Josh Groban

Josh Groban Artistfacts

  • February 27, 1981
  • Josh Groban rose to prominence in the early 2000s and became the top-selling male pop artist of the decade, with album sales of over 20 million (rappers Eminem and Jay-Z sold more). He is known for his rich, classically trained tenor voice and his wide range of music, which includes Classical, Pop, and Adult Contemporary.
  • Groban grew up in Los Angeles and showed a talent for the performing arts from a very early age. Initially drawn to acting, he turned his attention to singing with the encouragement of his vocal coach. He was introduced to Grammy-winning producer David Foster who helped launch Groban's career. He chose to pursue music as a career rather than complete his degree at Carnegie Mellon University, which he attended for a short time.
  • His self-titled debut album Josh Groban, released in November 2001, went double Platinum. The album featured songs in the classical tradition, many sung in Italian. His follow-up album, Closer, featured the single "You Raise Me Up," which was nominated for a Grammy Award. He received another Grammy nomination in 2009, this one for his holiday music album, Noel.
  • Groban's legion of fans calls themselves Grobanites. They buy his albums and scream his name in concert, and they often join together to raise money for Josh Groban's Foundation. They were instrumental in getting Groban to appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show. With Oprah behind him, Groban's popularity and sales increased greatly. After going on Oprah to promote Noel, sales of the album shot up by 81%.
  • Groban did not give up on his dreams of being an actor; he has taken roles in Ally McBeal, Glee, The Office, and the film Crazy Stupid Love.
  • He sang at the closing ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, reaching a worldwide audience of close to a billion.
  • Michael Bublé is often pegged as the Groban's great rival. However, Josh disclosed to The Daily Telegraph that they're great pals, partly because they share a similarly irreverent approach to their job. "He's got this killer voice and he's just a complete goofball," Groban said. "It's why we became friends. I love that. There's more room for that."
  • He dated Katy Perry in the late '00s. Her song "The One That Got Away" is about him.
  • It seems Josh Groban can't stop crooning; he even sings while he's sleeping. Groban explained during a guest hosting gig on Live with Kelly and Ryan that he uses an app to record himself. "I have a sleep talk app, and it clicks on when it hears you talking in your sleep and it will record you and then it's like a little surprise in the morning."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.