Sam Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sam Smith
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Smith performing at the 2015 Lollapalooza
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Samuel Frederick Smith
19 May 1992 London, England
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| Years active | 2008–present |
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Discography |
| Awards | Full list |
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Samuel Frederick Smith (born 19 May 1992) is a famous English singer and songwriter. They became well-known in 2012 when they sang on Disclosure's hit song "Latch". This song reached number eleven on the UK music charts. The next year, they were featured on Naughty Boy's song "La La La", which became a number one hit in the UK.
Smith's first album, In the Lonely Hour (released in 2014), quickly went to number one in the UK. Songs like "Money on My Mind" and "Stay with Me" became huge hits around the world. "Stay with Me" reached number one in the UK and number two in the US. This album won four Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and Record of the Year.
In 2015, Smith sang "Writing's on the Wall" for the James Bond movie Spectre. This song won them a Golden Globe and an Oscar. Their second album, The Thrill of It All (2017), also topped the charts in the UK and US. The song "Too Good at Goodbyes" from this album was a big success.
More recently, Smith released "Unholy" with Kim Petras in 2022. This song became their first number one hit in the US and won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Their fourth album, Gloria, came out in 2023. Sam Smith has won many awards, including five Grammys and three Brit Awards.
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Sam Smith's Early Life
Samuel Frederick Smith was born in London on 19 May 1992. They grew up in Great Chishill, England. As a child, Smith was part of Youth Music Theatre UK and performed in musicals. They also sang in jazz bands and youth choirs. Smith released their first songs, "Bad Day All Week" and "When It's Alright", in 2008 and 2009.
Sam Smith's Music Journey
Early Success: 2012–2016
Smith gained attention when they were featured on the Disclosure song "Latch" in October 2012. This song reached number 11 on the UK charts. In 2013, Smith released their first solo song, "Lay Me Down". Later that year, they sang on Naughty Boy's "La La La", which became a number one hit in the UK.
Smith's first short album, Nirvana, came out in 2013. They also won the Brit Critics' Choice Award and the BBC's Sound of 2014 poll, which predicts rising music stars.
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The second song from their first album, "Money on My Mind", was released in February 2014 and also reached number one in the UK. Smith's first full album, In the Lonely Hour, was released in May 2014. Smith said the album was about "unrequited love," meaning loving someone who doesn't love you back. The album became number one in the UK and number two in the US. It was one of the best-selling albums of 2014 in both countries.
Smith performed on American TV shows like Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Saturday Night Live. Their song "Stay with Me" became a massive hit, reaching number one in the UK and number two in the US. Another song from the album, "I'm Not the Only One", also did very well. In 2014, Smith joined the charity group Band Aid 30 to record "Do They Know It's Christmas?" to help with the Ebola crisis.
In 2015, "Stay with Me" won four Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and Record of the Year. Smith also won two Brit Awards for British Breakthrough Act and Global Success. They re-released "Lay Me Down" with John Legend for the charity Comic Relief, and it became a number one hit in the UK.
In September 2015, Smith and Jimmy Napes wrote "Writing's on the Wall" for the James Bond film Spectre. This song made history by being the first James Bond theme to reach number one in the UK. Smith also earned two Guinness World Records for this achievement. In 2016, the song won a Golden Globe and an Oscar.
New Albums and Hits: 2017–Present
On 8 September 2017, Smith released "Too Good at Goodbyes", which went straight to number one in the UK. Their second album, The Thrill of It All, also debuted at number one in both the UK and US. Smith then went on the Thrill of It All Tour around the world. In 2018, they teamed up with Calvin Harris for the song "Promises", which became Smith's seventh number one hit in the UK. They also released "Fire on Fire" for the Watership Down soundtrack.
In January 2019, Smith released "Dancing with a Stranger" with Normani, which was a top ten hit in many countries. In December 2019, In the Lonely Hour was named the best-selling first album of the 2010s in the UK.
In 2020, Smith released their third album, Love Goes. They had planned to release it earlier, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays and changes to the album. They released songs like "I'm Ready" with Demi Lovato and "Diamonds". Smith also performed a special online concert from Abbey Road Studios in London.
On 25 August 2022, Smith announced a new song called "Unholy" with German singer Kim Petras. This song became a huge success, reaching number one in the UK, US, and Australia. It was Smith's first number one hit in the US. "Unholy" also made history as Smith became the first openly non-binary musician and Petras the first openly transgender musician to have a song reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their fourth album, Gloria, was released on 27 January 2023.
In February 2023, Smith and Petras won a Grammy Award for "Unholy". This made Smith the first openly non-binary artist to win a Grammy. Smith then started the Gloria World Tour to promote the album. In July 2023, Smith worked with Calvin Harris again on the song "Desire". In August 2024, Smith performed at the BBC Proms in London.
Sam Smith's Musical Style
Who Inspired Sam?
Sam Smith has said that singers like Adele and Amy Winehouse greatly influenced their music. They admire Adele's honest songs and how she handles being famous. Amy Winehouse's first album was the very first album Smith ever bought.
Smith also learned from older artists like Mary J. Blige and Chaka Khan. They have called Taylor Swift a "role model" for her soulful and honest music. Smith was also inspired by Lady Gaga's career story and has said Gaga helped them feel comfortable being non-binary. Other artists who have inspired Smith include Robyn, Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, and Brandy.
Sam's Amazing Voice
Sam Smith's voice is known for being very powerful and having a wide range. They can sing both low and high notes for a dramatic effect. Smith focuses a lot on their voice, making it the most important part of their songs. Many people have compared their singing style to Adele's. Some have even said Smith's voice brings back the kind of strong, skilled singing that was popular with artists like Whitney Houston. When asked about their powerful voice, Smith said they mostly listened to female singers with "massive voices" like Whitney Houston and Chaka Khan when they were younger.
About Sam Smith's Life
In 2019, Sam Smith shared that they identify as non-binary. This means they don't feel completely like a man or a woman. They asked people to use "they/them" as their pronouns. Smith has also been open about struggling with body image issues since they were young. They identify as a feminist. Smith is the godparent to their close friend and collaborator Jimmy Napes' son.
Discography
- In the Lonely Hour (2014)
- The Thrill of It All (2017)
- Love Goes (2020)
- Gloria (2023)
Tours and Residencies
Headlining Tours
- In the Lonely Hour Tour (2015)
- The Thrill of It All Tour (2018–2019)
- Gloria the Tour (2023)
Residencies
- To Be Free (2025)
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
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| 2017 | On the Record: Sam Smith | Themself | Documentary | |
| 2018 | Elton John: I'm Still Standing - A Grammy Salute | CBS special | ||
| 2023 | And Just Like That... | Episode: "The Last Supper Part One: Appetizer" | ||
| 2024 | The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy | Dr. Azazel | Main role |
Awards and Nominations
See also
In Spanish: Sam Smith para niños
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
