Ben Adams
Encyclopedia
Ben Adams is an English
singer-songwriter
, best known as a member of the boy band
, a1
.
, where he became head chorister of the school choir, . He later attended Bedales School
, leaving aged 16 after completing his GCSEs.
in 2001 for Best Newcomer and had two number one singles, "Take On Me
" and "Same Old Brand New You
", before separating. Whilst in the boyband, Adams also scooped a Smash Hits
Poll Winners Party Award for Most Fanciable Male in 2001.
It was announced in 2009 that A1 were to reform to compete to represent Norway
in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest.
and Alexandra Burke
. He also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother 2009, and became friends with Michelle Heaton
.
, Adams made a comeback with a new solo
recording contract
. His first solo single, "Sorry", reached #18 on the UK Singles Chart
in June 2005. As well as writing for himself, Adams began writing and producing for other artists. He co-wrote the Lisa Scott-Lee
single "Electric" with Guy Chambers
, as well as a song called "Get Off My Girl" with Har Mar Superstar.
Adams has his own recording studio
situated in Battersea Park
called Parkbench Studios. He is currently the creative director behind the bands Kissing Freddie, and What Jane Did Next (which Adams is a part of). When he entered the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2009, it was revealed that Adams had worked on songs for X Factor
winner, Alexandra Burke.
, and reached the finale finishing in fifth place after the public vote.
' 2009/2010 pantomime
production of Cinderella.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, best known as a member of the boy band
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...
, a1
A1 (band)
A1 are a British-Norwegian boyband. They were originally made up of Mark Read, Ben Adams, Christian Ingebrigtsen and Paul Marazzi. Their first single, "Be the First to Believe", entered the UK singles chart at #6 in early 1999. They had a huge amount of success worldwide and charts with two number...
.
Early life
Adams attended Westminster Under SchoolWestminster Under School
Westminster Under School is a private preparatory school for boys aged 7 to 13 and is attached to Westminster School in London.The school was founded in 1943 in the precincts of Westminster School in Little Dean’s Yard, just behind Westminster Abbey. In 1951 the Under School relocated to its own...
, where he became head chorister of the school choir, . He later attended Bedales School
Bedales School
Bedales School is a co-educational independent school situated in Hampshire, in the south east of England. Founded in 1893 by John Haden Badley in reaction to the limitations of conventional Victorian schools, today the school is one of the most expensive in the UK, charging £9,985 per term for a...
, leaving aged 16 after completing his GCSEs.
A1
Adams was a member of four-piece boyband A1, who won a BRIT AwardBrit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
in 2001 for Best Newcomer and had two number one singles, "Take On Me
Take on Me
"Take on Me" is a song by the Norwegian pop band A-ha. Written by the band members, the song was produced by Alan Tarney for the group's first studio album Hunting High and Low, released in 1985...
" and "Same Old Brand New You
Same Old Brand New You
"Same Old Brand New You" is a song by British-Norwegian boy band A1, released as the second single from their second album, The A List. The single was the band's second and final number one single on the UK Singles Chart....
", before separating. Whilst in the boyband, Adams also scooped a Smash Hits
Smash Hits
Smash Hits was a pop music based magazine, aimed at teenagers and young adults and originally published in the United Kingdom by EMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006 and was issued fortnightly for most of that time...
Poll Winners Party Award for Most Fanciable Male in 2001.
It was announced in 2009 that A1 were to reform to compete to represent Norway
Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010
Norway will host the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 at the Telenor Arena in Oslo, after Alexander Rybak won the 2009 Contest with "Fairytale"....
in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest.
Personal life
Adams was a member of boy band A1. The band was around from 1998 to 2002. Since then he decided to become a solo star and released his album Sorry. He has worked with Har Mar SuperstarHar Mar Superstar
Sean Matthew Tillmann , better known by his stage names of Har Mar Superstar and Sean Na Na, is an American singer.-Life and career:...
and 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...
. He also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother 2009, and became friends with Michelle Heaton
Michelle Heaton
Michelle Christine Heaton is a British pop singer, television personality, and recently a glamour model as well. She was married to former boyband member Andy Scott-Lee.-Career:...
.
Solo career
After a couple of years writingSongwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, Adams made a comeback with a new solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
. His first solo single, "Sorry", reached #18 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in June 2005. As well as writing for himself, Adams began writing and producing for other artists. He co-wrote the Lisa Scott-Lee
Lisa Scott-Lee
Lisa Scott-Lee is a Welsh singer. She has worked as a songwriter and is a graduate of the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts stage school. Lisa is best known as one fifth of pop group Steps from 1997 until their split on Boxing Day 2001 and recently reformed in 2011. Scott Lee released her debut...
single "Electric" with Guy Chambers
Guy Chambers
Guy Chambers is an English songwriter and record producer, perhaps best known for his long partnership with Robbie Williams.- Biography :...
, as well as a song called "Get Off My Girl" with Har Mar Superstar.
Adams has his own recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
situated in Battersea Park
Battersea Park
Battersea Park is a 200 acre green space at Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth in England. It is situated on the south bank of the River Thames opposite Chelsea, and was opened in 1858....
called Parkbench Studios. He is currently the creative director behind the bands Kissing Freddie, and What Jane Did Next (which Adams is a part of). When he entered the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2009, it was revealed that Adams had worked on songs for 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...
winner, Alexandra Burke.
Celebrity Big Brother (2009)
Adams was a participant on the reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother 2009Celebrity Big Brother 2009 (UK)
Celebrity Big Brother 2009 was the sixth series of Celebrity Big Brother. It began on 2 January 2009 and ran for 22 days until 23 January 2009. It was broadcast on Channel 4. The launch show was watched by approximately 6.4 million people...
, and reached the finale finishing in fifth place after the public vote.
Pantomime
Adams performed as 'Prince Charming' in Milton KeynesMilton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
' 2009/2010 pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
production of Cinderella.