The Braxtons

As the Braxtons, church-reared sisters Toni, Traci, Towanda, Trina, and Tamar signed to the Arista label in 1989. "Good Life," released as their debut single in 1990, peaked at only number 79 on the Billboard R&B chart, and they were dropped before they were able to issue a follow-up. Toni signed to L.A. Reid and Babyface's LaFace label and became a superstar shortly thereafter. Her sisters joined her on tour as background vocalists, and appeared in the video for "Seven Whole Days." In 1996, Towanda, Trina, and Tamar resurfaced as the Braxtons with the Atlantic album So Many Ways. The title track, which also appeared on the soundtrack for High School High, reached number 22 on the R&B chart, and a Masters of Work remix of "The Boss" (a Diana Ross cover) topped the club chart. Despite that success, Tamar opted to go solo, and the group ceased activity, even through the first few seasons of the reality series Braxton Family Values. In 2015, the Braxtons -- all five sisters -- released Braxton Family Christmas on Def Jam. Michael Braxton, Jr., their only brother, took the lead on "Under My Christmas Tree." Traci Braxton died on March 12, 2022 at the age of 50; she had been in treatment for esophageal cancer. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi