Craig David

Craig David

Craig David is a British singer, songwriter, rapper, DJ and record producer from Southampton, United Kingdom. He is born in 1981 and is known for working across contemporary R&B, dance-pop, pop, pop soul, R&B and soul.

Career

He first rises to prominence in 1999 through a feature on Artful Dodger’s single “Re-Rewind”. His debut studio album, Born to Do It, follows in 2000. He then releases five further studio albums and records with a range of artists including Sting, Tinchy Stryder, Big Narstie, Kano and Jay Sean.

As a solo artist, David has 20 UK Top 40 singles and seven UK Top 40 albums, and his sales exceed 15,000,000 records worldwide. His work also includes the 2005 song “Johnny”, which reflects on his experiences of being bullied at school.

Awards and recognition

David receives fourteen Brit Award nominations, including five nominations for Best British Male. He also receives two Grammy Award nominations for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. In 2020, he is appointed MBE for services to music.

Background

David is born in Southampton, Hampshire, and grows up on the Holyrood estate. He is the son of Tina, a retail assistant at Superdrug, and George David, a carpenter. His father is Afro-Grenadian, and his mother is Anglo-Jewish and related to the founders of the Accurist watch-making company. His maternal grandfather is an Orthodox Jew, and his maternal grandmother is a convert to Judaism.

His parents separate when he is eight, and he is brought up by his mother. He attends Bellemoor School and Southampton City College. As a teenager, he accompanies his father to local dance clubs, where DJs let him use the microphone. His father also plays bass in the reggae band Ebony Rockers.

Publishing and labels

In 2020, David signs a global publishing deal with Round Hill Music covering his existing catalogue and future music administration. His labels include Bootyman Music Publishing, Teacup, Craig David and TS5 Label.