CHER

Cher, born Cheryl Sarkisian on May 20, 1946, is an American singer and actress. She is known for her androgynous contralto voice, bold fashion, and visual presentation. Her screen roles often reflect her public image as a strong-willed, outspoken woman. Cher gained fame in 1965 as part of the folk rock duo Sonny & Cher, whose single 'I Got You Babe' became emblematic of 1960s counterculture. She also launched a solo career with songs such as 'Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)', which foreshadowed her later chart-topping singles. In the 1970s, she achieved success with US Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits including 'Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves', 'Half-Breed', and 'Dark Lady'. After a period focused on acting, Cher released the albums Cher (1987), Heart of Stone (1989), and Love Hurts (1991), which produced international hits like 'If I Could Turn Back Time' and 'The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)'. In 1998, at age 52, she released the dance-pop album Believe, which popularized the use of Auto-Tune to distort vocals, a technique sometimes called the 'Cher effect'. Her career has spanned over six decades, marked by continual reinvention and influence in popular culture.