Ed Sheeran

Edward Christopher Sheeran was born on Feb. 17, 1991 in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. When he broke out onto the music scene, he became the face of a new kind of singer-songwriter, culling inspiration from other people's stories, and marrying acoustic guitar sounds and backing vocals with hip-hop and R&B rhythms. Born into a musical and artistic family, Sheeran turned his childhood dream of making music into a reality by releasing independent EPs when he was still in his teens. In 2010, after just a few years of playing gigs and building up a fan base in his native England, Sheeran relocated to Los Angeles to introduce his music to a wider audience. Almost overnight, Sheeran had become one of the most sought-after new artists in America, collaborating with music legends like Elton John and headlining for chart-topping artists like Taylor Swift. Radio stations all over America were suddenly giving massive airplay to his breakthrough hit single "The A Team" from his debut studio album +. The album showcased Sheeran's singular sound and thought-provoking lyrics, and marked his entry as one of the industry's most innovative and exciting artists. During an open mic night in Los Angeles, Oscar-winning actor-singer Jamie Foxx spotted Sheeran; Foxx bonded with the singer, offered him use of his recording studio, and asked him to perform on his Sirius radio program "The Foxxhole." As it turned out, his stint on Foxx's radio show and several YouTube music video appearances gained Sheeran a slew of new fans and led to a recording contract with Atlantic Records. His independent EP, No. 5 Collaborations Project (2011), reached the No. 2 slot in the iTunes chart and reportedly sold more than 7,000 copies in its first week. In 2011, Sheeran released his breakthrough debut studio, +, a mix of thought-provoking lyrics, hip-hop influenced delivery, and acoustic guitar sounds. Upon its release, + reached No. 3 on the U.K. Albums Singles Chart and peaked at No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard 200. The album received considerable air play in the U.S., mostly due to its lead single, "The A Team," a gritty ballad about a drug-addicted woman who Sheeran met while performing at a homeless shelter. Other songs in the album also garnered mainstream attention. The ballads "Kiss Me" and "Give Me Love" were featured on the hit supernatural drama "The Vampire Diaries" (The CW, 2009- ) on the sitcom "Cougar Town" (ABC, 2009-12; TBS, 2013- ), respectively. Marking his first high-profile appearance on American television, Sheeran played guitar and performed his Song of the Year nominee "The A Team" with British music icon Elton John at the 2013 Grammy Awards ceremony. Sheeran's career continued its ascent when he became the opening act for country star Taylor Swift's Red Tour, which saw him perform to sold-out crowds at stadiums and arenas across America. He also co-wrote and provided vocals for Swift's song "Everything has Changed" (2012). Sheeran also contributed "Over Again" and "Little Things" to the British pop group One Direction's second studio album, Take Me Home (2012), which became a No. 1 hit in the U.K.