Andrew Johnston (singer)
Andrew Johnston |
|---|
Andrew Johnston is an English boy soprano from Carlisle, Cumbria who rose to fame when he finished in third place on the second series of the British television talent show Britain's Got Talent and who is signed to the SyCo Music label.[1]
Background
Johnston lives in Carlisle, Cumbria where he attends Trinity School[2] and is Head chorister at Carlisle Cathedral.[3][4]
Britain's Got Talent
Andrew Johnston tried out for Britain's Got Talent singing "Pie Jesu" and passed the audition. He was tipped as one of the favourites to win the show.[3][5] He was then put through to the live shows, the next stage of the competition, he won one of the semi-finals on 27 May, receiving the most public votes on the night, thereby qualifying for the final. He sang the Eric Clapton ballad "Tears in Heaven", with judge Amanda Holden saying to him that "you are truly gifted, you have a gift from God in your voice."[6] At the final, on 30 May, he again sang "Pie Jesu". However, he finished in third place, losing out to the winner street dancer, George Sampson, with dance group Signature in second place. He left the stage in tears after being one of the favourites to win.
The day after the final, Max Clifford, who works as publicist for Simon Cowell, said that it was "quite possible" that Cowell would be signing some of the finalists, including Johnston.[7]
Bullying
During his initial audition, Johnston claimed that he was bullied and victimised from the age of six because of his singing. When asked by Simon Cowell how he deals with the issue at hand, he stated that he "carries on singing."[3]
During the show Johnston said that if he won, he would beat the bullies, which he believed he did after the bullies wished him luck. After the show Johnston said that he would keep on singing.[2] However, there have been claims that the show's producers were deliberately misleading the viewers and enhancing his situation as a "sob story".[8]
Record deal
On 12 June, 2008 it was announced that Johnston had signed a record deal with SyCo Music, Simon Cowell's division of Sony BMG, with an album to be produced after the Britain's Got Talent Live Tour.[1]
References
- ^ a b
"Talent show choirboy lands record deal". MSN UK. 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b
"Bullied choirboy Andrew into TV talent show semis". The Cumberland News. 2008-05-25. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b c
Revoir, Paul (2008-05-28). "Bullied 13-year-old with voice of an angel is tipped to win Britain's Got Talent". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^
"Andrew comes third talent final". The Cumberland News. 2008-06-01. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^
"'Bullied' boy wows Talent judge". itv.com. 2008-04-14. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^
Hardie, Beth (2008-05-28). "Britain's Got Talent: Cheeky Monkeys and Andrew Johnston make final". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^
Martin, Nicole (2008-06-02). "Simon Cowell to sign up Britain's Got Talent losers". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^
Revoir, Paul (2008-04-18). "Is the Britain's Got Talent choirboy REALLY a bullied kid from a sink estate? His mother admits: 'The pudding may have been over-egged'". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help)
Britain's Got Talent choirboy Andrew Johnston has signed a £1 million deal with Simon Cowell's record label. The 13-year-old with the voice of an angel will release his first album later this year. Andrew melted hearts when he sang Pie Jesu on the ITV talent show, reducing judge Amanda Holden to tears. The council estate boy from Carlisle spoke movingly of being bullied at school for his singing.
He came third in the Britain's Got Talent final earlier this month, behind dance duo Signature and eventual winner George Sampson, and exited the stage in floods of tears.
But he is all smiles now after landing the deal with Cowell's SyCo label, a subsidiary of music giant Sony BMG.
"I can't believe it. I'm so excited. It's a dream come true," Andrew said.
A spokesperson for SyCo said: "We are absolutely delighted to be working with Andrew. He is incredibly talented and has huge potential." An insider said the multi-album deal is worth in the region of £1 million, although Andrew's earning potential may be restricted by the fact that his voice will break in the next few years. His first appearance on Britain's Got Talent drew inevitable comparisons with Aled Jones. He is the second runner-up to get a deal, after Cowell snapped up classical quartet Escala. The music mogul is also in negotiations with schoolgirl singer Faryl Smith. Andrew's performances on the show have been viewed over 15 million times on YouTube. He is currently appearing on the nationwide Britain's Got Talent tour and will begin work on his album as soon as it comes to an end.
External links
- Performance of "Pie Jesu" on ITV.com
{{subst:#if:Johnston, Andrew|}} [[Category:{{subst:#switch:{{subst:uc:1994}}
|| UNKNOWN | MISSING = Year of birth missing {{subst:#switch:{{subst:uc:}}||LIVING=(living people)}}
| #default = 1994 births
}}]] {{subst:#switch:{{subst:uc:}}
|| LIVING = | MISSING = | UNKNOWN = | #default =
}}