Shayne Ward

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Shayne Ward


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Shayne Thomas Ward
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1984|10|16|df=yes
Died =
Origin = Clayton, Manchester, England
Instrument = Singing
Genre = Dance Pop
R&B
Pop
Pop Ballad
Blue Eyed Soul
Occupation = Singer
Years_active = 2002, 2005–present
Label = Sony BMG (2005–present)
Associated_acts = Steve Brookstein, Leona Lewis, Leon Jackson
URL = [http://www.shayne-ward.com/ www.shayne-ward.com]
Current_members =
Past_members =

Shayne Thomas Ward (born October 16, 1984) is an English pop singer, who rose to prominence in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as Asia, after winning the second series of "The X Factor". As of 2008 Ward has sold over 1 million records worldwide with 600,000 of his debut album been sold in Asia and around 980,000 of both albums in the UK.

Biography

Early life

Ward was born in 1984 in Clayton, Manchester to Irish parents [http://www.ticketnest.com/concert-tickets/Shayne-Ward/index.php] [http://www.shayneward.info/] [http://www.fizzmusic.com/default-sec-1-artist-336-name-SHAYNE%20WARD.htm] . He is currently engaged to Faye McKeever, his partner of six years despite the recent rumours of them splitting up. He has a twin sister named Emma and five other siblings: Mark, Martin, Michael, Lisa and Leona. He is a Manchester United supporterfact|date=September 2008, and in 2002, he reached the final thirty of "", the television show that created the massively successful British girl band Girls Aloud. Prior to his participation in "The X Factor", Ward was in a band called Destiny with two women named Tracy Murphy and Tracey Lyle, performing at pubs, clubs and weddings. He currently resides in London but also rumoured to own an apartment in the Beetham Tower at Manchester. He has recently mentioned in an online blog his interest of buying a home in Los Angeles, Californiafact|date=September 2008.

"The X Factor 2005"

In early 2005, Ward auditioned for the second series of "The X Factor". He impressed all three judges (Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh) and passed through to the next round. His group (16 to 24 year olds) was then mentored by Louis, and Ward was chosen to be among Louis's top 4 contestants and perform on the live shows. Ward quickly became the Bookmakers' favourite to win the show, and after making it to the grand final, he defeated Simon Cowell's duo Journey South and Sharon Osbourne's over-25 singer Andy Abraham and was crowned as the winner of "The X Factor" 2005. He had not fallen into the bottom two throughout the entire competition, and won by a margin of 1.2% of the vote, out of a reported 10.8 million phone votes cast by viewers. Immediately after the competition, his mentor Louis Walsh became his manager under a joint venture with Global Publishing and Walsh Global Management.

"X Factor" Performances

*Top 12: "Right Here Waiting For you" by Richard Marx
*Top 11: "If You're Not The One" by Daniel Bedingfield
*Top 10: "Summer of 69" by Bryan Adams
*Top 9: "You Make Me Feel Brand New" by The Stylistics
*Top 8: "Cry Me A River" by Justin Timberlake
*Top 7: "A Million Love Songs" by Take That
*Top 6: "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" by The Darkness
*Top 5: "Careless Whisper" by George Michael
*Top 5: "Take Your Mama" by Scissor Sisters
*Top 4: "If Tomorrow Never Comes" by Garth Brooks
*Top 4: "Unchained Melodey" by The Righteous Brothers
*Top 3: "When A child Is Born" by Johnny Mathis
*Top 3: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland
*Top 2: "That's My Goal" (winner's single) - Declared "X Factor" Winner 2005

Post-"X Factor" Career

2006–2007: "Shayne Ward"

Immediately after his victory on "The X Factor", Ward signed a recording contract with Sony BMG and his first single, "That's My Goal", was rush-released in the UK on Wednesday, December 21 2005 and after selling a massive 742,000 copies (including 313,000 on its first day), it became the Christmas number one single of 2005, held the top spot for four weeks and stayed in the top 75 until June 2006, a huge 21-week run. It therefore became the fourth fastest selling UK single of all time, beaten only by Elton John's "Candle in the Wind", Will Young's "Anything Is Possible/Evergreen", and Gareth Gates' "Unchained Melody" which sold 685,000, 403,000 and 335,000 copies in their first days of sale respectively). To date, "That's My Goal" has sold 1,300,000 copies.Ward's second single, "No Promises", a cover of a Bryan Rice song was released on 10 April 2006, and peaked at number two in the UK Singles Chart. "Shayne Ward", his self-titled debut album was released on Monday April 17, and sold over 95,000 copies on the first two days of release. By the end of the week, the album had sold 201,266 copies and hit the albums chart at number one. To date, the album has sold 520,000 copies in the UK and a further 200,000 worldwide, hitting number one in eight other countries.

Ward's third single "Stand by Me" failed to set the charts alight like the previous two, entering and peaking in the UK Singles Chart at number fourteen. It fared slightly better in the Irish charts however, reaching number nine.

It was confirmed in Gary Barlow's autobiography, that in 2006, fellow Take That member, Jason Orange threatened to quit the band, and Ward was suggested and heavily considered to become his replacement. Orange, however changed his mind and Ward was no longer considered.

In August 2006, it was reported that Ward had developed vocal cord nodules — the same condition that stopped the singing career of Julie Andrews — and was to be flown out to Los Angeles in early September to see a specialist surgeon. His manager,Louis Walsh, released a statement that he was confident Ward would be fine and would be back at work by the end of the month. Ward had successful treatment and was indeed able to return to his singing career. In November 2006, he released his autobiography entitled "My Story". He travelled to a several places around the UK for book signings, which thousands of people attended. In early 2007, Ward embarked on a massive solo tour of UK venues, taking in eighteen concerts in twenty-eight days from late January to mid-February. The tour commenced in Dublin on 21 January and ended in Birmingham on 17 February 2007.

2007–2008: "Breathless"

After the completition of his successful debut tour, Ward's fourth single and first from his sophomore album ("If That's OK with You") was given a release date of 20 August 2007, but was then delayed and became a double A-side single with "No U Hang Up". It was finally released on 24 September 2007, and charted at number two in the UK. "No U Hang Up" and "If That's OK with You" charted separately in Ireland, the former reaching number eleven and the latter entering at number one.

Ward's second album, "Breathless", was released on 26 November 2007, and after selling over 95,000 copies in its first week, debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart, held off the top spot by his "X Factor" successor Leona Lewis, whose debut album had achieved enormous success, however in Ireland it debuted at number one (removing Lewis's album from the top spot) a position it held for three weeks, and was certified five times platinum there. The second single from Ward's album was announced as "Breathless", and was released on 19 November 2007. It peaked at number six in the UK and number two in Ireland. On November 10, Ward had performed a world exclusive of "Breathless" on the live results show of the fourth series of "The X Factor", although the single was not available for download until the 18 November, followed by a performance on The Paul O'Grady Show on 19 November. There was plans for a third single release from the album, rumoured to be "U Got Me So" but got cancelled due to work on his tour and next album. In the UK the album has been certified platinum with sales of over 450,000.

In May 2008 Ward embarked on his month long UK tour named "The Breathless Tour 2008". He made his stage debut at London's O2 Arena and visited his home town Manchester at the MEN Arena. He also performed his complete show as a support act for Westlife's 2008 tour in front of a crowd of over 80,000 at Ireland's Croke Park.

After touring the UK, Ward plans to return to South Africa for promotional work and some gigs and then he moves on to Australia to work for the first time, before moving on to LA where he will do five weeks of writing and recording [ [http://www.itvlocal.com/wales/whatson/?player=WAL_WhatsOn_15&void=177267 ITV Local - Whats next for Shayne Ward] .

Ward has recently explained that he wants a greater creative input on his next album and that he wants people in the UK to recognise the international success he has achieved since The X Factor stating: "People need to realise that I'm not just a UK name. I'm more international." Ward recently had to cancel a date on his Breathless Tour due to conflict with his recording schedule. According to a blog on his official website he has already started work on the third album in July 2008, and is writing and recording in the UK with Taio Cruz, Karen Poole and Future Cut (who were the producers/writers of Lilly Allen's "Smile"). From mid July 2008 he will be in Los Angeles for four - six weeks writing and recording with US and European writers and producers. The next album is expected towards the end of 2008 or into the first quarter of 2009, not much information about the content of the new album has been given except that it will be very different compared with his previous efforts. [ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a92565/shayne-ward-keen-to-write-his-own-songs.html?rss Ward 'Third Album' info] ]

2009 - Future: "New Album"

After touring the UK, Ward plans to return to South Africa for promotional work and some gigs and then he moves on to Australia to work for the first time, before moving on to LA where he will do five weeks of writing and recording [4] .

Ward has recently explained that he wants a greater creative input on his next album and that he wants people in the UK to recognise the international success he has achieved since The X Factor stating: "People need to realise that I'm not just a UK name. I'm more international." Ward recently had to cancel a date on his Breathless Tour due to conflict with his recording schedule. According to a blog on his official website he has already started work on the third album in July 2008, and is writing and recording in the UK with Taio Cruz, Karen Poole and Future Cut (who were the producers/writers of Lilly Allen's "Smile"). From mid July 2008 he will be in Los Angeles for four - six weeks writing and recording with US and European writers and producers. The next album is expected towards the end of 2008 or into the first quarter of 2009, not much information about the content of the new album has been given except that it will be very different compared with his previous efforts.

Discography

;Studio Albums
*2006: "Shayne Ward"
*2007: "Breathless"

;DVDs
* 2007: ""
* 2008: "The Breathless Tour Live in Manchester" (Cancelled)

;Tours
* 2006: "The X Factor Live Tour 2006"
* 2007: "Shayne Ward Live 2007"
* 2008: "The Breathless Tour 2008"

ingles

*fnb|1 "If That's OK with You" and "No U Hang Up" were released as a double-A side in the UK, but charted separately elsewhere.
*fnb|2 Charted in 2008
*fnb|3 Charted in 2008

ee also

*The X Factor (UK series 2)
*Louis Walsh, Wards Manager
*Simon Cowell, Wards Manager
*Sharon Osbourne, previous "The X Factor" judge
*Andy Abraham, 2nd placed finalist in the competition
*Journey South, 3rd placed finalist in the competition
*Brenda Edwards, 4th place semi finalist in the competition
*Maria Lawson, 8th place semi finalist in the competition

References

External links

* [http://www.shayne-ward.com Official website]
* [http://www.shayne-ward.com/forum/ubbthreads.php Official Forum]
* [http://www.citybeat.co.uk/page.aspx?id=153/ Shayne Citybeat Interview]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2007/11/15/shaneward_interview_feature.shtml BBC Berkshire: Shayne Ward interview]
* [http://www.shayneward.us News and Pictures]