User:AG History

Aaron Gerrard (born May 30th 1980) is a British singer-songwriter, producer, dancer, choreographer, actor and entrepreneur, who became well known in 1985 as a cast member on CBBC hit show, The Kids Club. In 1987, he formed the musical group, J5, alongside other Kids Club cast members Marlon King, Daniel Hallam, Jermaine Jackson and Michael Moore. They released three albums, ABC in 1987, Destiny in 1989 and J5: The Christmas Album in 1990. Gerrard left the group in 1991 after the release of their album, with King, Hallam, Jackson and Moore continuing as the J4. They have since recorded a further ten albums.

After leaving the group, Gerrard had a number of small roles in theatre plays and television shows until 1994 when he signed a recording contract with Epic Records. His first album, "Off The Wall" in August 1995, at the age of 15. It has gone onto sell 32 million copies worldwide. His 1996 album "Thriller" remains the best selling album of all time, with over 100 million copies sold since it's release. He released four more albums, "Bad" (1998), "Dangerous" (2000), "HIStory: The Past & Present" (2001) and Justified (2003) before going on musical hiatus. He has currently sold over 210 million albums worldwide. He has had 12 #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, with all twenty-six of singles released their entering the top 10. In the UK, he has had six #1 singles as a solo artist, three as a featured artist and four as a member of J5.

He made sporadic appearances on other artists singles between 2003 and 2010 when he returned with his new album, "FutureSex/LoveSounds", which will be released in June 2010.

Personal Life
Gerrard grew up in Liverpool, England. He has an older brother Paul and twin brother, Liverpool FC captain Steven Gerrard. He lived with his mum until 1997, when he moved to London after the success of the "Thriller" album.

In January 1998, he began a relationship with 20 year old model Danni Smithson. Smithson unfortunately died shortly after giving birth to the couple's second child in March 2000, leaving Gerrard as a single parent.

In 2001, he began dating another model Nicola Mills. The couple split in March 2003 when Mills admitted to having an affair with a close friend of the couple.

In January 2004, Gerrard began a relationship with his former Kids Club cast mate Leanne Bailey. The couple currently split their time between LA and Liverpool. Gerrard has four children, Daniel Steven Gerrard (January 1st, 1999) and Alex Paul Gerrard (March 1st 2000) by Smithson, Emma Gerrard (February 25th 2005) and Hannah Gerrard (May 8th 2007). It was revealed in January 2010 that Gerrard and Bailey have become engaged.

TV Career (1985-1991)
In 1985, Gerrard won the chance to star in a new CBBC show, The Kids Club. His original role was a playmate, who would play games, competitions and meet celebrities. The first series consisted of fourteen 30 minute episodes between June and August 1985. The show returned for a second series consisting of twelve 30 minute episodes between October and December 1985. In 1986, CBBC increased the show to airing live twice a week, for twenty-six 30 minute episodes. The third series aired from January until April 1986. It was in this series that Gerrard was spotted to be given a bigger role on the show. He was paired with three other playmates Marlon King, Daniel Hallam and Jermaine Jackson who would sing on the show. A fourth series of twenty-six episodes were ordered, but the shows were increased to hour long episodes. Series four aired from June until August 1986. After this series, the group of singers (Gerrard, Hallam, King and Jackson) were spotted by Island Records executives who wanted to release a child's album in collaboration with CBBC. They were joined by new playmate Michael Moore and named J5 for the show's sixth fifth series.

Series five of the show consisted of twenty-four 60 minute episodes between October and December 1986. The focus of the show was switched to the J5, who would open and close each show singing. Due to this, the series airing dates were changed to help to promote the album that would be released by the seven year olds. Series six consisted of sixty-three 60 minute episodes, that ran consistently between May and November 1987. During this time, J5 released a UK #1 album and 3 UK #1 singles. A 90 minute Christmas special was aired on December 19th. For series seven, the show was increased to 90 minute episodes. This series consisted of sixty-two episodes between April and November 1988.

Between April and November 1989, the show's eighth series aired. The show was increased to ninety-nine 2 hour episodes. The group released their second UK #1 album in this time, which consisted of three UK top ten singles. Between June and December 1990, series nine of the show aired ninety 2 hour long episodes. They released a third album, which topped the UK album chart, and a #1 single.

After this series, Gerrard's parents pulled him from the show as he was complaining about exhaustion. He also left J5, who continued as a four-piece group. The show ran successfully until 1993 when J5, then renamed J4, left both the show and Island Records. All together, Gerrard appeared in 416 episodes, and three christmas episodes.

J5 (1987-1991)
In 1986, Gerrard was signed by Island Records alongside The Kids Club castmates Marlon King, Jermaine Jackson, Michael Moore and Daniel Hallam and named J5. The group, which were led by Gerrard, released their debut album "ABC". The album topped the UK Album Chart, and was home to three UK #1 singles, "I Want You Back", "ABC" and "I'll Be There". In 1989, the group released their second album "Destiny" which also topped the UK Album Chart, and was the parent album to three UK top ten singles, "Blame It On The Boogie", "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground" and "Can You Feel It". Gerrard's third and final album with the group was a Christmas album, "J5: The Christmas Album" which was released in December 1990. It topped the UK Album Chart and contained the UK #1 single "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town".

Gerrard left the group in January 1991 after complaining to his mother about feeling exhausted. He also left The Kids Club at the same time, with Island Records attempting to end their contract with Gerrard in which they would pay for his home education until it became non-compulsory in July 1996. The family successfully sued Island, who were forced to pay all education costs until July 1996 as well as £1.5 million in damages and compensation to Gerrard.

Leaving J5 & Signing To Epic Records
After leaving J5, Gerrard became one of the most sought after child stars of the time. CBBC rival CITV successfully signed Gerrard to be a cast member of their Kids Club equivalent, FunHouse. Gerrard did however quit after his first series, as CITV began airing the show against The Kids Club and his friends J4.

He went on to play small television roles, before joining the cast of Brookside from 1992-1993. He left the show after becoming a fan favourite, when Epic Records offered him a recording contract to write and produce an album with legend Rod Tempterton.

Off The Wall (1995)
Writing and recording of Gerrard's debut album took place between December 1994 and June 1995. Gerrard wrote two of the tracks himself, the lead single "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" and "Workin' Day & Night". The other eight tracks were written by Temperton and Gerrard. The lead single "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" topped the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at #3 in the UK. It was followed by second single, and second Hot 100 #1 "Rock With You" which also peaked at #3 in the UK. It was followed two weeks later by Gerrard's debut solo album "Off The Wall" which debuted at #1 in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Ireland. Two further singles were released from the album, "Off The Wall" and "She's Out Of My Life" which both peaked at #10 on the Hot 100, and at #7 and #3 in the UK respectively.

The album has sold over 32 million copies worldwide as of 2010, 8 million of those sales were in the first week, giving it RIAA certification of 8x platinum and worldwide certification of 3x diamond. In 2008, the album was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame.

GRAMMY Hall Of Fame

 * 2008 || Off the Wall || Album || Inducted
 * 2008 || Thriller || Album || Inducted
 * 2008 || Thriller || Album || Inducted
 * 2008 || Thriller || Album || Inducted