Leon Jackson

Leon Jackson was working as a shop assistant in Gap and planning to go to university to study architectural technology when he entered the 2007 X Factor television talent show. A fan of contemporary jazz - much inspired by Michael Buble - he'd started performing the odd gig earlier that year but had no real expectations of progressing in the competition and was a rank outsider. So it was the biggest shock in the history of the competition when he beat Rhydian Roberts in the final. Jackson toured with the other X Factor finalists, appeared at Wembley Arena with his hero Michael Buble and had a UK Number 1 with his debut single When You Believe. His second single Don't Call This Love reached Number 3 and debut album Right Now in 2008 was also well-received, reaching Number 4 in the UK album chart. Things got tougher after that and he was dropped by his record label Sony/BMG in 2009 but in 2010 he was planning to move away from his jazz style to work on a brand new guitar-led album.

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