Features
Old School Usher
Usually people hide their childhood photos, ashamed of their unfortunate haircuts and embarrassing, dated clothing. Not Usher. Yesterday the singer unveiled a billboard with a giant photo of him as a 7-year-old.
The billboard, located on one of Atlanta’s busiest streets, is part of a national youth campaign for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The photo will also be used at airports and in public service announcements.
Photo: AP Photo
Usher stands next to his childhood photo in Atlanta.
Usher was happy to put a bit of his childhood on display in exchange for all the organization has done for him. The Grammy-winning R&B singer was a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs for four years while living as a child in Tennessee.
“It made a difference for me,” he said. “Being great doesn’t start in the later moments of life. We could be speaking to tomorrow’s Barack Obama or Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson or Usher. These clubs are valuable to the community. Hopefully my billboard can help inspire someone else.”
Denzel Washington, Shaquille O’Neal, Martin Sheen, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Gen. Wesley Clark are a few other public figures who have blown up childhood photos for the club.
“This is an opportunity for people to learn more about us,” said Roxanne Spillett, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s president. “I hope this effort can spark more alumni to contribute and become a role models.”
Read the AP article here.