TABITHA BOOKS
Not everyone who has success on “Reality” TV Talent Shows achieves so much after the initial success but Harry Styles is the exception
BY-------Graham Sclater
Harry Edward Styles (born 1 February 1994) in Redditch Worcestershire began his musical career
in 2010 as a solo contestant on The X Factor. He was initially eliminated but thankfully brought
back to join a new band One Direction (the name suggested by Harry) and signed to
Simon Cowell’s Syco label. Although they finished third in the competition, the Band went on to
become one of the most successful and best-selling boy bands of all time. In the USA following
the release of their fourth album Four, the band became the only group in the 58-year history of
the Billboard 200 albums chart to have their first four albums debut at number one. After touring
and selling millions of singles and albums, in 2016 it was agreed that they go their separate ways.
As a child, Styles sang covers on a karaoke machine given to him by his grandfather and the first
song he recorded was Elvis Presley’s, The Girl of My Best Friend. Styles attended Holmes Chapel
Comprehensive School and he joined the band White Eskimo, as their lead singer, which went on
to win a local Battle of the Bands competition. His mother suggested that he audition for The X
Factor and on 11 April 2010 he began the journey that has seen him reach incredible heights not
only as a singer but as a songwriter.
Following the breakup of One Direction each of the members tried to emulate their earlier success as solo artists and actors but their efforts were unremarkable. However, I believe their success in the UK, USA and around the world helped pave the way for Styles’ unique talent to his staggering success as a solo artist.
After spending time writing and recording new and original material, as far away as Jamaica, he released his self-titled debut solo album via Columbia Records, a division of CBS in 2017. His success was instant and phenomenal. His first album debuted at Number One in the UK and USA and was one of the best-selling albums of the year. Sign of The Times, the first single from the album topped the UK singles chart.
Keen to record his next album he spent time writing new material and working in the recording studio on his second album, which is often regarded by many bands as a “low” in their career. It was just the opposite and Fine Line in 2019 was once again Number One in the Billboard 200 and UK and had the biggest ever first week sales by an English male artist.
Harrys’ third album in 2022 Harry’s House included yet another top selling single, As It Was, a track that had the soundscape of a Aha track. Once again, the album reached the top of the charts in the UK and USA as well as other countries around the world and was the fastest selling record to date in 2022 with spots at Number one in both the singles and album chart in many countries. In 2022 it was also included in the Rolling Stone magazine’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.”
Aside from music and acting, he was featured in the 2017 Christopher Nolan war film, “Dunkirk,” and is widely known for his flamboyant fashion, he was the first man to appear on the cover of Vogue.
Harry Styles has received two Brit Awards, a Grammy Award, Ivor Novello Award, American Music Award and too many more to mention. The list continues to grow and will do so for many years to come.
Harry Styles has toured throughout the world as a rock artist with his band. His chart success has catapulted him to worldwide stardom and this coupled with his live shows have
cemented his place in music for years to come. His live
shows are something to behold and continues to gain
him new fans everywhere he goes.
Harry Styles certainly has the world at his feet and long
may it continue.