What is Darius Danesh?

Darius Danesh (born 19 August 1980 in Glasgow, Scotland) is a songwriter, platinum recording artist and West End stage actor, well-known from the British TV hit shows Popstars, and Pop 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 musical Guys and Dolls.

Biography

Darius 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.^[1]

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 became well known to the viewing public. Darius went on to audition for the show that was in a sense its successor, Pop Idol. He was initially placed third in the final heat before the live shows, but was promoted after the withdrawal of Rik Waller due to illness.

He generally received good feedback throughout the live shows, particularly from Pete Waterman, who likened his voice to that of Frank Sinatra. Ultimately, he finished third, behind winner Will Young and runner-up Gareth Gates.^[2] After the series, he turned down Simon Cowell's million pound offer to sing cover songs,<ref name="recordmag" /> and instead sent a self-composed track to his favourite producer in the hope 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.^[3]

Over the next two years, Darius would go on to support Shakira in Paris on her World Tour;<ref name="recordmag" /> complete his own sell-out UK tour; become an Ambassador for the Prince's Trust;^[4] contribute to the War Child charity album^[5] with Coldplay and Oasis; write a no. 6 Sunday Times Best Seller book, "Sink or Swim";^[6] and headline in India with Alanis Morissette^[7] after his album went platinum there.

After receiving news that his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer,^[8] Darius wrote and dedicated his second studio album to Dr Booth Danesh, the man he calls his "hero".<ref name="recordmag" /> In 2005, the album's title-track "Live Twice" became Darius' fifth Top Ten single.<ref name="bigsmoke" /> 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. During 2006 and 2007 he has been writing for his third studio album in Los Angeles.

Musical theatre

Darius celebrated a five month sell-out West End run in Chicago<ref name="bigsmoke" /> 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 in the UK Tour of the musical Guys and Dolls.^[9]

Charity work

Off stage, Darius works with the Lymphoma Association<ref name="lymphomaco" /> to raise awareness, and he continues to work with underprivileged youth as a Prince's Trust Ambassador.<ref name="trust" /> He supports a campaign by human rights group Amnesty International to protest against injustice.^[10] Darius has also teamed up with Guitar Aid to design a guitar that can be sold to raise funds, enabling them to help more people in poorer countries.^[11]

Personal life

Darius 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.

He is dating Canadian actress Natasha Henstridge of Species fame. Henstridge said that she and Danesh met at a pedestrian crossing in Los Angeles.^[12]

Discography

Main article: Darius Danesh discography

See also

• List of Scots
• List of famous Glaswegians
• List of Scottish musicians
• List of male theater actors

References

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

External links

• Official MySpace
• Official Bebo
• Darius Danesh at the Open Directory Project
• Darius Danesh at the Internet Movie Database
• Guitar Aid - The Darius Guitar