Born:
November 24, 1966
in
Salford
Best Known For:
Making operatic tunes popular with the masses.
Early-life:
Born on November 24, 1966, in Salford, Lancashire. He left school with no qualifications, and worked as a bolt-cutter in a factory in Salford. He began to earn extra cash singing Elvis Presley covers in local clubs to help support his young family. The turning point in his career came at Wigan Road Working Men's Club, when the secretary suggested he try singing Nessun Dorma from Puccini's Turandot.
Career:
After catching the eye singing before games for his beloved Manchester United, Watson's debut album was released in May 2001. It made history as the first time a British artist had held both the US and UK classical number one. The album contained perhaps Watson's most unusual collaboration to date, with former Happy Mondays singer Shaun Ryder who lent his vocals to the Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé song Barcelona. Watson played Parson Nathaniel in the stage adaptation of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds in early 2006 and took part in reality show Just the Two of Us. He returned to his musical career in 2008 following serious health issues.
Quote:
"I did have an idea that I would eventually be famous. Everyone in my family remembers when we drove past a mansion house and I said: 'One day, Grandma, I am going to buy that house'."
Trivia:
In 2008, he released his autobiography, Finding My Voice.