For those left wondering where Josh Groban ‘fits’ in the highly labelled world of musical arts, don’t bother trying to pigeon hole this guy. Los Angeles-born Josh can claim fans from all age ranges, and is just as comfortable singing pop ballads with The Corrs as he is performing classical masterpieces in Italian or even Spanish or French. The turn of the millennium saw Josh’s star on the rise, his rich baritone voice compelling little old ladies and swooning teens alike. Of course, it doesn’t hurt at all that he has full lips and intense eyes that crinkle when he smiles. What matters most to Josh Groban, however, is that he gets to ply his trade and make a career out of his natural talents. His hit singles “To Where You Are” and “You Raise Me Up” have already become modern day classics to a gazillion iPod devotees who eagerly consume each new song release.
At just 25 years of age, Josh Groban is a veteran of countless television appearances, and is a regular guest on the Oprah Winfrey show. His 40-city North American concert tour broke records by selling out in just twenty minutes and he sang to an audience of more than two billion people at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics’ closing ceremony.
His popularity has spawned numerous fan clubs and his devotees call themselves “Grobanites”, testament to the loyalty his fans feel towards him and his art. With operatic-style influences infiltrating the younger market more and more these days, performers such as Charlotte Church, Il Divo and Andrea Bocelli are Groban’s peers, yet he can simultaneously break and mend hearts with his earnest lyrics and contemporary take on love and life issues.
What appears to matter most to Groban is the opportunity to continue to explore the ranges of his talent and to work alongside music’s most acclaimed and appreciated artists. It seems Josh Groban is a fan as much as a star.