James Hillier Blount (born 22 February 1974),[2] better known by his stage name James Blunt, is an English singer-songwriter and former reconnaissance officer for the British Army. He originally signed to EMI Music Publishing and is currently signed to Custard Records and Atlantic Records.
Blunt rose to prominence in 2004 with the release of his debut studio album Back to Bedlam, achieving worldwide fame with the singles "You're Beautiful" and "Goodbye My Lover". The album sold over 11 million copies worldwide, topping the UK Albums Chart and peaking at number two in the US. "You're Beautiful" was number 1 in the UK, US and a dozen other countries. Back to Bedlam, was the best selling album of the 2000s in the UK.[3]
He has gone on to sell over 20 million albums and 20 million singles worldwide.[4][5] He has received several awards, including two Brit Awards—winning Best British Male in 2006, two MTV Video Music Awards, two Ivor Novello Awards as well as receiving five Grammy Award nominations.
He was a reconnaissance officer in the Life Guards, a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and served under NATO in the Kosovo War in 1999. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate for Music in 2016 by University of Bristol.
Early life and education[edit]
Blunt was born at an army hospital in Tidworth, Hampshire,[6] the first of three children[7] to Colonel Charles Blount and Jane Ann Farran Blount (née Amos).[8] His father was a cavalry officer in the 13th/18th Royal Hussars and then a helicopter pilot and colonel of the Army Air Corps.[9][10] The Blount family has a long history of military service, dating back to King Gorm of Denmark ever since their Danish ancestors arrived in England in the 10th century.[6]
He grew up primarily in St Mary Bourne in Hampshire, but moved every two years depending on his father's military postings in: Middle Wallop; Cyprus; Soest (Germany); York; and Netheravon. He also spent time in Cley next the Sea where his father owned Cley Windmill.
He was educated at Elstree School in Woolhampton, Berkshire, and Harrow School, gaining A-levels in Physics, Chemistry and Economics. He went on to study Aerospace Manufacturing Engineering and Sociology at University of Bristol.,[10] graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Sociology in 1996.[11]
Like his father, Blunt is a pilot, gaining his fixed winged private pilot licence aged 16,[10] and has a keen interest in motorcycles.[12][13]
Military service[edit]
| James Blunt | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1996–2002 |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Unit | Life Guards |
| Battles/wars | Kosovo War |
Having been sponsored through university on an army bursary, Blunt was committed to serve a minimum of four years in the armed forces. He trained at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in intake 963,[10][14] and was commissioned into the Life Guards, a reconnaissance regiment. He rose to the rank of captain.[15]
The Life Guards, part of the Household Cavalry Regiment, were primarily based in Combermere Barracks. Blunt was also trained in British Army Training Unit Suffield in Alberta, Canada, where his regiment was posted for six months in 1998 to act as the opposing army in combat training exercises.[16]
In 1999, he volunteered to join a Blues and Royals squadron deploying with NATO to Kosovo.[17] Initially assigned to carry out reconnaissance of the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia–Yugoslavia border, Blunt's troop worked ahead of the front lines locating and targeting Serb forces for the NATO bombing campaign. On 12 June 1999, the troop led the 30,000-strong NATO peacekeeping force from the Macedonia border towards Pristina International Airport. However a Russian military contingent had moved in and taken control of the airport before his unit's arrival. American NATO commander Wesley Clark ordered that the unit forcibly take the airport from the Russians. General Mike Jackson, the British commander, refused the order, stating that they were "not going to start the Third World War".[18][19]Blunt has said that he would have refused to obey such an order.
There were less intense moments during Blunt's Kosovo assignment. He had brought along his guitar, strapped to the outside of his tank, and would sometimes perform for locals and troops. It was while on duty there that he wrote the song "No Bravery".[20]
Blunt extended his military service in November 2000,[21] and was posted to the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in London, as the Queen's Guard.[6] During this posting, he was featured on the television programme "Girls on Top", a series highlighting unusual career choices.[22][23] He stood guard at the coffin of the Queen Mother during her lying in state and was part of the funeral procession on 9 April 2002.[24]
A keen skier, Blunt captained the Household Cavalry alpine ski team in Verbier, Switzerland, becoming Royal Armoured Corps ski champion in 2000. He left the army on 1 October 2002 having served six years.[25]
Music career[edit]
Early career[edit]
Blunt had piano and violin lessons as a child, but was introduced to the electric guitar aged 14 at Harrow by a fellow student.[6][26] His dissertation at Bristol University was entitled The Commodification of Image – Production of a Pop Idol. One of his sources was Simon Frith, a sociologist and rock critic, and chair of the Mercury Music Prize panel of judges since 1992, who later undertook a lecture tour entitled "The unpopular and unpleasant thoughts inspired by the work of James Blunt".[27][28] While still in the army Blunt would write songs during his time off. A backing vocalist and songwriting collaborator suggested he contact Elton John's manager, Todd Interland, with whom she used to share a house.[29] Interland told HitQuarters that he listened to Blunt's demo while driving home and, after hearing the track 'Goodbye My Lover', pulled over and called the mobile number written on the CD to set up a meeting.[29]
Blunt left the British Army in 2002 so that he could pursue his musical career.[20] He started using the stage name "Blunt" in part to make it easier for others to spell; "Blount" is pronounced the same way, and remains his legal surname.[30] Shortly after leaving the army he was signed to EMI music publishers and to Twenty-First Artists management.[31]A record contract remained elusive, with recording label executives pointing to his posh speaking voice as a barrier in class-divided Britain.[26] Linda Perry, who was just launching her own Custard Records label in early 2003, heard Blunt's promotional tape when visiting London, and soon after heard him perform live at the South by Southwest Music Festival. She made an offer to him the same night,[32] and within a few days he signed a recording contract with her. A month later, he travelled to Los Angeles to meet producer Tom Rothrock.[31][33]