Alternative R&B singer Macy Gray was born and raised in Canton, OH, growing up on a steady diet of classic soul and early hip hop. A classically-trained pianist, she only began singing while studying screenwriting at the University of Southern California, recording a demo with a group of musician friends after the scheduled vocalist failed to show up at the studio. From there Gray sang with a local jazz band, also becoming a sought-after session vocalist; signing to Epic, she issued her debut album On How Life Is in mid-1999.