Rihanna
Singing sensation Rihanna was born in Barbados in the parish of St. Michael. From an early age she loved dancing and singing and it was no surprise when she was 'discovered' by music producer Evan Rogers in 2003 and quickly signed onto a contract with Def Jam Recordings.
Her early music reflects her island roots, with a definite Caribbean vibe in her first album Music of the Sun. Rihanna's musical repertoire has expanded over the years and her music now covers many genres including R&B, pop, dancehall, reggae and hip hop. Reggae, which Rihanna listened to a lot growing up in Barbados, remains a strong influence on her music. She cites Jamaican reggae great Bob Marley as one of her favorite artists.
Rihanna is very proud of her Barbados roots and often makes visual references to the island in her music videos. She has worked on a marketing campaign promoting the island as a vacation destination and she is also an honorary Ambassador for Culture and Youth in Barbados.
In November 2021, Rihanna was added to Barbados' list of National Heroes in recognition not only of her artistic and business achievements but also her commitment to the land of her birth.
