Tyler James

Sort of a more rakish, English version of young American pop singers like Jason Mraz, Justin Timberlake, and Gavin DeGraw, East London roustabout Tyler James made a name for himself since debuting with the buoyant, R&B-flavored single "Why Do I Do?" in 2004. His journey actually started in 2001, but record company monkey business prevented James from getting his shot until a 2004 deal with Island Records and the infectious "Why Do I Do?" A few more singles followed, including "Just Around the Corner," "Nothing," and a cover of White Town's clever 1997 hit "Your Woman." Continuously pushed back, James' Unlikely Lad album was released digitally in 2005, subsequently failing to make a dent in the UK charts. Dropped from Island Records, James’ career stalled. The sudden death of long-time friend Amy Winehouse in 2011 -- who James had met when they had trained together at the prestigious <I>Sylvia Young Theatre School when they were teenagers -- spurred James back into action. Auditioning for the BBC TV show <I>The Voice UK, James was picked by mentor will.i.am to join his team, eventually going on to come third overall. In July 2012 it was announced that James had re-signed with his former label Island Records, his second album, A Place I Go, produced and written in collaboration with Guy Chambers and will.i.am, was released in the October. ~ Johnny Loftus & Richard Wilson, Rovi