Joseph Lewis
Born	Francis J. Alvany c. 1850 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died	March 22, 1902(1902-03-22) (aged 52) New York City, New York
Nationality	American
Other names	Hungry Joe Lewis John Jacob Astorhouse Charles Clayton Henry F. Post William C. Howard Louis Alcaser
Occupation	Confidence man
Known for	Leading confidence man in the United States during the late 19th century; once swindled Oscar Wilde out of $5,000 playing a bunco game.

Joseph "Hungry Joe" Lewis (c. 1850-March 22, 1902) was an American criminal and swindler. He was regarded as one of the top confidence and bunco men in the United States during the late 19th century whose success was matched only by contemporaries such as Tom O'Brien and Charles P. Miller, sharing the title of "King of the Banco Men" with both men at various times in his career.^[1][2]

Over a period of thirty years, Lewis amassed a huge personal fortune almost solely through targeting wealthy bankers, merchants and other prominent figures. This was most often because more of a profit could be made while they were less likely to report the crime to police. Among his more well-known victims included General John A. Logan, Judge Noah Davis, Charles Francis Adams and, most notably, Irish author Oscar Wilde.^[1][2]

An 1885 biography of Lewis attributes to him the phrase "There's a sucker born every minute."^[3][4]

Biography[link]

Early criminal career[link]

Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Lewis had several run-ins with the law during the 1880s and early 90s. In 1880, Lewis was arrested for the shooting of Boston thief Billy Flynn in Detroit but was acquitted by a jury who ruled he had acted in self-defense. He later made the acquaintance of Gen. John A. Logan and, one night while dining with him at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, a hotel detective informed Logan of Lewis's identity. Logan scoffed at the detective's claim and remarked "Why sir, that man is one of my best friends. You have made a terrible mistake here". Lewis excused himself after borrowing $500 from him and disappeared. He similarly befriended Charles Francis Adams and lured the elderly man into a Boston Common banco game where he and his friends swindled him out of several thousand dollars. Later in Philadelphia, he represented himself to Samuel J. Randall as the son of banker A.J. Drexel. He was apparently so convincing that, when the actual son of Drexel called on the house by chance, Ramsden believed the young man was the impostor and threw him out of his home. He and another noted banco man, "Western Sam", spent an entire summer in Long Branch, New Jersey where they conned over $100,000 from residents.^[5]

The most famous of victims was perhaps Irish author Oscar Wilde whom he met in New York City while visiting the U.S. on a lecture tour in 1882. Lewis dined with Wilde at the Hotel Brunswick for several days before managing to persuade Wilde in joining a banco game. Wilde lost $5,000 and gave Lewis a check for the Park National Back, but afterwards stopped payment when he learned he had been swindled. Lewis later claimed that he had taken $1,500 in cash from Wilde before he was discovered.^[1][2] Inspector Thomas F. Byrnes, then head of the NYPD Detective's Bureau, later commented that when Wilde himself had "reaped a harvest of American dollars with his curls, sun flowers and knee-britches" he was no less a swindler then Lewis "only not quite so sharp".^[6]

Years in New York City[link]

Lewis became so infamous in New York City, his base of operations for many years, that he was once thrown out of the Twenty-Ninth Precinct by Captain Alexander "Clubber" Williams having recognized him as the man who attempted to con his brother while on the Pavona Ferry in 1884.^[7]

Lewis was arrested with a young protege, Oliver Wilson, while attempting to draw in victims for a local bunco game in Broadway on April 21, 1885. Police had received reports that there had been bunco men operating in the district as county merchants were arriving in the city to make their annual spring purchases. When police officers arrived at the scene, they "saw them accost a number of persons, shake hands with them, and act in the manner of "bunco steerers". They were tried at the Jefferson Market Police Court the following day on a charge of disorderly conduct. Lewis explained away the charges by pointing out that he did not collect a crowd, obstruct the sidewalk, use profane or improper language or any other cause which legally defined "disorderly conduct". He also denied having "accosted strangers" stating to the judge "I am not in the habit of accosting strangers. I spoke to and shook hands with several friends. That is the way, I believe, that gentlemen greet one another in the street. I did nothing to justify this arrest". One of these men, Lewis claimed, had asked him directions to the Astor Library at which time he was arrested. Despite his defense, he and Wilson were both fined $10. Though both men were well-dressed and "wore what appeared to be gold-mounted chains" had neither watches or indeed any collateral to pay for their release.^[8]

A month later, Lewis attempted to swindle wealthy British manufacturer Joseph Ramsden while vacationing in New York for his health. Shortly after his arrival from Manchester, England, on which he had traveled on the Cunard steamer Gallia, he booked into a Broadway hotel. Lewis approached Ramsden the next day while taking a walk down Broadway. He greeted Ramsden near the Metropolitan Hotel calling the surprised tourist by name and inquiring about his health. When Ransden expressed his astonishment at having been recognized by, in his view a total stranger, Lewis introduced himself as the nephew of the captain of the Gallia and who had "spoke very kindly of him". Claiming to be a manufacturer of women's undergarments in Baltimore, he then used the introduction to lure him to a bunco game. Lewis explained that he was preparing to leave for Baltimore but offered Ramsden to join him as he went to purchase tickets at a nearby railroad station. Ramsden agreed and the two walked together down Broadway while Lewis gave him a guided tour and pointing out businesses and giving exaggerated accounts of business dealing with various New York business firms.^[7]

They eventually arrived at a building on Canal Street and proceeded to an office of the second floor where Lewis "bought" a ticket from a young man. While there, Lewis showed Ramsden his valise and showed him the various tools of his trade, mainly muslin and paint goods, before discovering a pack of cards at the bottom of the bag. He then demonstrated a card trick which he claimed had cost him $400 in a Bowery saloon the day before. Showing him how to play three-card monte, the man who had sold Lewis the ticket encouraged Ramsden to play a hand. When Ramsden refused to bet however, the man attempted to provoke him claiming he had no money to bet with. He then asked Lewis to leave and, turning to the young man, he showed him a roll of bank notes from the Bank of England worth ₤50. At this point, Lewis grabbed the roll and ran out of the building. When the astonished Ramsden had recovered, he went outside to find Lewis but he had long since escaped. Similarly, he returned to the office to find the room and been emptied.^[7]

On the advice of friends, Ramsden reported the incident to NYPD Police Headquarters whereupon Lewis was immediately identified as the suspect. This was the first charge of robbery ever brought against Lewis and the case against him was so great that Inspector Byrnes ordered an extensive city-wide search and that he be arrested on sight. Lewis managed to avoid capture for a time, the police unable to find him at his usual hangouts, however he was eventually spotted on Broadway by Inspector Byrnes and Detective Richard O'Connor who followed him to a house on Sixth Avenue where he was arrested. He was later identified by Ramsden in a police lineup with seven other men, although he continually denied the charge claiming his name as Henry F. Post. Although Lewis had been arrested numerous times, this was the first time Lewis convicted and he served four years in Sing Sing.^[7]

In May 1888, Lewis was released after serving three years. Lewis was identified eight months later in the NYPD's "Rogue's Gallery" by William J. Bansemer, a wealthy and retired Baltimore merchant, who lost $5,000 to him in a bunco game. He was arrested in New York on December 1, 1888, and extradited to Baltimore to stand trial.^[9]

Imprisonment in Baltimore[link]

On December 1, 1890, Lewis was convicted of having "bunkoed" Baltimore businessman William J. Bansemer out of $5,000. He was sentenced to nine years in the Maryland State Penitentiary but his term was reduced for good behavior and was released on June 20, 1896. Upon his release, he spoke out against his imprisonment claiming he had wrongly been convicted. He further claimed that he could have been able to provide an alibi had he been given the opportunity but that he had been advised by his lawyer to pled guilty in order to avoid a maximum 15-year jail sentence. Lewis blamed the "frame up" on Inspector Byrnes, whom he claimed had a long standing grudge against him, and used his influence to manipulate the police investigation and trial. He also made vague accusations regarding Bynes involvement in police misconduct and corruption, although nothing came of the charges.^[5]

On the morning of his release, he was given $167 by Warden Weyler which he had earned during his last 18 months in prison. Lewis's health and appearance had reportedly been significantly affected during imprisonment, the New York Times noting "his powerful frame does not indicate the sprightliness and vigor of seven years ago. His keen eyes have dimmed, and his hair is sprinkled with silver". He then headed for New York where he claimed he intended to lead an honest life as a bookmaker and "follow the horse races".^[10]

Death[link]

Lewis visited NYPD Police Headquarters upon his arrival in New York two days later and informed Captain Stephen O'Brien, who had since succeeded Byrnes as Chief of Detectives, of his intentions.^[11] He apparently remained true to his word and, as of early-1902, was witnessed by Captain George McClusky working as a cigar vendor in the Bowery. On March 22, 1902, Lewis's death was reported by NYPD police officials and announced in the New York Times and the New York Sun the following day.^[12] The report could not be verified however, his death having once been falsely reported in Baltimore, and his name was not listed in the New York City Board of Health. His friends responded that he had died in an apartment house on Manhattan's West Side and that his funeral had been held three days after his death. The name on the coffin, they claimed, was one which he would not be recognized so he could be buried anonymously.^[13]

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Asbury, Herbert. Sucker's Progress: An Informal History of Gambling in America from the Colonies to Canfield. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1938.
• Sharpe, Graham. Gambling's Strangest Moments: Extraordinary But True Stories from Over Four-Hundred-and-Fifty Years of Gambling. London: Robson Books, 2005. ISBN 1-86105-864-0

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2010)

Joseph Arrington, Jr. (August 8, 1933 – August 13, 1982), better known as "Joe Tex", was an American Southern soul singer-songwriter, most popular during the 1960s and 1970s. His style of speaking over music, which he called 'rap', made him a predecessor of the modern style of music.

Career[link]

Born in Baytown, Texas,^[1] Tex was subsequently raised in the Central Texas town of Rogers. His professional career as a singer began onstage at the Apollo. He won first place in a 1954 talent contest and duly secured a record deal.

His early releases on King Records, Ace and Anna Records were considered by some to be derivative and were generally disappointing in terms of sales. Tex released thirty singles in the first ten years of his recording career, never once hitting the Hot 100. However, after James Brown's cover version of Tex's "Baby You're Right" became a US number 2 hit in 1962, Tex was signed to Dial Records by Nashville, Tennessee-based record producer Buddy Killen, and his career turned around.

Tex prospered under Killen's guidance. Tex's first hit recording was 1965's "Hold What You've Got", recorded at the FAME studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and distributed by Atlantic on Killen's Dial record label. "Hold What You've Got" spent 11 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #5, and sold a million copies by 1966.^[1]

Other singles followed, namely "A Woman Can Change a Man", and "The Love You Save (May Be Your Own)" which were both ballads. But a change in tempo also brought hits such as "S.Y.S.L.J.F.M. (The Letter Song)" (1966), and "Show Me" (1967). Tex's recording career was distinguished by his extensive single releases. For example, in 1965 alone, Tex released seven singles, followed by six in 1966 and five in 1967. He had released over thirty singles prior to the release of his first album, in 1965.

Meanwhile the singles "Skinny Legs and All" (US #10) and "Men Are Getting Scarce" also became major hits for Tex. "Skinny Legs And All" was Tex's second million seller spending 15 weeks in the charts. The single was released in late 1967,^[2] and is the same version that appeared on his later pseudo-live album "Live And Lively". He was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in January 1968.^[3] His last major hit of that time was "I Gotcha". "I Gotcha" also penned by Tex and released in January 1972, went to #2 for two weeks, and stayed for 20 weeks in the listings. The RIAA gold disc award was made on March 22, 1972. It went on to sell over two million copies by August that year.^[4] Following its release, Tex decided to retire.

He returned to music in 1975, and two years later enjoyed a comeback hit with "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)", which reached U.S. #12. By the 1980s he had withdrawn again from full-time performing. He devoted himself to Islam, his Texas ranch and the Houston Oilers American Football team.

Rivalry with James Brown[link]

A feud between Tex and fellow labelmate James Brown began after Brown, who Tex felt copied his stage moves, began dating Tex's wife, Bea Ford. In response, Tex wrote a song called "You Keep Her." They played a few more shows together until Tex mocked James Brown's act of throwing a cape over his shoulder and screamed "please - get me out of this cape". Brown later fired a gun at Tex in a nightclub.^[5]

Personal life and death[link]

A convert to the Muslim faith since 1966, he changed his name to Yusuf Hazziez, and toured as a spiritual lecturer. He has one daughter, Eartha Doucet, and four sons, Joseph Arrington III, Ramadan Hazziez, Jwaade Hazziez and Joseph Hazziez.

On August 13, 1982, Joe Tex died at his home in Navasota, Texas, following a heart attack, five days after his 49th birthday.

Cover versions[link]

Several other artists have covered Tex's work, including the rock band Nazareth's "I Want To (Do Everything for You)" and Phish who performed "You Better Believe It Baby" on July 26, 1998 at the Starplex Amphitheater in Dallas, Texas and again on August 2, 1998 at Deer Creek Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana. The rock band The Trews covered "The Love You Save (May Be Your Own)" in 2009 on their acoustic album, Acoustic - Friends & Total Strangers. Lawrence "Lipbone" Redding covered "The Love You Save (May Be Your Own)" on his 2011 album, Unbroken. Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers covered "Show Me" on his 1979 solo album "Everything You Heard Is True". UK band Q Tips performed "S.Y.S.L.J.F.M.(The Letter Song)" regularly in their live shows..

Selected discography[link]

Albums[link]

• 1965 Hold On To What You've Got (Dial Records, distributed by Atlantic Records) - US Pop #124, US R&B #2
• 1965 The New Boss (Dial/Atlantic) - US #142, US R&B #3
• 1966 Show Me (Dial/Atlantic)
• 1966 The Love You Save (Dial/Atlantic) - US #108
• 1966 I've Got to Do a Little Better (Dial/Atlantic)
• 1967 The Best of Joe Tex (Dial/Atlantic)^[6]
• 1968 Live And Lively (Dial/Atlantic) - US #84
• 1968 Soul Country (Dial/Atlantic) - US #154
• 1969 Buying a Book (Dial/Atlantic) - US #190
• 1969 Happy Soul (Dial/Atlantic)
• 1969 You Better Get It (Dial/Atlantic)
• 1970 With Strings And Things (Dial/Atlantic)
• 1972 I Gotcha (Dial) - US # 17
• 1972 Spill the Beans (Dial)
• 1976 Have You ever (Mercury Netherlands) - NL #6338693
• 1977 Bumps & Bruises (Epic) - US #108
• 1978 Rub Down (Epic)
• 1978 He Who Is Without Funk Cast the First Stone (Dial)

Singles[link]

• 1965 "I Want To (Do Everything For You)" R&B #1
• 1965 "Hold What You've Got" U.S. #5
• 1966 "A Sweet Woman Like You" R&B #1
• 1966 "The Love You Save (May Be Your Own)"
• 1966 "S.Y.S.L.J.F.M.(The Letter Song)"
• 1966 "I Believe I'm Gonna Make It"
• 1966 "I've Got To Do a Little Bit Better"
• 1966 "Papa Was, Too"
• 1967 "Show Me"
• 1967 "Skinny Legs and All"
• 1968 "Chicken Crazy / Buying A Book"
• 1968 "I'll Never Do You Wrong / Wooden Spoon"
• 1968 "Keep The One You Got / Go Home And Do It"
• 1968 "Men Are Gettin' Scarce / You're Gonna Thank Me, Woman"
• 1972 "I Gotcha" R&B #1, U.S. #2
• 1972 "Cat's Got Her Tongue / Woman Stealer"
• 1976 "Have You Ever" NL #33
• 1976 "Love Shortage"
• 1977 "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)" U.S. #12, UK #2
• 1979 "Loose Caboose"

Soundtracks[link]

"I Gotcha" is used in both the film and soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs (1992). Tarantino also uses "The Love You Save (May Be Your Own)" in Death Proof (2007).

Notes[link]

References[link]

• The New Musical Express Book of Rock, 1975, Star Books, ISBN 0-352-30074-4

External links[link]

• Joe Tex at Allmusic
• Joe Tex discography at Discogs
• Joe Tex at the Internet Movie Database
• Joe Tex - I Gotcha at superseventies.com
• Joe Tex - The New Boss: Dial Sessions And Dates

Joseph "Joe" McElderry ( /məˈkɛldəri/; born 16 June 1991) is an English singer songwriter and model. He won the sixth series of the ITV show The X Factor in 2009.^[1] His first single "The Climb" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and Irish Singles Charts. He was also crowned the winner of the second series of Popstar to Operastar, two years later in 2011. To date he has released three albums - two of them reaching the UK top three.^[2] He is currently working on his fourth studio album.

Early life[link]

Born in South Shields,^[3] England, McElderry is the only child^[4] of Jim McElderry and Eileen Joyce.^[5] The couple separated when McElderry was a child.^[6] McElderry was raised in a small flat on Tyneside.^[5]

McElderry attended Harton Technology College in Lisle Road, South Shields, before joining South Tyneside College to study AS level school qualifications, and Newcastle College to study performing arts.^[7] He was the Pride of South Tyneside's Young Performer of the Year in 2008.^[8] McElderry studied for BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts (Advanced Performance) at Newcastle College Performance Academy and in 2010 graduated with triple distinction.^[9] He took the role of 'Danny Zuko' in Grease performed at Harton Technology College.^[7]

McElderry is also close friends with one of The X Factor eight series winners, Jade Thirwall, who is also from South Shields. The pair used to duet together.^[10]

Career[link]

[edit] 2009: The X Factor

McElderry auditioned for The X Factor in 2007, but it wasn't shown because he felt he was too young compared to the other contestants and opted to walk away.^[8] He auditioned again in 2009 in Manchester and sang Luther Vandross's "Dance with My Father".

Mentored by Cheryl Cole, he made it through to the live finals and was announced the winner on 13 December 2009,^[1][11] beating runner up Olly Murs with his version of Miley Cyrus's "The Climb".^[12]

McElderry's prize, as winner, was a recording contract with Simon Cowell's Syco record label, whose parent company is Sony Music Entertainment. The contract has a stated value of £1 million, of which £150,000 is a cash advance and the remainder allocated to recording and marketing costs. The single "The Climb" was released as McElderry's debut single.

Along with The X Factor finalists, McElderry recorded vocal for featured on a charity single, a cover of Michael Jackson's hit "You Are Not Alone". It was released in aid of London's Great Ormond Street Hospital.^[13] The finalists premiered the song live on the 15 November edition of the programme; the single was available for digital download that day and a physical release followed the day after.^[14] The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart.

McElderry's debut single, "The Climb",^[15] was available to download at midnight on 14 December 2009 and was released physically on 16 December 2009. According to industry sources, approximately 100,000 copies of the single were sold on the day of its release.^[16] On 18 December 2009, it was announced that McElderry secured the top spot in the Irish Singles Chart for 11–17 December 2009.^[17]

"The Climb" was a contender for 2009's UK Christmas number one,^[18] competing against, and losing to, Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name".^[19] McElderry's single sold 450,000 compared to Rage Against the Machine's 502,000 after a Facebook-based campaign was started in protest of The X Factor's dominance of the Christmas number one title. This was the first time since 2004 that the X Factor winning single was denied the top spot for Christmas in the UK Singles Charts. Simon Cowell stated that he was "gutted for Joe because a number one single meant a lot to him. But I have to congratulate Jon and Tracy [Morter, who started the Facebook campaign]."^[20][21] McElderry's single stayed at number one on the Irish charts for a second week securing him the Irish Christmas number one (18–25 December 2009),^[22][23] and the song moved up to the top spot in the UK Singles Chart on 27 December.^[24][25] The single had the fifth highest sales of all UK singles released in 2009 staying one week at #1. It was also the top selling Irish single of 2009 where it remained at the top spot for four consecutive weeks.

[edit] 2010: The X Factor Live Tour and Wide Awake

McElderry performing live at The O₂ Arena as part of the UK The X Factor series 6 tour.

"The Climb" was nominated in the British Single category at the 2010 BRIT Awards but lost out to fellow X Factor contestants JLS. McElderry performed "Don't Stop Believin'" and presented an award at the 15th National Television Awards in London on 20 January 2010.

In January 2010, he participated in the Helping Haiti charity single, a cover of "Everybody Hurts" arranged by Simon Cowell in order to raise money for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.^[26] McElderry took part in the Great North Run half marathon 21.0975-kilometre (13.1094 mi) race on 19 September 2010 raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust.^[27][28]

McElderry and seven other finalists, Olly Murs, Stacey Solomon, Danyl Johnson, Lloyd Daniels, John & Edward, Jamie Archer and Lucie Jones, appeared in the X Factor Live tour which began on 15 February 2010 at the Echo Arena Liverpool and concluded on 4 April at the SECC. McElderry performed the songs "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", "Love Story", "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word", "She's Out of My Life", "Don't Stop Believin'" and his debut single "The Climb" on the tour. On 15 March, it was reported that McElderry had signed a modelling deal with Next Models.^[29] He performed on Radio 1's Big Weekend on 22 May 2010, singing an acoustic version of "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Telephone" in the Live Lounge tent and he also performed "Don't Stop Believin'" and his single, "The Climb" on The 5:19 Show.

McElderry signing autographs in Bangor at Radio 1's Big Weekend.

In 2010, McElderry recorded his debut album Wide Awake^[30] which was released on 25 October 2010.^[31] Producers of the album included Dallas Austin and John Shanks.^[32] He launched the album with a performance at G-A-Y .^[33]

The first single released from Wide Awake was "Ambitions", a cover of a song by Norwegian band Donkeyboy.^[34] He filmed a music video for the song in September 2010.^[35] The video was directed by Nigel Dick.^[36] Ambitions premiered on BBC Radio One on 19 September 2010.^[37] The single went on sale on 8 October 2010 in Ireland. It went on sale by digital download in United Kingdom on 10 October 2010, with the physical CD available for purchase in the United Kingom the following day. The song debuted at #6 on the UK Singles Chart and #4 on the Irish Chart.

McElderry's album Wide Awake debuted at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart,^[38] with retail sales of 39,405 copies in the country during the album's first week of release.^[39] The album fell to number 20 on the chart the following week,^[40] and to number 40 the week after that.^[41] As of 4 December 2011, 101,454 copies of the album had been sold at retail in the United Kingdom.^[42]

"Someone Wake Me Up" was the second single taken from the album.^[43] It was released as a single on 5 December 2010 in the United Kingdom. It debuted and peaked at number 68 on the UK Singles Chart.^[44]

McElderry was approached by Twentieth Century Fox to record the specially written track, "There’s A Place For Us", written by American songstress Carrie Underwood, which features in the soundtrack to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.^[45] and was also the B-side to "Someone Wake Me Up". The song was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 2011 for Best Original Song - Motion Picture.^[46]

[edit] 2011: Departure from Syco, Popstar to Operastar and Classic

After "Someone Wake Me Up," McElderry released no further singles or albums with Syco. On 15 April 2011, it was reported in the news media that McElderry's contract with Syco would not be renewed when it expired the following month.^[47]

No publicly named person from Syco has made an on-the-record comment about the end of the company's relationship with McElderry. In an interview that aired on 18 May 2011 on the television programme North East Tonight, McElderry made his first public comments about his departure from the company. During the interview, he said:

[E]verything that happened with Syco, and parting ways with them — I believe it's all an experience.

I've gotten absolutely no regrets about anything that I've done over the past two years — in the music that I chose, and anything that I did, because at that time and at that moment in time when I chose to do those things and chose to do those songs, that was just what I wanted to do. And I enjoy taking risks. It's exciting.

For a boy of 19 to get what I've got at the minute and what I'm doing at the minute, it's amazing, and I am genuinely happy with what I'm doing.^[48]

In radio interviews during the month of July 2011, McElderry spoke further about the circumstances of the end of his relationship with Syco. He told Terry Wogan in an interview on BBC Radio Two that he had actually parted ways with Syco in February 2011.^[49] In an interview with Real Radio that aired on 13 July 2011, McElderry, when speaking about his commercial struggles, said: "I think a lot of it was to do with the fact that I went away for so long. . . . I think we left it a bit too late with releasing the album. But I think it's also down to the label."^[50] He said that there were "timing issues" and, "We missed out on a few things."^[51] In an interview with Tony Horne (who at that time was with Metro Radio in Newcastle upon Tyne), McElderry said that he did not believe that he was getting enough work to do while he was with Syco.^[52]

On 14 July 2011, McElderry told Radio Newcastle that he "wasn't happy" when he was with Syco.^[53] He said that Syco had made mistakes "timing-wise" and in "the marketing side of things."^[54] He declined in that interview to be more specific about what he thought the mistakes were, saying that it was "pointless" at that juncture to get into "the blame game."^[55] He did say that he was "happy" with his album, Wide Awake, although, if he had to do it over again, "maybe" he would have included "a few more ballads."^[56] But he added that the album's songs gave him "some great fast material" to perform alongside ballads when he performed live, and also said that, when he was making the album, he wanted to show that he could be "diverse" and perform fast songs as well as ballads of the type that he had performed on X Factor.^[57]

McElderry told Tony Horne that he had a meeting with Syco staff members in February 2011.^[52] He told Radio Newcastle that, at the meeting, he expressed his unhappiness with the company, and said to the staff members that the relationship with Syco was not working for him.^[53] According to McElderry, the staff members said that the relationship was not working for the company either, and all concerned agreed to go their separate ways.^[58] McElderry also told Radio Newcastle: "I just needed to go out and explore on my own and fend for myself a bit instead of being in this huge kind of establishment that kind of protected us. I needed to go out there and be a proper artist and fend for myself, by myself, and do things my way."^[59]

McElderry has also stated that his split with Syco was amicable, and there was no "fight" between them.^[60] He told Tony Horne, "I'm still great friends with all the team there."^[61] He told the Shields Gazette: "I really like Simon Cowell and always think very highly of him. . . . There's no hard feelings there — there never has been and never will be."^[62] He told Capital FM on 19 August 2011 that he was "forever thankful" to Syco and Simon Cowell for the opportunity that they gave him, adding, "I love them to bits."^[63] He said in the same interview that he was "a massive fan" of X Factor.^[64]

He also denied the report (attributed to an unnamed "friend" in the Daily Mail's article about Syco's dropping of him^[47]) that he was "devastated" when Syco dropped him. He said in radio interviews that he had not been "depressed."^[60][65] He told Dean Piper of the Sunday Mirror: "Being dumped by Syco wasn't the end of my world — it was the opposite. I'm actually glad it happened. People were coming up to me thinking I was going to be depressed but I honestly wasn't. My thoughts were, 'Right, let's get on with it and work out what to do next.'"^[66] Later, he told Out in the City magazine:

I mean this in the least big-headed way possible, but it wasn't a depressing time. Obviously, getting dropped by your record label is not an ideal situation, but I just kind of thought, "OK, what's next? Let's move on to the next chapter". I didn't dwell on it. I don't want to say that I wasn't bothered because obviously I care about my music, but I kind of thought: "Right, let's go out and explore who I'm going to release music with next". It was an exciting time, as well as being a kind of wake-up, I suppose.^[67]

Also in 2011, McElderry terminated his relationship with Modest! Management, the management company that had managed him since his victory on X Factor.^[68] He subsequently hired Angie Jenkison as his new manager.^[69]

On 20 March 2011, the Sunday Mirror tabloid published an article which claimed that McElderry's "dream of world stardom [was] over," and that he had moved out of an apartment in an upscale section of London and had moved back home to South Shields to live with his mother.^[70] McElderry later said that the article was so wildly inaccurate that he laughed when he read it. He told Out in the City magazine in August 2011: "I've always lived in South Shields, I've never moved to London, so I never 'moved back'! I just looked at that article, and I was laughing my head off at what a load of rubbish it was. I think it was the day that article went out, I had just put down a deposit on my own house, so I just thought: 'How far from the truth can it be?'. It was water off a duck's back. I just thought: 'Whatever — let them write whatever the hell they want'."^[67]

On 9 May 2011, McElderry performed the song "Something's Coming" from West Side Story at a reception at Buckingham Palace that celebrated young people in the performing arts.^[71]

In late January or early February 2011, ITV approached McElderry's management about his being a contestant on the upcoming second series of Popstar to Operastar.^[72] McElderry agreed and entered the show,^[73] which started on 5 June 2011. He won the show on 10 July 2011. After the show it was revealed that, in all of the episodes in which he competed, McElderry received more votes than all of the other contestants combined, never receiving less than 58.2% of the total public votes.^[74] He defeated Cheryl Baker in the final with 77.1% of the public vote.^[75]

On 11 July 2011, McElderry confirmed that he would be recording his second studio album, stating "It’s not going to be pop, it’s going to be a lot of big, lush ballads. I wanted to do a few more ballads on my first album. It’s going to appeal to all my fans. I’m going to sing a few Italian songs. I’m not going to change my voice – I don’t want to scare people too much... I can’t reveal which label it’s with but it’s an amazing label.^[76] The label was later revealed to be Decca Records.^[77] On 24 July 2011, he headlined a free homecoming gig at Bents Park as part of South Tyneside Summer Festival 2011, singing a set list of 20 songs, with over 20,000 people in the audience- the biggest turnout the event has ever had.^[78]

His album, Classic, was released on 22 August 2011. Classic debuted on the official UK top 40 albums chart at number 2 on the chart that was released on 28 August 2011.^[79] The album was certified gold, within 10 days after the release.^[80] As of 4 December 2011, 211,317 copies of the album had been sold at retail in the United Kingdom.^[81]

McElderry performed at Festival of Remembrance on 12 November 2011, this was the third time performing in front of The Queen.^[82] He embarked on his debut solo tour, Classic Tour in November 2011.^[83] He appeared on Big River Big Songs: The Tyne, singing the title track, "Big River".^[84]

McElderry released a Christmas album titled Classic Christmas on 28 November 2011.^[85] During the album's first week of release in the United Kingdom, 34,043 copies of the album were sold at retail in the country, and the album debuted at number 15 on the UK Albums Chart.^[86] On 8 December, he performed at Durham Cathedral to an audience of 1,500, singing, "In the Bleak Midwinter" and David Essex's "A Winter's Tale", with a new verse written by Tim Rice.^[87] He introduced The Nutcracker at The O2 Arena from 27 December 2011 to 30 December 2011 by singing 3 songs of Classic Christmas, "Adeste Fideles", "Silent Night" and a solo version of "O Holy Night".^[88]

[edit] 2012 - present: Street of Dreams and fourth album

In the Classic Tour Programme, McElderry spoke about what he'd like to do for his next album, "I'd really like to spend some time and do some song writing and do some more original songs, like on my first album... I feel like these past 2 years have gone so quick that I want to just step out of the craziness for a minute and write a nice song. Maybe write about what I've experienced."^[89] He has also shared his interest in collaborating with a rapper, saying “I always think that when you put a rapper with a singer that shouldn’t go, it is the most genius thing as it is so different.”^[90] He later revealed that he is interested in collaborating with Dappy.^[91] On 20 January 2012, he tweeted "I know I'm on holiday.... but just been sent some new songs to listen to for ideas etc.. Can't wait to start recording!!! :D".^[92] On 26 January 2012, he tweeted he was making mood boards, song list ideas and references for the album.^[93] He spoke about the direction of the album in the Sunday Sun, saying "This album is going to be a new direction, not classical or pop. It is going to be new and just me. People will get what they are expecting, but in a good way – it will be a nice surprise.”^[94] McElderry started recording the album in February 2012.^[95]

During the recording of the album, he performed at The Royal Albert Hall in support of The Hunger Project, singing "Don't Stop Believin'"', "Nessun Dorma" and a duet with Dionne Warwick, "One World, One Song”.^[96] He was also scheduled to make a guest appearance in the Coronation Street musical, Street of Dreams, singing the finale number "Ghost - Take My Hand" in the show's Newcastle dates, originally set for 29 May and 30 May.^[97] However, after the first two shows, the later dates, including the ones on which Joe was set to perform, were postponed.^[98]

The album is set to include collaborations with Marcella Detroit and Ludovico Einaudi.^[99] It will be released on 17 September.^[100]

Philanthropy[link]

In January 2010, he participated in the Helping Haiti charity single, a cover of "Everybody Hurts" arranged by Simon Cowell in order to raise money for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.^[26] McElderry took part in the Great North Run half marathon 13.1 mile race on 19 September 2010 raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust,^[27][28] which he is also an ambassador for.^[101] He performed at The Ray of Sunshine charity concert on 11 March 2011.^[102] Two days later, he performed at Theatre Royal in Newcastle to help raise money for Josie's Dragonfly trust. He also took part in a Comic Relief campaign, where celebrities and prolific Twitter users auctioned off the chance to be followed by a star, it raised £560.^[103] McElderry performed on 13 July 2011 at the Newcastle Teenage Cancer Trust Unit, the acoustic set was streamed live to all other Teenage Cancer Trust units across the country as well as on the website.^[104] He ran the Great North Run again in 2011, once again supporting the Teenage Cancer Trust, finishing in 1 hour and 42 minutes. The singer was put up for auction on QVC in aid of charity and eventually sold for £6,350, the shopping channel set up the auction in the name of Breast Cancer Care.^[105] On Sunday 11 March 2012, Joe played a secret acoustic gig to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust at London's iconic 100 Club venue, accompanied by Scottish musician Michael Sweeney on piano and vocals.^[106]

Other activities[link]

In March 2010 it was reported that McElderry had signed up as model for Next Models.^[107] McElderry has also worked as a substitute DJ on Newcastle's Metro Radio.^[108] In April 2011 Joe headlined National Student Pride in Brighton's seafront club Coalition which was attended by students from all over the U.K and sponsored by Ernst & Young.^[109] In January 2012 Joe made an appearance on BBC TV Series The Magicians. He appeared on Newsround in February 2012 answering questions about what he was like at the age of 10.^[110]

Personal life[link]

On 30 July 2010, McElderry announced on his official website that he is gay.^[111] The gay charity Stonewall has listed McElderry as a gay role model.^[112]

He is frequently asked in interviews whether he is still in touch with his former X Factor mentor Cheryl Cole, he usually replies saying they text each other regularly and see each other whenever they have the chance.^[113][114]

On 24 December 2011, a man was arrested in McElderry's home town of South Shields and later charged with harassment. McElderry's mother, Eileen Joyce, called police claiming she had been followed by a suspicious man in the town’s Asda superstore. The court heard 52-year-old Ennis McBride, had travelled to the North East shortly before Christmas and had been staying in a hotel in South Shields at the time of his arrest. McBride made no pleas to the charge and the case was adjourned until February 2012,^[115] where he pleaded not guilty. A trial has been set for 11 May 2012.^[116]

Awards and nominations[link]

Discography[link]

• Wide Awake (2010)
• Classic (2011)
• Classic Christmas (2011)
• TBA (2012)

Tours[link]

• The X Factor Tour 2010 (February 2010 - April 2010)
• Classic Tour (November 2011)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Joe McElderry

	Book: Joe McElderry
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• Official website
• Joe McElderry's channel on YouTube
• Joe McElderry's channel on YouTube
• Joe McElderry at the Internet Movie Database