Steve Brookstein

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Steve Brookstein


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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Steven Desmond Brookstein
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1968|11|10
Died =
Origin = Camberwell, London, England
Instrument =
Genre = Jazz
Blue Eyed Soul
Occupation = Singer
Years_active = 2004–present
Label = Sony BMG (2004-2005)Independent (2006-present)
Associated_acts = G4, Shayne Ward, Leona Lewis, Leon Jackson
URL = http://www.stevebrookstein.com/
Current_members =
Past_members =

Stephen "Steve" Desmond Brookstein (born 10 November 1968) is a British jazz and soul singer, who rose to fame in the United Kingdom after becoming the winner of the first series of "The X Factor" in 2004. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4089147.stm Steve voted The X Factor winner] BBC News]

Biography

"The X Factor" 2004

In early 2004, Brookstein auditioned for the first series of "The X Factor", a new television talent show that aimed to discover a star recording artist in the UK. His audition failed to impress two of the judges, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh, but the third, Simon Cowell asked Brookstein to return the next day and sing again. This time Brookstein managed to impress the other judges and was put through to the next stage of the competition. when he reached the televised finals, Brookstein and the other two contestants in his category (25 years old and over) were mentored by Simon Cowell. He managed to make it to the grand final alongside G4, winning every one of the live finals according to Sharon Osbourne's biography. On 11 December 2004, he was announced as the winner of "The X-Factor" with two-thirds of the viewers' votesFact|date=December 2007.

X-Factor performances

*Top 9: "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge
*Top 8: "If You Don't Know Me By Now" by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
*Top 7: "Smile" by Charlie Chaplin
*Top 6: "Help Me Make It Through The Night" by Gladys Knight & the Pips
*Top 5: "Let's Stay Together"" by Al Green
*Top 4: "I Get the Sweetest Feeling" by Jackie Wilson
*Top 4: "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time" by R. Kelly
*Top 3: "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?" by Van Morrison
*Top 3: "Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston
*Top 2: "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" by Jackie Wilson
*Top 2: "Smile" by Charlie Chaplin
*Top 2: "Against All Odds" by Phil Collins - "Declared 1st X-Factor Winner"

Post "X-Factor" Career

2004-2005: "Heart and Soul"

After winning The X-Factor, Steve Brookstein was immediately signed to the Sony BMG record label through which he released his first single, a cover of "Against All Odds" on December 20 2004. The song debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 2 and then rose to the number 1 spot on January 8 2005, and stayed there for one week. In Ireland, the song peaked at number 11. The music video for the song was a montage of clips from his time on The X-Factor, from his initial audition to his final performance after being declared the winner.

Brookstein released his debut album "Heart and Soul" on May 9 2005 through Sony BMG, five months after his first single reached number one. The album was an immediate success, also debuting on the UK charts at number-one and going on to sell approximately 250,000 copies. Although Brookstein continued to perform tracks from his album on shows such as , a second single failed to materialise. In August 2005 it was announced that Sony BMG had dropped him from their line-up only eight months after he won The X-Factor and despite the success of his debut single and album. The decision to drop him reportedly came after he refused to record a second album of covers, instead arguing that his next release should include a number of original, self-penned songs.

2006: "40,000 Things"

After being dropped by Sony BMG, Brookstein spent the next year writing his own material and forming his own record label. On October 2 2006, he released his second single (and first from his upcoming album) "Fighting Butterflies" independently. Although accompanied and promoted by a music video, the song failed to crack the UK Top 75, peaking at #193. Undeterred, Brookstein released his second album "40,000 Things" on October 9 2006. However, the album also failed commercially, peaking at number #165.

From September to November 2006, Brookstein embarked on a nationwide tour of small venues in order to promote his new album. Many of the shows were sold out, but several had to be cancelled due to low ticket sales. In June 2007, Brookstein appeared as a cabaret act on the P&O Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry, alongside series 2 X-Factor alumni Chico Slimani and Journey South. [ [http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,11050-2007250860,00.html Chico's got the Decks Factor | The Sun |HomePage|Showbiz|TV|X Factor ] ] . In October 2007, Brookstein recorded and contributed the track "Head Over Heels" for Ian Levine's "Disco 2008" album. In September 2007, Brookstein embarked on his Great American Soul Book tour, and is currently writing and recording new material.

In 2008, he is to play the father in a touring production of the musical "Our House".

Discography

Albums

Singles

Tours

*The X Factor Live! Tour 2005
*The 40,000 Things Tour 2006
*The Great American Soul Book Tour 2007

TV appearances

In 1997, seven years before his breakthrough on "X Factor", Brookstein was a finalist on the ITV series "The Big Big Talent Show", hosted by Jonathan Ross. Since his "X Factor" success, Steve Brookstein appeared on GMTV, "", "Top of The Pops", "The Paul O'Grady Show", "This Morning", "The Frank Skinner Show" and has always performed live. He also appeared on "The Match", where he was joined by "Big Brother 6" winner Anthony Hutton and Philip Olivier from "Brookside", ex cricketer Phil Tufnell, and Patrick McGuinness ("Paddy" from 'Phoenix Nights'). He survived a few matches but was eventually put on the bench with two other celebrities and voted off. He has also appeared on 'The Wright Stuff' and 'Loose Women'.

References

External links

* [http://www.stevebrookstein.com Official website]