James Blunt
Biography
James Hillier Blount, known professionally as James Blunt, was born on February 22, 1974, in Tidworth, Hampshire, England. Coming from a family with a long history of military service, he continued the tradition. After attending Harrow School and the University of Bristol, where he studied sociology, his university education was sponsored by the army, which required a minimum of four years of service. He trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and rose to the rank of Captain in the Life Guards. His military career included serving as a NATO peacekeeping officer in Kosovo in 1999. He even strapped a guitar to his tank and would sing to his fellow soldiers. After six years of service, Blunt left the army in 2002 to pursue a career in music.
Music Career
Adopting the stage name "Blunt," he was discovered by Linda Perry of Custard Records in 2003 after a performance at the South by Southwest Music Festival. This led to a recording contract and the creation of his debut album, "Back to Bedlam," produced by Tom Rothrock. The album was recorded in Los Angeles, with Blunt playing many of the instruments himself.
Breakthrough with "Back to Bedlam"
Released in October 2004, "Back to Bedlam" initially had slow success. However, the third single, "You're Beautiful," became a massive international hit in 2005. The song reached number one in over a dozen countries, including the UK and the US. This success propelled "Back to Bedlam" to the top of the charts, becoming the best-selling album of the 2000s in the UK and selling over 12 million copies worldwide. The album also featured the successful singles "Goodbye My Lover" and "High". Blunt became the first British artist to top the American singles chart in nearly a decade.
Subsequent Albums and Continued Success
Blunt has released several more studio albums, achieving continued international success:
All the Lost Souls (2007)
His second album, "All the Lost Souls," was released in September 2007 and topped the charts in twelve countries. It featured the hit single "1973". The album sold 4.5 million copies internationally.
Some Kind of Trouble (2010)
The third album, "Some Kind of Trouble," was released in 2010 and included the single "Stay the Night". It sold over a million copies.
Moon Landing (2013)
His fourth album, "Moon Landing," came out in 2013, featuring the lead single "Bonfire Heart".
Later Work
He continued to release albums, including "The Afterlove" (2017), "Once Upon a Mind" (2019), and "Who We Used to Be" (2023). In 2021, he released a greatest hits album, "The Stars Beneath My Feet (2004–2021)".
Personal Life
In September 2014, James Blunt married Sofia Wellesley, the granddaughter of the 8th Duke of Wellington. The couple has two sons. Singer Ed Sheeran is the godfather of his older son, and the late actress Carrie Fisher was the godmother. Blunt is known for his self-deprecating humour, particularly on his active Twitter account.