James Fox (singer)

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James Fox
Birth name	James Richard Mullett
Born	April 6, 1976 (1976-04-06) (age 32)
Origin	Cardiff, Wales
Genre(s)	Rock Pop
Years active	1991 - present
Label(s)	Sony (2004) Plastic Tomato (2007-) itunes

James Fox, real name James Richard Mullett, (born April 6, 1976 in Cardiff, South Wales) is a pop music singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist. He represented the United Kingdom in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest. In 2008 he wrote and recorded the Cardiff City FC FA Cup Final song, "Bluebirds Flying High."

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Professional career 1.2 Fame Academy 1.3 Eurovision 1.4 Musical Theatre 2 Live performances 2.1 Festival of Remembrance 3 Recording career 4 Discography 4.1 Compilation albums 4.2 Singles 4.3 EP 4.3.1 Track listing 5 Television appearances 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Biography

James Fox grew up in Gilfach Village, Bargoed in the Rhymney Valley, a former mining community in south-east Wales, where he attended both Gilfach Fargoed Primary School and Heolddu Comprehensive School. Inspired by his musician father, music was his passion from an early age. At the age of six, he asked for piano lessons after being "completely captivated" by a televised performance by Billy Joel.^[1] His father bought him a piano and he started piano lessons soon after.^[2] Fox taught himself to play guitar, the drums, harmonica and mandolin.

Fox is passionate about football: he has supported and been a season ticket holder for over 25 years, following his home team 'The Bluebirds' (Cardiff City FC.)^[3]

[edit] Professional career

His professional musical career began at age 15, in the rock band "Deep Trouble," with his older brother Dean and two friends. Fox's mum Tina drove the van, enabling the group to play the south Welsh working man's clubs circuit. He later joined "Blonde Over Blue."

After leaving school, Fox worked for twelve years, (both under his real name and the name "Nick James") as a singer on cruise ships and in pubs and clubs. It was during this period he penned his first song "Miners` Town " about Gilfach. In 2000, while "Nick James" was playing in a Blackpool piano bar, he met Kevin Simm. The two became friends, going on to form the boy band Force 5; the band worked mainly on Blackpool's Golden Mile, before breaking up when Simm went on to join Liberty X (via Popstars). Simm recommended James to their management company, Hyperactive. They signed him up as a solo artist, and also as a professional backing, support singer and guitarist for other acts such as Liberty X, Ultra, Worlds Apart and Wet Wet Wet. He also entertained the UK armed forces in Bosnia, Afghanistan and the Falkland Islands.^[4]

[edit] Fame Academy

In 2003, he took part in the BBC Fame Academy reality television programme in the United Kingdom which offered a record contract to the winner. The students sang live in an attempt to convince viewers to vote to keep them in each week. The show's format included 24 hour live streaming of the students. The camaraderie and duetting around Fox's piano playing with fellow contestant Alistair Griffin spawned a double act. Fox didn't win, but in coming 5th, Fame Academy did present him with new career opportunities.

[edit] Eurovision

His first notable solo achievement as a musical artist was representing the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 with the song Hold on to Our Love which reached number 13 in the UK charts. He did not win, finishing 16th out of 24 finalists with 29 points, but performed much better than the previous year's UK entry, Jemini who failed to score any points.^[5] Questions were raised in the UK about apparent 'block voting' by certain countries, with Sir Terry Wogan commenting "This is barking! I was afraid the Balkan blocking voting was going to make a difference and it has; it's beyond me"; and Fox also alluded to this in interviews after the contest, remarking that his own favourite example was Monaco's awarding of maximum points to France.^[6]

Following his performance of Hold On to Our Love on BBC's Making Your Mind Up programme in April 2004, Fox was invited by Caerphilly MP, Wayne David, to sing the UK's Eurovision entry live at the House of Commons,^[7] and also to perform at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Meet the Neighbours Festival before the Minister of State for Europe, Denis McShane. He was also invited to sing live at the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff. He performed the song on Top of the Pops on 30 April.

[edit] Musical Theatre

In 2004 Fox went on to play Judas in the Bill Kenwright touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar to good reviews.^[8] While in the show, Tim Rice saw him in the role and was so impressed by his performance he recommended him for the role of the piano playing vocalist/musical narrator lead 'Piano Man' in the Tony award winning Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp musical Movin' Out in America.^[9] James was successful in his audition; his return flight was cancelled and he went straight in to rehearsals with Billy Joel's band. Fox made his debut in the show on Broadway on 6 April 2005 (his birthday) and received a vocal standing ovation. He later joined the North American touring production of Movin' Out, to take up the lead role of the 'Piano Man'. ^[10]

In March 2006, he returned to the UK to take up the role of the "Piano Man" in the European premier of Movin' Out in The West End at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre.^[11] Billy Joel said this of Fox at the press launch at Ronnie Scott's Jazz club: "I'm particularly pleased that the incredibly talented James Fox will be returning to home turf; he has been wowing audiences here, and he's going to continue to do so there." ^[12]

After taking a break from musical theatre to write and record his own material, he rejoined the American tour in October 2006, taking time off to return to the UK for a series of gigs. In January 2007, the first National Tour of Movin' Out ended, and James returned to the UK on a permanent basis.

[edit] Live performances

As well as his own headline performances, Fox has supported a number of well known artists. Some of his more notable live appearances and tours include his December 31, 2003 performance live at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, singing a cover of 500 Miles by The Proclaimers. In Spring 2004 he supported Lulu and Wet Wet Wet on tour. In summer 2004 he performed at a number of festivals including Mardi Gras at Loseley Park in Guildford, Big Buzz at Swansea and Pop into the Park 2004 at Swansea. Later that year he also appeared at the NEC Arena Birmingham and Wembley Arena again supporting Wet Wet Wet. In July 2005 he co-presented the Big Buzz concert at Rhyl for BBC Radio Wales, appeared at Music Mayhem in Bristol and supported Natasha Bedingfield at an open air concert in Sandwich.

Fox also performs frequently in at charity based events. He performed at the Crusaid -The Coronet (World Aids day) annual BBC Wales Children in Need charity concerts, both singing and presenting, in 2003 in Merthyr Tydfil,^[13] and in 2005 in Wrexham. In May 2006 he performed "Movin out" at the Breathing Life Awards for The Cystic Fibrosis Charity which was screened live on British television.^[14] 12th November 2006 In The Royal Masonic Variety show alongside Bradley Walsh Throughout 2004 - 2006 James continued to perform live to British troops on active service in Afghanistan, Bosnia, The Falkland Islands and Iraq. He so impressed the audiences in the Falklands that he was offered the once in a lifetime opportunity to fly in a Tornado F1. Since returning to the UK permanently in February 2007 to resume a solo singing career, Fox has performed several times at Tony Moore's Regal Room in London, showcasing mainly self-penned new compositions. He supported jazz singer Clare Teal in concert on the 3rd May 2007 at Parc and Dare Theatre, Treorachy Wales. On May 17th 2007 He supported Will Young

On May 18th 2007 he performed at The Natural History Museum London as the support act for Tina Turner at the Bedrock Ball, a charity gala evening in aid of 'Cauldwell Children' The event marked Turner's return to live performance after a 7 year absence. November 2007 James supported Wet Wet Wet for a series of charity gig's at The Hard Rock Cafe ( Cardiff, Nottingham and London's Hard Rocks). In December 2007 he performed several of his own original songs at The Bedford and at the The Regal Room in London, as part of their Christmas celebrations.

February the 15th and 16th 2008 saw Fox performing in the site of his first professional gig The Club Lennox in his home town of Bargoed with his new band, (which consisted mainly of fellow musicians from the Broadway and West End productions of Movin' out.)The homecoming gigs acted as a warm-up for a ten day CSE tour of Afghanistan to entertain the British Troops, alongside Lucie Silvas, whom Fox also acted as Guitarist for the duration of the forces tour. March 1st saw James Fox and Band performing in the St David's day Charity Gala at the Quality Inn Cardiff alongside Fox's former manager Nathan Moore March 2nd at The Hard Rock Cafe in Cardiff Fox headlined a gig with his band in aid of the Norriff Robbins musical therapy fund

[edit] Festival of Remembrance

In November 2004, in recognition of the work he had done with the Combined Services Entertainment organisation, he was invited to perform at the Royal British Legion Remembrance day Festival at the Royal Albert Hall, both in the afternoon and in the evening in the presence of The Queen. He performed the Oasis classic Don't Look Back in Anger, due to the reaction that had received on his Forces tours and was accompanied by his touring band with James on the piano. The whole Festival was broadcast on both national radio and television.

In November 2006 he was invited to perform at the Remembrance Festival at the Royal Albert Hall for the second time. He opened the entertainment section of the festival with the emotional Anthem from the musical Chess, where he was joined by the Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins for the last verse. He also accompanied Chris de Burgh on electric guitar in the Festival's traditional closing hymn, Abide With Me .

[edit] Recording career

Fox plays and sings on the track, "In Your Smile" which appeared on Alistair Griffin's debut album Bring It On

April 2004 Fox recorded Hold on to Our Love,"Needing You" and "Something About Her." which were released on two CD singles

2005 Fox, Katherine Jenkins, Andy Scott-Lee, Gareth Edwards and a host Welsh celebrities recorded a cover version of The Carpenters "Close To You" for BBC Wales.

In September, October and November of 2007 James Fox began writing and recording tracks for his debut album with fellow musician/producer Mads Hauge. He also recorded a humorous and poignant video diary consisting of several of their studio sessions. These sessions spawned "Six string"

December 3, 2007 marked the release of "Six String", a six track EP showcasing a variety of musical styles, featuring solely self penned and co-written songs. This is available both as a CD via his My space page and as an official download on itunes.

In early March 2008 Fox entered the recording studio's to start work on his debut album, which is due to be released later in 2008.

During the March 2008 recording sessions, after watching the FA cup quarter final victory over Middlesborough, James wrote in less than ten minutes Bluebirds flying high which he approached Cardiff city football club chairman Peter Risdale with, Risdale refused to listen to the track until Cardiff actually reached the final, after the semi-final victory over Barnsley fc Risdale listened to the CD Fox had left with him, the song became the official Cardiff City Football club single for the 2008 FA Cup Final, Bluebirds Flying High ^[15]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Compilation albums

One track by James Fox appeared on each of the official Fame Academy compilation albums.

Fame Academy: Bee Gees Special (Polydor) August 2003

More Than A Woman

Fame Academy - The Finalists (Polydor) October 2003:

Somewhere In My Heart

Also tracks on:

Hits 58 -

Hold on to our Love.(Sony) Summer 2004

'Lets hear it for the boyz' -

Hold on to our Love; Summer 2004

The Ultimate Eurovision Party May 2008

Hold On To Our Love.

[edit] Singles

Hold on to Our Love, the official British Eurovision entry for 2004, was released as a CD single in April 2004 on the Sony label. It reached #13 in the UK charts. #7 in The Welsh music charts.^[16] The single also contained the self-penned tracks "Needing You" and "Something About Her."

"Bluebirds Flying High", the official FA Cup final song of Cardiff City F.C. was released May 5th, 2008 on the Plastic Tomato label and iTunes. It charted at #15 in the UK Singles Chart, having sold more physical singles than any other act.[2] The single attained the number one spot in the UK national Indie singles chart, and the Welsh single charts

[edit] EP

In December 2007 a six track CD of original self-penned songs titled "Six String",(iTunes) was released independently by Plastic Tomato.

[edit] Track listing

1. You Can Do Anything,
2. Melody,
3. Good Thing,
4. Steady This Ship
5. Leaving Right Now
6. Turn Around

[edit] Television appearances

James Fox regularly appears on television, predominately on live shows. Some of his credits include Fame Academy series 2, the programme mixing a 'pop star' search competition with a 24-hour-a-day reality TV show. Focus was on the contestants` personalities, as well as their musical abilities. His stint in Fame Academy brought about his inclusion in Making Your Mind Up, the UK's Eurovision song contest selection show in 2004, as a performer. Winning the show led to Fox performing at the Eurovision Song contest in the same year, and to a spot on the 2005 Making Your Mind Up show as a guest presenter, and also to The Weakest Link special Charity Eurovision edition, as a contestant. Much of his banter and flirting with host Anne Robinson later appeared in her Out Take TV show, which led to an appearance on the Robinson-presented Test the Nation, BBC Television's interactive IQ test as a studio guest and participant. Further television work followed including EastEnders` Christmas special, a variety show filmed on the Albert Square set, starring many of the cast and special guest stars. Fox performed as a vocalist and also as guitarist for Liberty X. On Today with Des and Mel, a live chat and entertainment show hosted by crooner Des O'Connor and former model Melanie Sykes, Fox was interviewed, and took part in 'quirky' elements of the show, before playing guitar and singing. He appeared on BBC One's Breakfast News show, alongside Twyla Tharp discussing Billy Joel, Movin' out The Musical, and the day's news topics; on Sky News several times as a Eurovision Song contest 'expert', as a Eurovision Song reviewer, and as a musical theatre performer; and on BBC Wales` Party for Pudsey, filling the roles of performer, host, and guest interviewee, in 2003 and 2005; and on Gordon Ramsey's Hells Kitchen, as guest and interview subject for co-presenter Katie Price. In 2004 and 2006, Fox took part in BBC television's annual Festival of Remembrance in front of the British Royal family live in the Albert Hall as a performer and presenter. He also took part in the Summer of 2006 in Sky One's The Match, a reality television programme starring celebrities trying out for a place in former England football manager Graham Taylor's squad to face a team of retired professionals in a live match. July 2007 saw him playing for the winning side, in the Alan Ball memorial challenge cup, a one off football match featuring performers, ex-professional and current football players alike coming together to celebrate the life of the World Cup winning mid-fielder. played at stadium:mk in Milton Keynes, with proceeds going towards the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance Service.^[17]. In September 2007 Fox joined other celebrities, fans and professional players to play for the Reading team in the week long, seven a side, charity football contest, Sky One Premier League All Stars

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official MySpace

Preceded by Jemini

UK in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004

Succeeded by Javine