Chris Brown was born and raised in Tappahannock, Virginia by Clinton Brown and Joyce Hawkins. He is one of two children. Chris began dancing at the age of two and singing in his church choir. The soul albums his parents owned influenced him. He was first interested in becoming a rapper, and then he chose to become a vocalist when his mother noticed his singing voice. At age 13, Chris and is mother began looking for record deals. A local production team then discovered Chris Brown at his father’s gas station.