James Harrison

James Steven Harrison CBE (born February 6, 1989) is a British singer-songwriter who rose to fame as the winner of the inaugural series of Britain's Got Talent. After winning the show Harrison signed to Simon Cowell's record label Syco Music where he remained until 2010 when he left to sign with Metal Blade Records.

In 2007 Harrison released his audition song "Zzyzx Rd.", which debuted at number one and has since sold 4.4 milion copies in the UK alone. His debut album The Mirror's Truth following shortly afterwards in early 2008 which debuted at number one which is one of the best-selling debut albums with 30 million sales.

His second studio album The Promise of Deceit was released in 2009, this album also debuted at number one in the UK and on the Billboard 200. The album spawned the number one single "Forsaker" which was the best-selling single of 2009 with 11 million sales worldwide.

Following disagreements with Syco Music in 2010, with them wanting him to use pop song writers on his next album he left the label and joined the American label Metal Blade and released the highly successful and influential album Sounds of a Playground Fading in 2011. The album spawned five number one singles and is recognised as the best-selling album of all-time with sales ranging from 75 to 90 million. Harrison has released six further albums Dead Letters (2012), With Eyes Wide Open (2014), Last Song Before the Fade (2016), Us Against the World (2017), I, the Mask (2019) and The Winters of Our Passing (2020) all of which debuted at number one in the UK and would spawn numerous hit singles.

Harrison has sold an estimated 600 million records worldwide and is along with Elvis Presley considered the best-selling solo artist of all-time. His album Sounds of a Playground Fading is the second best-selling in the UK with 6.1 million copies sold. His tour to promote that album lasted over three years and was the first and still only concert tour to gross over $1 billion. Overall Harrison has achieved nine UK number one albums and 20 number one singles.

Discography

 * Main article: James Harrison discography


 * The Mirror's Truth (2008)
 * The Promise of Deceit (2009)
 * Sounds of a Playground Fading (2011)
 * Dead Letters (2012)
 * With Eyes Wide Open (2014)
 * Last Song Before the Fade (2016)
 * Us Against the World (2017)
 * I, the Mask (2019)
 * The Winter of Our Passing (2020)