Jamie Cullum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jamie Cullum
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Cullum performing at The Queen's Birthday Party in 2018
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jamie Paul Joseph Cullum |
| Born | 20 August 1979 Rochford, Essex, England |
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| Years active | 1999–present |
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Jamie Paul Joseph Cullum (born 20 August 1979) is an English singer, pianist, and songwriter. He is famous for his jazz-pop music, which mixes jazz with modern pop sounds.
Besides singing and playing the piano, Jamie also plays the guitar and drums. He has released nine studio albums and many singles. Since 2010, he has also hosted a popular weekly jazz show on BBC Radio 2.
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Early Life and Education
Jamie Cullum was born in Rochford, Essex, and grew up in Hullavington, Wiltshire. His family has a diverse background, with relatives from Germany, Jerusalem, India, and Burma.
He started playing piano at a young age but has said he isn't great at reading sheet music. After attending Sheldon School, he went to the University of Reading. There, he studied English Literature and Film Studies and graduated with the highest honors.
Music Career
Getting Started
Jamie's music career began with a small budget. He made his first album, Heard It All Before, in 1999 for only £480. Only 500 copies were made, but it was enough to get him noticed.
After graduating from university, he released his second album, Pointless Nostalgic (2002). This album caught the attention of famous TV hosts like Michael Parkinson. In 2003, after performing on the TV show Parkinson, he signed a £1 million contract for three albums with Universal.
Rise to Fame
His third album, Twentysomething (2003), was a huge success. It went platinum and became the best-selling studio album by a jazz artist in the United Kingdom's history. By the end of 2003, Jamie was the UK's biggest-selling jazz artist of all time.
Although he is known as a jazz musician, Jamie plays many different styles of music. He is often called a "crossover" artist because his music appeals to fans of both jazz and pop. He is inspired by many musicians, from jazz legend Miles Davis to modern pop stars.
Live Performances
Jamie is known for his energetic live shows. He often uses a stomp box, which is a small wooden block that makes a sound like a bass drum when he taps his foot on it. He also uses a looping machine to record and play back sounds live on stage. This helps him create complex versions of songs like "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes and "Teardrop" by Massive Attack. He sometimes even beatboxes during his concerts.
He has performed at major music festivals all over the world, including Glastonbury in the UK, Coachella in the US, and the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. In 2016, he even performed at The White House for International Jazz Day.
Albums and Music Style
Over the years, Jamie has released many successful albums. His music often includes a mix of original songs, jazz standards (classic jazz songs), and creative covers of modern pop songs.
- Twentysomething (2003) featured jazz classics like "Singin' in the Rain" alongside a cover of Jimi Hendrix's "The Wind Cries Mary."
- Catching Tales (2005) continued his unique style, and he toured for over a year to support the album.
- The Pursuit (2009) included the song "Gran Torino," which he co-wrote with actor and director Clint Eastwood for his movie of the same name.
- Momentum (2013) explored the feeling of growing up and balancing fun with adult responsibilities.
- Interlude (2014) was a pure jazz album, featuring duets with singers Laura Mvula and Gregory Porter.
- Taller (2019) and The Pianoman at Christmas (2020) are his more recent albums, showing his continued growth as an artist.
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Awards and Recognition
Jamie Cullum has won many awards for his music. In 2003, he won the "Rising Star" award at the British Jazz Awards. He has been nominated for several BRIT Awards, including Best Male Artist and Best Live Act.
In 2005, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album for Twentysomething. He was also named Artist of the Year by listeners of BBC Radio 2. His song "Gran Torino" was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.
Other Projects
Besides his own music, Jamie has been involved in many other projects.
- In 2011, he judged a music competition called the "PizzaExpress Big Audition" to help new musicians get started.
- In 2012, a song he co-wrote, "Standing Still", was chosen as Germany's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest.
- He has taken part in charity events, like the Children in Need charity single "God Only Knows" in 2014.
- In 2022, he performed at the Royal Albert Hall in a special concert celebrating 60 years of music from the James Bond films.
Personal Life
In 2010, Jamie Cullum married Sophie Dahl, an author and former model. They have two daughters, born in 2011 and 2013.
In 2011, a portrait of Jamie painted by artist Joe Simpson was displayed at the Royal Albert Hall. He is also a fan of Swindon Town Football Club.
Discography
- Heard It All Before (1999)
- Pointless Nostalgic (2002)
- Twentysomething (2003)
- Catching Tales (2005)
- The Pursuit (2009)
- Momentum (2013)
- Interlude (2014)
- Taller (2019)
- The Pianoman at Christmas (2020)
See also
In Spanish: Jamie Cullum para niños
