Calvin Harris

Calvin Harris (born 17.1.1984)

Calvin Harris is a Scottish musician who has had a number one hit single in the UK with his collaboration with Dizzee Rascal, 'Dance Wiv Me'.

Calvin Harris: Early Music Career

Calvin Harris released two popular club "12 singles when he was 21. 'Da Bongos' and 'Brighter Days' were released under the name of Stouffer on the Prima Facie label.

In 2004, he released a track with Ayah that was featured on The Unabombers' Electric Soul 2.

In 2006, Calvin Harris signed a publishing deal with EMI as well as a recording contract with Sony BMG. His music came to prominence after he posted it on his MySpace page. At the time of his discovery, Harris had moved back to Dumfries from London after failing to find work in the capital.

Calvin Harris: Rise To Fame

Calvin Harris' first album I Created Disco was released in 2007. Musically, it was largely influenced by electro music of the 1980s. Harris promoted the album by touring the UK in support of Groove Armada and Faithless.

The first single from the album was 'Vegas'. It was released on limited edition vinyl. The follow-up single, 'Acceptable In The 80s' was not on limited release and was Harris' first single to reach the charts. The track reached the top 10 and remained in the top 40 for 15 weeks.

'The Girls' was the next single from the album and it reached the top five in the UK. The fourth release, 'Merrymaking At My Place', fared less well, only reaching number 43.

The Dragonettes covered 'The Girls' and renamed it 'The Boys'. Their version of the song was chosen for Karl Lagerfeld's Spring / Summer collection catwalk show.

In 2007, Calvin Harris worked with Kylie Minogue. He produced and co-wrote 'Heart Beat Rock' and 'In My Arms' on her album X.

Calvin Harris has also collaborated with the Mitchell Brothers and Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Harris claimed, in an interview with Fearne Cotton on BBC Radio 1, that he had turned down the opportunity of working with Lady GaGa because he disliked the demo that he was sent of her music.

In 2008, Harris' collaboration with Dizzee Rascal, 'Dance Wiv Me' went to number one in the UK singles charts. The pair performed the track acoustically at the 2008 Glastonbury Festival, for the BBC.

The master tracks for Harris second album were apparently briefly lost when his bags went missing as part of the widely reported problems during the opening weeks of London's Heathrow Airport Terminal 5. Harris has since stated that he fabricated the story in order to buy some more time to finish the record.

The debut single from Calvin Harris's second album was released in April 2009. 'I'm Not Alone' became Harris' second number one in the UK. The track received its debut airplay on the Pete Tong show on Radio 1.

The second single from the album is 'Ready For The Weekend', featuring Mary Pearce.

Calvin Harris has also remixed tracks by the likes of CSS, Primal Scream and Kaiser Chiefs.