Steve Brookstein

The original winner of The X Factor, remembering the Legends of Soul - Returning to Brentwood by popular demand!

Following an amazing live gig in June, Steve has agreed to return this autumn.

In 2004 with a record six million votes in one night, Steve Brookstein went on to score a number one album and single with his debut releases.

Born in South London in 1968, Brookstein's musical ambitions only surfaced at the relatively late age of 20. He became a regular fixture at various clubs, singing soul classics by Luther Vandross, Al Green, and George Benson as well as performing demos for industry writer Alan Glass. In 1996, he signed to MCA Records.

However, despite his first single, a reworking of Teddy Pendergrass' "Only You," being Judge Jules Radio One Record Of The Week, the closure of MCA meant the single never got released. Steve gave up on his singing career to focus on writing and producing. He signed two artists to major deals with Columbia in New York and Virgin in London and securing a publishing deal for himself with EMI New York. Unfortunately neither artist released an album.

Following these setbacks, Steve moved back to London to perform again and was spotted in a bar where he was asked to support Dionne Warwick, which he did in 2004. Soon after he entered The X Factor and with huge public support he went on to win. The subsequent deal with Sony BMG saw his debut single, a cover version of Phil Collins' Against All Odds,reach number one in the charts.

However, in August 2005, just 12 weeks after his debut album Heart and Soul went to number one, a fall out with Simon Cowell saw Brookstein leaving the label.

In 2006, he independently released his second album, 40,000 Things and then worked with his wife, Eileen Hunter on her debut album which he signed to Jazz FM. Forgotten Man is his first album in 7 years and was funded by fans. Steve is delighted to be back in Brentwood after such a great response last year.