Andrew Johnston (singer)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Andrew Johnston


Img_capt =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Andrew Aaron Lewis Patrick Brannock John Grieve Michael Robert Oscar Schmidt Johnston
Born = 23 September 1994cite news |title= George Sampson and Andrew Johnston|url= http://www.ok-magazine.co.uk/food/view/3514/George-Sampson-and-Andrew-Johnston/|publisher= "OK!"|date= 2008-09-23|accessdate=2008-09-30 ]
Origin = Dumfries, Scotland
Instrument = Vocals
Years_active = 2008–present
Genre = Classical
Occupation = Singer
Associated_acts =
Label = Syco Music
URL = [http://www.andrewjohnstonmusic.com/ www.andrewjohnstonmusic.com]

Andrew Johnston (born 23 September 1994 in Dumfries, Scotland) is a Scottish boy soprano who rose to fame when he finished in third place on the second series of the British television talent show "Britain's Got Talent". Although he did not win the series, he was signed to judge Simon Cowell's label SyCo Music. His debut album, "One Voice", was released in September 2008, and it debuted at number four on the British album charts.

Before trying out for the show, Johnston had been head chorister at Carlisle Cathedral and performed around Europe. He had moved to Carlisle, where he lived in "poverty", as an infant after his parents separated. Johnston was bullied because of his love of classical music. While some journalists have said Johnston's background was taken advantage of by the "Britain's Got Talent" producers, others have hailed his story as inspirational.

History

Carlisle Cathedral Choir

Johnston joined the Carlisle Cathedral Choir at the age of six when Kim Harris, a teacher at his primary school, heard his voice and recommended he try out. He later became the cathedral's head chorister.cite news |title= Simon Cowell prodigy Andrew Johnston set to storm the charts|url= http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/news/1.246789|publisher= "The Cumberland News"|date= 2008-09-26|accessdate=2008-09-26 ] Performances with the choir included appearances in Hungary, Poland, Ireland and a solo in the Basilica in Budapest. At one point, Johnston was forced to quit the choir after abuse and threats from bullies, but he returned after his choirmaster helped him through the ordeal. In September 2008, shortly before the release of his debut album, he embarked on a tour performing in Norwegian cathedrals. The idea of the tour was conceived because the diocese of Stavanger is a partner to the diocese of Carlisle. [cite news |first= Pamela|last= McGowan|title= Andrew to sing in city ahead of tour with choir|url= http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/news/1.226515|publisher= "The Cumberland News"|date= 2008-08-26|accessdate=2008-09-18 ] This was Johnston's last tour as a member of the choir, as choristers can only stay as members until the end of year eight.

"Britain's Got Talent"

At age 13, Johnston tried out for the second series of "Britain's Got Talent", singing "Pie Jesu", and passed the audition. He was tipped as one of the favourites to win the show.cite news| last = Revoir| first = Paul| title = Bullied 13-year-old with voice of an angel is tipped to win Britain's Got Talent| publisher = "Daily Mail"| date = 2008-05-28| url = http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-559428/Bullied-13-year-old-voice-angel-tipped-win-Britains-Got-Talent.html| accessdate = 2008-06-12] cite news| title = 'Bullied' boy wows Talent judge| publisher = itv.com| date = 2008-04-14| url = http://www.itv.com/News/Articles/Bullied-boy-wows-Talent-judges-450109924.html| accessdate = 2008-06-12] Later, Johnston described his initial audition as daunting, saying that "it was scary singing in front of 2,500 people. I had never sang on stage before — then there was also Simon, Amanda and Piers". He was put through to the live shows, the next stage of the competition, and he won one of the semi-finals on 27 May, receiving the most public votes on the night and thereby qualifying for the final. He sang the Eric Clapton ballad "Tears in Heaven", and judge Amanda Holden told him, "You are truly gifted, you have a gift from God in your voice."cite news| last = Hardie| first = Beth| title = Britain’s Got Talent: Cheeky Monkeys and Andrew Johnston make final| publisher = "Daily Mirror"| date = 2008-05-28| url = http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/2008/05/28/britain-s-got-talent-cheeky-monkeys-and-andrew-johnston-make-final-89520-20432491/| accessdate = 2008-06-12] At the final, on 30 May, he again sang "Pie Jesu". However, he finished in third place, losing out to the winner, street dancer George Sampson. The dance group Signature finished in second place. [cite news |first= Chris|last= Hastings|title= 20 million tune in for talent show finals|url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2060927/BBCs-Id-Do-Anything-and-ITVs-Britains-Got-Talent-finals-draw-20m-viewers.html|publisher= "The Telegraph"|date= 2008-06-15|accessdate=2008-09-18 ] The day after the final, Max Clifford, who works as publicist for Simon Cowell, said that it was "quite possible" that Cowell would be signing some of the finalists, including Johnston.cite news| last = Martin| first = Nicole| coauthors = Singh, Anita| title = Simon Cowell to sign up Britain's Got Talent losers| publisher = "Daily Telegraph"| date = 2008-06-02| url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/2061963/Simon-Cowell-to-sign-up-Britainandrsquos-Got-Talent-losers.html| accessdate = 2008-06-12]

During his initial audition, Johnston claimed that he was bullied and victimised from the age of six because of his singing. When asked by Simon Cowell how he deals with the issue at hand, he stated that he "carries on singing." There were claims from writers in the "Daily Mail" that the show's producers were deliberately misleading the viewers and enhancing his situation as a "sob story",cite news| last = Revoir| first = Paul| title = Is the Britain's Got Talent choirboy REALLY a bullied kid from a sink estate? His mother admits: 'The pudding may have been over-egged'| publisher = "Daily Mail"| date = 2008-04-18| url = http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-560637/Is-Britains-Got-Talent-choirboy-REALLY-bullied-kid-sink-estate-His-mother-admits-The-pudding-egged.html| accessdate = 2008-06-12] and that his real "vote-winner" was the story of his bullying rather than his singing. [cite news |first= Amanda|last= Platell|authorlink= Amanda Platell|title= Want fame? Forget hard work. Just try hard luck on X Factor|url= http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1050047/AMANDA-PLATELL-Want-fame-Forget-hard-work-Just-try-hard-luck-X-Factor.html|publisher= "Daily Mail"|date= 2008-08-28|accessdate=2008-09-18 ] However, "The Times" described his story of "the stuff of fairytales", talking of how he "became a star" despite having been raised in "poverty".cite news |title= Britain's Got Talent star Andrew Johnston releases album|url= http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article4852641.ece|publisher= "The Times"|date= 2008-09-30|accessdate=2008-09-30 ] After the news of his debut album was released, Johnston was quoted as saying that "those bullies do not bother me now. I have my own life and my own album."

"One Voice"

On 12 June, 2008 it was announced that Johnston had signed a record deal with Syco Music, Simon Cowell's division of Sony BMG, and that his first album would be produced after the "Britain's Got Talent" Live Tour.cite news| title = Talent show choirboy lands record deal| publisher = MSN UK| date = 2008-06-12| url = http://news.uk.msn.com/Article.aspx?cp-documentid=8573326| accessdate = 2008-06-12] Johnston himself heard about the deal while on the "Britain's Got Talent" Live Tour. His debut album, "One Voice", was released on 29 September, 2008. [cite news |first= Chris|last= Story|title= Andrew Johnston's sweet dream to sing with Annie Lennox|url= http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/1.247626|publisher= "The Cumberland News"|date= 2008-09-29|accessdate=2008-09-29 ] It includes a cover of Aled Jones's "Walking in the Air", performed with Faryl Smith, which has been tipped as a potential Christmas number one. [cite news |first= Jenny|last= Johnston|title= Where are they now? Faryl Smith|url= http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1062909/Are-claws-Gin-The-dancing-dogs-life-Britains-Got-Talent.html|publisher= "Daily Mail"|date= 2008-09-27|accessdate=2008-09-28 ] After signing with Syco, Johnston made public appearances, including performing at Andrew Lloyd Webber's birthday celebrations on 14 September, [cite news |first= Chris|last= Story|title= Carlisle choirboy to sing at Lloyd Webber’s birthday |url= http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/news/1.238780|publisher= "The Cumberland News"|date= 2008-09-12|accessdate=2008-09-18 ] and at Carlisle United's Brunton Park. The album was recorded over a six week period in London, and the track listing was chosen by Simon Cowell. [cite news |first= Julie|last= Armstrong|title= Choirboy Andrew Johnston’s album out next week|url= http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/1.235495|publisher= "News & Star"|date= 2008-09-08|accessdate=2008-09-24 ] The album debuted in the British charts at number five, [cite news |first= Stuart|last= Clarke|title= Pink is back on top|url= http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1035672&c=1|publisher= "Music Week"|date= 2008-09-30|accessdate=2008-09-30 ] and finished the week at number four. [cite news |first= Tim|last= Castle|title= Pink's "So What" tops pop charts|url= http://uk.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUKTRE4942G820081005|publisher= Reuters UK|date= 2008-10-05|accessdate=2008-10-05 ]

Personal life

Johnston was born in Dumfries, but he moved to Carlisle as an infant when his parents separated.cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Britain's Got Talent schoolboy Andrew Johnston beats bullies to complete first album|url= http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/entertainment-news/2008/09/11/britain-s-got-talent-schoolboy-andrew-johnston-beats-bullies-to-complete-first-album-86908-20731673/|publisher= "Daily Record"|date= 2008-09-11|accessdate=2008-09-17 ] He lives there with his mother Morag Brannock, a researcher, and he currently attends Trinity School.cite news| title = Bullied choirboy Andrew into TV talent show semis| publisher = "The Cumberland News"| date = 2008-05-25| url = http://beta.cumberland-news.co.uk/1.113054| accessdate = 2008-06-12] His mother also has three grown-up children from her first marriage — Daniel, Kelly and Jodie.cite news |first= Rick|last= Fulton|title= Exclusive: I don't want to see my estranged dad, reveals Britain's Got Talent star Andrew Johnston|url= http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity-interviews/2008/09/19/exclusive-i-don-t-want-to-see-my-estranged-dad-reveals-britain-s-got-talent-star-andrew-johnston-86908-20743431/|publisher= "Daily Record"|date= 2008-09-19|accessdate=2008-09-23] cite news |first= Frances|last= Hardy|title= 'Now I'm rich I can buy my mum a tent' says Andrew Johnson, 14, the chart-topping star of Britain's Got Talent|url= http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1067081/Now-Im-rich-I-buy-mum-tent-says-Andrew-Johnson-14-chart-topping-star-Britains-Got-Talent.html|publisher= "Daily Mail"|date= 2008-10-02|accessdate=2008-10-05 ] His mother left his father, also named Andrew, when Johnston was eight months old, and in an interview with the "Daily Record" Johnston said that "I don't really want to [see my father] . I like him out of my life."

Discography

Albums

References

External links

* [http://www.andrewjohnstonmusic.com/ Official site]
* [http://talent.itv.com//videos/viewVideo/16481760 Performance of "Pie Jesu"] on ITV.com