Darius Danesh
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Darius Danesh | ||
|---|---|---|
 Darius Danesh, singer-songwriter & actor
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| Background information | ||
| Born | August 19, 1980 Glasgow, Scotland |
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| Genre(s) | Acoustic, Rock, Jazz | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Music Producer, Actor | |
| Years active | 2000 - Present | |
| Label(s) | 19 | |
| Notable instrument(s) | ||
| Singing, Guitar, Piano, Saxophone, Violin | ||
Darius Danesh (born 19 August 1980 in Glasgow, Scotland) is a songwriter, platinum recording artist and acclaimed West End stage actor, well-known from the British TV hit show Pop Idol, from which American Idol was born. His first, self-penned single, "Colourblind", entered the UK singles chart at number one, and his debut album went platinum under the guidance of Grammy-winning U2 producer Steve Lillywhite. Darius has had five UK Top Ten singles and he is managed by Simon Fuller. In 2006 he ended a second successful West End run in CHICAGO playing Billy Flynn.
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[edit] Career
Darius Danesh's professional career began playing a ten-year-old Trojan boy in the Scottish Opera's avante garde 1990s production of "The Trojans". As a teenager he then toured with the Scottish Opera in a critically acclaimed production of "Carmen". After performing at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, Darius faced the first of many career cross-roads. He chose to return to his studies in lieu of training his rich baritone voice for an Operatic career.[1]
While studying English Literature at Edinburgh University, a chance audition and promise of a record deal led Darius to fame on the television show Popstars. After reaching the final stages, Darius went on to audition for the show that was in a sense its successor, Pop Idol. He got through to the final rounds of Pop Idol, ultimately placing third.[2] However, he turned down Simon Cowell's million pound offer to sing cover songs,[3] and instead sent a self-composed track to his favourite producer in the hope of creating something original. Grammy-winning U2 producer Steve Lillywhite signed him to a five-album deal. In the summer of 2002, "Colourblind" became Darius' first number one single and that Christmas, his self-penned album "Dive In" went platinum.[3]
Over the next two years, Darius would go on to support Shakira in Paris on her World Tour;[3] complete his own sell-out UK tour; become an Ambassador for the Prince's Trust;[4] contribute to the War Child charity album[5] with Coldplay and Oasis; write a no. 6 Sunday Times Best Seller book, "Sink or Swim";[6] and headline in India with Alanis Morissette[7] after his album went platinum there.
After receiving news that his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer,[8] Darius wrote and dedicated his second studio album to Dr Booth Danesh, the man he calls his "hero".[3] In 2005, the album's title-track "Live Twice" became Darius' fifth Top Ten single.[2] Amazingly, father Booth not only lived to see his son perform it at the Royal Albert Hall, but fought and beat his cancer into remission, echoing the song's lyrics.
During 2006 and 2007 he has been writing for his third album in Los Angeles.
[edit] Chicago
Darius celebrated a five month sell-out West End run in Chicago[2] during 2005-2006, and at 25, officially became the youngest actor ever to fill the role of Billy Flynn since the show first opened on Broadway in 1975, appearing in 121 shows without missing a performance.
[edit] Guys and Dolls
During May and June 2007 Darius will star as Sky Masterson in the UK Tour of the musical Guys And Dolls[9].
[edit] Philanthropy
Off stage, Darius works with the Lymphoma Association[8] to raise awareness of one of the least understood and fastest growing cancers, and he continues to work with underprivileged youth as a Prince's Trust Ambassador.[4]
He supports a campaign by human rights group Amnesty International to protest at injustice.[10]
Darius has also teamed up with Guitar Aid to design a guitar that can be sold to raise funds, enabling them to help more people in poorer countries.[11]
[edit] Personal life
Darius was born in Glasgow and educated at Glasgow Academy. He then went on to study English and Philosophy at Edinburgh University. His father, Dr. Booth Danesh, is Iranian and his mother, Dr. Avril Danesh, is Scottish. He has two younger brothers, all three were named after Persian Kings.
He is dating Canadian actress Natasha Henstridge of Species fame. Henstridge said that she and Danesh met at a pedestrian crossing in Los Angeles.[12]
[edit] Discography
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official MySpace
- Darius Music website & forum
- Nina's Darius World
- Darius Danesh at the Internet Movie Database
- Guitar Aid - The Darius Guitar
[edit] Notes
- ^ Daily Record, 7 December 2005
- ^ a b c The Big Smoke, 7 November 2005
- ^ a b c d The Record Music Magazine, January 2005
- ^ a b The Prince's Trust: Darius launches peace garden, July 2005
- ^ BBC News: Music stars unite for war charity, 14 October 2002
- ^ Times Online: This week's bestsellers, 7 September 2003
- ^ IndianTelevision.com: Alanis Morissette and Darius to stage at MTV Immies, 1 December 2004
- ^ a b Lymphoma Coalition: 2005 Beacons of Hope
- ^ Guys And Dolls the Musical
- ^ Daily Record 31 January 2007
- ^ Guitar Aid: The Darius Guitar
- ^ Hello Magazine: Cavalli Vodka, 12 May 2006
[edit] References
- Danesh, Darius. Darius, Sink or Swim, My Story. ISBN 0-7553-1281-3
Categories: 1980 births | Living people | People from Glasgow | Glasgow Academy alumni | People from Renfrewshire | Scottish singer-songwriters | Scottish singers | Scottish songwriters | Scottish musicians | Scottish actors | Scottish musical theatre actors | Scottish pop singers | Scottish male singers | Alumni of the University of Edinburgh | Pop Idol contestants | British Iranians
