Toni Braxton, born in Severn, Maryland in 1967, is an American R&B singer whose deep, smoky contralto defined 1990s R&B from her LaFace debut onward. Secrets (1996), home of Un-Break My Heart, is the essential album, with the 1993 self-titled debut right behind it — she has won multiple Grammys for good reason. Shop Toni Braxton vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Toni Braxton was born in Severn, Maryland in 1967. Discovered and signed to LaFace Records, she became one of the most successful R&B artists of the 1990s, beginning with her 1993 self-titled debut. Known for her distinctive deep, smoky contralto, she has won multiple Grammy Awards and remained a prominent figure in R&B and pop across subsequent decades.
Toni Braxton works in R&B, soul, and pop, distinguished by her warm, low contralto and emotive ballad delivery. Her biggest hits pair sophisticated, contemporary R&B production with powerful vocal performances, and she is widely regarded as one of the signature voices of 1990s R&B.
Braxton's LaFace-era albums have appeared in reissue and colored-vinyl variants, with Secrets of particular interest as the home of several of her signature hits. Original 1990s pressings are collected by R&B fans.
Listeners new to Toni Braxton often start with Secrets (1996) or her self-titled debut (1993). For related listening, see and .
