Union J

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by HMSSolent (talk | contribs) at 13:21, 23 July 2013 (Reverted edits by 90.19.215.243 (talk) to last version by Widr). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Union J
Union J in 2013: (L-R) JJ Hamblett, Josh Cuthbert, George Shelley and Jaymi Hensley
Union J in 2013: (L-R) JJ Hamblett, Josh Cuthbert, George Shelley and Jaymi Hensley
Background information
OriginLondon, United Kingdom
GenresPop
Years active2012–present
LabelsSony, RCA (2012-)
MembersGeorge Shelley
Josh Cuthbert
JJ Hamblett
Jaymi Hensley
Websiteunionjofficial.com

Union J are a British four-piece boy band consisting of members George Shelley, Josh Cuthbert, JJ Hamblett and Jaymi Hensley. The group were formed through the ninth series of British television music competition, The X Factor in 2012, in which they finished in fourth position. They subsequently signed a record deal with Sony Music Entertainment’s subsidiary label, RCA Records and are due to release their debut studio album in October 2013.[1]

History

2012: Formation and The X Factor

Cuthbert and Hensley had initially met whilst studying performing arts at the Sylvia Young Theatre School in Westminster, London. Hamblett was later added to the group by the band's manager, Blair Dreelan, and they named themselves ‘Triple J’ - due to each member sharing the same initial.[2] In May 2012, the three-piece and soloist George Shelley both auditioned in London for the ninth series of The X Factor. Triple J performed Rihanna’s international hit, "We Found Love", whilst Shelley covered an acoustic version of Britney Spears’ "Toxic" - in which he also incorporated his guitar. Both acts progressed to the next stage of the competition, receiving positive critique from all judges present and stealing many girls hearts on the way.[3]

Bootcamp saw Shelley perform Labrinth’s "Earthquake", competing against female contestants; Charlie Cammish and Meg O’Neill. Triple J first sang Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger”, before contending for the final place at Judges’ Houses with District3 (formerly GMD3), where they covered Chris Brown’s “Yeah 3x”. Both acts initially failed to make it through to judges’ houses. However, following Rough Copy’s forced withdrawal from the series, the band’s manager, Blair Dreelan was contacted by producers of the competition with an offer for the group to return and compete in Las Vegas with mentor, Louis Walsh - on the basis that Shelley were added to the three-piece. All parties accepted the offer and the band - now a four-piece - were rebranded ‘Union J’.[4]

The band's first performance as a four-piece was an acoustic cover of Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe".[5] This earnt them a place in the live shows, and they instantly proved popular with social media users, garnering 46% of all online discussion regarding The X Factor after being announced to compete at judges' houses.[6] In Week One of the Live Shows, Union J performed Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now", and placed fourth in voting statistics behind Maloney, Douglas and Henderson respectively.[7] In Week 4, the group received the fewest public votes with Ellis, but were saved by Barlow, Scherzinger and Walsh. They found themselves in the bottom two again in Week 6, against District3, but were saved for a second time by Barlow and Scherzinger, with Walsh refusing to vote (as he mentored both acts). Union J were in the bottom two for a third time in Week 8, where they were saved by Barlow, Contostavlos and Walsh over Clark. The band were eliminated in the semi-final on 2 December 2012, finishing in fourth position. It was later reported that their winning single would have been a cover of Demi Lovato’s “Skyscraper”.[8]

2013-present: Debut studio album and Magazines and TV Screens Tour

Union J first announced that they had signed a record deal with Sony Music Entertainment at a performance in Cardiff, Wales on 15 December 2012.[9] Their debut single, Carry You, was recorded in London in January 2013, and was released in June 2013, charting at number-six in the United Kingdom.[10][11] On 28 January, it was confirmed that the subsidiary label that Union J had signed with was RCA Records.[12] In June 2013, it was announced to their fans, the JCats, that the band would embark on their first UK headline tour, titled ‘Magazines and TV Screens’, consisting of 18 dates through December 2013 - January 2014.[13] The group also revealed that their debut studio-album will be released on 21 October 2013.[1] Union J will publish an autobiography through Penguin Books and Michael Joseph, prior to the release of their album on 26 September 2013.[14] The band commented, “We are very excited to be working with Penguin on our first book and are looking forward to the chance to tell our stories, of how we came together and where we came from, as well as the journey we’ve taken since X Factor.”[15]

Members

Josh Cuthbert

Joshua Thomas John "Josh" Cuthbert was born on 28 July 1992 in Ascot, Berkshire. With Hamblett and Hensley, he was one of the three original members of Triple J. His mother is named Kathryn Cuthbert and his father is named Graham Browne. He also has a brother called Callum and a sister called Victoria. Before becoming a member of Union J, Josh had worked in IT sales, and also played football at a high standard.

JJ Hamblett

Jamie Paul "JJ" Hamblett was born on 25 May 1988 in Newmarket, Suffolk. With Cuthbert and Hensley, he was one of the three original members of Triple J. He also has a brother called Ashley and a sister called Otea.

Jaymi Hensley

James William "Jaymi" Hensley was born on 24 February 1990 in Luton, Bedfordshire. With Cuthbert and Hamblett, he was one of the three original members of Triple J. His mother is named Jackie Hensley and his father is named David Hensley. He also has a brother named Aaron, and he is openly gay.[16][17]

George Shelley

George Paul Shelley was born on 27 July 1993 in Clevedon, North Somerset. His mother is named Toni Harris and his father is named Dominic Shelley. He also has two older brothers; Will Shelley and Tom Harris, a younger sister Harriet Shelley, and three younger brothers; Leo, Archie and Spencer Shelley, as well as two step-sisters; Annabelle and Louisa Allen. Before becoming a member of Union J, George was a student, and had also worked in his local coffee shop, clothing store and card shop.

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details
TBA

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
UK
[18] 		IRE
[19] 		SCO
[20]
2013 "Carry You" 6 12 4 TBA

Tours

  • The X Factor Live Tour 2013 (2013)
  • Magazines and TV Screens Tour (2013–14)

Awards and nominations

Year Ceremony Nominated work Category Result
2013 Popdust Union J Next Pop Superstar of 2013 Third

References

  1. ^ a b c http://www.myplaydirect.com/union-j
  2. ^ http://www.sugarscape.com/main-topics/lads/799057/union-j%E2%80%99s-manager-blair-dreelan-%E2%80%9Cspooky%E2%80%9D-george-shelley-ella-henderson-love-
  3. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCZ223YaX-8
  4. ^ http://metro.co.uk/2012/09/24/the-x-factor-24-become-25-as-two-groups-replace-rough-copy-583745/
  5. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od76EtNMhds
  6. ^ http://www.creationagency.com/blog/insight/creations-x-factor-social-buzz-tracker#.UNV_92ewWSo
  7. ^ http://xfactor.itv.com/2012/articles/x-factor-insider/read_the-x-factor-voting-numbers-revealed-here_item_100282.htm
  8. ^ http://www.sugarscape.com/main-topics/film-and-tv/799072/union-j-record-demi-lovatos-skyscraper-x-factor-winners-single
  9. ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/s103/the-x-factor/news/a445625/x-factor-union-j-sign-sony-record-deal.html
  10. ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/s103/the-x-factor/news/a450820/x-factors-union-j-record-debut-single.html
  11. ^ http://www.officialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/1/2013-06-15/
  12. ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/s103/the-x-factor/news/a454195/union-j-sign-deal-with-rca-records-new-single-due-out-in-june.html
  13. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/22853658
  14. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/22000862
  15. ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a469884/x-factor-group-union-j-sign-major-book-deal-ahead-of-debut-single.html
  16. ^ Rowley, Alison (18 November 2013). "Union J's Jaymi Hensley: 'I'm gay and I've never been happier'". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  17. ^ Holmwood, Leigh (18 November 2013). "Every boyband needs a gay one, and I'm Union J's". The Sun. News Group Newspapers. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  18. ^ "Union J > UK Charts". officialcharts.com/ Official Charts Company.
  19. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discography Union J". Irish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  20. ^ Peak positions for singles in Scotland:

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Union_J&oldid=565475165"