Gareth Gates

From Free net encyclopedia

Gareth Paul Gates (born July 12, 1984, Bradford).

British pop singer who shot to fame in 2002 when he came second in the first series of the television talent show Pop Idol.

Gareth is also known for overcoming his stammer, qualifying as a speech coach in 2004, and his affair with model Jordan. He is also a keen supporter of Leeds United F.C. and Bradford Bulls.

To date he has sold some 3 million singles in the UK alone, including the 2nd and 6th best selling singles in 2002 ("Unchained Melody" - 1.3 million copies sold and "Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake)" - 570,000) and the 2nd best selling single in 2003 ("Spirit in the Sky" - 550,000 copies).

Contents

[edit]

Pop Idol and chart success

On Pop Idol, Gates cultivated an image of youthful innocence, famously wearing an all-white suit. Aged just 17, he went into the final of the tournament as favourite.

Despite not winning the competition, he was soon signed up with Simon Cowell's record label BMG. (Cowell had been one of the Pop Idol judges, notorious for his harsh criticisms of many of the contestants.)

Gates' first single, a cover version of Unchained Melody, entered the UK Singles Chart at number one, knocking Will Young's first single - the double A-sided "Anything is Possible"/"Evergreen" - off the top of the chart. The single was voted 2002's Record of the Year by ITV viewers. This was followed by another high selling number 1 single, "Anyone of Us"; his third single, a duet with Will Young, also reached number 1. His fourth "What My Heart Wants to Say" reached number 5.

Gates was at the height of his popularity in 2002, with the now-defunct Smash Hits magazine dedicating 7 November as International Gareth Day for his fans. His debut album, What My Heart Wants to Say, entered the chart later that month at number 2 and went double platinum in the UK.

[edit]

2003

With The Kumars, Gareth sang the 2003 Comic Relief charity single, "Spirit In The Sky". This was also a new entry at number one, and stayed there for two weeks, making his fourth UK number 1 hit. He appeared in the charity's Celebrity Driving School. Through Comic Relief he became involved with Body and Soul, a charity that helps people affected by HIV and AIDS. He continues to be involved.

His next two singles 'Sunshine' and 'Say it Isn't So' reached number 3 and 4 respectively. His second album failed to live up to expectaions and entered the chart at number 11.

In July 2003, he admitted to an earlier relationship with glamour model Jordan. Though intially the pair had agreed that they would keep it to themselves, Jordan had broken the story to the press. [1].

Gates has enjoyed significant success outside the UK, particularly in Asia, South Africa and many European countries. He won MTV Asia's award for best international male in 2003/4 and was awarded the same title by MTV China and MTV Taiwan.

[edit]

2004 onwards

"Say It Isn't So", a 2003 number 4 single, proved to be Gates' last single release to date. He concentrated on other aspects of his career in 2004, training as a speech coach and course instructor with the McGuire Programme in order to help those with stammers such as his own. He also had a part in the film Seeing Double, and increased his charitable work, promoting AIDS awareness through a charity concert to 50,000 people with MTV in Indonesia.

Despite working on a comeback album throughout 2005, he was dropped by his record label Sony BMG in April 2006 [2]. Future plans are unclear, though his official website states that his new material will be released with a new label.

[edit]

Discography

[edit]

UK

Singles

  1. "Unchained Melody" #1
  2. "Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake)" #1
  3. "The Long and Winding Road/Suspicious Minds" #1 (duet with Will Young) (double-A side)
  4. "What My Heart Wants to Say" #5
  5. "Spirit in the Sky" #1
  6. "Sunshine" #3
  7. "Say it Isn't So" #4

Albums

  1. What My Heart Wants To Say #2
  2. Go Your Own Way #11
[edit]

Outside the UK

SINGLES:

Number 1 singles in:

"Say It Isn't So" #4 in MTV Asia Hitlist for 2004

"Any One of Us" #87 World Top 100 Singles for 2003


ALBUMS

What My Heart Wants To Say

  • Triple platinum in Taiwan
  • Biggest selling western artist album in Taiwan
  • #1 in Taiwan, and S. Korea
  • Platinum in Indonesia
  • Platinum in Malaysia
  • 2nd biggest selling western artist album in MTV Asia area
  • Gold in Norway
  • 48,000 in Spain
  • 140,000 in S.A


Go Your Own Way

  • 1 in Taiwan, Double Platinum after 3 weeks.
  • Gold award confirmed in South Africa - but sales will be considerably more given long chart run.
  • 1 in Singapore
  • Spain c.30,000
  • #1 in Korea
  • #1 in Malaysia


[edit]

Tours

  • Pop Idol Arena Tour 2002
  • Will and Gareth Arena Tour 2003
  • Go Your Own Way Arena Tour - UK and Asia 2004
  • Private concert for the Prince of Brunei. January 2005
[edit]

Other Releases

DVDs

  1. Gareth Gates Live #1
  2. Spirit in the Sky #1
  3. Pop Idol Tour DVD #1

Books:

  1. Right from the Start #1 (2002's biggest selling music book)
  2. Talking Point #10

Calendars

  1. Top 10 sales 2003
  2. Top 10 sales 2004
[edit]

Awards

UK

  • Record of the Year 2002: "Unchained Melody"
  • Smash Hits Awards 2002: best male, best hair, best newcomer, most fancible male
  • Smash Hits Awards 2003: 2003 best male and best single for Sunshine
  • Young Achievers Yorkshire 2002
  • Special award for Service to Yorkshire 2002
  • OUT magazine awards 2003 Best singer, Best Video ("Sunshine"), Best performance at G-A-Y

Outside the UK

  • MTV Asia: Best International Male 2003/2004
  • MTV China: Best International Male 2003/2004
  • MTV Taiwan: Best International Male 2003/2004
  • TMF Belgium Best International Pop
  • MTV Taiwan. Inspiration to Youth
  • G-Music (Taiwan) Best International artist 2003
  • Hit Fm Best single of 2003 (AOU)


McGuire programme

  • Youngest UK person to qualify as primary coach and course instructor intern
  • After running workshops at a number of courses, co-led first full course February 2005
[edit]

Records

  • Youngest male to enter at #1 . He was 17 years and 255 days old when he debuted at number 1 with "Unchained Melody" on 24th March 2002.
  • Not only is Gareth the youngest solo male artist to have four no 1's,but he was also the first male solo artist to have 4 no 1 singles in a 12 month period since Frank Ifield in 1965
  • Fans with the loudest screams: Sheffield Arena during "Mack the Knife" Pop Idol Tour. Recorded at 130 decibels.
[edit]

Filmography

[edit]

External links

Retrieved from "http://www.netipedia.com/index.php/Gareth_Gates"