JLS

JLS biography

JLS (an initialism of Jack the Lad Swing), are a British boyband, previously called UFO, consisting of members Aston Merrygold, Oritsé Williams, Jonathan Benjamin "JB" Gill and Marvin Humes. They originally signed to Tracklacers production company New Track City and then went on to become runners-up of the fifth series of ITV reality talent show The X Factor in 2008, coming second to Alexandra Burke.

Following their appearances on The X Factor, JLS signed to Epic Records. Their first two singles "Beat Again" and "Everybody in Love" both went to number one on the UK Singles Chart. The band's self-titled debut album was released on 9 November 2009, and has since sold over one million copies in the UK. JLS won the awards for British Breakthrough and British Single ("Beat Again") at the 2010 BRIT Awards. They also won several awards at the Mobo awards for Best song for "Beat Again" in 2009 and also Best Newcomer in the same year. In 2010 they won the MOBO Awards for Best UK act and Best Album.

In 2010, JLS signed an American record deal with Jive Records, and released "Everybody in Love" as their debut U.S. single, however it did not chart. "The Club Is Alive", the lead single from their second studio album, was released in the UK in July 2010, and earned the band their third number-one on the UK Singles Chart. Their single "Love You More", the official single for Children in Need in 2010, was their fourth UK number-one. Their single "She Makes Me Wanna" featuring Dev was their fifth UK number one. JLS have over sold 5 million records.

Music career

2006-2008: UFO

Oritsé Williams decided to get into the music business mainly because his mother has Multiple sclerosis and he wants to raise money to help find a cure. He was originally scouted for a number of boybands but Williams did not feel they were right and believed that a group should have a "real" connection with each other, like his heroes Boyz II Men. He decided to form his own boyband and, through friends, met Marvin Humes who had experience in R&B/pop music, being a part of VS in 2004. Next to join was Aston Merrygold, who was once cast in the ITV programme Fun Song Factory because of his athletic ability. Last to join the group was JB Gill for his "musical ear", mostly for harmonies. They bonded, became friends and together they were called UFO (Unique Famous Outrageous). While working their way into the music business UFO instantly signed to production/songwriting duo Tracklacers via their production company New Track City. In late 2007 UFO won their first award at the Urban Music Awards for Best Unsigned Act thanks to their mash-up of "Stand by Me" by Ben E. King and "Beautiful Girls" by Sean Kingston. Shortly thereafter, they released their second single, "Slap Ya Elbow". UFO and Tracklacers embarked on a journey ultimately leading to the next chapter. The group give credit to 'DJ Triz' who produced one of the groups first songs and helped them write it.

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