Simon Webbe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Simon Solomon Webbe | |
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 at MTV Asia Awards 2006, Bangkok, Thailand
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Simon Solomon Webbe |
| Born | March 30, 1979 |
| Origin | Moss Side, Manchester, England |
| Genre(s) | Pop, Soul |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Songwriter, Actor |
| Years active | 2001–2005 (group) 2005–present (solo) 2005–present (acting) |
| Label(s) | Innocent, Angel Music Group, EMI |
| Associated acts | Blue, Antony Costa, Duncan James, Lee Ryan |
| Website | SimonWebbe.net |
Simon Webbe (born 30 March 1979 in Moss Side, Manchester, England) is a music singer, writer, manager.
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[edit] Beginnings
Simon Webbe originally started his career out with British boy-band Blue. The band also featured Lee Ryan (a fellow solo star), Duncan James (TV's Dancing On Ice), Antony Costa (TV's I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!). All of the songs that Blue recorded on their 3 albums were written by members of the group, with the exception of the very few covers of old songs. Most of the songs are actually written by all four of them.
The band burst in to the scene in 2001 with their number one album All Rise and its subsuquent singles "All Rise" (#4), "Too Close "(#1), "If You Come Back" (#1) & "Fly By II" (#6).
In 2002 follow-up album One Love saw the band reach the height of their fame peaking at number one, selling 3 million copies in the UK alone and featured the singles "One Love" (#3), "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word feat.Elton John" (#1) & "U Make Me Wanna" (#4).
Another number one album came in 2003 with Guilty. It showcased Blue at their absolute best and featuring a new maturity as musical artists, critical acclaim and producing the singles "Guilty" (#2), "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) feat.Stevie Wonder and Angie Stone" (#11), "Breathe Easy" (#4) & "Bubblin'" (#9).
The band wrapped up their career in 2004 with a greatest hits album which reached number six in the charts and produced the top ten single "Curtain Falls" (#4).
[edit] Sanctuary
Simon launched his post-Blue career on the 22 August 2005 with his first solo single "Lay Your Hands" which peaked at #4 on the UK Singles Chart.
His follow up single "No Worries" established Simon as a solo star, reaching #4 in the UK and making him the only Blue member to have multiple top ten singles.
After the release of two singles Simon finally released his long awaited debut solo album Sanctuary which debuted at #28 on the UK Album Charts. Despite its relatively low debut it eventually reached #7 on the charts and to this date has gone double-platinum.
The third single from Sanctuary, "After All This Time" was released in February, 2006 but due to poor promotion and a low budget video it failed to become his third top ten single and peaked at #16.
[edit] Grace
On 30th October, 2006, came the first single from Simon's new album "Coming Around Again" and was described by Simon as "an uplifting slice of soulful pop" and as "a reminder of the highlights in your life". When released it reached #12 in the UK Singles Charts, which Simon himself admits as disappointing.
His highly anticipated second album Grace was released on 13th November, 2006. It peaked at number 11 in the UK Albums Chart.
The second single "My Soul Pleads for You" was released on 19th February, 2007 and peaked at a disappointing 45 on the singles chart.
On 21st May, 2007, Simon launched his first ever live tour to support his second album Grace. The tour consisted of 18 dates through May and June, starting in Cambridge and culminating in London.
After his album and singles failure, there were many reports suggesting that Simon had been dropped by Innocent Records. These reports proved to be false and Simon carefully began plotting his next career move.
In early June, it was announced that Simon would be releasing the title track from his second studio album with the theme song from the upcoming motion picture entitled "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer". The single was a double A-side release of "Grace"/"Ride the Storm". It peaked at a very disappointing #36 in the UK.
In Europe, "Seventeen" was released instead of Grace, but due to the low airplay and no video for the song, it was also a commercial flop.
Simon is now touring India where he will be performing his album Grace in cities like Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai.
[edit] Run
During his recent May-June, 2007 UK tour Simon previewed some new songs from his third studio album including Run which Simon said has already been "penciled" in as the first single and that it will possibly be used as the album title.
It has also been reported that the album will double as the soundtrack to Simon's upcoming film of the same name and that because the film is an action flick it will be a slightly heavier album.
[edit] Film career
After many years working and performing in music Simon appeared to want to add his creative abilities through other avenues in the entertainment industry, thus deciding to pursue a film career.
In 2004 he co-starred in the romantic-comedy "The Truth About Love", directed by John Hay.The film also featured renowned actors Jennifer Love-Hewitt, Dougray Scott and Jimi Mistry.
His second acting project was a 2006 British gangster movie entitled Rollin' With The Nines. The film co-starred Vas Blackwood, Billy Murray, Robbie Gee and was directed by Julian Gilbey.
He will follow these movies up with the upcoming 2007/08 movie directed by John McTiernan tentivley titled "Run". The film which will be an action blockbuster also has Hollywood connections and will see him act alongside acclaimed New Zealand actor/performer Karl Urban.
[edit] Other media projects
Since entering the music industry Simon has used his profile to extend his range of business ventures. His two most notable companies are "Love 4 Music" and "Love 4 PR", both of which he co-runs with Jade Reuben.
He managed the mixed gender group VS (Jaime Summaz, Marvin Humes, Ryan Taylor, Chinyere McKenzie & Blimi) who supported Blue on their sell-out arena sized tour and were also signed to Blue's Innocent Records and released three singles Love You Like Mad (#7), Call U Sexy (#11) and Make It Hot (#29) plus an album called "All Kinds of Trouble". Currently, all members of the band are working on different solo projects.
He also managed American/British girlband L.A.D.E. whose video for their unreleased single "Shake It Off" featured Simon and ex-Blue bandmate Duncan James, in return the girls appeared in Blue's single "Bubblin'". Their current professional music status is unknown.
Also in 2004, he was voted Company Magazine's 62nd Sexiest Man Alive and appeared as a striker on Sky One's The Match.
[edit] Personal life
Webbe's parents were born in Nevis. He has a daughter, Alanah, born in 1997, with ex-girlfriend Nicola Jones. She is the inspiration for his 2007 single "Grace". He is a cousin of Sugababes singer Keisha Buchanan. Furthermore, he is a second cousin of Luke Fullerton. Simon has two siblings - Quinton and Monique. Quinton is currently a student at the University of Sheffield, majoring in Geography.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
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Sanctuary
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Grace
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| Live |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |||||||
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| UK | ITA | NE | POL | IRE | NZ | GER | EUR | |||
| 2005 | "Lay Your Hands" |
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Sanctuary |
| "No Worries" |
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| 2006 | "After All This Time" |
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| "Coming Around Again" |
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Grace | |
| 2007 | "My Soul Pleads for You" |
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| "Seventeen" |
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| "Grace/"Ride the Storm" |
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[edit] External links
- See Simon Webbe At Butlins - 21st September 2007 - Breaks from £56
- Interview about childhood in Moss Side, Manchester
- Official website
- Simon Webbe Central - The Leading Simon Webbe Fansite
- 4everblue.ch (French)
- Listen: Simon Webbe interview with BBC Norfolk - May '07
- *Gallery: Simon Webbe plays UEA, Norwich - May '07
- Interview in Daily Telegraph
