Flame-haired singer/songwriter, beatboxer, and guitarist Ed Sheeran’s eclectic blend of acoustic pop, folk, and hip-hop has been championed by everyone from the underground grime scene to American Oscar winners. Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England in 1991, Ed Sheeran released his first EP, The Orange Room, while still at school, and his first two albums, his self-titled debut and Want Some, by the age of 16. After moving to London to gain more live experience, his performance of the self-penned You Need Me, I Don’t Need You on YouTube channel SB.tv gained half a million viewers and attracted the attention of actor/R&B star Jamie Foxx, who invited him to appear on his Los Angeles Sirius radio show.Securing a deal with Elton John’s management company, he supported Example on his 2011 U.K. tour. That same year he released his major-label debut studio album, +. The album was a massive hit, selling over a million copies in the U.K. alone in just six months, and charting highly in many other countries. Ed Sheeran then went about boosting his profile, co-writing songs for One Direction and Taylor Swift. By the end of 2013, Ed Sheeran recorded his sophomore album with Rick Rubin and Pharrell producing. The album was titled x (“Multiply”). Appearing in June 2014, x encompassed his acoustic/hip-hop hybrid sound, but also had an R&B feel in places along with straight-ahead pop. The record debuted at number one on both the U.S. and U.K. charts and reached gold or platinum status in 15 countries.
