James Arthur is an English singer-songwriter from Middlesbrough, born on March 2, 1988, who gained fame after winning the ninth series of The X Factor in 2012. His debut single, a cover of Shontelle's "Impossible," became the most successful winner's single in the show's history, debuting at number one on the UK Singles Chart and selling over 2.5 million copies worldwide. Following this, his self-titled debut album was released in 2013, reaching number two on the UK Albums Chart. Despite facing controversies that led to a temporary split from Simon Cowell's Syco label, Arthur made a strong comeback with his 2016 album Back from the Edge, featuring the hit single "Say You Won't Let Go," which also topped the UK charts and sold millions of copies. He continued to build his career with subsequent albums like You (2019) and remains a prominent figure in British pop and soul music, known for his emotive voice and songwriting.