大象传媒

James Morrison grew up here in Cornwall. He attended Newquay Treviglas School where he was popular with his fellow pupils and teachers.

"He was a lovely boy, very very pleasant, charming and all-round good person," remembers Headteacher Helen Matheson.

"It's a real pleasure to see him do well."

When he wasn't doing his school work the young James spent his free time listening to music, lots of it.

"Anything from Van Morrison to, you know all the old soul stuff, Al Green, Otis Reading, Stevie Wonder, and even earlier like Chuck Berry and Fats Domino," says James.

The endless hours of listening to his music idols has certainly paid off. James Morrison has the soul voice for today's audience. It's already attracted a huge following.

"Every time I sang I felt like I was releasing something, but I didn't know how to control it, so it's taken a good couple of years, just sitting in my room learning songs and listening to the voices, how they tackle the notes and they way they sing, what they do with their throat and you know, techniques basically, just picking up different techniques," explains James.

"Once I could do that it was all about getting out and playing live in front of people and getting confident and comfortable doing that, cause when I first started playing I wasn't confident at all. I didn't like playing in front of anyone, it was embarrassing, and I had to get over that, so I used to go busking and stuff like that."

And busking he did, on several occasions on Lemon Quay. In March 2007 James will return to the same area, but this time it's not to play to passing shoppers, but to a full house at the Hall for Cornwall.

James' debut album 'Undiscovered' reached platinum status and continues be a best seller. It was the fastest selling debut album in August for the last six years.