Darius Danesh's professional career began playing a ten-year-old Trojan boy in the Scottish Opera's avante garde 1990's production of The Trojans. As a teenager he then toured with the Scottish Opera in a critically acclaimed production of Carmen. After performing at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, Darius faced the first of many career cross-roads. He chose to return to his studies in lieu of training his rich baritone voice for an Operatic career.
While studying English Literature at Edinburgh University, a chance audition and promise of a record deal led Darius to fame on Popstars and the subsequent television phenomenon that was Pop Idol, from which American Idol was born. Millions voted for him, and the nation's favourite underdog left the show with a major record contract on the table. With this new career cross-road ahead, Darius veered off the road altogether, making his own path, guitar over shoulder. He turned down Simon Cowell's million pound offer to become a Cover-song Idol, and instead sent a self-composed track to his favourite producer in the hope of creating something original. Legendary, Grammy-winning U2-producer Steve Lillywhite signed him to a five-album deal. In the summer of 2002 Colourblind became Darius' first number one single and that Christmas, his self-penned album Dive In went platinum.
Over the next two years, Darius would go on to support Shakira in Paris on her World Tour; complete his own sell-out UK tour; become an Ambassador for the Prince's Trust; contribute to the War Child charity album with Coldplay and Oasis; write a no. 6 Sunday Times Best Seller book, Sink or Swim; and headline in India with Alanis Morissette after his album went platinum there.
After receiving news that his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Darius wrote and dedicated his second studio album to Dr Booth Danesh, the man he calls his "hero". In 2005, the album's title-track Live Twice became Darius' 5th Top Ten UK single. Amazingly, father Booth not only lived to see his son perform it at the Royal Albert Hall, but fought his cancer into remission, echoing the song's lyrics.
Recently, Darius celebrated a five month sell-out West End run in Chicago and at 25, officially became the youngest actor ever to fill the role of Billy Flynn since the show first opened on Broadway in 1975, appearing in 121 shows without missing a performance. Off stage, Darius continues to work with the Lymphoma Association to raise awareness of one of the least understood and fastest growing cancers, and continues to work with underprivileged youth as a Prince's Trust Ambassador. He is currently writing for his third album.
