James Blunt

James Blunt

James Blunt is an English singer-songwriter from Tidworth, Wiltshire, United Kingdom. Born in 1974, he performs in pop, pop rock, rock, acoustic rock, folk rock and piano rock styles, with his work also described as a mix of pop, rock and folk.

Early life and military service

Blunt is born James Hillier Blount. He is educated at Elstree School in Woolhampton, then Harrow School, where he receives the nickname “Blunty”, and later at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Before his recording career takes off, he serves as a commissioned officer in the British Army, reaches the rank of Captain, and acts as a NATO peacekeeper in Kosovo. He is also on duty for the funeral of the Queen Mother on 9 April 2002.

Recording career

Blunt becomes active in 2004 and gains wide recognition in 2005 with his debut album, Back to Bedlam, and its singles, especially “You’re Beautiful”. That song reaches number one in 2006 and makes him the first British artist to top the US singles chart in nearly a decade, following Elton John’s 1997 hit “Candle in the Wind”.

He is signed to Linda Perry’s American label Custard. His second album, All The Lost Souls, is released in 2007, and his third album, Some Kind of Trouble, follows in 2010.

Musicianship

Alongside vocals, Blunt plays piano, guitar, organ, marimba and mellotron.