Josh Groban
Hello! Magazine
May 29, 2007
By Richard Barber
With a new album and UK tour Josh Groban talks about lucky breaks and following his dream

At 17, Josh Groban's performing experience had largely been limited to singing for classmates. Then Michael Crawford fell ill and multiple Grammy-winning producer David Foster had to find a last-minute stand-in to sing All I Ask Of You from Phantom of the Opera at the inauguration of the new Californian governor in front of an audience of 20,500. Josh's voice coach recommended his young protégé.

Even now, more than eight years later, Josh marvels at this baptism by fire. "How I managed to unstick my tongue from the roof of my mouth, I'll never know," says the 26-year-old LA native. His beautiful baritone must have done the trick, though, because just weeks later, David Foster invited him to duet with Celine Dion at a star-studded dress rehearsal for the Grammy Awards, after her signing partner, Andrea Bocelli, founded himself stranded at the airport.

"We came on after Ray Charles and before BB King. Again I was the gawky, geeky stand-in. Luckily Celine could not have been nicer or more understanding. My hand was shaking so violently, I could barely read from the lyric sheet, so she lent across and held my arm steady." The rest is history. His first two albums, recorded under Foster's direction, have sold 15 million copies and include a version of You Raise Me Up that topped the charts in the US (Westlife later released their own bestselling recording of the song).

"That song has become a modern-day anthem," says Josh. "I think it'll be sung by a hundred different artists in a hundred different ways over the next hundred years."

But Josh's version made him an overnight star. Don't try and put a label on him, though. "I'm not fond of being described as a crossover artist," he says. "And I don't like being pigeon-holed in the 'popera' category. It's popular music. My influences included everyone from Radiohead, Paul Simon and Sting to Peter Gabriel and Björk. These are the artists who have given people what they didn't know they wanted. I'm keen on a bunch of classical composers, too."

Josh and his younger brother Chris a 22-year-old film graduate, are the sons of headhunter Jack ("who plays trumpet") and former art teacher Lindy. "My parents took me to every show that came through town -- I thought my future was going to be in the musical theatre. But then I scratched off the winning lottery ticket -- so to speak -- and now all this happened."

And so fast. In his fledgling career Josh has already sung with some of the biggest names. As well as Celine Dion there was Barbra Streisand, whom he met when they bumped into each other at a recording studio. "Then she made her Duets album. There was just one track left to record, All I Know Of Love, and she very kindly agreed to sing with me. It was like taking part in my own personal masterclass." He has also sung with Andrea Corr -- "So beautiful, I almost put a poster of her on my bedroom wall." -- Sarah Brightman -- "Such an extraordinary range"-- and Charlotte Church -- "Very bright and so much fun."

Now something of a veteran himself, Josh is keen to break the British market in earnest. In November 2005, he sold out London's Hammersmith Apollo. Now he's back for a run of concerts taking in Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Dublin and on 6 June, the Hampton Court Festival. He'll also fit in TV appearances including guesting on Paul O'Grady's chat show in early June. Josh admits his crowded timetable doesn't allow much space for a girlfriend. He has recently come out of a long relationship and is "taking a break" just now. But he does look forward to having a family on his own. "My parents have been together 36 years. My father's one of the greatest inspirations of my life. So yes, I'd like to hope I could be like him to my own kids one day."

In the meantime he's got things to do, people to see. "I'd like to write an entire album and do some more acting," he says, referring to his numerous appearances on Ally McBeal. "I'd love to originate a show on Broadway or the Westend. But right now, I'm savouring the moment. I can't believe so much has happened in the last five years. And yet I still feel," he says, "that the best is yet to come."

Josh Groban's album Awake is out now on Warner Music. He appears on the Paul O'Grady Show on Friday 1 June at 5pm.


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