Taio Cruz

Taio Cruz, born Adetayo Ayowale Onile-Ere, is a British artist born on 23 April 1980 in the London Borough of Brent, England. A singer, songwriter and record producer, he has won a Brit Award and received MOBO Award nominations.

He founded and runs his own label, Rokstarr Music London, which released his first single I Just Wanna Know in 2006. That same year he entered a joint-venture deal with Republic Records and Island Records. His debut album, Departure, which he arranged and produced himself, was released in 2008.

His second album, Rokstarr, released in October 2009, achieved international success led by the number-one single Break Your Heart, which reached the top of the iTunes charts in the United States upon its release on 23 February 2010 and remained there for three consecutive weeks. The Rokstarr album was later released in the U.S. on 1 June 2010.

Alongside his solo career, Taio Cruz is a sought-after producer and songwriter: he has written and produced for many artists including Cheryl Cole, Brandy, the Sugababes, Alexandra Burke, Leona Lewis and Shayne Ward, the latter after a request from label executive Simon Cowell.

In the UK he has also worked with artists such as Omar, Nitin Sawhney, Wookie and Will Young. In 2008 his song She's Like a Star, featuring the Sugababes on the official remix, earned him a MOBO Award nomination for Best Single.

In 2010 he unveiled Hangover, the lead single from his third album TY.O, featuring American rapper Flo Rida and produced by Dr. Luke. During an acoustic session for London’s Big Top 40, he named Michael Jackson, Beyoncé and Justin Timberlake as dream collaborators and spoke fondly of working with Britney Spears, Shayne Ward and The Pussycat Dolls.

Describing himself as a multi-talented artist, Taio Cruz says he cannot choose between being a producer, singer or songwriter, enjoying involvement in all three aspects of music creation.