Guy Sebastian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Guy Sebastian
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Sebastian in November 2014
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| Born |
Guy Theodore Sebastian
26 October 1981 Klang, Selangor, Malaysia
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| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 2003–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Jules Egan
(m. 2008) |
| Children | 2 |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
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Guy Theodore Sebastian AM (born 26 October 1981) is a famous Australian singer. He became well-known after winning the first season of Australian Idol in 2003. Guy was born in Malaysia and grew up in Adelaide, Australia.
Since his win, Guy Sebastian has released many successful albums and singles. He has ten albums that reached the top ten, with three of them hitting number one. His first seven albums were certified platinum or multi-platinum, meaning they sold a lot of copies. He also has twenty-three singles in the top twenty, and fourteen of those made it into the top ten. Six of his songs reached number one. He is the only Australian male artist to have six number one singles.
Many of his singles have sold millions of copies, like "Battle Scars" which sold 13 times platinum. His very first single, "Angels Brought Me Here", was the best-selling song in Australia from 2000 to 2009. Guy Sebastian has the most certifications and sales of any Australian Idol contestant, with over five million albums and singles sold in Australia.
Guy has worked with famous American musicians such as Brian McKnight, Robin Thicke, John Mayer, and Lupe Fiasco. His song "Battle Scars" with Lupe Fiasco was very popular. It spent 20 weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and sold over a million copies in the US. In 2015, Guy Sebastian represented Australia for the first time in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with his song "Tonight Again". He finished in an impressive fifth place.
Throughout his career, Guy has won seven ARIA Awards and many other music awards. He has performed for important people like Pope Benedict XVI, Oprah Winfrey, and Queen Elizabeth II. Guy is also very involved in charity work. He has his own foundation, The Sebastian Foundation, which he started with his wife Jules. In 2019, he was recognized for his great work in music and charity by being made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). He has also been a judge on Australia's The X Factor and a coach on The Voice Australia.
Contents
Early Life and Music Journey
Guy Theodore Sebastian was born in Klang, Malaysia, on 26 October 1981. His father, Ivan, was born in Malaysia and has Sri Lankan Tamil and Portuguese roots. His mother, Nellie, is Eurasian with English and Portuguese ancestry. She grew up in India. They met when his father was studying geology in India.
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Guy is the second of four sons. His older brother, Ollie, was born in India. His younger brothers, Chris and Jeremy, were born in Australia. His family moved to Melbourne when Guy was six. Four years later, at age ten, they moved to Adelaide. This is where Guy spent his teenage years and started to develop his musical talents.
As a child, Guy learned to play the violin. He later taught himself to play guitar, drums, and piano. He went to St Paul's College and King's Baptist Grammar School. He started studying medical radiation at the University of South Australia but left to focus on music. He taught singing at high schools and studied music technology at the University of Adelaide's Elder Conservatorium.
Before Australian Idol, Guy was a member of the Planetshakers band from 2002 to 2005. He was a worship leader and sang background vocals. He also recorded albums for Planetshakers Church. He attended Paradise Community Church, a large church in Australia, and became one of their main worship singers. After winning Australian Idol, he recorded two gospel albums, Adore (2004) and Set Me Free (2008).
Music Career Highlights
Becoming an Idol and First Album
In May 2003, Guy Sebastian auditioned for Australian Idol by singing "Ribbon in the Sky" by Stevie Wonder. He did very well throughout the show and gained many fans. The judges often talked about his afro hairstyle, which became part of his image. He won the competition on 19 November 2003. This led to a recording contract with BMG, which later became Sony.
After winning Idol, Guy had only six days to record his first album. Even with this short time, he helped write three of the songs. He then went to the UK to compete in World Idol, where he finished seventh.
Guy's first single, "Angels Brought Me Here", went straight to number one. It was the best-selling single in Australia in 2003. It sold five times platinum. In 2010, it was named the highest-selling song of the decade (2000-2009). His first album, Just as I Am, was released in December 2003 and also reached number one. It sold 163,711 copies in its first week, which was the second-highest one-week sales in Australian chart history. This album is the best-selling album ever released by an Australian Idol contestant.
"Angels Brought Me Here" also reached number one in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, and New Zealand. His second single, "All I Need Is You", also reached number one in Australia.
New Sounds and Success
Guy's second album, Beautiful Life (2004), had more of an R&B sound. It included songs he wrote with Robin Thicke and Brian McKnight. The first single, "Out with My Baby", debuted at number one. Guy performed at the 2004 ARIA Music Awards and won an award for "Angels Brought Me Here". Beautiful Life reached number two and was certified platinum.
His third album, Closer to the Sun (2006), mixed pop, R&B, soul, pop rock, and jazz. The first single, "Taller, Stronger, Better", debuted at number three. The album reached number four and was certified platinum. The second single, "Elevator Love", featured Jennifer Hawkins in its music video.
The Memphis Album and Tour
In 2007, Guy Sebastian recorded a special album of soul classics in Memphis, Tennessee. He worked with legendary Stax musicians like Steve Cropper and Donald 'Duck' Dunn. This album, The Memphis Album, was recorded live on analogue tape. Guy wrote about this amazing experience in his blogs.
The Memphis Album debuted at number three in November 2007 and became double platinum. In 2008, the famous band The MGs toured Australia with Guy as his backing band. Guy said it was "unbelievable" to sing with the musicians who played on the original songs. One of their concerts was filmed for a live DVD/CD called The Memphis Tour.
More Hits and The X Factor
In 2009, Guy released "Like It Like That", which became a number one hit in Australia. It was the best-selling Australian artist song that year. His fifth album, also called Like It Like That, reached number six.
He then released "Art of Love", a duet with Jordin Sparks, which reached number eight. In 2010, Guy became a judge on Australia's The X Factor. He also released a greatest hits album called Twenty Ten, which reached number four. The single "Who's That Girl" featuring US rapper Eve was a huge hit, reaching number one in Australia and New Zealand.
Guy continued as a judge on The X Factor in 2011. He mentored Reece Mastin, who went on to win the show.
Armageddon and "Battle Scars"
In 2011, Guy released "Don't Worry Be Happy", which reached number five. In 2012, he returned as a judge on The X Factor and mentored Samantha Jade, who also won.
His song "Battle Scars", featuring a rap by Lupe Fiasco, was released in August 2012. It debuted at number one, becoming Guy's sixth number one single in Australia. This made him the Australian male artist with the most number one singles ever. "Battle Scars" was the third-highest selling single in Australia in 2012. It also became a hit in the US, spending 20 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and selling over a million copies. Guy and Lupe Fiasco performed the song on Late Show with David Letterman.
Guy's album Armageddon was released in October 2012 and reached number one. He won two ARIA Awards in 2013 for Armageddon and his "Get Along Tour".
Madness and Eurovision
In October 2013, Guy released "Like a Drum", the first single from his eighth album. It reached number four and was certified four times platinum. Guy also opened for Taylor Swift on her Australian tour.
His eighth album, Madness, was released in November 2014 and debuted at number six. In 2015, Guy Sebastian was chosen to represent Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015. This was Australia's first time in the competition! He performed the song "Tonight Again" and finished in fifth place. "Tonight Again" charted in several countries, including Iceland and Austria.
Guy returned to The X Factor judging panel in 2015. He released "Black & Blue" in November 2015, which reached number 17.
Recent Music and The Voice
In late 2016, Guy released "Set in Stone", which reached number 11 and was certified double platinum. He then released the Part 1 EP in December 2016. His album Conscious was released in November 2017 and debuted at number four.
In October 2018, Guy released "Before I Go". From 2019 to 2024, he was a coach on The Voice Australia. In June 2019, he released the single "Choir", which reached number seven and was certified four times platinum. Guy hosted the ARIA Music Awards of 2019 and won awards for Best Video and Song of the Year for "Choir".
His single "Standing with You" was released in June 2020 and reached number ten. In October 2020, Guy released his ninth album, T.R.U.T.H., which debuted at number one on the ARIA charts. This was his third number one album.
In August 2023, Guy Sebastian announced new music with the song "I Choose Good".
Musical Style and Songwriting
Musical Style and Influences
Guy Sebastian has been influenced by many great musicians like Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, and Stevie Wonder. His music covers many styles, including pop, R&B, funk, soul, gospel, jazz, and pop rock.
When he made The Memphis Album, it really showed his talent as a soul musician. Critics agreed he captured the true feeling of Memphis soul music. This album gave Guy the confidence to continue making soul music. He realized that doing what he loved singing was the best path for him.
Music experts have praised Guy's ability to write hit songs. They say he has a natural gift for creating catchy melodies. His success and long career are thanks to his skills as a musician and songwriter.
Songwriting and Production
Guy started writing songs even before Australian Idol. "All I Need Is You" from his first album was a song he wrote as a teenager. He also wrote gospel songs for his church.
He has written or co-written most of the songs on his albums. All the songs on Like It Like That and Armageddon were written or co-written by him.
In 2008, "Receive the Power", a gospel song Guy wrote with Gary Pinto, became the official anthem for World Youth Day. His song "Who's That Girl" won an APRA Award for Urban Work of the Year. "Battle Scars" won an award in the International Songwriting Competition.
Guy has a worldwide publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing. He has also written songs for other artists, like "Dot Com" for Usher. He is also interested in music production. He co-produced The Memphis Album with Steve Cropper. Guy has his own recording studio, Cooper Lane Studio, where he produces some of his music and helps other musicians.
Special Performances
- World Youth Day, July 2008: Guy's song "Receive the Power" was the official anthem for the Catholic Church's World Youth Day in Sydney. He performed it for 400,000 people and Pope Benedict XVI.
- Olivia Newton-John & Friends Concert, September 2008: Guy sang a duet of "Summer Nights" with Olivia Newton-John to raise money for her Cancer and Wellness Centre.
- Australian launch of Michael Jackson's This Is It DVD, March 2010: Guy and Delta Goodrem were chosen to perform "Earth Song" at this special event.
- Oprah Winfrey's welcome to Sydney, December 2010: Guy was the guest performer at an event to welcome Oprah Winfrey and her audience to Australia. He also performed for her private party.
- G'Day USA, January 2011 and 2012: Guy performed at this event in Los Angeles to showcase Australian business and culture. He sang his own songs and a medley of Bee Gees songs.
- Grammy Week – Los Angeles, February 2011: Guy was invited to perform at two events during Grammy week. He performed at The Black Eyed Peas Peapod Benefit Concert and The Roots Pre Grammy Jam Session.
- CHOGM 2011 Opening Ceremony – Perth, October 2011: Guy performed a song he wrote called "Agents of Change" for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Queen Elizabeth II and other world leaders were there.
- The GRAMMY Foundation's 15th Annual Music Preservation Project – Los Angeles, February 2013: Guy and Lupe Fiasco performed "Battle Scars" as the finale of this concert.
Personal Life
In late 2007, Guy Sebastian and his girlfriend Jules Egan got engaged after eight years of dating. They got married in Manly, New South Wales, on 17 May 2008. They have two sons, born on 3 March 2012 and 17 April 2014.
Helping Others: Charitable Work
Throughout his career, Guy Sebastian has been very dedicated to charity work. He has been an ambassador for Ronald McDonald House charities, the Australian Red Cross, and Golden Stave. Golden Stave is a charity fund-raising organization for the Australian music and entertainment industry.
He is also an ambassador for World Vision Australia. In 2005, he traveled to Uganda to film a documentary called "An Idol in Africa" for a TV special. Guy continues to support World Vision's Child Rescue program and the 40 Hour Famine. He has also been part of the Make Poverty History group. In 2008, he received an award for his ongoing support of World Vision.
Guy is also very committed to the Sony Foundation, which helps young Australians who are homeless, seriously ill, or isolated. The Sony CEO, Denis Handlin, has praised Guy for being proactive and a "decent human being" in his charity work.
Guy helps with many other charity projects too. In 2005, he performed on the annual Indian Pacific Outback Christmas Journey, which raises money for the Royal Flying Doctor's Service. In 2008, he did 11 concerts with the Australian Army Band to raise money for Legacy, an organization that supports families of deceased veterans.
He often performs at fundraising events for hospitals and annual Christmas carol events like Carols in the Domain and Carols by Candlelight. His songs are often featured on charity CDs, including the Salvation Army Christmas fundraising albums. Guy also visits hospitals unofficially several times a year.
In 2013, Guy and his wife Jules started their own charity, The Sebastian Foundation.
Albums by Guy Sebastian
- Just as I Am (2003)
- Beautiful Life (2004)
- Closer to the Sun (2006)
- The Memphis Album (2007)
- Like it Like That (2009)
- Armageddon (2012)
- Madness (2014)
- Conscious (2017)
- T.R.U.T.H. (2020)
Awards and Tours
Guy Sebastian has won many awards throughout his career. These include ARIA Awards, APRA Awards, Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards, and Urban Music Awards.
He has also done many tours, both on his own and with other artists. Some of his tours include:
- Beautiful Life Tour (2004–05)
- The Memphis Tour (2008)
- Like It Like That Tour (2010)
- Armageddon Tour (2012)
- Get Along Tour (2013)
- Madness Tour (2015)
- T.R.U.T.H. Tour (2022)
He has also supported famous artists on their tours, such as Boyzone (2011), Lionel Richie (2011), and Taylor Swift (2013).
Images for kids
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Sebastian performing at the Australian Gospel Music Festival, April 2004
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Sebastian and Steve Cropper on stage during The Memphis Tour
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Sebastian & Jordin Sparks performing "Art of Love" at Club Nokia in LA in July 2010
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Lionel Richie and Sebastian performing "All Night Long"
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Sebastian performing at the Eurovision Song Contest
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Jules and Guy Sebastian, ARIA Awards, December 2013
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World Vision Australia Magazine. Dec 2005
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Guy Sebastian and Olivia Newton-John performing "Summer Nights" at the Olivia Newton-John & Friends Concert
See also
In Spanish: Guy Sebastian para niños
- List of best-selling singles in Australia
- List of artists who reached number one on the Australian singles chart
