Calvin Harris is a Scottish DJ, record producer, singer, and songwriter.
He is widely recognized for his contributions to the electronic dance music (EDM) scene.
Early life and Education
Adam Richard Wiles, known professionally as Calvin Harris, was born on January 17, 1984, in Dumfries, Scotland. His parents, originally from Oxford, England, moved to Dumfries where his father worked as a biochemist and his mother was a housewife. Harris has an older sister and brother. He attended Calside Primary School and then Dumfries High School. After completing his education, he took up jobs stocking shelves in supermarkets and working at a local fish processing factory to save money for DJ equipment.
Harris developed an interest in electronic music during his teenage years and began creating demo tracks in his bedroom in 1999. At 18, he released two songs, “Da Bongos” and “Brighter Days,” under the name “Stouffer” through the label Prima Facie in early 2002. Seeking to immerse himself in the music scene, Harris moved to London, but only managed to release “Let Me Know” with vocalist Ayah Marar on the Unabombers’ 2004 live-mix CD “Electric Soul, Vol. 2” during his time there. Due to financial difficulties and limited job opportunities, he returned to Dumfries and started sharing his solo recordings on Myspace.
His growing popularity on Myspace caught the attention of Mark Gillespie, a talent booker for the dance festival firm Global Gathering, who had just founded his own management company. Gillespie signed Harris as his first client, and continues to represent him. Harris chose his stage name because his first single had a soulful vibe, and he felt the name “Calvin Harris” sounded racially ambiguous, which he thought might intrigue listeners.
Career
Harris first gained prominence with his 2007 debut album, “I Created Disco,” which featured hit singles like “Acceptable in the 80s” and “The Girls.” His breakthrough came with the release of his third studio album, “18 Months” (2012), which included international hits such as “Feel So Close,” “We Found Love” (featuring Rihanna), and “Sweet Nothing” (featuring Florence Welch). This album established Harris as a major force in the music industry, leading to numerous collaborations with high-profile artists.
Over the years, Harris has released several successful albums and singles, becoming one of the highest-paid DJs in the world. He has won numerous awards, including a Grammy for Best Music Video for “We Found Love.” Known for his dynamic live performances, Harris has headlined major music festivals like Coachella and performed residencies in Las Vegas.
In addition to his solo work, Calvin Harris has produced and written songs for other artists, showcasing his versatility and influence in the music industry. His sound typically blends elements of dance, pop, and electronic music, making his tracks widely appealing and commercially successful.
Personal life
Calvin Harris dated British singer Rita Ora from 2013 until June 2014. In 2014, he began dating American model Aarika Wolf, who appeared in his music video for the song “Blame.” The couple broke up in 2015. From March 2015 to June 2016, Harris was in a relationship with American singer Taylor Swift. He and Wolf rekindled their relationship in 2017 but ultimately split in 2022. In January 2022, Harris began dating British television presenter Vick Hope, and they married on September 9, 2023.
Harris stopped drinking alcohol in 2008, explaining that while he wasn’t an alcoholic, alcohol was affecting his work. He is a supporter of his hometown football team, Queen of the South, as well as Liverpool. He once considered writing a song to celebrate Queen of the South’s appearance in the 2008 Scottish Cup Final, but he abandoned the idea due to the time constraints of recording his 2009 album, “Ready for the Weekend.”
Net Worth
Estimated to be over 300 million dollars