23 Facts About Alistair Griffin

Alistair Richard Griffin was born on 1 November 1977 and is an English singer-songwriter and musician.

Alistair Griffin subsequently had two top twenty hit singles and a top twenty album in the UK.

Alistair Griffin started singing and writing songs whilst still a student at York St John College, playing guitar and busking on the streets of York with a small band.

Alistair Griffin reached the final audition stage of Fame Academy 1 on his first attempt in 2002, but was not chosen to appear on the show.

Alistair Griffin re-applied for a place on Fame Academy 2 the following year and was voted through by the public with the highest vote of the preliminary round.

Alistair Griffin's technically accomplished live performances and proven songwriting ability gradually gained him the support of the public.

Alistair Griffin moved back to York and although there were rumours of a new recording deal, nothing materialized.

At the beginning of 2007, Alistair Griffin set up his own recording studio called Oakwood near York.

When interviewed, Alistair Griffin commented "Things weren't working out the way we anticipated and it seemed the right time to call it a day".

Alistair Griffin performed several of these brand new songs live with his own backing band in May 2008, during a short tour of smaller venues in the UK supporting recently signed indie band Ivyrise.

In October 2003, Alistair Griffin signed a record deal with UMTV and at the end of December released his first single, "Bring It On"; a double A-side featuring "My Lover's Prayer", a duet with Robin Gibb.

Brand new versions of four of the songs which were originally recorded with his former band Albion, but never released, are included on his most recent solo CD Alistair Griffin, again produced independently and only available to buy at live concerts during the Ivyrise tour.

Alistair Griffin wrote "The Road", the official song of the 2014 Tour de France which he recorded with Girls Aloud's Kimberley Walsh.

In February 2007, Alistair Griffin sang at a charity event at the Riverside Stadium, home of Middlesbrough Football Club.

Alistair Griffin's songs cover a wide range of genres, from light pop and romantic ballads to anthemic rock.

Alistair Griffin has co-written songs with a number of other artists, including James Hearn, Michael Harwood, Nick Keynes and Jon O'Mahony of Ultra, Robin Gibb, singer-songwriter Richard Chance, Liverpudlian songwriting duo Chris and Tony Griffiths, and Paul Banks.

That year Alistair Griffin co-wrote the football anthem "England Crazy" which was recorded by Rider and Terry Venables.

Alistair Griffin has written and co-written songs for albums by Phixx, Ultra, Bel's Boys, and Cascada.

Alistair Griffin has since recorded new versions of several of these songs with Albion, which were made available as free downloads on Myspace in 2007.

Alistair Griffin teamed up with Pledge Music allowing people to pre-order his album along with other bits of merchandise.

Alistair Griffin was brought up in Castleton, a small moorland village roughly halfway between Middlesbrough and Whitby in North Yorkshire.

Alistair Griffin has retained strong links with his family and his local community and often performs at local events to raise money for good causes.

In 2003, without his knowledge, his mother, Barbara Alistair Griffin, offered a date with him as a prize in a charity raffle for the Whitby Christmas Lights Appeal.