Ester Dean facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ester Dean
Dean in 2017
Background information
Birth name	Esther Renay Dean
Born	(1986-04-15) April 15, 1986 (age 39) Muskogee, Oklahoma, U.S.
Genres	R&B pop
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter record producer
Years active	2006–present
Labels	Zone 4 Interscope

Esther Renay Dean (born April 15, 1986), known as Ester Dean, is an American singer, songwriter, and music producer. She became famous in the late 2000s for writing many hit pop songs. She wrote songs for big stars like Rihanna, Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, and Beyoncé.

Ester Dean has also acted in several movies. You might know her from the musical comedy Pitch Perfect (2012) and its follow-up films.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Esther Renay Dean was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the youngest of five children. Her mother, Hester Dean, raised them. Ester started singing when she was very young.

When she was 15, Ester and her sister moved to Omaha, Nebraska. There, she began working as a session singer. This means she sang for other musicians' recordings. She also started writing songs for local artists.

At age 20, Dean moved to Atlanta with only $500. She wanted to become a songwriter and music producer. A music producer named Christopher "Tricky" Stewart discovered her. He heard her singing at a concert and was impressed. Tricky signed Dean to a publishing contract because of her amazing voice and songwriting skills.

Becoming a Hit Songwriter

Later, Dean moved to Los Angeles. There, she met Polow da Don and signed a deal with Zone 4 Records. In 2009, Ester Dean released her first song as a lead artist, "Drop It Low". This song featured singer Chris Brown. It reached number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Ester Dean became very successful when she worked with the production team Stargate. They created the number one song "Rude Boy" for Rihanna. She continued to write many more hit songs for Rihanna, including "What's My Name" and "Where Have You Been".

She also wrote Katy Perry's popular song "Firework" and Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass". In 2011, Dean helped create music for the animated movie Rio.

Ester Dean has written and sometimes produced Top 40 hits for many famous artists. These include Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, Drake, Selena Gomez, Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Usher, Britney Spears, and Lil Wayne.

Acting Career

Ester Dean is also known for her acting. She played the character Cynthia Rose in the movie Pitch Perfect, which came out in 2012. She played this role again in the sequels Pitch Perfect 2 (2015) and Pitch Perfect 3 (2017).

In 2022, she was a judge on the TV show American Song Contest. She represented her home state of Oklahoma.

Her Unique Style

Singing Voice

Ester Dean has a mezzo-soprano voice. This means her vocal range is in the middle, between high and low. Billboard magazine described her singing as "raw, energetic vocals." They noted that her voice can cover many styles, from club songs to melodic hip-hop. Some people have said her voice sounds similar to Rihanna and Nicki Minaj.

How She Writes Songs

In a 2012 article, Ester Dean shared her special way of writing songs. She said, "I go into the booth and I scream and I sing and I yell." She explained that sometimes she uses words, but often she just makes sounds. She waits until she gets a "little chill" on her arm. When that happens, she knows she has found the perfect "hook" for the song. The hook is the catchy part of a song that makes you want to listen again.

Movies and TV Shows

Movies

Television

Discography

Awards and Nominations

Ester Dean has won many awards for her songwriting.

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See also

In Spanish: Ester Dean para niños