Josh Groban

Josh Groban is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actor and record producer from Los Angeles, California. His recorded work sits within classical, classical crossover, easy listening, gospel, operatic pop and pop, and it is released on his own label, Josh Groban Music.

Early life and break

Born in 1981, Groban studies acting before moving toward singing as his voice develops. He attends the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, a public school on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles, where students receive conservatory-style training.

His entry into wider attention comes through David Foster, who asks him to rehearse as a stand-in for Andrea Bocelli on “The Prayer” with Céline Dion at a rehearsal for the 1998 Grammy Awards. That performance leads to an invitation from Rosie O’Donnell to appear on her talk show, and Foster later asks him to sing at Gray Davis’s 1999 inauguration. David E. Kelley then casts him on Ally McBeal, where he performs “You’re Still You” in the 2001 season four finale.

Recording career

Groban signs a recording contract through Foster’s 143 Records imprint with Warner Bros. Records. Foster’s involvement shapes the early material, which leans towards classical-influenced songs such as “Gira Con Me Questa Notte” and “Alla Luce Del Sole”.

He also performs “There For Me” with Sarah Brightman on her La Luna world tour and appears on the related concert DVD. He records “For Always” with Lara Fabian for the soundtrack to A.I. Artificial Intelligence.

His self-titled debut album, Josh Groban, is released in 2001 and goes from gold to double platinum. It is followed by Closer in 2003, produced and written by Foster. The album reaches number one on the Billboard chart and includes “You Raise Me Up”, which becomes one of his best-known adult contemporary songs. He also records “Remember” for the Troy soundtrack, “Believe” for The Polar Express, and a cover of Linkin Park’s “My December”.

His live release Live at the Greek appears in 2004 and is also shown as a Great Performances special on PBS. That period also includes performances at the American Music Awards, where he is nominated for Favourite Male Artist in the pop category, and a People’s Choice Award nomination. “Believe” receives an Academy Award nomination for its songwriters and later wins a Grammy for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.

Groban’s first Grammy nomination comes in 2005 for “You Raise Me Up” in Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. His third studio album, Awake, is released in 2006. It includes “You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up)” and collaborations with Imogen Heap on “Now or Never” and with Ladysmith Black Mambazo on “Lullaby” and “Weeping”. The Awake world tour visits 71 cities and later extends to Australia and the Philippines with Lani Misalucha as guest artist. He also records duets with Barbra Streisand and Mireille Mathieu.

Illuminations follows in 2010. Groban writes 11 of its 13 songs, and the album reflects themes of love, failure and searching. “Hidden Away” is issued as the first single, and “Você Existe Em Mim”, written by Carlinhos Brown and sung in Portuguese, is also released. He undertakes the 81-city Straight to You Tour to support the record.

All That Echoes is released in 2013 and debuts at number one in the United States. He promotes it with the All That Echoes World Tour and later follows with the Summer Symphony Tour. In 2015 he releases Stages, a collection of covers from Broadway musicals.

Bridges follows in 2018 and includes a cover of Céline Dion’s “S’il suffisait d’aimer” alongside new material. The album reaches number two in the United States and the top 10 in the UK and Scotland. Harmony is announced in 2020 and released later that year.

Stage, screen and television work

Groban makes his Broadway debut in 2016 as Pierre Bezukhov in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, an electropop opera by Dave Malloy based on War and Peace. His performance brings a 2017 Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical. He later performs “Evermore” during the end credits of Disney’s 2017 Beauty and the Beast.

He also appears in television and film projects including The Good Cop, where he co-stars as Tony Caruso Jr., and he hosts Rising Star. His screen credits include Coffee Town, Muppets Most Wanted, The Hollars and Crazy, Stupid, Love. On television, he appears as Danny Chase in The Crazy Ones and Walter Bernard Jr. in The Office.

Recognition and voice

Groban is described by critics as either a tenor or a baritone, with a range noted from G2 to at least B4. His first four solo albums are certified multi-platinum, and by 2007 he is listed as the number-one best-selling artist in the United States, with more than 22.3 million records sold. By 2012, his worldwide sales are reported at more than 25 million records.