Josh Groban
Joshua Winslow Groban (born February 27, 1981)[1] is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. His first four solo albums have been certified multi-platinum, and he was charted in 2007 as the number-one best selling artist in the United States, with over 22.3 million records.[2][3] As of 2022, he had sold over 25 million records worldwide.[4]
This article is about the singer. For the judge, see Joshua Groban.
Josh Groban
Joshua Winslow Groban
February 27, 1981
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Singer
- songwriter
- actor
1997–present
Groban originally studied acting, but moved to singing as his voice developed. He attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, a free public school on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles, where students receive a conservatory-style education.[5] David Foster called him to stand in for an ailing Andrea Bocelli to rehearse a duet, "The Prayer", with Celine Dion at the rehearsal for the 1998 Grammy Awards.[6] Rosie O'Donnell immediately invited him to appear on her talk show.[7] Foster asked him to sing at California Governor Gray Davis' 1999 inauguration.[5][8] He was cast on Ally McBeal by the show's creator, David E. Kelley, performing "You're Still You", later released on his debut album, for the 2001 season four finale.[9]
After his appearance in two professional productions of Chess, he made his Broadway debut in 2016 as Pierre Bezukhov in the musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, to critical acclaim and a Tony Award nomination. In 2018, he received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his performance at the 72nd Tony Awards, and starred in the limited series The Good Cop. He also appeared in television series and films, such as Crazy, Stupid, Love and Muppets Most Wanted.
In 2022, Groban portrayed the Beast in the television special Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration. He returned to Broadway in 2023 playing the title character in a revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, for which he earned his second Tony Award nomination.
Early life and education[edit]
Groban was born in Los Angeles, California, to Jack Groban, a businessman, and Lindy Groban (née Johnston), a school teacher.[10] His father is a descendant of Jewish immigrants from Poland and Ukraine,[11][12] but converted from Judaism to Christianity upon marrying his mother.[13] His mother's ancestry is English, German, Norwegian, and one quarter Ashkenazi Jewish.[14][15][16][12] His parents are Episcopalians.
Groban first sang in public when he was in the seventh grade. His music teacher chose him to sing a solo of "S'wonderful" at the school's cabaret night, where he sang alone on stage for the first time.[17] At this time, he was more focused on acting, playing Tevye in his high school's production of Fiddler on the Roof.[7] In the summers of 1997 and 1998, he also attended the Interlochen Center for the Arts Camp in Michigan,[11] majoring in musical theater, and began taking vocal lessons. He went on to attend the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts as a theater major and graduated in 1999.[11] He was admitted to and briefly attended Carnegie Mellon University, intent on studying musical theater. Four months into his first semester, Groban was offered a recording contract and left college to pursue a singing career.[11]
Career[edit]
1997–2001: Debut[edit]
In late 1997, the 16-year-old Groban was introduced by his vocal coach, Seth Riggs, to producer and arranger David Foster and future manager Brian Avnet.[18] At the time, Groban had no recording experience and was preparing for his studies at Carnegie Mellon.[18] Groban worked for David Foster as a rehearsal singer on a series of high-profile events, including the January 1999 California gubernatorial inauguration of Gray Davis and the 1999 Grammy Awards where—as a stand-in for Andrea Bocelli—he rehearsed Foster's "The Prayer" with Céline Dion. According to Avnet, Groban was very nervous about standing in for Bocelli and had to be talked into it; his performance prompted the show hostess, Rosie O'Donnell, to ask him to appear on her show the following week, which in turn led to an appearance on Ally McBeal.[18] Creator David E. Kelley wrote the character Malcolm Wyatt for Groban in the season finale, aired in May 2001. His performance, including the song "You're Still You", was so popular that the show received upwards of 8,000 emails from viewers.[19] The song was included on his eponymous debut album, released in November 2001. Groban was asked to return the next season to reprise his role as Wyatt, performing "To Where You Are", airing just two weeks after his debut album was released. Avnet claims this sequence of events effectively got Groban's career off the ground.[18]
Groban was offered a recording contract at Warner Bros. Records through Foster's 143 Records imprint. Avnet told HitQuarters that Warner Bros. initially proved resistant to the deal because "They were afraid they wouldn't be able to get a voice like that on radio."[18] Explaining his reasons for signing the artist, Foster said: "I love his natural ability in the pop and rock arena, but I love his sense of classics even more. He's a true musical force to be reckoned with."[19] Under Foster's influence, Groban's first album focused more on classics such as "Gira Con Me Questa Notte" and "Alla Luce Del Sole".
Groban performed "There For Me" with Sarah Brightman on her 2000–01 La Luna World Tour, and was featured on her "La Luna" concert DVD. He recorded "For Always" with Lara Fabian for the movie soundtrack of A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001). Groban performed in many benefit shows, including "The Andre Agassi Grand Slam Event For Children," alongside Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Don Henley, and Robin Williams; "Muhammad Ali's Fight Night Foundation" which honored Michael J. Fox and others; "The Family Celebration" (2001), which was co-hosted by President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, and David E. Kelley and Michelle Pfeiffer; and Michael Milken's CapCure event, which raised funds for cancer research.
His self-titled debut album Josh Groban was released on November 20, 2001. Over the next year it went from gold to double-platinum.[20]
Voice[edit]
Various music critics have described Groban's voice in different ways, with some referring to him as a tenor[65] and others as a baritone.[66][67] Groban himself has provided varying claims to his own vocal type. In a 2002 New York Times article, he described himself as a "tenor in training".[68] He mentioned during his appearance on Late Show with David Letterman in December 2013 that he is a high lyric baritone.[69] On Twitter, in March 2012, he had also mentioned that he is a baritone "with some high notes up my sleeve."[70] It should be noted, however, that the usage of voice classification in non-classical music is controversial, because of the differing styles and techniques used.
Impact[edit]
Some of Groban's musical influences have been Radiohead, Steve Perry, Paul Simon, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Freddie Mercury,[78] and Björk. He cites as vocal influences "anyone who told a story with their songs," including Mandy Patinkin, Klaus Nomi, George Hearn, and Luciano Pavarotti.[79]
Groban has sold more than 20 million albums in less than ten years. In 2002, Groban was listed as "100 Sexiest Newcomer" and in 2008, he became one of People's "100 Most Beautiful People".[80]
Personal life[edit]
Groban dated actresses January Jones from 2003 to 2006 and Kat Dennings from 2014 to 2016.[81] From 2019 to 2021, he was in a relationship with Schuyler Helford.[82] Since 2023, he has been dating Natalie McQueen.[83]
Headlining
Symphonic
Promotional
Residencies
