Wonder(史提夫汪德)、Anita Baker(安妮塔贝克)、Chaka Khan与Whitney Houston(惠妮休士顿)的影响。Toni Braxton在Bowie State就读大学时,原本打算成为一名教师。但1992年时与L.A. Reid共组LaFace唱片公司的Babyface,在听到Toni Braxton的歌声后惊艳不已,于是便将她签下来成为LaFace旗下第一位女歌手。
1993年Toni Braxton发行了首张同名处女大作,专辑内的主打与非主打单曲如Breathe Again、Another Sad Love Song、Seven Whole Days等皆席卷美国各大流行与R&B排行榜,全球更是卖出了1千万张,当年的葛莱美奖还颁以最佳新人与最佳节奏蓝调女艺人奖项给予肯定。接下来于1995年发行的第二张专辑Secrets仍是气焰高涨,一推出后便在美国本土卖出了7百万张,海外的销售量也高达3百万张。超级单曲You’re Making Me High是Toni Braxton第一支超越节奏蓝调藩篱的金曲,同时这首歌也为她再添一座葛莱美最佳节奏蓝调女艺人奖座;而充满爆炸力与灵魂风味的Un-Break My Heart在1996年发行后,旋即成为排行榜的佳作,也让Toni Braxton再度赢得葛莱美最佳流行女艺人奖。然而1999年时Toni Braxton因为在不清楚自己的财务状况下贸然投资,结果宣告破产。所幸之后得到迪士尼音乐剧‘美女与野兽’的表演机会,将她从低潮的深渊拉了上来,重新拾回自信。
这段时间与生命的历练让Toni Braxton日渐成熟,并对自我有了更深一层的体认,因此2000年新专辑The Heat便是呈现出Toni Braxton蜕变后的成长,以一个21世纪年轻女性面对生命真实面的立场上,探讨爱情、热情与罗曼史间的冲击。这一张由Rodney Jerkins一手制作打造的全新大碟除了有Toni Braxton的招牌忧伤情歌外,这次还找来饶舌高手Dr.Dre(德瑞博士)与TLC的Lisa “Left Eye“(左眼丽莎)加入制作阵容,将Hip-Hop的曲风融合进来。同时还有两首由Diane Warren创作、David Foster制作的动人抒情曲Spanish Guitar和I am Still Breathing。
Toni Braxton总是给世人她性感的外表,但这里我们暂切抛开这些吧。听她如泣如诉的声音,她用心展示的荡气回肠或者柔情细语,Toni Braxton的低沉,融合了充沛的爆发力和诉说伤痕历史的灵魂……
Toni Braxton - Unbreak My Heart
don't leave me in all this pain don't leave me out in the rain come back and bring back my smile come and take these tears away i need your arms to hold me now the nights are so unkind bring back those nights when i held you beside me un-break my heart say you'll love me again undo this hurt you caused when you walked out the door and walked outta my life un-cry these tears i cried so many nights un-break my heartmy heart take back that sad word good-bye bring back the joy to my life don't leave me here with these tears come and kiss this pain away i can't forget the day you left time is so unkind and life is so cruel without you here beside me don't leave me in all this pain don't leave me out in the rain bring back the nights when i held you beside me un-break my heart come back and say you love me un-break my heart sweet darlin' without you i just can't go on can't go on