Buble, Michael

▪ 2007

      Having spent his youth soaking up the swinging sounds of the 1930s, '40s, and '50s while his peers were rocking and raving, Canadian singer Michael Bublé reaped the rewards of his solitary devotion in 2006 at Canada's Juno Awards ceremony, where he was honoured as artist of the year and his It's Time (2005) was named both album and pop album of the year. Alongside standards by the Gershwins and Cole Porter and pop tunes from the 1950s and '60s, the album included a single co-written by Bublé, “Home,” which was awarded the Juno for single of the year. In April Bublé also received the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards for male vocalist of the year, album of the year (It's Time), and best original composition (“Home”). It's Time sailed to the top of the charts in Canada, Australia, Italy, and Japan and sold strongly in Britain and the United States, where it received two Grammy nominations. The accolades capped a breathtaking rise to stardom that not even Bublé's handlers imagined when the swing revivalist released his debut album in 2003. Though the fresh-faced crooner's old-school sound was at first considered an unlikely source of mainstream hits, he scored a string of successes, and the release in January of a limited-edition Valentine's Day album, With Love, sold more than a half million copies in its first week. Over the summer Bublé joined such luminaries as Barbra Streisand and Elton John in recording duets with Tony Bennett for Bennett's September release, Duets: An American Classic.

      Bublé was born on Sept. 9, 1975, in Burnaby, a suburb of Vancouver. As a child, he enjoyed a particularly close relationship with his grandfather, who introduced him to the popular music of older generations. Encouraged by his grandfather, Bublé learned some of the old classics, practicing by serenading his family. He began performing in his teens, again with the assistance of his grandfather, who bartered his services as a plumber for stage time. His big break came when in 2000 he sang at the wedding of the daughter of former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney, who introduced him to the Grammy-winning producer and arranger David Foster. Bublé signed with Foster's 143 Records in 2001 and two years later released his first album, Michael Bublé. The album earned Bublé the 2004 new artist of the year Juno Award. A Christmas recording, Let It Snow! (2003), was followed by two live CD/DVDs, Come Fly with Me (2004) and Caught in the Act (2005). As in the previous three years, Bublé spent much of 2006 devoted to a strenuous schedule of concerts and television appearances.

Janet Moredock

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▪ Canadian singer

born Sept. 9, 1975, Burnaby, B.C., Can.

      Canadian singer who scored hits on the pop music charts in the early 21st century with a combination of reworked swing-era classics and original ballads.

      As a child, Bublé enjoyed a particularly close relationship with his grandfather, who introduced him to the crooners of the 1930s and '40s. He began performing in his teens, with the assistance of his grandfather, who bartered his services as a plumber to buy stage time for Bublé. His break came in 2000 when he sang at the wedding of the daughter of former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney (Mulroney, Brian), who introduced him to the Grammy (Grammy Award)-winning producer and arranger David Foster. Foster signed him to his 143 Records label in 2001, and two years later Bublé released his first album, Michael Bublé. It earned him the 2004 Juno Award for new artist of the year. His Christmas album, Let It Snow! (2003), was followed by two live CD/DVDs, Come Fly with Me (2004) and Caught in the Act (2005).

      Bublé's breakthrough album, It's Time (2005), was named both album and pop album of the year at Canada's 2006 Juno Awards. Alongside standards by the Gershwins and Cole Porter and pop tunes from the 1950s and '60s, it included a single cowritten by Bublé, "Home," which was awarded the Juno for single of the year. It's Time topped the charts in Canada, Australia, Italy, and Japan and sold strongly in Britain and the United States, where it received two Grammy nominations. His 2007 release, Call Me Irresponsible, earned Bublé a Grammy Award for best traditional pop vocal album, and its success pushed his lifetime album sales over the 15 million mark.

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