James Arthur (singer)

James Andrew Arthur is a British singersongwriter who won the ninth series of The X Factor in 2012. His debut single, Impossible, was released through Syco Music after the final and debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart in its first week of release. It has since gone on to sell over 1,289,000 copies in the UK, and 2.5 million copies worldwide. He released his selftitled debut album in November 2013 and it debuted and peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart.

Arthur was born in Middlesbrough, to an English mother, Shirley Ashworth, and a Scottish father, Neil Arthur. Neil is a delivery driver, but also used to be a DJ and drummer for many years, whilst Shirley was a fashion model and later a sales and marketing professional. Neil and Shirley split up when James was one year old and each settled with new partners a few years after their divorce. They hardly spoke with one another for more thanyears, but they agreed to attend Jamess audition together in a family reunion to support him.

Source: Wikipedia