MORE INFO
For those who want to know more. More info collected from interviews, articles and official biographies. Last update: 01/10/10
Facts
name: James Morrison Catchpole
date of birth: August 13, 1984 (27)
place of birth: Rugby Warwickshire, UK
residence: -, East Sussex, UK
family: father (RIP), mother, elder sister, younger brother, girlfriend, daughter
Life
early life: got infected with whooping cough by his sister as a newborn; stopped breathing and technically died a few times; whooping cough left him with a husky voice
childhood: very close to siblings; parents separated when he was four; raised by his mother; grew up in Porth, Cornwall; started busking at age 13
relationship: met longterm girlfriend (current) at age 16; moved to Derby together; moved to London after getting a record deal; daughter born in 2008
previous jobs: postman, chambermaid, van washer, carpet fitter, painter, decorater, a.o.t.
Career
beginnings: bumped into local guitarist Kevin Andrews a week after being fired from vehicle hire; got invited to make demo cd, which got into the hands of David Gray’s former A&R man
record labels: meetings with big record companies followed, no deal was signed yet; spent following year writing songs
gigs: played gigs every now and then; played at the Summer Sundae Festival in 2004, one of the first shows playing own songs
record deal: signed a major record deal in March, 2005
movie: got offered a role in a Hollywood movie about musicians, but turned offer down
cancelations: was booked to play at a few festivals in Summer 2008 after being away for nearly a year, but had to cancel due to recording commitments for second album
Music
record label (2005-2011): Polydor, Interscope (US) (major)
record label (2011-): Island Records (major)
management: Connected Artists Ltd, Bill Silva Entertainment (US)
awards (nominated): Best British Single 2007 (Brit Award), Best British Breakthrough Act (2007), Best British Male Solo Artist 2009 (Brit Award), Best Song in The Peoples Choice Category 2009 for ‘Broken Strings’ (iTunes People’s Choice Award), Best International Song 2010 for ‘Broken Strings’ (Swiss Music Awards), PRS for Music Most Performed Work 2010 for ‘Broken Strings’ (Ivor Novello Award), International Male Artist of the Year 2010 (NRJ Music Awards), Best British Male Solo Artist 2012 (Brit Award)
awards (won): IFPI Platinum Europe Award for ‘Undiscovered’ (level 2), IFPI Platinum Europe Award for ‘Songs For You, Truths For Me’ (level 1), Best British Male Solo Artist 2007 (Brit Award), Best International Male 2009 (Meteor Music Award)
band (Spring 2006 – Fall 2007): Nikolaj Torp Larsen (keyboards, harmonica, backing vocals), Nikolaj Juel Christiansen (guitar, backing vocals), Bastian Juel Christiansen/Jakob Falgren (bass, backing vocals) and Kristoffer Sonne (drums, backing vocals)
band (Fall 2008 – Fall 2010): Richard Cardwell (first keyboards), Richard Milner (second keyboards), Marc Arciero (bass), Matt White (guitar), Neal Wilkinson (drums), Beverlei Brown and Lauraine McIntosh (backing vocals)
band (Summer 2011 – ): Richard Cardwell (first keyboards), Richard Milner (second keyboards), Matt Round (bass), Matt White (guitar), Neal Wilkinson (drums), Beverlei Brown and Sara-Jane Skeete (backing vocals)
artists toured with (as opening act): Corinne Bailey-Rae, John Mayer, Adele
artists toured with (as headliner): Karima Francis, Newton Faulkner, Sam Beeton, Jessie Baylin, Martin Harley Band, Erin McCarley, Diane Birch, Vagabond, Selah Sue, Ren Harvieu, Rainy Boy Sleep
guitars: Gibson Hummingbird, L350 Australian Blackwood/Spruce
early songwriting: ‘There’s Nothing Nobody Can Do To Stop Me From Loving You The Way That I Do’ at age 14
comparisons: music of Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Otis Redding
Trivia
school: went to Treviglas College ,was frontman of schoolband Peppermint Slug, failed A-level music exams (ungraded)
likes: anything sweet (especially chocolat), whiskey
other: wrote a special note in Undiscovered album sleeve to Lydia, a close friend lost to leukaemia; got rejected for Fame Academy
pet: has a dog
