Peter Andre (born Peter James Andrea on 27 February 1973) is a English singer–songwriter and television personality. He currently produces music in the genres of pop, R&B and reggae. He was born in Harrow, London, England, but was raised in Australia, and is of Greek Cypriot descent.
Music career
Peter Andre was discovered on the Australian TV talent show New Faces in 1990. Australian music guru and Melodian Records boss Molly Meldrum was one of the judges on the show and signed André up after seeing him do a Bobby Brown impression. In 1992, the debut single "Gimme Little Sign" was released, eventually peaking at #3 and lasting 31 weeks on the official ARIA Charts. In 1993, a self-titled album charted well in Australia, while the singles "Funky Junky" and "Let's Get It On/Do You Wanna Dance?" reached the Australian Top 20, and "To The Top" provided an additional Top 50 performance. In 1993, "Gimme Little Sign" picked up an ARIA Award as the highest selling single of the year.
Andre first had a top 50 single in the UK called "Only One", which reached number #16, and then gained further success with the song "Mysterious Girl" (featuring Bubbler Ranx), which reached #2 in the UK singles chart and #8 in Australia. He then had a #1 album Natural, and two UK #1 singles "Flava", and "I Feel You". However, after attempting to transform into an R&B artist rather than pop and releasing a few more singles, his success waned, with his second album Time only reaching #28. In 1998 he released his last single (a cover of the song "Kiss the Girl" from Disney's The Little Mermaid) before being dropped by his music label, and taking a long break from the charts.
He also appeared on the Childliners record The Gift Of Christmas; in the following years he spent some time in Cyprus.
He returned to the British media with a stint on the British reality TV series I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!; during which he met, fell in love with and subsequently married former glamour model Jordan, real name Katie Price. Capitalising on his resurgent popularity and a wave of generational nostalgia, he re-released his breakthrough hit "Mysterious Girl" in 2004, the single finally reaching #1 eight years after the 1996 re-release of the song (it had been released once before in 1995). This marked six years since his last chart appearance. He released a follow-up song, "Insania", which reached #3 in the UK in June 2004. A follow-up album entitled The Long Road Back was also released that month but only reached #44. The next single from the album was "The Right Way" and featured wife, Katie Price in the video. This reached #14 in September 2004.
Personal life
Born to Greek Cypriot parents Savvas and Thea, Andre has four older brothers Andrew, Chris, Danny, Michael and one older sister, Debby. Andre married Katie Price on 10 September 2005 at Highclere Castle, Berkshire, UK, becoming stepfather to Price's son, Harvey. Andre and Price became the parents of a baby boy, Junior Savva Andrea, on 13 June 2005, in Westminster, London.[2] Their daughter, Princess Tiaamii [3], was born by Caesarean section on 29 June 2007.
On 27 April 2007, it was reported in several newspapers in the UK that Andre had been diagnosed with meningitis.[4] During his stay in hospital a rumour that he had died started spreading around the internet, causing fans to contact his website and forcing Andre to issue a statement insisting that he was still alive.[5] He was discharged from hospital on 3 May 2007.[6]
It was announced on 11 May 2009 that Andre and Price have separated after three and a half years of marriage.[7]
He currently resides in Hove, England.[8]
Published works
His first autobiography was released in 2006, in competition with his wife's second autobiography; A Whole New World which won the competition. Andre continues to write a weekly column for celebrity magazine New!.
Bibliography
Discography
Albums
1993: Peter Andre
1996: Natural
1997: Time
2001: The Greatest Hits
2004: The Long Road Back
2005: The Platinum Collection
2006: A Whole New World
2009: "Control"
References
External links
