James Fox | |
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 James Fox in August 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | James Richard Mullett (1976-04-06)6 April 1976 (age 49) Cardiff, Wales |
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| Years active | 1991–present |
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James Richard Mullett (born 6 April 1976), known professionally asJames Fox, is a Welsh pop singer and musician. He represented theUnited Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 in Istanbul. In 2008, he wrote and recorded theCardiff City F.C. FA Cup Final song, "Bluebirds Flying High".
Fox was born inCardiff and grew up inGilfach,Bargoed, in theRhymney Valley, a former mining community in south-east Wales. Inspired by his musician father, Richard, Fox took piano lessons from the age of six, and later taught himself to play guitar, the drums, harmonica and mandolin.[citation needed] He attendedHeolddu Comprehensive School.[1]
Fox is a passionate supporter of The Bluebirds, Cardiff City.[2] He regularly turns out for The Bluebirds' charity teams, and played in both of the Legend Matches which marked the team's last game atNinian Park and first game atCardiff City Stadium.
Fox's professional musical career began at age 15, when along with elder brother Dean he toured the South Wales working man's clubs circuit, in various bands, He worked for twelve years as a singer on cruise ships and in pubs and clubs, both under his real name and the stage name Nick James. In 2000, he formed the boy band Force 5 with his friendKevin Simm. They worked mainly on Blackpool'sGolden Mile, before breaking up when Simm joinedLiberty X.
In 2003, he took part in the BBC'sFame Academy and took the stage name James Fox. He came fifth and subsequently appeared on the albumsFame Academy: Bee Gees Special (Polydor, August 2003) andFame Academy – The Finalists (Polydor, October 2003). He also duetted on the co-written track, "In Your Smile" which appeared on winnerAlistair Griffin's début albumBring It On
The following year, herepresented the UK in theEurovision Song Contest 2004 with the song "Hold Onto Our Love". It reached number 13 in the UK chart and finished 16th out of 24 finalists at the contest with 29 points. He later claimed that the voting had been biased.[3]
Fox was invited byWayne David MP to sing the UK's Eurovision entry live at theHouse of Commons,[4][5] and also to perform at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office 'Meet the Neighbours' Festival. He was also invited to sing live at theWelsh Assembly in Cardiff.
Fox has performed his original songs across the United Kingdom and the United States of America, includingThe Bedford[6] at TheCanal Room New York and The Regal Room in London, as well as in his home town.
He has supported a number of artists. These includeLulu,Wet Wet Wet,Natasha Bedingfield,Clare Teal,[7]Honey Ryder,Will Young andTina Turner.[8]
He has performed live for British troops on active service inAfghanistan,Bosnia,The Falkland Islands andIraq many times, as well as undertaking a number of charity performances. He was invited to perform twice at theRoyal British LegionRemembrance Day Festival at theRoyal Albert Hall, in the presence ofthe Queen.[9][10]
In 2007 he releasedSix String, a six-track EP of original songs. He wrote "Bluebirds Flying High" which became the officialCardiff City Football Club single for the2008 FA Cup Final.[11]
In 2008, "Higher" the lead single from Fox's debut albumRocking Chairs And Lemonade was released on his own Plastic Tomato label. The single later became snooker aceMark Williams entrance music from the2010 World Snooker Championship onwards. The album included the tracks fromSix String, and five other original tunes.[12] That same year he co-wrote and recorded several tracks withLucie Silvas for inclusion on her third studio album.
On 24 October 2012, Fox launched his single "Landlocked" with a live performance, its profits going to The Royal British legion's annualPoppy Appeal. He was joined on stage byJon Green on rhythm guitar at the Poppy Appeal Launch gig inTrafalgar Square.[13]
In 2004, Fox went on to playJudas in theBill Kenwright touring production ofJesus Christ Superstar to good reviews.[14] Consequently,Tim Rice recommended him for the lead role in theBilly Joel/Twyla Tharp musicalMovin' Out in America. Fox won the role, and made his début on Broadway on 6 April 2005. He later joined the North American touring production ofMovin' Out.
In March 2006, Fox returned to the UK to take up the role of "Piano Man" in the European première ofMovin' Out inThe West End at theApollo Victoria Theatre.[15][16]Billy Joel said, via a live video link-up at the press launch atRonnie Scott's jazz club, "I'm particularly pleased that the incredibly talented James Fox will be returning to home turf; he has been wowing audiences here, and he's going to continue to do so there."[17] Between October 2006 and January 2007, Fox rejoined the American tour ofMovin' Out, taking time off to return to the UK for a series of gigs. After this, he returned to the UK on a permanent basis.
In July 2010, Fox took the role of Freddie "The American" Trumper in the 2010–2011 UK touring production of the Andersson/Rice/Ulveaus musicalChess, opening in Newcastle.
On 29 September 2012, Fox took over the shared role ofPaul McCartney inThe Beatles tribute showLet it Be at The Prince of Wales Theatre in London's West End. The show opened to mixed reviews.[18] In June 2013, Fox opened the Beatles themed tribute showLet It Be on Broadway. Fox was the poster boy, starting in the promotional video singing "Let It Be" in the style of Paul McCartney, and on sides of a New York City greyhound bus. Like the West End production the show opened to mixed reviews and closed six weeks into its proposed four-month run. Fox returned to the West End production before quitting in October 2013 after 12 months in the role. Fox returned toLet it Be in the West End in 2014 until the run finished on 20 September 2014.
| Preceded by | United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 | Succeeded by |
