JAMES BLUNT

James Blunt (born James Hillier Blount, 22 February 1974) is an English singer-songwriter whose debut album, Back to Bedlam and single releases - especially the number one hit You Are Beautiful- brought him to fame in 2005. Blunt plays a wide variety of instruments, including the piano, guitar, organ, marimba and mellotron. He gained an army-sponsored place at Bristol University, before finally completing his education at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. His debut single in the UK was High. This song was chosen to appear in a Vodafone commercial in Italy, and as a result was a Top 10 hit. Some people have suggested that the title of his song High refers to drugs, Blunt says this is not true. His second single was Wisemen. Blunt`s third single You Are Beautiful was his breakout hit. The song debuted at 12 in the UK, rising all the way to the 1 position six weeks after its debut. After the Access of You Are Beautiful in the UK, the song crossed over to mainland Europe and became one of the biggest hit song summer 2005 across the continent. Once the song was released to radio stations in the autumn of 2005, the song climbed into the three radio formats: Adult Contemporary, Adult Top 40 and Adult Alternative, climbing to number 1 on the Hot 100. The videos for all of Blunt`s singles feature symbolism and dark imagery. In the video for You Are Beautiful, he alludes to suicide by dumping into an ocean as the final lyrics are sung.

AWARDS

• 2005 - MTV Europe Music Award – Best New Act
• 2006 - MTV Video Music Award – Best Male Video
• 2006 - Brit Awards – Best pop act and Best Male
• 2006 - MTV Australia Video Music Awards - Song of the Year for You Are Beautiful
• 2006 – MTV Video Music Awards – Best Cinematography

ALBUMS

• 2004: Back to Bedlam
• 2006: Chasing Time: The Bedlam Sessions (DVD/CD)