James Arthur facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Arthur
Arthur in 2023
Background information
Birth name	James Andrew Arthur
Born	(1988-03-02) 2 March 1988 (age 37) Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	2011–present
Labels	Columbia Records UK Columbia Records Germany

James Andrew Arthur (born on 2 March 1988) is a popular English singer and songwriter. He became famous after winning the ninth series of The X Factor in 2012.

His first song, a cover of "Impossible", quickly reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. It sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide, making it the most successful winner's song in the show's history. His next song, "You're Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You", reached number 2.

James released his first album, James Arthur, in November 2013. It reached number two on the UK Albums Chart. After some challenges, he left his first record label, Syco, in 2014.

In 2015, James signed with Columbia Records. He released his second album, Back from the Edge, in 2016. He also re-signed with Syco that same year. The main song from this album, "Say You Won't Let Go", was a huge success. It reached number 1 in the UK and sold nearly 2.7 million copies. Back from the Edge also topped the UK Albums Chart.

In October 2019, James released his third album, You, which reached number two in the UK. In 2021, he signed new deals with Columbia Records UK and Columbia Records Germany.

Early Life and Education

James Arthur was born on 2 March 1988. His mother, Shirley Ashworth, is English, and his father, Neil Arthur, is Scottish. His parents separated when he was two years old.

When James was 14, he spent some time in part-time voluntary foster care. He lived with his father for part of the week and in foster care near Redcar for the rest of the week.

Moving to Bahrain and Back

James first went to Ings Farm Primary School in Redcar, North Yorkshire. In 1997, when he was nine, he moved to Bahrain with his mother, stepfather, and two sisters. He studied at the British School of Bahrain.

In April 2001, at age 13, James moved back to England after living in Bahrain for four years. He then continued his studies at Rye Hills School in Redcar.

Music Career Highlights

Starting Out and The X Factor (2011–2012)

In 2011, James Arthur began uploading his own songs to SoundCloud and YouTube. He released an independent album called Sins by the Sea, which had 16 songs.

He also created his own music groups. "The James Arthur Project" released an EP called Hold On in 2012. He also had "The James Arthur Band," which released The EP Collection with nine songs that blended R&B, soul, and hip hop.

In 2012, James auditioned for the ninth series of The X Factor in Newcastle. He sang an acoustic version of judge Tulisa's song "Young". He shared his personal story, including his time in foster care. His parents, who had not spoken for over 20 years, came together to support him at his audition.

After singing "A Million Love Songs" at bootcamp, he was chosen to move to the judges' houses. There, he was mentored by Nicole Scherzinger. After performing "I Can't Make You Love Me", he was selected as one of the 12 contestants for the live shows.

During the live shows, James faced some challenges. After one performance, he had an anxiety attack backstage but recovered quickly. In week 7, he was in the bottom two and had to sing for survival. He won the public vote and moved forward.

James Arthur won The X Factor on 9 December 2012, with 53.7% of the final votes. He was the first winner of the show to have been in the bottom two before.

Back from the Edge and Big Hits (2016–2017)

On 9 September 2016, James Arthur released "Say You Won't Let Go". This song was the first single from his second album, Back from the Edge, which came out on 28 October 2016. James also re-signed with Syco, his old record label.

"Say You Won't Let Go" quickly became a number one hit on the UK Singles Chart. It stayed at the top for three weeks. In January 2017, it became his first song to chart in the US. It also sold over 1 million copies in the UK, making James the first X Factor act to have two singles sell over a million copies in his home country.

James's next singles, "Safe Inside" and "Can I Be Him", also did well. In April, he announced his first arena tour in the UK and Ireland. He also collaborated with Machine Gun Kelly on the song "Go for Broke".

In June 2017, James was one of the singers on a cover of "Bridge over Troubled Water". This song was recorded to raise money for those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. It reached number 1 in the UK. He also featured on Rudimental's song "Sun Comes Up", which became another UK Top 10 hit for him.

In October, his autobiography Back to the Boy was released. He was also nominated for an American Music Award for 'New Artist of the Year'.

You Album and Collaborations (2017–2019)

James Arthur released "Naked" on 24 November 2017. This was the first single from his upcoming third album.

In 2018, he released more singles, including "You Deserve Better" and "At My Weakest" on the same day in June. His third single of 2018, "Empty Space", came out in October.

In November 2018, James was featured on The Greatest Showman: Reimagined. He sang "Rewrite the Stars" with Anne-Marie. In December, he was featured on "The Power of Love" with The X Factor winner Dalton Harris. This song gave James his sixth UK top 10 hit.

On 10 May 2019, James released "Falling Like the Stars". His third studio album, You, was released on 18 October 2019. It reached number two on the UK Albums Chart.

New Music and Labels (2020–Present)

In July 2020, James Arthur announced he was working on his fourth album. He said he was excited to explore new music styles.

He also provided vocals for Sigala's song "Lasting Lover", which was released on 4 September 2020.

In February 2021, James signed with Columbia Records UK and Columbia Records Germany. His fourth album, It'll All Make Sense in the End, was released in 2021. He mentioned wanting to mix rock and guitar sounds with trap, hip-hop, and pop music. His latest album, Bitter Sweet Love, was released in 2024.

Personal Life and Interests

James Arthur has four sisters and one brother. His parents, Neil and Shirley, who had not spoken for 22 years, came together to support him at his X Factor audition.

In November 2022, James announced the birth of his daughter. He is also a vegan.

James supports two football teams: his local team Middlesbrough F.C. and Rangers F.C..

In September 2016, he became an ambassador for SANE, a UK charity that helps people with mental health challenges.

Discography

• James Arthur (2013)
• Back from the Edge (2016)
• You (2019)
• It'll All Make Sense in the End (2021)
• Bitter Sweet Love (2024)
• Pisces (2025)

Concert Tours

• The X Factor Live Tour (2013)
• James Arthur Tour (2014)
• The Story So Far Tour (2015)
• Back from the Edge Tour (2017)
• 16th Annual Honda Civic Tour (2017) (supporting OneRepublic)
• The Twenty Tour (2019) (supporting Westlife on their Irish concert tour dates)
• You: Up Close and Personal Tour (2019)
• It'll All Make Sense in the End Tour (2022)
• Bitter Sweet Love World Tour (2024)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: James Arthur para niños