Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins

Tionne Tenese Watkins was born on April 26, 1970 in Des Moines, Iowa. She is also known as "T-Boz" in the R&B/Hip-Hop group, TLC. Born to parents of both African American and Native American descent. As a child she was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia (1 in 12 people of African American descent have the disease). She is the founder of the group TLC and is usually the lead singer. She often shares lead vocals with Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas who also sings lead on some songs performed by the group. Since childhood, she has been in and out of the hospital, due to her sickle cell disease. At the age of nine, her family moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Tionne's mother and father (divorced when she was 3) were also musicians/singers and sang in a group together. Tionne knew from early childhood that she wanted to one day become a performer too. As a teenager she was a hair model, and eventually became a manicurist and shampoo girl at a popular Atlanta hair salon. In her free time she pursued her passion "dancing" at the local legendary skating rink Jellybeans. It was through a stylist/friend at this salon that she met Perri "Pebbles" Reid and was discovered in 1991 along with Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes and Crystal Jones. The trio's original name was 2nd Nature (Crystal's group), but was renamed TLC by Reid. Crystal Jones was quickly replaced however by Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas and the group began recording almost immediately. The first album "Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip" was released in February of 1992 and by 1996 the album was certified quadruple-platinum. It was during the first album's tour with MC Hammer that Tionne's sickle cell condition was revealed (she'd kept it secret). The rigorous tour schedule had taken a physical toll and she was hospitalized for 2 weeks. Her bandmates stayed by her side until her release and decided to lessen the tour schedule to allow Tionne enough days of rest. In 1996, she eventually went public with her disease. CrazySexyCool was released in 1994 and had two "Billboard Hot 100" number one singles. Tionne gained a higher profile as her distinctive voice fueled many of the album's smooth and seductive tracks. The album was certified Diamond (first girl group in history to receive this) and earned them 2 Grammy's. Despite their incredible global success as the number 1 girl group at the time, the members of TLC were forced to file for bankruptcy due to poor contracts signed at the start of their careers. Eventually the group signed a new contract with LaFace/Arista and went back into the studio. FanMail was released in 1999 after a long hiatus that included several dramas affecting the group individually and as whole. Amazingly, the group continued their upward trajectory of success reaching new heights. FanMail debuted as the #1 album and went 6x Platinum, receiving 8 Grammy nominations and winning 3. Tionne married rapper Mack 10 in August 2000, and share a daughter together, Chase Anela Rolison, born on October 20, 2000. 3D was released in 2002 but the production was interrupted by the death of group member Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes. Lopes' death traumatized her groupmates, also close friends, who were compelled by contract to complete the album in spite of her death. One of Tionne's longest hospital stays was for four months in 2002. Lopes had visited her before her fateful trip to Honduras. Despite some internal strife the strength of the group was their sorority, chemistry and their insistence on keeping the group intact even if solo efforts were pursued separately. In June 2004, T-Boz filed for divorce and requested a restraining order against Mack 10. In 2005, Watkins and a partner opened a children's boutique called Chase's Closet (named after her daughter). They closed down in 2008 however while Tionne was still recovering/rehabilitating from her brain tumor surgery. Chase's Closet was an A-list boutique and is still named one of the best children's stores today. In 2006 she was diagnosed with a potentially deadly brain tumor which also affected her sight, balance, hearing and facial movement. Due to anticipated life-threatening complications related to her sickle cell disease Tionne struggled to find a surgeon willing to perform surgery. Motivated by her need to live for her daughter she finally found a surgeon willing to take the risk. The surgery was successful, save a 3% loss of hearing in her right ear and paralysis on the right side of her face. Tionne spent 3+ years rehabilitating post the surgery. Tionne was named one of the "50 Most Beautiful People of the World" by People Magazine twice, in 1995 and 2000. She is one of the spokespeople for Sickle Cell Disease Association of America.