Count Ben Mills among the myriad young singers launched to fame via the reality TV phenomenon of the early 21st century. Born March 1, 1980, in Kent, England, Mills studied at Surrey's Academy of Contemporary Music. He later led his own rock band, Benzego, and played keyboards in a Doors cover act, the L.A. Doors. Mills was working with a marquee hire firm when he successfully auditioned for the ITV network's amateur showcase The X Factor in 2006. With a husky vocal delivery most commonly compared to Rod Stewart, he proved an audience favorite and ultimately finished in third place, landing a five-record deal with Sony BMG. Mills' debut LP, Picture of You, ascended to number three on the U.K. pop charts upon its March 2007 release. ~ Jason Ankeny