Duncan James
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The British singer Duncan James was one quarter of the UK boyband, Blue before they splintered in 2005. Many have commented that he has a strong resemblance to Brad Pitt.
Contents |
[edit] About
Duncan James (originally named Duncan Matthew James Inglis) was born on April 7, 1978 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England and raised by his mother and grandparents to Dorset. He finished his schooling at Dumpton School at the Milldown School in Blandford Forum and Corfe Hills School in Corfe Mullen. During his teens, he starred in Midsummer Nights Dream as Puck and played Dr. Watson in Sherlock Homes. After high school, Duncan moved to London and studied a Level Drama at college. At 18, he worked at Haven Holiday Resort and shortly afterwards formed a friendship with future bandmate, Anthony Costa. The two were then joined by Lee Ryan and Simon Webbe and Blue was formed.
On May 2001, the group released their debut single All Rise which went straight to number 1 in the UK charts succeeded by several hit singles off their albums.
By 2005, the group had accomplished two number one albums, three number one singles and two BRIT Awards, grossing for 5 million albums and 2.9 millions singles sold.
This same year, though no official announcement was ever made, the group split up and began concentrating on going solo.
But prior to the band's break-up, Duncan already released a single with Keedie in I Believe My Heart (in October 2004) which entered the UK singles chart at #2.
This single was soon followed by another single Sooner Or Later in May 2006. Its video was released in early May followed by the single itself on June 5, 2006. Another single has been released after Sooner Or Later and this was Can't Stop A River. Both singles reached a disappointing places at UK charts and even outside UK reason for Duncan's album to fell short in sale, grossing for only 412,350 copies around the world.
However, due to Duncan's participation in Dancing On Ice and the lack of time promoting the album, its release was being cancelled and Duncan was dropped from his recording contract after he has announced that he's quitting his musical career for Dancing On Ice.
But despite of the album's failure as well as Duncan's career as a solo artist, his album saw a great success in Italy, peaking at #2 on the album chart and soon awarded certified platinum.
Outside the music scene, Duncan also appeared in the musical Sleeping Beauty and currently starring in West End's Chicago.
[edit] Awards
No awards to date.
[edit] Certification
| Year | Album | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Future Past | Platinum (Italy) |
[edit] Chart Toppers
| Year | Title | UK | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | I Believe My Heart (feat. Keedie) | # 2 | I Believe My Heart |
| 2006 | Sooner or Later | # 35 | Future Past |
| 2006 | Can't Stop a River | # 59 | Future Past |
| 2006 | Amazed | - | Future Past |
| 2006 | Jiggy | - |
[edit] News
- Ex-Blue singer Duncan James quits music following skating success
- Duncan James To Take To London Stage
- Dancing On Ice Hit By Text Fault
- Duncan James Suffers Broken Rib
- Emily Slips Off Dancing On Ice
[edit] Tours & Concerts
No Tours & Concerts to date.
[edit] Announcements
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
 June 12, 2006 EMI |
[edit] Singles
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| October 18, 2004 | I Believe My Heart (feat. Keedie) | Innocent Records |
| June 5, 2006 (UK) | Sooner or Later | Innocent Records |
| August 21, 2006 (UK) | Can't Stop a River | Innocent Records |
| September 29, 2006 (Germany) | Amazed | Innocent Records |
| Jiggy |
[edit] Compilations & Live Releases
No compilations & live releases to date.
[edit] Other artists
[edit] Similar artists
[edit] Influences
[edit] Contemporaries
[edit] Trivia
- Catcher In The Rye is his favourite book and his favourite tv show is Friends.
- The Fifth Element is his favorite film and Brad Pitt is his favorite actor.
- Left of the Middle by Natalie Imbruglia is his favourite album and What's Goin On by Marvin Gaye is his favourite song.
- Duncan was born in Dorset but moved west with his mom to Sidmouth in South Devon when he was thirteen. * Levis is his favourite shop.
- He supports Arsenal FC.
- He stands at 5'11" tall.
- His nickname is Dunk.
- His favourite colour is red.
- He presented Soapstar Superstar on ITV 2 with Jayne Middlemiss.
- James released Sooner or Later and he video made it to #2 on the Box and #5 on Smash Hits.
- James joined with female singer Keedie Keedie to release the single "I Believe My Heart", which entered the UK singles chart at #2.
- James has criticized the efforts of some of his former bandmates now that they have turned solo too, referring to Ryan's first album as "rushed" and Costa's bid to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest as "cheesy."
- Blue split up in 2005 and Duncan is now a solo artist.
- Along with his other bandmates in Blue, they had 11 top ten singles in the UK.
- He was in a Midsomers Night Dream when he was 15, he played Buck.
- He was raised by his grandparents.
- He has a daughter, Tianie-Finn James, who was born on February 26, 2005. She weighed 8 lbs.
