British songwriter and singer, Sam Smith, once had childhood dreams of becoming a chart-topping musician. Lucky enough to have carved for himself a successful career in the music industry, he could not stop being thankful.
With an estimated $15m (N3bn) in the bank, the London-born singer recently landed himself a spot on the ‘Sunday Times Rich List’ of the top 20 wealthiest young musicians in the United Kingdom.
On September 25, 2015, he released his much-hyped James Bond theme song, ‘Writing’s on the Wall,’ which reportedly came as a surprise to listeners who were expecting the typical Smith sound.
But the haunting lyrics, coupled by his ethereal voice and the orchestra, were a strangely effective combination, and the song quickly made history, becoming the first – and so far – the only Bond theme song to hit No. 1 on the UK charts.
Not stopping there, the singer followed up his success by releasing the official music video of the song on the Global James Bond Day, October 5, 2015 – a day introduced in 2012 to celebrate the anniversary of the release date of a James Bond film, ‘Dr. No.’
Smith brought on board his long-time collaborator and music video director, Luke Monaghan, to helm the groundbreaking video, which was shot in various locations in Rome.
He also admitted that he eschewed the pop sound that had so far served him well and went for a “timelessly classic” sound for the theme song.
Smith’s ‘Writing’s on the Wall’ was co-written by Jimmy Napes, his collaborator and fellow Grammy Award winner. With it, he joins an enviable list of stars who have contributed to the James Bond legacy, including stars like Nancy Sinatra, Shirley Bassey, Duran Duran, Madonna, Jack White and Adele.
Road to fame
Smith rose to fame in October 2012 when he was featured on Disclosure’s breakthrough single ‘Latch,’ which peaked at number eleven on the UK Singles Chart. His subsequent feature – on Naughty Boy’s ‘La La La’ – earned him his first number one single in May 2013.
In December 2013, he was nominated for the 2014 BRIT Critics’ Choice Award and the BBC’s Sound of 2014 poll, both of which he won. He released his debut studio album, ‘In the Lonely Hour,’ in May 2014 on Capitol Records.
The lead single, ‘Lay Me Down,’ was released prior to ‘La La La.’ His second single, ‘Money on My Mind,’ became his second number one single in the UK. The album’s third single, ‘Stay with Me,’ was an international success, reaching number one in the UK and number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, while the fourth single, ‘I’m Not the Only One’ reached the top five in both countries. The fifth single, ‘Like I Can,’ reached number nine in the UK.
In December 2014, Smith was nominated for six Grammy Awards, and at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2015, he won four: Best New Artist, ‘Stay with Me’ for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, and ‘In the Lonely Hour’ for Best Pop Vocal Album.
At the 2015 Brit Awards, he won the awards for British Breakthrough Act and Global Success.
Born to Frederick Smith and Kate Cassidy, a broker, Smith is an alumnus of the Youth Music Theatre UK, but before entering the musical theatre, he had been a member of jazz bands.
He has cited singers, Adele and Amy Winehouse, as his main influences; he also includes Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey as influences.
A new home
Smith wrote on his Instagram account recently that he was celebrating the one-year anniversary of his hugely successful debut album, ‘In the Lonely Hour,’ by moving into his new home in North London.
“Not only is it the first anniversary of ‘In the Lonely Hour.’ But it’s a time I’m moving into my new house. Can’t help but think back to how much my life has changed over the past year. I love you all,” he said.
Though he didn’t disclose the worth of his home, for a N3bn singer who has achieved a chart feat only previously accomplished by the legendary Beatles group, spending almost a year in the top five of the UK album charts and selling in excess of a million copies of his album in the UK alone, he couldn’t have got for a cheap home.
How his mother sacrificed her £200,000 job for him
Smith was just a baby-faced eight-year-old when he first burst into song on the back seat of his parents’ car as they drove him to primary school, mimicking Whitney Houston singing ‘My Love Is Your Love.’
Stunned by the sultry soulful sound that came from their son, his parents – Fred and Kate Smith – were certain he had something special.
Before long they had found him a singing teacher, encouraged his love of music and, perhaps most importantly, didn’t laugh when he told them that, one day, he wanted to be famous.
That day arrived in February 2015 when he scooped not one, but four Grammy awards; and the audience was touched when the first people he thanked were his mother, father and sisters; he held up his award on stage and said, “Mum and dad, Lily and Mabel [his sisters], I’ve won a Grammy!”
To be honoured four-fold would be remarkable for the most established of stars, but for a then 22-year-old singer-songwriter from London, who until recently was making ends meet by cleaning toilets, it was astonishing.
His path to success has been well planned by his parents who supported him through every high and low, especially his mother, who reportedly sacrificed so much to ensure he had everything he needed to turn his talent into a successful career.
In 2008, when he was 16, his City banker mother, Cassidy, was sacked for gross misconduct from bonds and currency brokerage firm, Tullett Prebon, after being accused of spending company time promoting his son’s pop career.
Cassidy reportedly started a High Court battle against the firm to recover £401,643 (N122m) in salary, £900,000 (N273m) in annual bonuses and £350,000 (N106m) in share options.
The outcome was never published, but reports suggested she was awarded £800,000 (N243m) compensation which she reportedly later used to help set her son up in the music industry.
The job was reportedly paying her £200,000 (N60m) per annum. The family had a tiny two-bedroom Victorian terrace cottage in the village of Linton, but has now upgraded to a stunning £500,000 (N152m) 18th century Grade II-listed house in Great Chishill, London.
Smith is said to be driving, among other cars, a 2016 Kia Sorento SUV, a sophisticated, roomy car that costs about $30,000 (N6m).
Sources: inquisitr.com, dailymail.co.uk, celebritynetworth.com, mirror.co.uk, en.wikipedia.org, edmunds.com
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