Aston Merrygold
Encyclopedia
Aston Iain Merrygold is a singer with boy band
JLS
who were the runner ups to Alexandra Burke
on the fifth series
of The X Factor
in the United Kingdom
in 2008.
.
Whilst still attending secondary school, he played football on behalf of England in the European Youth Games. His initial aspiration was to play football professionally. However, after developing a nerve problem in his left foot, he tried singing and acting instead. Through acting, he met Marvin Humes
. As a result, he received a call from Oritse Williams (an acquaintance of Humes) about joining a boy band.
where he appeared as Michael Jackson
, singing "Rockin' Robin
". He came in second. He came in second yet again with JLS
on The X Factor at age 20. Aston performed in school productions and, after leaving school in 2004, was cast in a new ITV
programme, Fun Song Factory
in which he played Cookie alongside Children's TV presenter Laura Hamilton
.
During January 2008, before JLS appeared on The X Factor, Aston auditioned for hit musical series Britannia High
on ITV. He was also shortlisted for 2011's "BBC Switch
Prom King" but lost out to Robert Pattinson
. He was also nominated for Virgin Media
's 'Sexiest Male'. His musical influences include Michael Jackson
, Boyz II Men
, Mario, Usher
and Chris Brown.
, Aston joined boy band UFO. However, after auditioning for The X Factor
, UFO changed their name to JLS. When Aston got a call about joining JLS from Oritse Williams he was playing football in his home town, Peterborough. They then met up with Oritse and Jonathan Benjamin "JB" Gill. JLS then went on to the final of The X Factor, where they came runner-up to Alexandra Burke
.
Boy band
A boy band is loosely defined as a popular music act consisting of only male singers. The members are expected to dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances. More often than not, boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions or on...
JLS
JLS
- Music :* JLS, an English boyband** JLS , debut album by JLS* JLS a Spanish Rock band based in Zaragoza , Spain formed in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic by lead Leo Susana.- Organizations :...
who were the runner ups to Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Imelda Cecelia Ewen Burke is a British R&B and pop recording artist who rose to fame after winning the fifth series of British television series The X Factor in 2008...
on the fifth series
The X Factor (UK series 5)
The fifth UK series of The X Factor was broadcast on ITV in 2008. The series started on 16 August and was won by Alexandra Burke on 13 December, with new judge Cheryl Cole emerging as the winning mentor. Auditions in front of producers were held in April/May, with callbacks in front of the judges...
of The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 2008.
Early life
Aston was born on 13 February 1988 to a Jamaican father and an Anglo Irish mother. He is one of seven children, he has five brothers and one sister. He was born and raised in Peterborough, where he attended Jack Hunt SchoolJack Hunt School
Jack Hunt School is a co-educational foundation comprehensive school and specialist language and sports college in Netherton in the city of Peterborough in the United Kingdom. The school currently has 1,466 pupils on the roll, aged 11 to 18...
.
Whilst still attending secondary school, he played football on behalf of England in the European Youth Games. His initial aspiration was to play football professionally. However, after developing a nerve problem in his left foot, he tried singing and acting instead. Through acting, he met Marvin Humes
Marvin Humes
Marvin Richard James Humes is an English singer and actor. Humes is currently a member of the boyband JLS. JLS were the runners up to Alexandra Burke in the fifth series of The X Factor in 2008...
. As a result, he received a call from Oritse Williams (an acquaintance of Humes) about joining a boy band.
Music career
In 2002, his mother applied for him to enter Stars In Their EyesStars In Their Eyes
Stars in Their Eyes is a British television talent show that ran on Saturdays nights from 21 July 1990 until 23 December 2006 in which contestants impersonate showbiz stars...
where he appeared as Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, singing "Rockin' Robin
Rockin' Robin (song)
This article is about the song. For the wrestler, see Rockin' Robin ."Rockin' Robin" is a song written by Leon René under the pseudonym Jimmie Thomas and recorded by Bobby Day in 1958. It was Day's only hit single, becoming a number-two hit on the Billboard Hot 100...
". He came in second. He came in second yet again with JLS
JLS
- Music :* JLS, an English boyband** JLS , debut album by JLS* JLS a Spanish Rock band based in Zaragoza , Spain formed in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic by lead Leo Susana.- Organizations :...
on The X Factor at age 20. Aston performed in school productions and, after leaving school in 2004, was cast in a new ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
programme, Fun Song Factory
Fun Song Factory
Fun Song Factory is a British preschool children's show on CITV aimed at youngsters. It was one of the first songs-based shows to be filmed in front of a live audience of children , and is similar to Australian shows such as 'The Wiggles' and 'Hi-5'.It was originally created in 1994 by Will Brenton...
in which he played Cookie alongside Children's TV presenter Laura Hamilton
Laura Hamilton
Laura Hamilton is a British television presenter who participated in Dancing on Ice 2011 finishing in second place.-Early career:...
.
During January 2008, before JLS appeared on The X Factor, Aston auditioned for hit musical series Britannia High
Britannia High
Britannia High was a British musical drama television series co-produced by Granada Television Britannia High was a British musical drama television series co-produced by Granada Television Britannia High was a British musical drama television series co-produced by Granada Television (now part of...
on ITV. He was also shortlisted for 2011's "BBC Switch
BBC Switch
BBC Switch was the brand for BBC content aimed at UK teenagers. The brand launched on Saturday 20 October 2007 on BBC Two And ceased broadcasting on Saturday 17 December 2010...
Prom King" but lost out to Robert Pattinson
Robert Pattinson
Robert Douglas Thomas Pattinson is an English actor, model, musician, and producer. Born and raised in London, Pattinson started out his career by playing the role of Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire...
. He was also nominated for Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
's 'Sexiest Male'. His musical influences include Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are the most successful R&B group of all time, having sold more than albums worldwide. In the 1990s, Boyz II Men found fame on Motown Records as a quartet, but original member Michael McCary...
, Mario, Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
and Chris Brown.
Music career with JLS
After meeting future fellow band member Marvin HumesMarvin Humes
Marvin Richard James Humes is an English singer and actor. Humes is currently a member of the boyband JLS. JLS were the runners up to Alexandra Burke in the fifth series of The X Factor in 2008...
, Aston joined boy band UFO. However, after auditioning for The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
, UFO changed their name to JLS. When Aston got a call about joining JLS from Oritse Williams he was playing football in his home town, Peterborough. They then met up with Oritse and Jonathan Benjamin "JB" Gill. JLS then went on to the final of The X Factor, where they came runner-up to Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Imelda Cecelia Ewen Burke is a British R&B and pop recording artist who rose to fame after winning the fifth series of British television series The X Factor in 2008...
.