Jamie Cullum

English jazz singer/pianist Jamie Cullum started playing guitar and piano at age 8, inspired and encouraged by his older brother, bassist/producer Ben Cullum. ∙ He honed his craft by playing at a chain of pizza restaurants across London several nights a week—just as Amy Winehouse had done early in her career. ∙ The Grammy-nominated 2003 album Twentysomething made Cullum the fastest-selling jazz artist in UK chart history. ∙ In his reimaginings of songs by Radiohead, The White Stripes, and Massive Attack, he incorporated a stomp box, loops, and even beatboxing. ∙ His collaboration with lifelong jazz fan Clint Eastwood on the title song for the director’s 2008 film, Gran Torino, was nominated for a Golden Globe. ∙ In 2011, English artist Joe Simpson painted a portrait of Cullum, which he exhibited at the Royal Albert Hall. ∙ He played at the White House in 2016, as part of the International Jazz Day Global Concert.