Samuel Frederick Smith, born on May 19, 1992, in London, grew up in Cambridgeshire and showed early musical promise. After performing in local theater, they moved to London and quickly made a mark in the music industry. They gained prominence as the featured vocalist on Disclosure’s 2012 hit “Latch,” and followed up with a UK number one in 2013 with “La La La” by Naughty Boy.
In 2014, they released their debut album In the Lonely Hour, a deeply emotional exploration of unrequited love. The album propelled them to global stardom, with hits such as “Stay with Me,” which became a radio staple worldwide. At the 2015 Grammys, they won four awards including Best Pop Vocal Album, Best New Artist, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year.
They further solidified their reputation with “Writing’s on the Wall” for the James Bond film Spectre, earning both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Their second album, The Thrill of It All (2017), continued their commercial success; the third album, Love Goes (2020), expanded their musical range.
In 2019, Sam Smith came out as non-binary and adopted they/them pronouns, becoming an important LGBTQ+ figure. In 2022, they achieved their first US number one with “Unholy” featuring Kim Petras, earning a Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Their 2023 album, Gloria, kicked off a world tour including performances at the BBC Proms.
Sam Smith stands out as one of the most emotionally resonant and culturally significant voices of their generation, delivering music that is deeply personal yet universally powerful.
