Andy Abraham

Last updated

Andy Abraham
Andy Abraham.jpg
Abraham signing autographs at The X Factor
Background information
Born (1964-07-17) 17 July 1964 (age 59)
North London, England
Genres Pop, soul
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active2005–present
Labels Sony BMG (2006–07)
Website andyabraham.co.uk

Andrew Abraham (born 17 July 1964) is a British singer. He was the runner-up in the second UK series of TV talent show The X Factor in 2005 to Shayne Ward, and also represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008.

Contents

Before applying for The X Factor, Abraham was a refuse collector. Prior to this, he worked as a bus driver for Arriva London North based at Palmers Green bus garage. Abraham has two children by his wife Denise, a daughter called Tara and a son called Jacob. He is of Grenadian descent.

Career

2005: The X Factor

Abraham was narrowly beaten to the top spot on The X Factor by Shayne Ward by 1.2% of the national public vote. Abraham was mentored throughout the competition by Sharon Osbourne although fellow judges Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh also praised the singer highly throughout the competition. Other performers who came to prominence in the same series of The X Factor were finalists Journey South and quarter-finalist Chico Slimani.

After The X Factor

On 26 March 2006, Abraham's debut album entered the UK Album Chart at number two, selling 176,000 copies in its first week and being beaten to the top spot by Journey South.

In 2006, Abraham's debut album was the twelfth highest selling album of the year with total sales of around 300,000.

Abraham's second album, Soul Man , was not as popular yet it still managed to make the Top 20 in the UK Charts. The album included the Christmas song "December Brings Me Back To You", a duet with television presenter Michael Underwood.

A Very Best Of album was released in May 2008.

His third studio album, Even If , was released in June 2008 to positive reviews, and its title track reached number 67 in the UK Charts. Album sales were not helped by its distribution company Pinnacle Entertainment (UK) going into administration due to the downturn in the economy. The album was released digitally on iTunes in March 2009.

Abraham released the Christmas single "Oh Holy Night" in December 2009.

On 3 August 2008, it was reported in The Daily Star Sunday newspaper that Abraham had told friends that he would not release any further material, and instead he would concentrate on becoming a property developer. However, on 6 August 2008, Abraham announced on his website that this was not true.

In January 2010 Andy signed up with celebrity management agency Champions (UK) Plc [1] who are working on new material with Andy as well as a number of exciting projects. On 14 March 2010 Andy performed at Arsenal footballer Theo Walcott's 21st birthday party, alongside Beverley Knight.

In 2012 Andy released his fourth album "Remember When", a collection of the songs that influenced him over the years and two new songs. It was released as a book package, with Andy's comments on why he chose each song for the album, some copies also came with an accompanying making of DVD.

Eurovision 2008

Abraham performing at Eurovision 2008 Andy Abraham Final Eurovision 2008 (7).jpg
Abraham performing at Eurovision 2008

On 1 March 2008, Abraham won Eurovision – Your Decision 2008, the UK selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2008, held on 24 May 2008, with his song "Even If". He was selected as a wild card in Eurovision – Your Decision by Terry Wogan and won the contest in a sing-off with favourite Michelle Gayle through a public vote. As one of the 'Big 4' countries, UK automatically qualified for the final on 24 May 2008. In the final, Andy performed second following Romania and preceding Albania. Although Andy did hope the song would make a good showing in Belgrade, his task was not made easy. He came last with only 14 points. Following Eurovision tie-breaking rules, the United Kingdom was placed last overall as it had fewer 12-point votes than Germany and fewer 10-point votes than Poland.

Touring

Andy Abraham did a variety of shows up and down the country. In his show An evening with Andy Abraham, he sang "Whenever you need me" with a children's choir. The children's choir were named by Andy to be the best kids he had worked with and were featured in the stagecoach magazine.

During 2012–2013, he toured both in the "History of the Big Bands" and "Boogie Nights" as lead vocalist.

In April 2015, Abraham took to the stage in the musical Godspell . The show concluded in May. [2]

Discography

Albums

YearAlbum detailsChart peak positionsCertifications
UK IRE
2006 The Impossible Dream [3]
  • Released: 20 March 2006
  • Label: Sony BMG
  • Format: CD, digital download
21
  • UK: Platinum [4]
2006 Soul Man
  • Released: 13 November 2006
  • Label: Sony BMG
  • Format: CD, digital download
1922
2008The Very Best Of
  • Released: 19 May 2008
  • Label: Sony BMG
  • Format: CD, digital download
2008Even If
  • Released: 2 June 2008
  • Label: B line Records
  • Format: CD, digital download

Singles

YearSongChart positionsAlbum
UK IRE
2006"Hang Up"6314 The Impossible Dream
"December Brings Me Back to You"18- Soul Man
2008"Even If"67-Even If

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Logan (singer)</span> Irish singer-songwriter (born 1954)

Seán Patrick Michael Sherrard, known professionally as Johnny Logan, is an Irish singer and musician. He is best known for being the first person to win the Eurovision Song Contest twice.

<i>Youre a Star</i> Irish TV series or program

You're a Star is an Irish music competition series broadcast by RTÉ One from 2002 to 2008. Produced by the broadcaster and Screentime ShinAwiL, the series was similar to formats such as Idol and The X Factor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UK national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest</span> BBC TV show

Eurovision: You Decide is the most recent name of a BBC television programme that was broadcast annually to select the United Kingdom's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. The show had previously gone under several other names, including Festival of British Popular Songs (1957), Eurovision Song Contest British Final (1959–1960), The Great British Song Contest (1996–1999), Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up (2004–2007), Eurovision: Your Decision (2008), and Eurovision: Your Country Needs You (2009–2010), but was known, for most of its history, as A Song for Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shayne Ward</span> English singer

Shayne Thomas Ward is an English singer. He rose to fame as the winner of the second series of The X Factor. His debut single, "That's My Goal", was released in the United Kingdom on 21 December 2005 and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and was that year's Christmas number one. It sold 313,000 copies on its first day of sales, making it the third-fastest-selling single of all time in the UK, behind Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997" and Will Young's "Evergreen", which sold 685,000 and 400,000 copies in their first days of sale, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">That's My Goal</span> 2005 single by Shayne Ward

"That's My Goal" is the debut single by British singer Shayne Ward, the winner of the second series of The X Factor. It was released as his winner's single on 21 December 2005. Ward was the first X Factor winner to release an original song as his winner's single; all other winners released a cover version of another song, until Matt Terry's "When Christmas Comes Around" in 2016. "That's My Goal" was later included on Ward's debut studio album, Shayne Ward (2006).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Journey South</span> English singing duo

Journey South are an English singing duo, consisting of brothers Andy and Carl Pemberton. They are from Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire. Initially the brothers lead a five piece rock band 'The Answer' featuring musicians from the North East of England. After various line-up changes the band moved from Teesside to Essex in July 2000 changing their name to Journey South and becoming a four piece pop/rock band. The initial line-up of Journey South featured Andy and Carl Pemberton along with Paul Williams on keyboard, Max Justice on drums and Matt Ellis on bass. The line up disbanded in 2001 leaving Andy and Carl as the only members. The duo were the last contestant eliminated on the second UK series of television talent show The X Factor in 2005. In July 2015, Andy announced that Journey South had disbanded. However, they have since returned, releasing new songs on Spotify and new videos on YouTube.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dustin the Turkey</span> Fictional character

Dustin the Turkey, a character performed by John Morrison is a former star of RTÉ television's The Den between 1989 and 2010 and from 2020. He has been described as "the most subversive comedy force on Irish television".

The United Kingdom participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 with the song "Even If" written by Andy Abraham, Paul Wilson and Andy Watkins. The song was performed by Andy Abraham. The British entry for the 2008 contest in Belgrade, Serbia was selected via the national final Eurovision: Your Decision, organised by the British broadcaster BBC. Six acts competed in the national final and the winner was selected through three rounds of voting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marc Roberts (singer)</span> Irish singer (born 1968)

Seán Hegarty, better known by his stage name Marc Roberts, is an Irish singer, best known for representing Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997. His song, "Mysterious Woman", finished in second place and reached number two on the Irish Singles Chart. He is originally from Crossmolina, County Mayo, and now based in Galway, where he presents a local radio show as well as continuing his singing career. He has to date released six studio albums.

Yvie Burnett, is a Scottish mezzo-soprano and vocal coach, best known for her work with Simon Cowell on television shows The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent, The Big ReunionThe Voice UK and BBC's Let It Shine.

Eoghan Karl Christopher Quigg is an Irish singer from Northern Ireland, who was the last contestant eliminated in the fifth series of the music talent contest The X Factor in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth Lorenzo</span> Spanish musician (born 1982)

Ruth Lorenzo Pascual is a Spanish singer, composer and television personality, best known in the UK for coming fifth in the fifth series of the British TV talent show The X Factor in 2008. She represented Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 with the song "Dancing In The Rain", scoring 74 points in the final and finishing in 10th place; the song peaked at #5 in the Spanish Singles Chart And also charted in the UK at #101.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jedward</span> Irish musical duo

John and Edward Grimes, collectively known as Jedward, are an Irish singing and television presenting duo. They are identical twins who first appeared as John & Edward in the sixth series of The X Factor in 2009, generating a phenomenon of ironic popularity described as "the Jedward paradox". They were the seventh contestant eliminated and were managed by Louis Walsh, who was their mentor during The X Factor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katie Waissel</span> English singer-songwriter

Katie Waissel is an English singer-songwriter who came into the public eye when she was the tenth contestant eliminated in the seventh series of The X Factor. She is also known for being a housemate in Celebrity Big Brother 18, where she finished in eighth place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basim (singer)</span> Danish singer

Anis Basim Moujahid, better known as Basim, is a Danish pop singer and songwriter. He is of Moroccan origin. He has released two albums, Alt det jeg ville have sagt in 2008 and Befri dig selv in 2009. Basim represented Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 on home ground in Copenhagen, Denmark with the song "Cliche Love Song". The following year he was the Danish spokesperson at Eurovision.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chen Aharoni</span> Israeli pop singer

Chen Aharoni is an Israeli singer-songwriter, musician and television presenter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitty Brucknell</span> English singer

Kimberley Dayle Edwards, formerly known professionally as Kitty Brucknell, is an English pop singer. She rose to fame as a finalist on the eighth series of The X Factor in 2011, where she finished in seventh place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dami Im</span> Australian singer (born 1988)

Dami Im is an Australian singer and songwriter. She represented Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 held in Stockholm, Sweden with the song "Sound of Silence", placing second and achieving the highest Eurovision Song Contest score for Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brendan Murray</span> Irish singer

Brendan Hugh Francis Murray is an Irish singer and former member of the Irish boy band HomeTown. He represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with the song "Dying to Try" but failed to qualify for the final. He then competed in The X Factor (UK) in 2018, and was the twelfth contestant eliminated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I.M (song)</span> 2022 song by Michael Ben David

"I.M" is a song by Israeli singer Michael Ben David. The song represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 after winning The X Factor Israel, Israel's national final. A revamped version of the song was released on 14 March 2022.

References

  1. "Andy Abraham Signs With Champions Music & Entertainment". Champions Music & Entertainment. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  2. "Jade Ewen and Andy Abraham on Tour in Godspell". 7 March 2015.
  3. "Andy Abraham – The Impossible Dream – Music Charts". Acharts.us. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  4. "Matt Cardle interview: 'I don't want next album to be overproduced'". Digital Spy. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2012.
  5. "Certified Awards". BPI. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2013.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Andy Abraham at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest
2008
Succeeded by