Marsha Ambrosius facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marsha Ambrosius
Ambrosius in 2016
Background information
Birth name	Marsha Angelique Ambrosius
Also known as	The Songstress
Born	(1977-08-08) 8 August 1977 (age 48)
Origin	Liverpool, England
Genres	R&B
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Interscope Aftermath J RCA E1

Marsha Ambrosius-Billups (born August 8, 1977) is a famous English singer and songwriter. She first became known in the early 2000s as part of the musical group Floetry. After the group split, she started a successful solo career.

Her first solo album, Late Nights & Early Mornings, came out in 2011. It was a huge hit, reaching number two on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album's song "Far Away" won a Soul Train Music Award and was nominated for two Grammy Awards.

As a songwriter, Marsha has written songs for many famous artists. One of her most well-known songs is "Butterflies" for Michael Jackson. She has also written for Alicia Keys, H.E.R., and Solange. She has worked with famous hip-hop artists like Kanye West and Dr. Dre.

Musical Journey

Starting Out with Floetry

Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart first met because they both loved to play basketball. They both went to the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in England. Marsha studied Business, while Natalie studied Performing Arts.

Even when they went to different colleges, they stayed in touch. In 1999, Marsha wrote a song called "Fantasize" and asked Natalie to add some of her poetry to it. This was the beginning of their group, Floetry.

Success with Floetry

Floetry during their reunion in February 2016. Left, Natalie Stewart AKA The Floacist, Right, Ambrosius.

In 2000, Marsha and Natalie moved to the United States to perform. They became popular in the poetry and spoken word scenes in cities like Atlanta and Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, they started recording music at DJ Jazzy Jeff's studio.

During this time, Marsha also worked with Michael Jackson. She wrote his song "Butterflies" and sang background vocals on it. The song was on his 2001 album Invincible.

Floetry signed with DreamWorks Records and released their first album, Floetic, in 2002. It had hit singles like "Floetic" and "Say Yes". They went on to release two more albums: a live album called Floacism in 2003 and a studio album called Flo'Ology in 2005.

Solo Career

Working with Other Artists

Even while in Floetry, Marsha worked with many other artists. She was a featured singer on songs by rappers like The Game, Busta Rhymes, and Nas. She also sang background vocals on Justin Timberlake's hit song "Cry Me a River".

In 2007, she was asked to sign with Dr. Dre's record label, Aftermath Entertainment. Although she didn't sign with them at that time, she continued to write and produce songs for artists like Alicia Keys and Jamie Foxx.

'Late Nights & Early Mornings' (2011)

Ambrosius performing in London, December 2010.

In 2009, Marsha signed a solo record deal with J Records. Her first solo album, Late Nights & Early Mornings, was released in 2011. The album was very successful. It went to number one on the US R&B albums chart and number two on the main Billboard 200 chart.

The album's first single was "Hope She Cheats On You (...)". The second single, "Far Away", was a big hit and earned her two Grammy nominations. For this song, she won the Ashford & Simpson Songwriters Award at the 2011 Soul Train Awards. In December 2011, she performed for the President at the White House.

'Friends & Lovers' (2014)

Marsha's record label, J Records, was closed, and she moved to RCA Records. She released her second album, Friends & Lovers, in July 2014. The album was nominated for two MOBO Awards. In 2015, she was nominated for a Grammy Award for her song "As," a duet with singer Anthony Hamilton.

'Nyla' (2018)

In 2018, Marsha released her third album, Nyla. She named the album after her daughter. The album included the singles "Luh Ya" and "Old Times". This album was released on an independent label, which means she had more creative control over her music.

'Casablanco' (2024)

In 2021, Dr. Dre announced that he had finished an album with Marsha called Casablanco. Both artists said it was some of the best music they had ever made. The album was released in June 2024 on Dr. Dre's label, Aftermath Entertainment. The first single from the album was "The Greatest".

Personal Life

In November 2016, Marsha got engaged to Dez Billups. They married in 2017. Their daughter, Nyla, was born in December 2016. Marsha is a big fan of the Liverpool F.C. soccer team.

Discography

Studio Albums

Famous Songs Written for Other Artists

• "Butterflies" (2001) – Michael Jackson
• "My Man" (2004) – Angie Stone
• "Go Ahead" (2007) – Alicia Keys
• "Wanna Go Back" (2008) – Solange
• "Picture Perfect" (2015) – Tyrese
• "My Song" (2018) – H.E.R.