Macy Gray

Known for her raspy voice and unusual style, R&B singer-songwriter Macy Gray went multi-platinum with her 1999 pop crossover hit “I Try.” • Hailing from Canton, Ohio, Gray studied screenwriting at the University of Southern California.

When a friend asked her to sing with his jazz band, she discovered her vocal talent and began shifting her focus to music.

• After a failed deal with Atlantic Records, Gray landed on Epic for her 1999 debut album, On How Life Is.