Darius Campbell

Darius Campbell
Darius Campbell performing
Background information
Birth name	Darius Campbell-Danesh
Also known as	Darius Danesh, Darius
Born	(1980-08-19) 19 August 1980 Glasgow, Scotland
Genres	Acoustic, swing, opera
Occupations	Actor, singer, songwriter, musician
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	2000–present
Labels	19 (2002–present) Mercury Records (2002–present)
Website	www.dariusmusic.com

Darius Campbell (born Darius Campbell-Danesh, 19 August 1980), also known professionally either as Darius Danesh or Darius, is a Scottish platinum-selling singer-songwriter, a West End stage actor, an operatic baritone, an author, and an Ambassador for The Prince's Trust.

He performed the role of Billy Flynn in the West End production of Chicago, the youngest ever to play that part, in two runs of the musical. He played both the lead role of Sky Masterson in the Olivier Award winning Guys and Dolls, and the originating role of Rhett Butler in Sir Trevor Nunn's theatrical adaptation of Gone with the Wind.

In 2010 he trained with tenor Rolando Villazón, won the hit ITV competition Popstar to Operastar, and performed a duet with Villazón on "The Impossible Dream." The United Kingdom's biggest operatic production ever was the occasion of his operatic début, at The O₂ arena with the Royal Philharmonic, in Carmen. At 29, he became the youngest performer to assume the lead role of Carmen's lover, a role more often awarded to a baritone in his forties.

He starred in The History of the Big Bands tour during 2010, a show which takes the audience on a musical journey through the Big Band and Swing era.

Early life

Campbell was born in Glasgow, to an Iranian father Dr. Booth Danesh and a Scottish mother Dr. Avril Campbell. His family live in Bearsden^[1] and he has two younger brothers. Educated at Bearsden Primary School^[2] and the Glasgow Academy,^[3] he went on to study English Literature and Philosophy at Edinburgh University.

His professional career began acting a ten-year-old Trojan boy in a non-singing role of the Scottish Opera's avant garde 1990s production of The Trojans. As a teenager he then performed at Covent Garden Royal Opera House with the Scottish Opera in a production of Carmen.^[4][5]

Career

2001-02: Pop Idol and Popstars

Campbell live in 2005

He first gained fame in 2001 while studying English literature at Edinburgh University, after appearing on the British talent competition Popstars. A year later he was voted to the finals of the TV talent show, Pop Idol. He turned down Simon Cowell's record deal, then signed with producer Steve Lillywhite. The first single written by Campbell, "Colourblind", entered the UK singles chart at number 1, his debut album went platinum in 2004, and he has subsequently had five UK Top Ten singles and a second gold album. He supported Shakira on her world tour, and headlined in India with Alanis Morissette. His book Sink or Swim, about the perils of the music business, was a Sunday Times sixth best seller.

While studying English Literature and Philosophy at Edinburgh University, he auditioned for the talent competition, Popstars, where he became a finalist. Then he won the support, and millions votes, from the British public on Pop Idol in 2001, with a third place finish. When that series had ended, he declined Simon Cowell's offer to sing cover songs,^[6] and instead sent a self-composed track to producer Steve Lillywhite, who signed him to a five-album deal. Darius Danesh's Dive In Tour took place in April and May 2003. The fifteen dates scheduled for May expanded to twenty three dates on public demand.^[7]

2002-04: Dive In and Dive In Tour

In 2002 Colourblind became Darius' first number one single and his album Dive In went platinum.^[6] He wrote all 12 songs on the album and produced one of the tracks called Better Than That whilst collaborating with a number of other producers such as The Misfits and The Matrix on the other tracks. Steve Lillywhite was executive producer on the album. Campbell, then performing as Darius Danesh, went on to support Shakira in Paris on her World Tour^[6] and completed his own sell-out UK Dive In Tour. It was a huge success and went platinum in the UK, charting at number 6 in the UK albums chart during the competitive pre-Christmas sales. He wrote all 12 songs on the album, collaborating with a number of other producers such as The Misfits and The Matrix. Steve Lillywhite was executive producer and Darius himself produced the track Better Than That. The first single Colourblind, was released on 29 July 2002 and went straight to number 1 in the UK for two weeks. It was certified Silver. The second single Rushes went to number 5 in the UK charts, and the third single Incredible (What I Meant to Say) went to number 9. The fourth and last single Girl in the Moon got to number 21. This songwriting demo has lyrics and music written by Danesh, showing the song as it was first written before other producers added their production ideas to the song. The album was certified platinum in the UK for selling over 300,000 copies.

2004-05: Sink or Swim book and Live Twice

He contributed to the War Child charity album^[8] with Coldplay and Oasis and headlined in India with Alanis Morissette^[9] after his album went platinum there.

He wrote a no. 6 Sunday Times Best Seller book, Sink or Swim. After receiving news that his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he wrote and dedicated his second studio album Live Twice to Dr Booth Danesh.^[6] In 2005, the album's title-track "Live Twice" became his fifth Top Ten single.^[10]

2005-08: Chicago and Guys and Dolls

Campbell had two West End runs in Chicago^[10] during 2005-2006, and at 25, became the youngest actor to fill the role of Billy Flynn since the show first opened on Broadway in 1975.

In 2007, after seeing Ewan McGregor in the role, he played the lead in Michael Grandage's Olivier Award winning production of Guys and Dolls, starring as Sky Masterson.^[11] Later that year he reprised his role of Billy Flynn for the 10th Anniversary charity performance of Chicago in London, to benefit the charities Breast Cancer Haven and Breast Health Institute.^[12]

In 2008 he returned to London's West End to play Rhett Butler in Sir Trevor Nunn's musical adaptation of Gone With The Wind.^[13] It opened at the New London Theatre on 22 April 2008, and closed on 14 June 2008, after 79 performances (including previews).

2010-2011: Popstar to Operastar

In 2010 he starred in The History of the Big Bands tour^[14] – a show about the Big Band and Swing Era, featuring the songs of Frank Sinatra and the music of the key musicians of the big band era, including music from Harry James, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Woody Herman and Buddy Rich. In January and February 2010 Campbell won the UK's ITV1 talent show Popstar to Operastar, in which eight pop stars were trained to perform world-famous opera arias. He was mentored by world-leading tenor Rolando Villazón, with whom he went on to duet with on the song "The Impossible Dream". In May 2010 he appeared as toreador Escamillo in Bizet's opera Carmen at The O2 arena in London.^[15]

2013 From Here to Eternity the Musical

On 1 July 2013, it was announced that Campbell would play the lead role of Warden in the show From Here to Eternity the Musical.^[16]

Other work

Television

In 2003 Campbell appeared as himself in episode of the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, performing 'Girl in the Moon' at a graduation ball. In 2009 he guest-starred on the BBC show Hotel Babylon, starring as Gennaro Fazio, an Italian magazine editor.^[17]

In January and February 2010 Campbell competed in and won the ITV talent show Popstar to Operastar, in which eight pop stars were trained to perform world-famous opera arias. He was mentored by world-leading tenor Rolando Villazón, with whom he went on to duet with on the song "The Impossible Dream".

Charity

Campbell is an Ambassador for The Prince's Trust, helping underprivileged youth. He has designed a guitar for Guitar Aid.^[18] He works with and supports the Lymphoma Association and Cancer Research UK amongst other cancer charities.

Personal life

Campbell is married to Canadian actress Natasha Henstridge. Campbell and Henstridge married in a secret ceremony in February 2011.^[19] After a short time dating, Campbell said that Henstridge, herself a lifelong vegetarian, had convinced him to give up meat.^{[citation needed]} Henstridge filed for divorce on 20 July 2013.^[20]

Discography

• Dive In (2002)
• Live Twice (2004)

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Darius Campbell.

• Official website
• Darius Campbell on the Open Directory Project
• Darius Campbell at the Internet Movie Database
• Guitar Aid - The Darius Guitar