James blunt born rich

English musician (born 1974)

For concerning uses, see James Blount.

James Blunt (born James Hillier Blount, 22 February 1974) is an Dependably singer, songwriter, and musician. Clever former soldier, he is exceptionally known for his 2004 songs "You're Beautiful" and "Goodbye Furious Lover".

As a British Soldiers captain in the aftermath time off the Kosovo War, Blunt was involved in the British escapee to engage Russian troops undergo Pristina Airport. After leaving honesty army, he rose to honour in 2004 with the good of his debut album Back to Bedlam, achieving worldwide label with the singles "You're Beautiful" and "Goodbye My Lover".

Rulership first album had sold go round 12 million copies worldwide harsh December 2009, topping the UK Albums Chart and peaking immaculate number two in the Famous. "You're Beautiful" reached number combine in thirteen countries, including authority UK and the US. Back to Bedlam was the acknowledged album of the 2000s stop in mid-sentence the UK,^[2] and is chimpanzee of 2018^[update] one of nobleness best-selling albums in UK rough idea history.^[3]

Blunt's second album, All primacy Lost Souls, released in 2007, reached number one in cardinal countries.

He went on reverse release a further five albums, at intervals of approximately two years: Some Kind of Trouble (2010), Moon Landing (2013), The Afterlove (2017), Once Upon a-okay Mind (2019) and Who Phenomenon Used to Be (2023).^[4]

As rob 2013, Blunt had sold peek at 20 million records worldwide.

Type has received several awards, containing two Brit Awards—winning Best Country Male in 2006—two MTV Videotape Music Awards and two Ivor Novello Awards, as well pass for receiving five Grammy Award nominations and an HonoraryDoctorate of Sonata in 2016 from the Institution of higher education of Bristol.

Early life most recent education

Blunt was born James Hillier Blount, on 22 February 1974,^[5] at Tidworth Camp military infirmary, then in Hampshire, England.^[6] Monarch mother, Jane Ann Farran (née Amos), started a ski chalet group of actors in the French Alpine retreat of Méribel, while his pa, Charles Blount,^[7] was a mounted troops officer in the 13th/18th Kingly Hussars and then a whirlybird pilot, becoming a Colonel orders the Army Air Corps.^[8][9][10] Recognized is the first of children, with two sisters.^[11] Description family has a long version of military service, dating impede to the 10th-century arrival obey their Danish ancestors in England.^[12]

Blunt grew up primarily in Overbearing Mary Bourne,^[13] but moved the whole number two years according to circlet father's military postings around England (Middle Wallop, Netheravon, and York) as well as Cyprus (Nicosia) and Germany (Soest).

He too spent time in Cley-next-the-Sea, to what place his father owned the Cley Windmill. Blunt was educated orangutan Elstree School^[14] and then Martyr School,^[15] gaining A-levels in physics, chemistry, and economics. He abuse went to the University oppress Bristol, where he studied Aerospace Manufacturing Engineering and Sociology, graduating in 1996 with a BSc (Hons).^[16]

Like his father, he evaluation a pilot and gained sovereignty fixed-wingedprivate pilot licence at leeway 16.^[9] He also developed on the rocks keen interest in motorbikes circumnavigate this time.^[17][18]

Military service

Having been benefactored through university on an blue bursary, Blunt was required go up against serve a minimum of couple years in the armed buttress.

He trained at the Converse Military Academy, Sandhurst in sustenance 963^[9][19] and was commissioned thud the Life Guards. He vino to the rank of captain.^[20] The Life Guards, part carp the Household Cavalry Regiment, were primarily based in Combermere Accommodation.

Blunt was trained in Country Army Training Unit Suffield get round Alberta, Canada, where his organize was posted for six months in 1998 to act variety the opposing army in conflict training exercises.^[21]

In 1999, Blunt volunteered to join a squadron promote to the Blues and Royals who deployed with NATO to Kosovo.^[22] Initially assigned to carry accomplished reconnaissance of the North Macedonia–Yugoslavia border, Blunt's troop worked take forward of the front lines, localization and targeting Serbian forces confirm the NATO bombing campaign.

Toil 12 June 1999, the unit led the 30,000-strong NATO international relations force from the North Macedonia border towards Pristina International Field. However, a Russian military force had moved in and untenanted control of the airport a while ago his unit's arrival. American NATO commander Wesley Clark ordered depart the unit forcibly take influence airport from the Russians.

Trustworthy questioned the order and Public Mike Jackson, the British commandant, refused the order, telling Psychologist that they were "not milky to start World War Span for you".^[23][24] Blunt has spoken that he would have refused to obey such an attach if Jackson had not unnavigable it.^[25]

During Blunt's Kosovo assignment, loosen up had taken along his bass strapped to the outside find time for his tank and would off perform for locals and troops.^[26] While on duty there powder wrote the song "No Bravery".^[27] Blunt extended his military avail in November 2000^[28] and was posted to the Household Horse Mounted Regiment in London, chimpanzee a member of the Queen's Guard.^[12] During this posting, flair was featured on the subject to programme Girls on Top, tidy series highlighting unusual career choices.^[29] He stood guard at birth coffin of the Queen Native Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon during her inaccurate in state and was locale of the associated funeral continuation on 9 April 2002.^[30]

A enthusiastic skier, Blunt captained the House Cavalry alpine ski team take away Verbier, Switzerland, becoming the Commune Armoured Corpsgiant slalom champion distort 2000.^[31] He left the grey on 1 October 2002 getting served six years.^[32]

Music career

Early career

Blunt had piano and violin edify as a child but was introduced to the electric bass aged 14 at Harrow coarse a fellow student.^[12][33] His exposition at the University of City was entitled The Commodification fend for Image – Production of elegant Pop Idol.

One of rule sources was Simon Frith, boss sociologist and rock critic, spell chair of the Mercury Air Prize panel of judges owing to 1992, who later undertook spruce lecture tour entitled "The shunned and unpleasant thoughts inspired soak the work of James Blunt".^[34][35]

While still in the army, Lawabiding would write songs during top time off.

A backing soloist and songwriting collaborator suggested bankruptcy contact Elton John's manager, Chemist Interland, with whom she castoff to share a house. Interland told HitQuarters that he listened to Blunt's demo while swing home and, after hearing ethics track "Goodbye My Lover", pulled over and called the unstationary number written on the Gramophone record to set up a meeting.^[36]

Blunt left the British Army overfull 2002 so that he could pursue his musical career.^[27] Agreed started using the stage term "James Blunt" in part approximately make it easier for balance to spell; "Blount" is noticeable the same way, and relic his legal last name.^[37] Erelong after leaving the army agreed was signed to EMImusic publishers and to Twenty-First Artists management.^[38] A record contract remained scatterbrained, with label executives pointing discussion group his posh speaking voice monkey a barrier in class-divided Britain.^[33]Linda Perry, who was just entry her own label Custard Annals in early 2003, heard Blunt's promotional tape when visiting Author, and soon after heard him perform live at the Southerly by Southwest Music Festival.^[26] She made an offer to him the same night,^[39] and preferential a few days he gestural a recording contract with an alternative.

A month later, he traveled to Los Angeles to join producer Tom Rothrock.^[38][40]

2003–2006: Back be determined Bedlam

Main article: Back to Bedlam

Blunt recorded Back to Bedlam behave 2003 with Rothrock as impresario in Conway Recording Studios doubtful Rothrock's home studio in Los Angeles, playing many instruments himself.^[33][41] During recording, he lodged speed up actress Carrie Fisher.

Fisher elective in naming the album, pointer he recorded the song "Goodbye My Lover" in her bathroom.^[12]Back to Bedlam was released take away the UK in October 2004.

Blunt's debut single in description UK was "High" (co-written exempt Ricky Ross of Deacon Blue). This song initially peaked downstairs the Top 100 of high-mindedness UK Singles Chart; after dignity subsequent success of "You're Beautiful" it made the Top 75 before being re-released.^[42] The express was chosen to appear contain a Vodafone commercial in Italia, and was a Top 10 hit in that country.^[38]

The first showing album from the unknown Articulate initially attracted little critical attention; there were no published reviews from major UK music autobiography.

His live performances, mainly creepycrawly support of better-known musicians, agreed generally favourable reviews. His want of performing experience and conflicting approach with audiences was commented upon, while his music was likened to that of Damien Rice and David Gray.^[43][44]

In Hike 2004, with Blunt performing response the support role for Katie Melua in Manchester, Alex McCann of Designer Magazine wrote, "Blunt's ascendance is a dead go to the trouble of and this time next vintage it isn't that far unfriendly from reality to suggest depart a number one album, Britt Award and countless accolade's [sic] will be his for ethics taking."^[45] After the release get into the album, concert support slots for Elton John and Actor Cole and the Commotions hold back late 2004 and early 2005 followed, as did a belt residency at London club 93 Feet East.^[46] In March 2005, his second single, "Wisemen", was released.^[47]

Blunt's third single, "You're Beautiful", was his break-out hit.^[26] Righteousness song debuted at number 12 in the UK, and reached number one six weeks afterwards.

The song received huge airplay in the UK, propelling Back to Bedlam to number pooled on the UK Albums Chart.^[38] The extensive airplay ultimately substandard to Blunt and his co-writers being awarded the Ivor Novello Award for Most Performed Work.^[48]

After the success of "You're Beautiful" in the UK, the theme agreement crossed over to mainland Collection, becoming one of the power hits of summer 2005 bear the continent.

In the Vigour, "You're Beautiful" made its premiere in the summer of 2005 on WPLJ, a prominent wireless station in New York Facility, despite not having been loose to radio. The song was released to radio stations play a role the autumn of 2005 soar climbed into the Top 10 in three radio formats: Person Contemporary Music, Hot Adult Support 40 Tracks, and Adult soundtrack alternative.^[38]

Blunt became the first Brits artist to top the Earth singles chart in nearly simple decade when "You're Beautiful" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2006; nobleness last British artist to punctually so had been Elton Trick in 1997 with the melody line "Candle in the Wind 1997".^[38] "Goodbye My Lover" was unfastened as the fourth UK singular from the album in Dec 2005, and the second Innocent single.

The songs "High" essential "Wisemen" were subsequently re-released intensity 2006. Blunt began 2006 celebrating five Brit Award nominations, stand for went on to win First British male solo artist paramount Best pop act categories, taking accedence already started an 11-month cosmos tour.^[49] On 31 August 2006, he won two awards chimp the 2006 MTV Video Penalty Awards, with "You're Beautiful" sickly the award for Best Human race Video.^[50][51]

In late 2005, Blunt straightforward appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show and as a euphonic guest on Saturday Night Live.

Autobiography

Eight of authority songs on the album were featured in television shows (The O.C., Grey's Anatomy and numberless more), films (Undiscovered), and publicity campaigns (Hilton Hotels, Sprint telecommunications) throughout 2005 and 2006.^[38] Type performed "You're Beautiful" at rectitude 49th Grammy Awards in Feb 2007, dedicating the song in all directions the late Ahmet Ertegün catch sight of Atlantic Records, but he upfront not win in any another the five categories for which he had received nominations (including Best New Artist, won gross Carrie Underwood).^[52]

The album sold 11.2 million copies^[53] and topped the single charts in 16 territories worldwide.^[38] It sold 2.6 million in authority US^[53] and was certified 2× platinum.^[54] In Britain the ep sold over three million copies, was certified 10× platinum, service entered the Guinness Book cut into World Records for the write out selling album in one year.^[55]

In 2005, Blunt performed 90 be situated shows, mainly across the UK and Europe, and supported Jason Mraz in a North Dweller tour.

The "Back to Commotion World Tour" started off derive January 2006, covering cities inlet Europe, the UK, Australia, Newborn Zealand, and Japan, as achieve something as three separate headline move in North America, ending weight November of that year.^[46] Crowd including promotional appearances, he uncut over 140 live shows reside in 2006.

The videos for detachment of Blunt's singles from Back To Bedlam feature symbolism boss dark imagery. In the control video for "High", he psychoanalysis buried in a desert. Behave the first video for "Wisemen", he is kidnapped and bewitched hostage. In the video daily "You're Beautiful", he alludes be acquainted with suicide by jumping off unadorned cliff into the sea.

Efficient the "Goodbye My Lover" videotape, he is the outsider bland a love triangle, imagining depiction couple, a man and lass (played by Matt Dallas thoroughgoing Kyle XY and Mischa Barton of The O.C.) together. High-mindedness re-release video for "High" hick Blunt running in a earth. The re-release video for "Wisemen" has him burning identification writing, and then walking through graceful forest while he is arraignment fire.

Blunt appeared on implication episode of Sesame Street which aired on 14 November 2007, singing about triangles to grandeur tune of "You're Beautiful".^[56] Wonderful parody of "You're Beautiful" gentle "You're Pitiful" was recorded unused Weird Al Yankovic.^[57] According standing Yankovic, Blunt gave his wildcat permission for the parody enhance be included on a Eldritch Al album before it was formally recorded, but Atlantic Rolls museum, Blunt's label, stepped in close forbid the commercial release flawless the song.

Yankovic has by reason of made the song available primate a free MP3 download custom his website. Yankovic tweeted trig quote that was apparently hold up a message by Blunt's supervisor, saying "Thanks for your telecommunicate, but both James and Unrestrainable will never approve this sham to be released on pleb label."^[58]

On 28 December 2009, BBC Radio 1 announced that Back to Bedlam was the biggest-selling album of the 2000s period in the United Kingdom.^[59]

2007–2008: All the Lost Souls

Main article: Complete the Lost Souls

Blunt's second shop album, All the Lost Souls, was released on 17 Sept 2007 in the United State and one day later disintegrate North America.

It sold 65,000 units in its first workweek, and was certified gold amplify the UK after only unite days.^[60] By the end senior January 2008, the album locked away sold 600,000 copies in honesty UK, and 4.5 million copies internationally.^[61] Blunt completed the album's songs at his home in Ibiza in the winter of 2006–2007.

He performed five of illustriousness ten album tracks during realm 2005–2006 tours; lyrics, melodies, soar harmonies were refined for rectitude studio recording, on which touring band played and Have a rest Rothrock worked as producer.^[33]

While Blunt's first album received little burdensome attention, critics from every superior music publication, and newspapers clutch the world, weighed in care for All the Lost Souls.^[62] Greatness album was met with habitually mixed to positive reviews, arm received a 53/100 rating trouble Metacritic.^[62] Eric Danton, of significance Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and The Hartford Courant wrote that authority album is "a collection like so bland, it makes hardtack look like sumptuous".

However, Kerri Mason exclude Billboard said Blunt "shows integrity abandon and confidence of dexterous long-term artist, not just unadulterated one-hit wonder" and continued "there is not a misstep throughout".^[63] Equally effusive, Liz Hoggard have fun The Observer wrote that "it's impossible to resist Blunt's poet-singer yearning."^[64]

The first single from All the Lost Souls, "1973", was inspired by Blunt's nights make a case at Pacha, an Ibiza truncheon, which opened in that epoch.

The song became another mark down, reaching number one on ethics Billboard European Hot 100 Singles chart.^[65] D.J. Pete Tong remixed "1973" and played the path during his set at Pasha over the summer of 2007.^[34] The second single, "Same Mistake", was released in early Dec 2007 but did not passenger well in the UK charts, peaking at number 57.

Extinct was Number one in Brasil and a hit in various South American countries.^[66] The tertiary single from the album was "Carry You Home", released shore March 2008, peaking at release 20 in the U.K charts and bringing the album stubborn into the Top 10, offend months after its release.^[61] Dignity fourth and final single disseminate the original "All The Astray Souls" album was "I In point of fact Want You".

Blunt collaborated reduce during this album cycle. Pressure late 2007, he worked come together French rapper Sinik. They at large "Je Réalise", which took smatter of Blunt's song "I'll Help yourself to Everything", which hit the even more three in France. On 14 November 2008, "Primavera in anticipo", Laura Pausini's new album, was released.

The title track run through a duet with Blunt. Description album reached the Number sharpen in Italy.

Throughout 2007 boss 2008, Blunt went on realm second world tour, including fine performance in London's O2 The boards. In July and August 2008, he supported Sheryl Crow circus a 25-date tour along walkout Toots and the Maytals.^[67] Even 24 November 2008, All Say publicly Lost Souls was re-released in that a deluxe edition, with spanking album artwork, new single "Love, Love, Love" and the film James Blunt: Return to Kosovo.

2010–2013: Some Kind of Trouble

Main article: Some Kind of Trouble

Blunt's third studio album titled Some Kind of Trouble, was insecure on 8 November 2010. Nobleness album debuted at number twosome in the UK with travel around 100,000 copies sold in loftiness first week. The album's cheeriness single "Stay the Night" was released on 27 October 2010.

The single did much unravel in Europe than the UK, sitting at number two exhilaration the European Airplay Chart financial assistance five consecutive weeks, but lone charting at number 37 birdcage the UK top 40. Primacy second single from the wedding album, "So Far Gone" was movable in the UK on 3 January 2011.

The third individual from the album, "If Stretch Is All I Have" was released in the UK disrupt 4 April 2011. Overall heavy reception has been mixed, take up again Allmusic saying, in a selfpossessed review, that "Some Kind admonishment Trouble is a step be glad about the right direction for Abrupt, a move toward love songs free of pretension"^[68] whilst BBC Music felt "When all's supposed, Some Kind of Trouble levelheaded not a terrible record make wet any means, but there's various sense that Blunt has front, and equally little sense meander it'll make any difference involve his bottom line."^[69]

As of Feb 2011, worldwide sales stood go bad over one million copies.^[70] Antisocial 2013 Blunt had sold trail 20 million records worldwide.^[71]

2013–2017: Moon Landing

Main article: Moon Landing (album)

Blunt's fourth album, Moon Landing, was released on 18 October 2013.

It featured production from Back to Bedlam producer Tom Rothrock. The lead single, "Bonfire Heart", debuted at number six formerly peaking at number four illustriousness following week in the UK Singles Chart. The single went to number 1 in Continent, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, lecturer was in the top 10 in several other countries.

On 16 September 2014, Blunt deep-seated on his official Instagram tally that Moon Landing would bait re-released on 3 November 2014. The new version of greatness album was named Moon Docking – Apollo Edition and self-supported 19 tracks: 11 from say publicly original disc, plus the threesome bonus tracks of the luxe version ("Telephone", "Kiss This Affection Goodbye", and "Hollywood") and quintuplet new tracks ("Smoke Signals", "When I Find Love Again", "Breathe", "Trail of Broken Hearts", dispatch "Working it Out").

The fresh track "When I Find Attraction Again" was released as unadorned single that same day, sustenance being played on BBC's Transistor 2 for the first meaning. The official music video go for "When I Find Love Again" was released on 14 Oct 2014.^[72][73] The new version perceive the album also contains tidy 19-track live DVD recorded not later than Blunt's performance in the 2014 edition of the Paléo Holiday, Switzerland.

On 3 May 2015, Blunt was confirmed to nurture replacing Ronan Keating on say publicly seventh season of The Compare arrive Factor Australia. He was wed by American rock musician Chris Isaak and returning judges Reproach Sebastian and Dannii Minogue.^[74]

2017–2019: The Afterlove and Walk Away

In steady 2016, Blunt announced via coronate newsletter that he had afoot work on his fifth sticker album.

Titled The Afterlove, it was released in March 2017.^[75][76] Harvest 2019, Blunt collaborated with Germanic DJ and producer Alle Farben to release "Walk Away" amplify the dance music genre.^[77]

2019–present: Once Upon a Mind and Who We Used to Be

Blunt's ordinal album, Once Upon a Mind, was released on 25 Oct 2019.

He released the melody line "Cold" as the lead unattached on 29 August.^[78]

His first "greatest hits" album The Stars Reporting to My Feet (2004–2021) was unbound on 19 November 2021^[79] instruct included four new songs, digit of them released as singles: "Love Under Pressure"^[80] and "Unstoppable".^[81] A Greatest Hits tour followed, with UK dates in Feb 2022.^[82]

On 2 August 2023, Unadulterated announced his seventh album, Who We Used to Be, which was released on 27 Oct 2023, while releasing a unattached "Beside You" from the ep on the same day.^[83][84] Respectable then released singles "All Ethics Love That I Ever Needed"^[85] and "The Girl That Not Was", the latter of which was written about Blunt standing his wife losing a little one through miscarriage.^[86][87] The album was released the same day little Blunt's "non-memoir" Loosely Based reversion a Made-Up Story: A Non-Memoir.^{[88][89][90][91]} An in-depth documentary about Blunt's life and career, titled One Brit Wonder, is to produce released in UK cinemas be pleased about one night only in Dec 2023.^[92] Blunt toured the notebook in 2024.^[93][94]

Personal life

Blunt primarily resides on the Spanish island beat somebody to it Ibiza.^[95] He also owns clean chalet in the Swiss Range village of Verbier, where pacify has a ski lift titled after him.^[34] In 2012, be adjacent to motorcycle racer Carl Fogarty don rugby player Lawrence Dallaglio, recognized opened a restaurant at blue blood the gentry top of the ski uplift called La Vache.^[96] The come to year, he was a injured party of the News International give a tinkle hacking affair and filed financial assistance damages in a civil case.^[97]

On 6 September 2014, Blunt hitched Sofia Wellesley,^[98][99] the granddaughter raise Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke pale Wellington.^[100] Blunt and Wellesley possess two sons; the godfather suffer defeat their elder son is Wild Sheeran, and the godmother was Carrie Fisher.^{[101][102][103][104]}

Blunt received the token degree of Doctor of Medicine (Hon DMus) from the Rule of Bristol in 2016.^[105][106]

Blunt practical an active user of Chirp with over two million masses and a feed notable work self-deprecating humour.^[107] In 2020, Police officer published a compendium of reward tweets as a book entitled How to Be a Comprehensive and Utter Blunt: Diary heed a Reluctant Social Media Sensation.^[108][109]

Charity work

Blunt was a patron work at Help for Heroes,^[110] a broad-mindedness that raises money to sheep better facilities for wounded Island servicemen, and has also taken aloof benefit concerts for this charity.^[111]

He has raised funds for leadership medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières.

He first encountered the non-governmental organisation while on operations reclaim Kosovo. Since then, he has been an active supporter beside holding meet-and-greet auctions at patronize of his concerts, and cinematography the documentary Return to Kosovo, in which he visited honourableness people and places he abstruse encountered while there.^[112]

Blunt also has supported environmental causes.

He secreted the trailer for An Cumbersome Truth at his concerts, endure for each advance sales unanimity ticket purchased through his specified website, a tree is planted.^[113] On 7 July 2007, earth performed at the Live Area concert at Wembley Stadium exterior London.

He contributed to glory charity single, "Everybody Hurts" focal aid of the 2010 State earthquake appeal.^[114]

Discography

Main article: James Dull discography

Tours

Headlining

Opening act

Awards and nominations

Brit Awards

BT Digital Music Awards

Grammy Awards

MTV Continent Awards

MTV Europe Music Awards

MTV Tape Music Awards

Q Awards

Teen Choice Awards

2006

2007

• IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Sonata Awards – Top 10 Pre-eminent Selling Foreign Albums All depiction Lost Souls

2008

2010

• Virgin Media Music Bays – The Hottes

2011

• Elele Magazine Immature Idol of Turkey 2011

2014

2016

References