Sam Smith

Sam Smith seemed like an overnight success upon the release of his 2014 debut album In the Lonely Hour, but the London-born 22-year-old had actually been working toward his big break since he began singing at the age of 12. Smith's professional career began in Youth Music Theatre UK, but along with show tunes, Smith also studied composition and singing with British jazz performer Joanna Eden. Smith's breakthrough came in 2012 when he sang lead vocals on the hit single "Latch" by electronic music duo Disclosure. The following year, he scored an even bigger hit, reaching number 1 on the UK pop chart as the vocalist on "La La La" by British DJ and producer "Naughty Boy." Smith released his debut EP Nirvana in October 2013, followed by his first full-length album, In the Lonely Hour, in May 2014. Due in large part to an impressive performance of the gospel-influenced ballad "Stay With Me" on Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975-), the album reached the number 2 position on the Billboard album charts, and spawned several further hit singles including "Money On My Mind," "Lay Me Down," and "I'm Not the Only One." The following year, "Stay With Me" won the coveted Record of the Year (for production) and Song of the Year (for songwriting) awards at the 2015 Grammy Awards. Smith also won Best New Artist and Pop Album of the Year. In May of that year, Smith underwent successful surgery on his vocal cords following a recurrent hemorrhage. His first release following the surgery was a reunion with Disclosure on their 2015 single "Omen." In September 2015, it was announced that Sam Smith had recorded "Writing's on the Wall," the theme for the James Bond thriller "SPECTRE" (2015); the song won both the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Original Song. Smith released his second album The Thrill of It All in November 2017, featuring the hit single "Too Good At Goodbyes."