Dalton Harris

Last updated

Dalton Harris
Born (1993-12-29) 29 December 1993 (age 30)
Clarendon Parish, Jamaica
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active2009–present
Labels Syco

Dalton Harris (born 29 December 1993) is a Jamaican singer. In 2010, he won Digicel Rising Star, and subsequently signed with VP Records. In 2018, he won the final series of The X Factor in the United Kingdom. [1]

Contents

Early and personal life

Harris was born in Clarendon, Jamaica, before moving to Kingston to pursue his music career. Harris recalled living a difficult life growing up in Jamaica with a large family with 22 siblings, being poor, and living on his own since the age of 15. He also talked about being physically and mentally abused in his early life. [2] Harris attended Kingston College, where he passed six CSEC subjects. [3] [4] [5] In October 2020, Harris stated that he is pansexual. [6]

Career

In 2010, Harris became the youngest winner of the Jamaican singing competition Digicel Rising Stars where he won a cash prize of $1.5 million JMD. [5] After his win, he began releasing music in Jamaica. [7] He then traveled across the States for five years to widen his scope. [3] He released many tracks like "I'm Numb", "Watch Over Me" and "That Wonderful Sound" in 2015, "All I Need", "Whisper in the Wind", "Unfaithful Chronicles" and "Dem Kinda Woman" in 2016 and "Perilous Time" in 2017. In 2018, he released the joint album Unintentional Astronaut with Mike Needler.

In 2018, Harris entered season 15 of The X Factor in the United Kingdom. He auditioned for the series with "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" by Elton John. He received four yeses from the four judges Robbie Williams, Ayda Field, Louis Tomlinson and Simon Cowell. Competing in the category of "Boys", he was coached by Tomlinson. Owing the success and increasing popularity of the Jamaican act, the British X Factor was broadcast in Jamaica after the local Television Jamaica (TVJ) bought the rights of broadcasting the programme live in Jamaica. [8] On the six-chair challenge, Harris was the last contestant to perform, singing "Purple Rain" by Prince. He performed "I'm Feeling Good" in the semi-final and "Clown" from Emeli Sandé. [9] Harris was consistently the favorite to win the show. [10] He reached the final of the contest on 1 December 2018 alongside Anthony Russell and Scarlett Lee. In the final, he sang "A Song for You" from Leon Russell, and dueted "Beneath Your Beautiful" with Emeli Sande. His winner's single was "The Power of Love", performed as a duet with James Arthur, who won the ninth series of The X Factor in 2012.

The X Factor performances and results
ShowSong choiceThemeResult
Auditions"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" – Elton John Through to six-chair challenge
Six-chair challenge"Purple Rain" – Prince Through to judges' houses
Judges' houses"Listen" – Beyoncé Through to live shows
Live show 1"Life on Mars?" – David Bowie This is MeSafe
Live show 2"I Have Nothing" – Whitney Houston Guilty PleasuresSafe
Live show 3"Creep" – Radiohead Fright NightSafe
Live show 4"California Dreamin'" – The Mamas & the Papas Movie NightSafe
Quarter-Final"Listen" – BeyoncéBig BandSafe
Semi-Final"Feeling Good" – Muse Get Me to the Final (Part I)Safe
"SOS" – ABBA Mamma Mia
"Clown" – Emeli Sandé Get Me to the Final (Part II)Safe
Final"A Song for You" – Leon Russell No themeWinner
"Beneath Your Beautiful" with Emeli Sandé Celebrity duet
"The Power of Love" with James Arthur Winner's duet

On 15 December 2019, Harris released the song "Cry", and on its day of release, he performed the song on the Live Final of The X Factor: The Band . [11]

In 2023, he was the subject of the documentary film Dalton's Dream. [12]

Discography

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
UK
[13]
IRE
[14]
SCO
[15]
"Finally"2012Non-album singles
"Pauper"2014
"The Power of Love"
(featuring James Arthur)
20184351
"Cry"2019
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
2018Talent Recap Fan Choice AwardsFavorite Talent Show Winner The X Factor Nominated

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timi Dakolo</span> Nigerian singer

Timi Dakolo is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and music producer. He emerged winner of the inaugural season of Idols West Africa in 2007. Accompanying his victory was a recording contract with Sony BMG, in addition to other prizes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emeli Sandé</span> Scottish singer and songwriter (born 1987)

Adele Emily Sandé,, known professionally as Emeli Sandé, is a Scottish singer and songwriter. Born in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, and raised in Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, by an English mother and a Zambian father, Sandé rose to prominence after being a featured artist on the 2009 track "Diamond Rings" by rapper Chipmunk. It was the first top 10 single on the UK Singles Chart for both of them. In 2010, she was featured on "Never Be Your Woman" by the rapper Wiley, which was another top ten hit. In 2012, she received the Brit Awards' Critics' Choice Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Martin (singer)</span> Jamaican musical artist

Christopher Oteng Martin is a reggae/dancehall singer and songwriter from St. Catherine, Jamaica. Martin won Digicel's Rising Stars in 2005. He is best known for the songs "Cheaters Prayer", "I'm a Big Deal", "Let Her Go", "Is It Love", and "Dreams of Brighter Days".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romain Virgo</span> Musical artist

Romain Virgo is a Jamaican singer, specializing in the lovers rock style of reggae music, and a past competitor in the local music competition Rising Stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heaven (Emeli Sandé song)</span> 2011 single by Emeli Sandé

"Heaven" is the debut solo single from Scottish recording artist Emeli Sandé. It was released by Virgin Records after she signed a record deal with the label after the success of single "Never Be Your Woman" which Sandé was featured as a guest artist. It was also the first release from Sandé's debut album, Our Version of Events, on 14 August 2011. The single was added to BBC Radio 1's playlist in June 2011. The song was also crowned record of the week by the station’s daytime DJ, Fearne Cotton. The single is written by Sandé, Naughty Boy, Craze, Zeus Charalambous & Hoax, with producer Mike Spencer.

<i>Our Version of Events</i> 2012 studio album by Emeli Sandé

Our Version of Events is the debut studio album by Scottish recording artist Emeli Sandé. The album was released on 13 February 2012 by Virgin Records, following Sandé's winning of the Critics' Choice Award at the BRIT Awards 2012. Though Our Version of Events is her first album release, Sandé has been active in the industry since 2009, most notably appearing on singles by Chipmunk and Wiley. The album features R&B, soul and pop music.

TMS are an English songwriting and record production team composed of Tom 'Froe' Barnes, Benjamin Kohn and Pete 'Merf' Kelleher. The trio have co-written records for a host of artists including Lewis Capaldi, Dua Lipa, John Legend, Maroon 5, G-Eazy and Bebe Rexha. They have collectively had twenty top 10 singles, sold over 15 million records, accumulated over 5 billion streams and have contributed to over fifty top 40 albums. They co-wrote and produced Lewis Capaldi's "Someone You Loved" which spent seven consecutive weeks at number one and was the best selling single of 2019 in the UK. The song was nominated for Song of the Year at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards and won Song of the Year at the 2020 Brit Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Read All About It (song)</span> 2011 single by Professor Green

"Read All About It" is a song by British rapper Professor Green which features vocals from British singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé. The track served as the lead single for Professor Green's second studio album, At Your Inconvenience and was released as a digital download in the United Kingdom on 23 October 2011. The track debuted at number-one in the UK with sales of over 153,000 copies and spent two consecutive weeks at the peak. "Read All About It" is a hip hop and R&B song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emeli Sandé discography</span>

The discography of R&B and soul recording artist Emeli Sandé consists of five studio albums, thirty singles and twenty-one music videos

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Next to Me (Emeli Sandé song)</span> 2012 single by Emeli Sandé

"Next to Me" is a song by Scottish recording artist Emeli Sandé. The single was first released in Ireland on 10 February 2012 as the third single from her debut studio album, Our Version of Events (2012). "Next to Me" was written by Sandé and co-written by Hugo Chegwin, Harry Craze and A. K. Paul. The recording was also produced by Craze and Chegwin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naughty Boy</span> English musician and DJ (born 1981)

Shahid Khan, better known by his stage name Naughty Boy, is a Pakistani English musician, DJ, songwriter and record producer. In 2012, Khan signed a three–year publishing deal with Sony ATV, as well as a recording contract to release one album under Virgin EMI Records. Khan launched himself as a record producer under the moniker "Naughty Boy" and runs his own production company called Naughty Boy Recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beneath Your Beautiful</span> 2012 single by Labrinth

"Beneath Your Beautiful" is a song by British musicians Labrinth and Emeli Sandé. Written by Labrinth, Mike Posner and Sandé, it was promoted as the sixth single from Labrinth's debut album, Electronic Earth (2012), and is included as a bonus track on the US Deluxe Edition of Sandé's debut studio album Our Version of Events. Impacting from 18 October 2012, and following a well-received performance on the ninth series of The X Factor, the single would go on to sell 108,000 copies in the UK during its first week and top the UK Singles Chart. It became Labrinth's first number one single as a lead artist and additionally became his first top 40 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 34. The song was nominated for 'Best British Single' at the 2013 Brit Awards and was ranked the twelfth best-selling single of 2012 in the UK.

"Read All About It, Pt. III" is a song by Scottish recording artist Emeli Sandé, from her debut album, Our Version of Events (2012). The song was written by Sandé, Professor Green, Iain James, Tom Barnes, Ben Kohn and Pete Kelleher and produced by Gavin Powell. It is a sequel to the 2011 hit single "Read All About It", which appears on Professor Green's second studio album, At Your Inconvenience (2011). The song was first performed at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony. It has received positive reviews from critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clown (Emeli Sandé song)</span> 2013 single by Emeli Sandé

"Clown" is a song by the Scottish recording artist Emeli Sandé. It was released on 3 February 2013 as the fifth single from her first studio album, Our Version of Events (2012). "Clown" was written by Sandé, Shahid Khan and Grant Mitchell, and produced by Khan under his production name of Naughty Boy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis Tomlinson</span> English singer and songwriter (born 1991)

Louis William Tomlinson is an English singer, songwriter and producer. He rose to fame as a member of the boy band One Direction. Tomlinson auditioned on the British music competition series The X Factor in 2010. After being eliminated as a solo performer, he was placed into a group with four other contestants which went on to become one of the best-selling boy bands of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What I Did for Love (David Guetta song)</span> 2014 single by David Guetta

"What I Did for Love" is a song by French music producer David Guetta. It was released as the third single from his sixth studio album, Listen (2014). It features vocals by Scottish recording artist Emeli Sandé. It was released officially on 20 February 2015 in the United Kingdom. The song was written by Guetta, Giorgio Tuinfort, Breyan Stanley Isaac, Jason Evigan, Sam Martin, and Sean Douglas. Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro recorded an alternate version of the song for inclusion on her album Genic and Japanese edition of Listen Again, this version was released as a promotional single on 1 July 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louisa Johnson</span> English singer (born 1998)

Louisa Johnson, also known mononymously as Louisa, is an English singer. In 2015, she won the twelfth series of The X Factor. She subsequently released her winner's single "Forever Young", which peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart, and it was indeed #1 for 5 weeks in a row on UK Official Physical Single Charts between Winter holiday 2015 to early 2016. In 2016, she featured on Clean Bandit's UK top five single "Tears".

Matthew James Terry is an English singer and songwriter. In 2016, he was crowned as the winner of the thirteenth series of The X Factor. His debut single, "When Christmas Comes Around", which was released on 11 December 2016, peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart. His debut album, Trouble was released on 24 November 2017 and charted at 29 on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breathing Underwater (song)</span> 2016 single by Emeli Sandé

"Breathing Underwater" is a song by Scottish singer Emeli Sandé, recorded for her second studio album Long Live the Angels (2016). It was written by Sandé and Chris Loco, while production was helmed by Loco. The song was released as the album's second single on 28 October 2016 and became a top twenty hit on the Scottish Singles Chart. In support of its release, Sandé performed the song live on The X Factor on 6 November.

The fifteenth and final series of the British television music competition The X Factor began airing on ITV on 1 September 2018, presented by Dermot O'Leary. Simon Cowell returned alongside new judges Louis Tomlinson, Ayda Field, and Robbie Williams who replace departing judges Nicole Scherzinger, Sharon Osbourne, and Louis Walsh. Nile Rodgers filled in for Williams while he was away on his tour for weeks 3–5 of the live shows.

References

  1. "Watch: Dalton Harris crowned the X Factor 2018 Winner". I Am A Jamaican. Archived from the original on 24 February 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  2. "Who is X Factor's Dalton Harris? The Jamaican act who won a singing show and landed a record deal". Radio Times . Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Jamaica Observer Limited". Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  4. "Dalton Harris lived in poverty after winning Digicel Rising Stars competition". 8 September 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  5. 1 2 "A Star shines again". Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  6. "X Factor winner Dalton Harris has publicly come out as pansexual and introduced his Italian boyfriend Tommie Cassani on Tik Tok taking the carebbean news by storm". Gay Times . Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  7. "Who is X Factor's Dalton Harris? The Jamaican act who won a singing show and landed a record deal". Radio Times . Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  8. "J'cans get to follow Dalton on X Factor ... TVJ get rights to air talent show". jamaica-star.com. 27 October 2018.
  9. "Jamaica Observer Limited". Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  10. "X Factor fans pick a clear winner ahead of Sunday's final". Radio Times .
  11. Duffy, Nick (15 December 2019). "X Factor: The Band final: when is it on ITV, the finalists and what prize the winner gets". i . Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  12. Peter Bradshaw, "Dalton’s Dream review – the troubled life of an X Factor winner". The Guardian , 30 January 2024.
  13. "Artists: Dalton Harris ft. James Arthur". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  14. "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association . Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  15. Peak chart positions for singles in Scotland:
Awards and achievements
Preceded byWinner of The X Factor
2018
Succeeded by
Preceded byWinner's singles of The X Factor
The Power of Love
Succeeded by