Russell Watson

Russell Watson, born on November 24, 1966, in Irlam, Lancashire, England, began his musical journey at an early age, learning piano and later singing and playing guitar. He initially worked as a bolt-cutter on a Youth Opportunities Programme, with singing serving as an escape from his factory job. His early career saw him performing cover versions in North West clubs to support his family. A significant turning point occurred in 1990 when he won a “Search for a Star” contest organized by Manchester’s Piccadilly Radio. His profile rose dramatically in 1999, first by singing “God Save the Queen” at the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, and then “Barcelona” at Old Trafford after a Manchester United game. A week later, he performed a full set at the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final in Barcelona, duetting with Montserrat Caballé, solidifying his presence in the music scene.

Watson’s debut album, “The Voice,” released in May 2001, achieved commercial success, topping the UK classical chart and reaching number five on the UK Albums Chart. It became the first album by a British artist to hold both the US and UK classical number one spots. The album featured collaborations with artists like Shaun Ryder and Faye Tozer, with “Someone Like You” charting at number 10 on the UK Singles chart. Over the years, Watson has released thirteen studio albums, with many reaching the Top 10 in the UK and earning multiple Double Platinum, Platinum, and Gold certifications. Notable albums include “Encore” (2001), “Reprise” (2002), and “La Voce” (2010), which was his first album released after overcoming a brain tumour.

His career has included diverse projects such as singing the opening theme for “Star Trek: Enterprise,” “Where My Heart Will Take Me,” in 2001, and performing it live at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. In 2005, he released “Nothing Sacred – A Song for Kirsty” to raise funds for a children’s hospice, which reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart. Watson won “Album of the Year” at the Classical BRIT Awards in both 2001 and 2002. He also played Parson Nathaniel in “Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds” UK tour in 2006. In more recent years, he participated in the 2020 series of “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” and joined the UK tour cast of “Chicago” as Billy Flynn in 2021. His collaborations with Aled Jones, including “In Harmony” (2018), “Back in Harmony” (2019), and “Christmas with Aled and Russell” (2022), have also achieved chart success, with the latter topping the Classical Artists Albums Chart.