He would not be successful. He was a rough, red-haired boy with a guitar who stayed on friends’ couches, played little gigs for meager pay, and busked on the streets of London. He only had an unbreakable dream and the conviction that his music might transform his life; he had no record label or commercial connections. And it did.
He began creating music before he was a teenager and was raised in a tiny village. In 1991, he was born in Halifax, England. He was influenced by Damien Rice and began making his own EPs and playing at open mic evenings. He dropped out of school at sixteen to pursue a career in music in London. Success, however, did not come easily. In a single year, he performed about 300 gigs and often slept outside or on the floors of strangers since he had nowhere else to sleep.
Then, everything changed in 2010.
An unexpected fan named Jamie Foxx noticed a genuine, passionate song he posted online. The renowned Hollywood personality brought him to Los Angeles, gave him a place to stay, and allowed him to record in his studio. The No. 5 Collaborations Project EP, which was self-released, gained popularity very fast. One of the tracks reached number two on iTunes without a record deal. The industry has to pay attention.
When his debut album, Plus, came out in 2011, his soul-stirring voice and passionate lyrics captivated the world. Songs like “The A Team” and “Lego House” helped him become well-known. But it was only the beginning.
By 2014, he was selling out stadiums, putting out hit after hit, and working with artists like Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, and Eminem. His album x (Multiply), which included the generational wedding ballad “Thinking Out Loud,” catapulted him to worldwide renown.
In 2017, ÷ (Divide) released “Shape of You,” which went on to become one of the most successful singles ever. It topped the charts in 34 countries, became the most-streamed song on Spotify for years, and solidified his status as one of the best-selling vocalists of all time.
The young performer, who used to play for pennies on the streets of London, is now a Grammy-winning, stadium-filling, number-one celebrity. His name is Ed Sheeran.
