Rick Astley is an English singer, songwriter and radio personality from Newton-le-Willows, United Kingdom. Born in 1966, he works in blue-eyed soul, dance-pop and pop.

Early career

Astley begins his career on the club circuit as a singer with the soul band FBI. In 1985, record producer Pete Waterman notices him and brings him to London to work at the PWL recording studio. He is developed there under Stock Aitken Waterman and starts out in the studio in a junior role.

Breakthrough and 1980s success

His first solo single is Never Gonna Give You Up, released in 1987. It becomes an immediate success in the UK, where it spends five weeks at number one and becomes the year’s best-selling single. It is the first of 13 worldwide Top 30 hit singles for him. His debut album, Whenever You Need Somebody, also reaches number one in the UK and includes the title track and a cover of Nat King Cole’s When I Fall In Love.

In the United States, Never Gonna Give You Up reaches number one in March 1988, and Together Forever becomes his second US number one a few months later. By the end of the decade, he parts company with Stock Aitken Waterman.

1990s work

Astley’s next major hit is the 1991 ballad Cry For Help, which reaches the Top 10 in both the UK and the US. The song features a gospel choir arranged by Andraé Crouch. His 1993 album Body & Soul does not chart in the UK and reaches number 182 on The Billboard 200. Its singles The Ones You Love and Hopelessly perform well on the adult contemporary chart, and Hopelessly also crosses over to the Top 40 Mainstream chart.

In 1991, the RIAA certifies that two million copies of Whenever You Need Somebody have been sold. His recorded output reaches total world sales of 40 million copies, including singles, albums and compilation appearances.

2000s releases and later work

After a long period outside the spotlight, he returns with Keep It Turned On in 2002. That album includes Sleeping, which becomes a minor club hit after remixes by Todd Terry. In 2005, he releases Portrait, an album of soul standards including Vincent, Nature Boy and Close To You.

Rickrolling and later recognition

In the late 2000s, Never Gonna Give You Up becomes central to the internet prank known as a Rickroll, after users are redirected from misleading links to the song’s video. The increased attention leads his former label RCA to issue a greatest hits album. In 2008, he wins the Best Act Ever prize at the MTV EMAs.

Associated acts and labels

Astley is linked with the band FBI and with Rick Astley & Blossoms. His labels include PWL, Cruz Music and 50/50 Live Limited.