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Darius Danesh

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Darius Danesh (born 19 August 1980 in Glasgow, Scotland) is a platinum-selling recording artist, songwriter, and West End stage actor. He rose to fame on the hit British TV show Pop Idol, the predecessor to American Idol.

His first, self-penned single Colourblind entered the UK singles chart at number one, and his debut album went platinum under the guidance of Grammy-winning U2 producer Steve Lillywhite. Darius has had five UK Top Ten singles and he is managed by Simon Fuller.

In 2006 he ended a second successful West End run in the musical Chicago playing Billy Flynn, and 2007 saw him star as Sky Masterson in the Olivier Award winning Guys and Dolls.

During 2008 he will star as Rhett Butler in Trevor Nunn’s musical adaptation of Gone With The Wind in London.

Early life

Danesh was born in Glasgow and educated at Glasgow Academy. He then went on to study English and Philosophy at Edinburgh University.

His father, Dr. Booth Danesh, is Iranian and his mother, Dr. Avril Danesh, is Scottish.

He has two younger brothers; all three were named after Persian Kings.

Danesh's professional career began playing a ten-year-old Trojan boy in the Scottish Opera's avante garde 1990s production of The Trojans. As a teenager he then toured with the Scottish Opera in a critically acclaimed production of Carmen. After performing at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, Darius faced the first of many career cross-roads. He chose to return to his studies in lieu of training his rich baritone voice for an Operatic career.

Music career

While studying English Literature at Edinburgh University, a chance audition and promise of a record deal led Darius to fame on the television show Popstars. He reached the final stages, and in 2001 auditioned for Pop Idol, where his voice was compared to that of Frank Sinatra. He won over the British public and critics, millions voted for him and he became the "Under Dog" favourite for the Pop Idol title. Although Will Young went on to claim the Pop Idol title, Darius went on to have success on his own terms. After the series final, he turned down Simon Cowell's million pound offer to sing cover songs, and instead sent a self-composed track to his favourite producer with the aim of creating something original. Grammy-winning U2 producer Steve Lillywhite signed him to a five-album deal. In the summer of 2002, Colourblind became Darius' first number one single and that Christmas, his self-penned album Dive In went platinum.

Over the next two years, Darius would go on to support Shakira in Paris on her World Tour; complete his own sell-out UK tour; become an Ambassador for the Prince's Trust; contribute to the War Child charity album with Coldplay and Oasis; write a no. 6 Sunday Times Best Seller book, "Sink or Swim"; and headline in India with Alanis Morissette after his album went platinum there.

After receiving news that his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Darius wrote and dedicated his second studio album to Dr Booth Danesh, the man he calls his hero. In 2005, the album's title-track "Live Twice" became Darius' fifth Top Ten single. Amazingly, father Booth not only lived to see his son perform it at the Royal Albert Hall, but fought and beat his cancer into remission, echoing the song's lyrics. The album though was not a commercial success charting briefly. During 2007 he has been writing for his third studio album in London and Los Angeles.

Theatre work

Darius celebrated a five month sell-out West End run in Chicago during 2005-2006, and at 25, officially became the youngest actor ever to fill the role of Billy Flynn since the show first opened on Broadway in 1975, appearing in 121 shows without missing a performance.

In 2007 Darius starred as Sky Masterson, taking on the role originally played by Ewan McGregor, in Michael Grandage's Olivier Award winning production of Guys and Dolls.

On 5th December 2007 he reprised his role of Billy Flynn for the 10th Anniversary charity performance of Chicago in London, to benefit the charities Breast Cancer Haven and Breast Health Institute.

From April 2008 he will star as Rhett Butler, the role immortalised on screen by Clark Gable, in Trevor Nunn’s musical adaptation of Gone With The Wind in London's West End.

Charity work

Off stage, Darius works with the Lymphoma Association to raise awareness, and he continues to work with underprivileged youth as a Prince's Trust Ambassador. He supports a campaign by human rights group Amnesty International to protest against injustice. Darius has also designed a guitar for Guitar Aid to raise funds and stimulate communities in some of the world's poorest countries.

Discography

See also

References

  • Danesh, Darius. Darius, Sink or Swim, My Story. ISBN 0-7553-1281-3

External links



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Last updated on Monday March 03, 2008 at 14:09:37 PST (GMT -0800)
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