Ben Mills

Early 21st-century reality television competitions thrust countless emerging vocalists into prominence, placing Ben Mills squarely among their ranks. Born March 1, 1980, in Kent, England, Mills trained at Surrey's Academy of Contemporary Music. He subsequently fronted his own rock outfit, Benzego, while also supplying keyboards for the L.A. Doors, a tribute ensemble devoted to The Doors. Employed at a marquee hire company at the time, he cleared the audition for ITV's amateur showcase The X Factor in 2006. His husky vocal timbre, frequently likened to Rod Stewart, resonated strongly with viewers, securing him third place and a five-record contract with Sony BMG. Issued in March 2007, Mills' debut LP, Picture of You, climbed to number three on the U.K. pop charts.