Pharrell Williams

"We never go backward. That's the plight of the human species, but also our privilege. So as always, a new equation will emerge, and that will be led by the artists and likely powered by them as well."

• Born Pharrell Lanscilo Williams on April 5, 1973, in Virginia Beach, Virgina
   
• Pharrell Williams and his longtime production partner, Chad Hugo, co-founded production duo the Neptunes in the early 1990s. In 2000 Williams landed a song on Jay Z's compilation album, The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, which led to successful collaborations with Britney Spears on "I'm A Slave 4 U" and Nelly on "Hot In Herre." As a solo artist, Girl spiked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, with the track "Happy" reached No. 1.
   
• Williams earned his first career GRAMMY as on producer on Justin Timberlake's Justified for 2003. In 2004, the same year Williams took home the GRAMMY for Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical, he played drums on the GRAMMY stage during a tribute to the Beatles, performing "I Saw Her Standing There" with Sting, Dave Matthews, and Vince Gill.
   
• Did you know? Williams penned a verse to Wreckx-n-Effect's 1992 hit, "Rump Shakin' after being recruited by producer Teddy Riley.
   
• In 2016 Williams joined Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz, Dave Grohl, Rihanna, Gary Clark Jr., among others, at the MusiCares Person of the Year gala honoring Lionel Richie. The annual Person of the Year gala raises funds for MusiCares, which provides services and resources that cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies for music people.
   
• Williams founded From One Hand To AnOTHER in 2008 with the mission of providing under-served youth with the learning tools and resources they need for success. The foundation has reached more than 1,000 students through after-school programs and summer camps.