Sam Smith is one of the big names in the music industry. Making history as the first openly gay Grammy winner was no walk in the park. The British singer had to pave their own path to success in an unpredictable and hostile industry. Here are some key moments from their journey to success.
- JAZZ BANDS AND YOUTH CHOIRS
Before entering the pop music industry, Sam was part of Jazz bands during their teens. They also participated in the local Youth Choir and Musical Theater. Their love for musical theater encouraged them to participate in the British Youth Music Theater. They perform in their 2007 production of Oh! Carol.
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FAILED DEBUT SINGLES
When they were 16, Sam released their first debut singles, Bad Day All Week and When It’s Alright, through a small UK independent label. Unfortunately, these did not reach the top of the charts. Although, they did not stop there.
- BREAKTHROUGH AS A FEATURED ARTIST
Sam persisted further and made contact with Elvin Smith, a music manager. With his help, Smith made their internet debut in 2012 with Disclosure’s Latch. It ranked No.11 on the UK Singles Chart.
- FIRST SINGLE AND SECOND FEATURE
After that, Sam was much anticipated by fans. In 2013, they released their first official single Lay Me Down. It reached #46 on the UK Singles Chart and #25 on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.
Later, they featured in Naughty Boy’s “La La La” which hit No.1 on the UK Singles Chart. By the end of the year, it was still ranked among the top 10 best-selling singles of 2013.
- DEBUT ALBUM- INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS
Smith released their debut album In The Lonely Hour, in 2014 via Capitol Records. Money On My Mind and Stay With Me from this album reached No.1 on the UK Singles charts.
The album peaked #1 in the UK Albums Chart and #2 on the Billboard 200. After Taylor Swift’s 1989, it became the second biggest selling album of 2014 in the US. It was also named 2014’s second best-selling album in the UK, trailing Ed Sheeran’s X.
For this album, Smith won a Guinness World Record for the most consecutive weeks in the UK top 10 by a debut album.
However, their achievements did not stop there. In The Lonely Hour also received 4 Grammys including Song and Record of the Year. This brought them into the limelight more than ever.
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WRITING’S ON THE WALL
Sam’s glory didn’t end there. They composed the theme song, Writing’s On The Wall, for Spectre, the 2015 James Bond film. It became the first James Bond theme to reach #1 in the UK. This earned them another Guinness World Record for recording the first James Bond theme song to reach number one in the UK.
Writing’s on the Wall also received a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.
Their stardom doesn’t end here. Following this, Smith had a string of hits, including Too Good at Goodbyes and Dancing with a Stranger. Smith rose to prominence because of the connections they made along the way. They valued the opportunity to be a featured artist and continued to thrive in the music industry.
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