Josh Groban

It also ran as a Great Performances special on PBS. His newest album, Devil's Playground, is due out March 16, 2005, and is his first new studio album in nearly 12 years. On November 30, 2004, his second live DVD, Live at the Greek, was released. Idol appeared on VH1 Storytellers and issued a Greatest Hits CD in 2001. Both of Groban's albums were produced by David Foster, released under Foster's 143 Records and distributed by Warner Music. Idol returned to the popular eye in 1998, when he played himself in The Wedding Singer, an Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore romantic comedy. On November 11, 2003, his second album Closer was released. The follow-up to Charmed Life was 1993's Cyberpunk (see 1993 in music), which was a flop, and Idol sank into drug addiction, nearly dying of an overdose in 1994.

The following month, he performed "To Where You Are" and "The Prayer" at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, and joined The Corrs, Ronan Keating, Sting, Lionel Richie and others for a holiday performance at the Vatican in Rome. The album sold extremely well, but Idol decided to take a break and acted in The Doors, directed by Oliver Stone. On February 24, 2002, Groban performed "The Prayer" with Charlotte Church at the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics, and in November, Groban had his own PBS special Josh Groban In Concert (2002). Just before the release of Charmed Life in 1990 (see 1990 in music), Idol was in a motorcycle accident in which he almost lost his leg. On November 20, 2001, his self-titled debut album Josh Groban was released and over the next year, his album went from gold to double-platinum. A cover of Tommy James' "Mony Mony" did well on MTV and Idol playing Cousin Kevin in a performance of Tommy. The character of Malcolm Wyatt was so popular that Groban was asked to come back the next season to reprise his role. Stevens soon left for a solo career and Idol continued.

Kelley had been impressed at the 1999 Gray Davis inauguration and based on the audience reaction to Groban's singing, Kelley wrote a similar scene in this finale. Idol didn't release a new album until 1987 (see 1987 in music); Whiplash Smile sold well, but failed to live up to expectations. The series creator David E. Idol's first LP, Rebel Yell (1984, 1984 in music) was a blockbuster success and established Idol's superstar status in the United States. In May 2001, Groban played the role of Malcolm Wyatt in the season finale of the television series Ally McBeal, performing "You're Still You" and "To Where You Are" from his debut album. Idol moved to New York City and began working as a solo artist and began working with Steve Stevens, soon becoming MTV staples with "White Wedding" and "Dancing with Myself". He performed with Sarah Brightman on her 2000-2001 La Luna Tour, and made his recording debut by singing "For Always" with Lara Fabian on the movie soundtrack to A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (2001). Generation X signed to Chrysalis Records and released three albums before breaking up.

Records through Foster's own 143 Records imprint. During this period, Idol decided to become a musician and formed a band called Generation X in 1976 (see 1976 in music). Accepted into the theater department at Carnegie Mellon University, Groban left after his freshman year, when he was offered a recording contract at Warner Bros. Idol lived in Worthing before attending Sussex University for only a year before joining the Bromley Contingent of keen Sex Pistols fans. Groban worked for Foster as a rehearsal singer on a series of high-profile events, including the 1999 Grammy Awards -- where, as a stand-in for Andrea Bocelli, he rehearsed Foster's "The Prayer" with Céline Dion -- and the January 1999 inauguration of Gray Davis as governor of California. Billy Idol (born William Michael Albert Broad on November 30, 1955 in Middlesex, England) is a British-born hard rock musician. In late 1998, the 17-year-old Groban was introduced by his vocal coach to Grammy-winning producer/arranger David Foster.

In 1997 and 1998, Groban attended the Interlochen Arts Program, majoring in musical theater. Known for his unique low-tenor voice and good looks, his musical style ranges from classical to pop. Joshua Winslow Groban (born February 27, 1981 in Los Angeles, California) is an American singer. Listen to You Raise Me Up (Opens in Windows Media Player) (http://www.warnerreprise.com/asx/joshgroban_youraisemeup_audio_128-a.asx).

Official Josh Groban Website (http://www.joshgroban.com). IMDb.com profile: Josh Groban (http://imdb.com/name/nm1169011/).