About Joe

Joseph "Joe" McElderry was born 16 June 1991. He is an English singer. He won the 6th series of the ITV television show The X Factor in 2009. His first single "The Climb" reached number 1 on the UK and Irish Singles Charts. He is signed to Syco Music and Epic Records owned by Sony Music Entertainment.

Joe was born in South Shields, England, Joe McElderry is the only child of Jim McElderry and Eileen Joyce. The couple separated when McElderry was a child. Joe McElderry was raised in a small flat on Tyneside with help from his grandmother Hilda Joyce and his aunts. Hilda sang in a band called The Dolly Mixtures, who performed in the pubs and clubs of North-East England.

Joe McElderry attended Harton Technology College in Lisle Road, South Shields, before joining South Tyneside College to study AS level school qualifications, and Newcastle College to study performing arts. Joe was the Pride of South Tyneside's Young Performer of the Year in 2008. Joe McElderry studied for a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts (Advanced Performance) at Newcastle College Performance Academy. He took the role of 'Danny Zuko' in Grease which was performed at Harton Technology College.

Joe McElderry auditioned for The X Factor in 2007, but it wasn't shown because he felt he was too young compared to the other contestants and opted to walk away. He auditioned again in 2009 in Manchester and sang Luther Vandross's "Dance with My Father". He made it through to the live finals and was announced the winner on 13 December 2009, beating runner up Olly Murs with his version of Miley Cyrus's "The Climb".

Joe McElderry's prize, as winner, was a recording contract with Simon Cowell's Syco record label, whose parent company is Sony Music Entertainment. The contract has a stated value of £1 million, of which £150,000 is a cash advance and the remainder allocated to recording and marketing costs. The single "The Climb" was released as McElderry's debut single.

Along with The X Factor finalists, Joe McElderry recorded vocal for featured on a charity single, a cover of Michael Jackson's hit "You Are Not Alone". It was released in aid of London's Great Ormond Street Hospital. The finalists premiered the song live on the 15 November edition of the programme; the single was available for digital download that day and a physical release followed the day after. The single reached number one in the UK Singles Chart.