Calvin Harris

Calvin Harris - Songwriters, Family and Childhood

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Calvin Harris's Personal Details

Calvin Harris (Adam Richard Wiles) is a Scottish singer, songwriter, DJ and record producer

InformationDetail
BirthdayJanuary 17, 1984
NationalityScottish
FamousGuitarists, Pianists, Lyricists & Songwriters, Singers, Disc Jockey, Record Producer, Songwriters
Known asAdam Richard Wiles, Adam Wiles
Founder / Co-Founder
  • Fly Eye
Birth PlaceDumfries, Scotland
Height196
GenderMale
Sun SignCapricorn
Born inDumfries, Scotland
Famous asDisc Jockey, Record Producer, Singer, Songwriter

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Calvin Harris's photo

Who is Calvin Harris?

Adam Richard Wiles, renowned as Calvin Harris, is a Scottish singer, songwriter, DJ and record producer considered contemporarily as one of the most successful musicians in British popular culture. His journey into music started during his teens when he got drawn towards electronic music and started recording bedroom demos. Starting with his first studio album ‘I Created Disco’ that debuted at #8 on the UK Albums Chart, he succeeded in creating magic with music in the years to come, producing several hit and chartbusting albums and singles. Among these his second studio album ‘Ready for the Weekend’ topped the UK Albums Chart while ‘I'm Not Alone’, its lead single, marked his first single to top the ‘UK Singles Chart’. His third studio album ‘18 Months’ brought him international spotlight. It not only topped several international charts but also made its way to the US Billboard 200 chart reaching #19. Eight singles of the album and also the song ‘We Found Love’ in collaboration with Rihanna reached the top 10 of UK Singles Chart marking the album the first of its kind to generate 9 top 10 singles thus surpassing record of Michael Jackson.

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Childhood & Early Life

Calvin Harris was born Adam Richard Wiles on January 17, 1984 in Dumfries, Scotland, to biochemist David Wiles and his wife Pamela as their youngest son among three children.

He grew up in Dumfries with older brother, Edward, and older sister, Sophie, and studied at the ‘Dumfries High School’. As a teenager he developed interest in electronic music and began to record bedroom demos in 1999.

He went on to release two songs through the Prima Facie label in 2002. After a short and unsuccessful stint in London, he returned to Dumfries and developed solo recordings at home and posted them on his ‘Myspace’ page.

Gradually, he garnered attention in Myspace and got noticed by talent booker, Mark Gillespie, who signed Harris with his own newly founded company.

Career

In 2006, he signed contract with ‘Sony BMG’, ‘EMI’ and ‘Three Six Zero Group’. Later that year, he generated a remix of the single ‘Rock Steady’ originally by English-Canadian girl group ‘All Saints’ ’.

On June 15, 2007, his first studio album ‘I Created Disco’ released via ‘Columbia Records’. He singlehandedly wrote, produced and performed all its 14 tracks. It debuted at #8 on UK Albums Chart and climbed atop UK Dance Albums. British Phonographic Industry (BPI) gave it gold certification on May 23, 2008.

His collaboration with rapper Dizzee Rascal saw him produce the latter’s song ‘Dance with Me’ where he also sang the hook. The single that released on June 22, 2008, climbed atop the UK Singles Chart holding the position for four weeks in a row.

On August 14, 2009, ‘Columbia Records’ released his second studio album ‘Ready for the Weekend’ that debuted at #I on the UK Albums Charts. He wrote, sang and produced 11 out of its 14 tracks.

He continued his successful collaboration with Dizzee Rascal that saw him produce the latter’s single ‘Holiday’ on August 23, 2009. The song that he originally wrote for the girl group, ‘The Saturdays’, and rejected by them, reached atop the UK Singles Chart.

Lead single of ‘Ready for the Weekend’ titled ‘I'm Not Alone’, debuted t number one on the UK Singles Chart. The album received gold certification from BPI. Perceivable similarity of the song with that of October 2010 released Chris Brown’s hit single ‘Yeah 3x’ forced Harris to receive writing credit for the latter.

‘You Used to Hold Me’, the fourth and the last single of ‘Ready for the Weekend’ that released on February 8, 2010, became the last song he sang as a regular singer for his own efforts. From 2011 he started concentrating more on producing music while vocals of his songs being contributed by guest singers.

During this time he also resolved to quit performing in live shows and in that pursuit left the band he was associated as lead vocalist. Moving forward, he released many remixes including that of ‘Supernova’ by Mr Hudson, ‘Waking Up in Vegas’ by Katy Perry and ‘She Wolf’ by Shakira.

Meanwhile in March 2010, he founded the record label ‘Fly Eye Records’ which formed partnership with Sony/ATV Music Publishing in 2014.

On August 19, 2011, ‘Feel So Close’, the second single of his third studio album, ‘18 Months’ released while the album released later on October 26, 2012. The song not only marked his return to singing but also his debut solo effort to make it to the US Billboard Hot 100 climbing at #12 apart from debuting at #2 on the UK Singles Chart.

The European leg of third world concert tour of Barbadian recording artist Rihanna saw him accompanying her as a support act during 2011. He then went on to write and produce the song ‘We Found Love’ also featuring in it; and co-wrote and co-produced the song ‘Where Have You Been’, both for Rihanna’s sixth studio album, ‘Talk That Talk’ (2011).

His song ‘We Found Love’ also found place in his album ‘18 Months’. The song made it to the top of several charts worldwide including the US Rhythmic (Billboard), UK Singles and US Billboard Hot 100 and retained the position in the latter for ten non-consecutive weeks.

’We Found Love’ became his first effort to reach atop the US chart. It later positioned itself as #24 on the chart of all-time top hundred songs of Billboard Hot 100. It received several gold and platinum certifications including 9× Platinum from United States (RIAA) and 2× Platinum from United Kingdom (BPI).

His third studio album ‘18 Months’, where he focused more on an electro house style rather than his usual nu disco-style, made its debut at #1 on the UK Albums Chart marking such feat for the second time consecutively.

All 8 singles of ‘18 Months’ and ‘We Found Love’ with Rihanna made it to the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart, creating history for an album to produce 9 top 10 singles. He thus surpassed the earlier record of Michael Jackson.

While ‘18 Months’ received a Grammy Awards nomination in the Best Dance/Electronica Album category, two of its songs ‘Let's Go’ and ‘Sweet Nothing’ garnered nominations in the Best Dance Recording category at the 55th and 56th Grammy Awards, respectively.

In February 2013, he became the first exclusive resident DJ of the renowned hospitality group, the ‘Hakkasan Group’ in Las Vegas and went on to extend the partnership for another three years in January 2015.

In May 2013, he received the prestigious Ivor Novello Awards in the category of ‘Songwriter of the Year’ which he considered "easily the greatest achievement of my entire life".

On October 31, 2014, his fourth studio album ‘Motion released that included collaborations with DJs like Firebeatz and R3hab; vocalists like John Newman and Gwen Stefani; and groups like Hurts among others.

While ‘Motion’ debuted at #2 at the UK Albums Chart and at #5 at the US Billboard 200, its first three singles ‘Under Control’, ‘Summer’ and ‘Blame’ reached atop the UK Singles Chart.

He was declared the co-owner of the subscription-based music streaming service ‘Tidal’ on March 30, 2015. That year he succeeded in topping the list of highest-paid DJs, third year in a row.

His forthcoming album ‘Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1’ that is planned for a June 30, 2017, release will feature guest vocals by Katy Perry, Snoop Dogg, Big Sean, and Young Thug among others.

He has also worked on tracks for advertising campaigns for the likes of ‘Coca-Cola’ and ‘Kia Motors’ and featured for brands like ‘Pepsi’ and ‘Emporio Armani’. Over the years Harris performed in different charity events.

Personal Life & Legacy

From April 2013 to June 2014, he dated British singer and actress, Rita Ora, and later from March 2015 to June 2016, he dated American singer-songwriter, Taylor Swift.

Although Harris was never an alcoholic, he became a teetotaller at age 24.

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Calvin Harris's awards

YearNameAward

Grammy Awards

2013Best Short Form Music VideoRihanna Feat. Calvin Harris: We Found Love (2011)

MTV Video Music Awards

2016Best Male VideoCalvin Harris Feat. Rihanna: This Is What You Came For (2016)
2016Best Electronic VideoCalvin Harris Feat. Disciples: How Deep Is Your Love (2015)
2012Best Electronic Dance Music VideoCalvin Harris: Feel So Close (2011)

Calvin Harris biography timelines

  • // 17th Jan 1984
    Calvin Harris was born Adam Richard Wiles on January 17, 1984 in Dumfries, Scotland, to biochemist David Wiles and his wife Pamela as their youngest son among three children.
  • // 1999
    He grew up in Dumfries with older brother, Edward, and older sister, Sophie, and studied at the ‘Dumfries High School’. As a teenager he developed interest in electronic music and began to record bedroom demos in 1999.
  • // 2002
    He went on to release two songs through the Prima Facie label in 2002. After a short and unsuccessful stint in London, he returned to Dumfries and developed solo recordings at home and posted them on his ‘Myspace’ page.
  • // 2006
    In 2006, he signed contract with ‘Sony BMG’, ‘EMI’ and ‘Three Six Zero Group’. Later that year, he generated a remix of the single ‘Rock Steady’ originally by English-Canadian girl group ‘All Saints’ ’.
  • // 15th Jun 2007 To 23rd May 2008
    On June 15, 2007, his first studio album ‘I Created Disco’ released via ‘Columbia Records’. He singlehandedly wrote, produced and performed all its 14 tracks. It debuted at #8 on UK Albums Chart and climbed atop UK Dance Albums. British Phonographic Industry (BPI) gave it gold certification on May 23, 2008.
  • // 22nd Jun 2008
    His collaboration with rapper Dizzee Rascal saw him produce the latter’s song ‘Dance with Me’ where he also sang the hook. The single that released on June 22, 2008, climbed atop the UK Singles Chart holding the position for four weeks in a row.
  • // 14th Aug 2009
    On August 14, 2009, ‘Columbia Records’ released his second studio album ‘Ready for the Weekend’ that debuted at #I on the UK Albums Charts. He wrote, sang and produced 11 out of its 14 tracks.
  • // 23rd Aug 2009
    He continued his successful collaboration with Dizzee Rascal that saw him produce the latter’s single ‘Holiday’ on August 23, 2009. The song that he originally wrote for the girl group, ‘The Saturdays’, and rejected by them, reached atop the UK Singles Chart.
  • // 8th Feb 2010 To 2011
    ‘You Used to Hold Me’, the fourth and the last single of ‘Ready for the Weekend’ that released on February 8, 2010, became the last song he sang as a regular singer for his own efforts. From 2011 he started concentrating more on producing music while vocals of his songs being contributed by guest singers.
  • // Mar 2010 To 2014
    Meanwhile in March 2010, he founded the record label ‘Fly Eye Records’ which formed partnership with Sony/ATV Music Publishing in 2014.
  • // Oct 2010
    Lead single of ‘Ready for the Weekend’ titled ‘I'm Not Alone’, debuted t number one on the UK Singles Chart. The album received gold certification from BPI. Perceivable similarity of the song with that of October 2010 released Chris Brown’s hit single ‘Yeah 3x’ forced Harris to receive writing credit for the latter.
  • // 2011
    The European leg of third world concert tour of Barbadian recording artist Rihanna saw him accompanying her as a support act during 2011. He then went on to write and produce the song ‘We Found Love’ also featuring in it; and co-wrote and co-produced the song ‘Where Have You Been’, both for Rihanna’s sixth studio album, ‘Talk That Talk’ (2011).
  • // 19th Aug 2011 To 26th Oct 2012
    On August 19, 2011, ‘Feel So Close’, the second single of his third studio album, ‘18 Months’ released while the album released later on October 26, 2012. The song not only marked his return to singing but also his debut solo effort to make it to the US Billboard Hot 100 climbing at #12 apart from debuting at #2 on the UK Singles Chart.
  • // Feb 2013 To Jan 2015
    In February 2013, he became the first exclusive resident DJ of the renowned hospitality group, the ‘Hakkasan Group’ in Las Vegas and went on to extend the partnership for another three years in January 2015.
  • // May 2013
    In May 2013, he received the prestigious Ivor Novello Awards in the category of ‘Songwriter of the Year’ which he considered "easily the greatest achievement of my entire life".
  • // 31st Oct 2014
    On October 31, 2014, his fourth studio album ‘Motion released that included collaborations with DJs like Firebeatz and R3hab; vocalists like John Newman and Gwen Stefani; and groups like Hurts among others.
  • // 30th Mar 2015
    He was declared the co-owner of the subscription-based music streaming service ‘Tidal’ on March 30, 2015. That year he succeeded in topping the list of highest-paid DJs, third year in a row.
  • // 30th Jun 2017
    His forthcoming album ‘Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1’ that is planned for a June 30, 2017, release will feature guest vocals by Katy Perry, Snoop Dogg, Big Sean, and Young Thug among others.

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Calvin Harris's FAQ

  • What is Calvin Harris birthday?

    Calvin Harris was born at 1984-01-17

  • Where is Calvin Harris's birth place?

    Calvin Harris was born in Dumfries, Scotland

  • What is Calvin Harris nationalities?

    Calvin Harris's nationalities is Scottish

  • Which company or organization was founded by Calvin Harris?

    Calvin Harris was the founder/co-founder of Fly Eye

  • How tall is Calvin Harris?

    Calvin Harris's height is 196

  • What is Calvin Harris's sun sign?

    Calvin Harris is Capricorn

  • How famous is Calvin Harris?

    Calvin Harris is famouse as Disc Jockey, Record Producer, Singer, Songwriter