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Whether scaling the once impenetrable wall of racial inequality or bridging the cultural gap through undeniable talent, this February, in honor of Black History Month, Bio commemorates those who’ve made their indelible mark on the world. Premieres include a special Valentine’s Day episode of BIOGRAPHY featuring the ultimate romantic crooner BARRY WHITE (2/14) and a BIOGRAPHY salute to Oscar-winning HALLE BERRY (2/21). Additional prime-time BIOGRAPHY encores includes two of Tinseltown’s biggest box-office draws with DENZEL WASHINGTON (2/21) and WILL SMITH (2/21). The episodes, shot in high definition, will air on Bio and simulcast on Bio HD, available on DIRECTV.

BIOGRAPHY: BARRY WHITE
Premieres February 14 @ 11pm ET/ 10pm CT/ 8pm PT
Affectionately referred to as the “Maestro,” “The Man With the Velvet Voice” or “The Sultan of Smooth,” White’s rich blend of bass vocals and suave passionate delivery is said to have been the inspiration for romance. His role as the brainchild of funk, soul and disco led to the Love Unlimited Orchestra, and success followed with the instrumental “Love’s Theme,” “Never, Never Gonna Give You Up,” “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe,” “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything,” among others. And, although the Grammy Award-winning producer, songwriter and singer released numerous gold and platinum singles, his career slowed as the disco era came to a close. However, White, who passed away in 2003, achieved a comeback in the 1990’s, when the hit TV show Ally McBeal frequently showcased his songs.

BIOGRAPHY: HALLE BERRY
Premieres February 21 @ 9pm ET/ 8pm CT/ 10pm PT
The only woman of African-American descent to have won an Academy Award® in 2002 as Best Actress for her role in Monster’s Ball, Berry has knocked down several walls to achieve the status she so richly deserves. A former fashion model, beauty queen, actress, Bond girl and Revlon spokeswoman, Berry is one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood. Berry has been married twice-- to baseball player, David Justice and musician, Eric Benet. She is currently dating model Gabriel Aubry and expecting her first child.

BIOGRAPHY: DENZEL WASHINGTON
Airs February 21 @ 10pm ET/ 9pm CT / 11pm PT
Washington is a two-time Academy Award®-winning actor and director, who has garnered acclaim for portraying real-life figures such as Malcolm X and Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. In the early ‘90s, Washington became an A-list leading man with star turns in several successful thrillers including The Pelican Brief and Crimson Tide. His career continued to blossom with compelling roles in Remember the Titans and Training Day, the latter of which earned him a Best Actor Oscar®, becoming only the second African-American to capture the honor, following Sidney Poitier. The talented Washington hasn’t slowed down with recent top-line roles in American Gangster, co-starring Russell Crowe, and as director and star of The Great Debaters.

BIOGRAPHY: WILL SMITH
Airs February 21 @ 11pm ET/9pm CT/12am PT
For many, it seemed Will Smith was rapping about life in West Philadelphia one day and being nominated for an Oscar® the next. But in reality, the incredibly versatile rapper and actor molded his public image with great care. Smith was determined to succeed in the entertainment industry, turning down a scholarship to MIT to pursue his music career. He scored his big break with the smash crossover hit “Parents Just Don’t Understand,” and made the leap to the small screen when he was chosen to star in “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” an instant hit. Movie roles soon followed, and Smith earned critical acclaim for a supporting role in Six Degrees of Separation. In 1995 he starred in Bad Boys, a blockbuster that led to his starring role in the mega-blockbuster Independence Day. The hit of the summer of ‘96, it cemented his reputation as a top box-office draw. Smith has since starred in Men in Black, Ali, for which he earned an Oscar nomination, Hitch, Pursuit of Happyness and many more. He has also continued his recording career, topping the charts with both his own CDs and music from his movies. Smith’s latest blockbuster, I am Legend, has earned $240 million at the box office and garnered him rave reviews for his turn as the last man on earth.

Continuing its Black History Month programming slate with a week-long BIOGRAPHY® salute, Bio will air encore profiles from February 4-8 at 10am ET/9am CT/1pm PT & 4pm ET/3pm CT/7pm PT, featuring BILL COSBY (2/4), BERNIE MAC (2/5), WHOOPI GOLDBERG (2/6), WHITNEY HOUSTON (2/7) and DAVE CHAPELLE (2/8). Additional encores throughout the month include BIOGRAPHY® episodes of DOROTHY DANDRIDGE (2/7, 8am/2pm ET), PATTI LABELLE (2/7, 9am/3pm ET) and TIGER WOODS (2/22, 10am/4pm ET)

Bio celebrates Black History Month online with its award-winning interactive mini-site available at www.biography.com/blackhistory. This year’s site features over 150 related videos as well as new content: an updated interactive timeline that includes summary of events, fast facts, quizzes, video, links to bios and photo galleries; 101 Facts You Didn’t Know About Black History offering up lesser known facts and tidbits; 200 Notable African-American Icons; featured biographies of Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, and Nelson Mandela; and an interactive game - Quoting Greatness - where users match a famous quote with the person who said it. Other site features include History in the Making, Foundations of Freedom and African-American Achievements.