About
Ed Sheeran is a world famous singer-songwriter known for his heart-wrenching lyrics and melodies, and diverse blend of pop, folk, hip-hop, and acoustic pop music.
Sheeran began playing music as a child in Suffolk, England, and was captivated at a young age by classic rock music. Beginning to write music as a pre-teen, Sheeran recorded his first self-made album, Spinning Man, at age 13. As a teenager, Sheeran put out an EP, The Orange Room, and spent his free time busking and playing as many gigs as he could find. Dropping out of school at 16, Sheeran moved to London, where he worked as a guitar tech, and played various gigs. He also released a smattering of EPs, You Need Me (2009), and Want Some? (2007), but ultimately began to find success with 2010’s EP Loose Change and various YouTube videos he had put out. Sheeran finally landed a deal with Asylum records in 2010, and after a fifth EP release, he signed a contract with Elton John’s management team.
Sheeran’s first single from his debut album, “The A Team,” was an immediate success, enterting the charts at number three. + was released in 2011, a blowout which featured singles “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You,” and “Lego House,” and which went on to win the British Breakthrough award at the 2012 Brit Awards. Sheeran went on to open for Taylor Swift’s Red tour in 2013, which, in combination with his song “I See Fire” appearing on the closing credits of The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, launched him into mainstream popularity.
Sheeran’s follow-up album, X, debuted at number one in the U.K. and the U.S., generating the enormously successful hits “Thinking Out Loud,” and “Sing.” In 2014, Sheeran won Album of the Year and Best Male Solo Artist at the 2015 Brit Awards. X was also the second biggest-selling album in the world in 2015, behind Adele’s 25, and “Thinking Out Loud” won Song of the Year at that year’s Grammy Awards.
In 2017, Sheeran released the single “Shape of You,” which reached number one on charts worldwide. ÷, its parent album, went on to top charts in 20 countries, including the single “Galway Girl.” In June 2017, Sheeran was awarded an MBE on the Queen’s Birthday, and he won the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album as well as Best Pop Solo Performance for “Shape of You.” Sheeran partnered with Justin Bieber for the single, “I Don’t Care,” in 2019, part of a series of duets recorded for No. 6 Collaborations Project. He also plays a lead role in Yesterday, the 2019 film set in a world where the Beatles never existed.
