Connell Cruise

Connell Cruise
Born Connell Cruise Kingsburgh
(1987-05-19) 19 May 1987
Johannesburg, South Africa
Occupation
  • Singer
  • Songwriter
Years active 2011–present
Website connellcruise.com

Connell Cruise (born Connell Cruise Kingsburgh on 19 May 1987)[1] is a South African singer, songwriter, and musician.[2][3]

He released his self-titled debut solo album in 2013 through David Gresham Records in South Africa.[4][5] The album earned him three South African Music Awards nominations[6][7] and the lead single, "Not Just Friends", became his first number one radio single.[8] Cruise released "Into The Wild" as a follow-up single in 2014 which caught the attention of L.A. Reid of Epic Records after debuting at No. 1 on the South African iTunes Charts.[9][10] Cruise subsequently signed what has been considered the biggest record deal in South African music history with Epic Records[11][12] and, following his relocation to New York City,[13] Cruise released his Into The Wild EP international debut in 2015 through Island Records.[14]

Cruise met his wife, Sarah Dunham, in New York City and in September 2016 the two were married in New York City Hall.[15] The couple moved to South Africa in 2017[16] where Cruise released his third full length solo album "Barely Breathing" once again through David Gresham Records.[17] The album garnered Cruise his fifth South African Music Award nomination.[18]

Cruise was selected in 2018 as one of 12 celebrity contestants to compete in the debut season of Dancing with the Stars (South African TV series).[19] He was partnered with Latin dance champion, Marcella Solimeo.[20] After dominating the leaderboard throughout much of the competition, Cruise and Solimeo bounced back from their first and only dance-off in the semifinal to win the show and take home the mirrorball trophy.[21][22]

Personal life

Cruise was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa.[23] He completed his training in Classical Piano through Trinity College, London while still in High School.[24] He studied psychology, sociology and law at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg[25][26] as well as Theology at the Baptist Theological College of Southern Africa.[27]

After relocating to the United States of America in 2015 following his signing with Epic Records, Cruise met and then married Sarah Dunham in September 2016 at New York City Hall. The couple celebrated their marriage again almost a year later, in August 2017, at a wedding ceremony held in the Pilanesberg.[28]

Career

Cruise audition for the sixth season of Idols South Africa but failed to make the Top 14 cut.[29] Following his experience on the show Cruise began a career in Gospel Music; featuring on Integrity Music compilation albums[30] and participating in the founding of South African contemporary gospel group We Will Worship[31] before being signed by David Gresham Records late in 2012.[32] His debut album was well received in South Africa[33] and was immediately followed by his 2014 single "Into The Wild" which brought with it the attention of American music executive L.A Reid. Reid signed Cruise to his Epic Records label (a division of Sony Music) in 2015 in what has been widely regarded the biggest record deal in South African music history.[34][35][36] Cruise followed up his move to the United States by releasing his international debut Into The Wild EP in 2015 through Island Records[37] and would spend most of 2015 and 2016 touring extensively around the United States and South Africa.[38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48]

In 2016 Cruise performed with The Fray,[49] Adam Lambert,[50] Safetysuit,[40] and The American Authors,[51] in venues such as The Troubadour in Los Angeles[52] and the Billboard Lounge in New York.[53] Cruise took to the stage at the Firefly Music Festival[54] and the Bonnaroo Music Festival[55] in the United States and was invited to perform at a gala celebration of Harry Belafonte in Greenwich, Connecticut.[56]

In 2017 Cruise released his third studio album, Barely Breathing[57] and in 2018 Cruise was invited to compete in the first South African season of Dancing with the Stars which he and his dancing partner, Marcella Solimeo, won.[58]

Discography

All works listed below have been released worldwide, except for those marked [US] which signifies an exclusive United States of America release.

Solo artist

Studio albums

  • Connell Cruise (2013)[33]
  • Into The Wild (2015)[59]
  • Barely Breathing (2017)[60]

Re-issued albums

  • Connell Cruise Deluxe Edition (2013)[61]

EPs

  • Connell Cruise EP (2013)[62]
  • Into The Wild EP [US] (2015)[59]

Singles

  • "Not Just Friends" (2013)
  • "Just For Christmas" (2013)
  • "99%" (2014)
  • "I Oughta Tell You" (2014)
  • "Wake Me Up" (2014)
  • "Into The Wild" (2014)
  • "Forever" (2014)
  • "Unbelievable" (2015)
  • "Meet Your Mother" (2015)
  • "I Am Your Man" (2016)
  • "Let It Go" (2016)
  • "Congratulations" (2016)
  • "All Day" (2017)
  • "Wreckage" (2017)
  • "Broken Dreams" (2017)
  • "Endless Possibilities" [US] (2017)[63]

Studio albums

Singles

  • "City of God" by We Will Worship feat. Connell Cruise and Kabelo Mabalane (2012)[66]
  • "The Prayer" by Audrey Mbuyazi feat. Connell Cruise (2012)[67]
  • "Miracle" by DJ Dekstir feat. Connell Cruise (2017)[68]
  • "Give Me Some" by Mark Stent feat. Connell Cruise (2017)[69]
  • "Somlandela [Love Is Calling]" by Gracepoint Worship Music feat. Connell Cruise (2017)[70]

Filmography

Television
Year Title Role Network Notes
2012 South African Music Awards Himself (as part of We Will Worship) SABC 1 Performed "Malibongwe"[71]
2017 The Voice South Africa Himself M-net Season 2 Guest Advisor (Episode 1). Performed "All Day"[72][73]
2018 Dancing with the Stars South Africa Himself (as a Celebrity Contestant) M-net Season 1 Winner[74]
2018 Miss South Africa 2018 Himself M-net Audience Member[75]

Theatre

Year Production Role Location Notes
2017 The Gospel Spectacular Himself (as the Headline Vocalist with Mahalia Buchanan and Brian Temba)[76] The Joburg Theatre (Johannesburg, South Africa) Staged in the Mandela Auditorium (13–23 April)[77]

Awards

References

  1. ↑ "Connell Cruise | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  2. ↑ "Connell Cruise". www.bsharpentertainment.co.za/music. 2013-10-24. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  3. ↑ "Just cruisin'". News24. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  4. ↑ Deluxe Edition by Connell Cruise, 2013-12-01, retrieved 2018-05-22
  5. ↑ "The Thursday Interview: Connell Cruise - Love SA Music". Love SA Music. 2013-07-11. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  6. ↑ "Nominees for the 20th Annual South African Music Awards". News24. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  7. ↑ "Connell Cruise: "I'm still discovering the kind of artist I'd like to be" | LitNet". LitNet. 2015-10-26. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  8. ↑ "Connell Cruise`s Not Just Friends tops the Kia Take 40 SA chart". Media Update. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  9. ↑ Into the Wild by Connell Cruise, 2015-02-24, retrieved 2018-05-22
  10. ↑ "Connell Cruise signs international recording deal". News24. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  11. ↑ Vieira, Genevieve. "Connell Cruise: Cruising the USA". The Citizen. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  12. ↑ "Connell Cruise signs massive international record deal with Sony/Epic Records!". 2014-08-15. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  13. ↑ "Connell Cruise-ing". www.bizcommunity.com. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  14. ↑ Into the Wild - EP by Connell Cruise, 2015-07-31, retrieved 2018-05-22
  15. ↑ "PressReader.com - Connecting People Through News". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  16. ↑ "Singer Connell Cruise weds Sarah Kingsburg". www.topbilling.com. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  17. ↑ "Connell Cruise Announces New Album 'Barely Breathing' - El Broide". El Broide. 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  18. ↑ "The SAMA nominations have officially been announced". Jacaranda FM. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  19. ↑ "Pop star Connell Cruise joins Dancing with the Stars SA". Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  20. ↑ "Lakeside resident wins Dancing with the Stars | Benoni City Times". Benoni City Times. 2018-05-20. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  21. ↑ "Connell Cruise on being crowned king of the dance floor: I didn't expect it". Channel. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  22. ↑ "Smelly shoes & 12 hour days in studio: Inside Connell Cruise's Dancing With The Stars win". Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  23. ↑ News, Eyewitness. "[WATCH] SA vocalist Connell Cruise on making it overseas". Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  24. ↑ "[Interview] Connell Cruise chatting music, moving to the USA and his latest EP, entitled INTO THE WILD. - Mixed Apples". mixedapples.co.za. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  25. ↑ "Connell Cruise". www.bsharpentertainment.co.za/music. 2013-10-24. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  26. ↑ Johannesburg, The University of the Witwatersrand,. "2018 - Witsie newsmakers - Wits University". www.wits.ac.za. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  27. ↑ "Connell Cruise hopes new show will help youth find Godly purpose". gatewaynews.co.za. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  28. ↑ "Singer Connell Cruise weds Sarah Kingsburg". www.topbilling.com. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  29. ↑ "Star Factory: It's Cruise with a missile". Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  30. ↑ Devout. "Connell Cruise". www.onegospel.co.za. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  31. ↑ "Connell Cruise". ishinesa.blogspot.co.za. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  32. ↑ "The Thursday Interview: Connell Cruise - Love SA Music". Love SA Music. 2013-07-11. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  33. 1 2 "Connell cruises onto charts with debut | IOL Entertainment". Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  34. ↑ "L.A Reid Signs Our Very Own Connell Cruise". Entertainment As Of Now. 2014-08-15. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  35. ↑ Vieira, Genevieve. "Connell Cruise: Cruising the USA". The Citizen. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  36. ↑ "Connell Cruise signs massive international record deal with Sony/Epic Records!". 2014-08-15. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  37. ↑ News, Eyewitness. "[WATCH] SA vocalist Connell Cruise on making it overseas". Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  38. ↑ "To Do Today: Best Coast, Road Show, and SafetySuit". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  39. ↑ "March Communion Club Night At Rockwood Music Hall". Pancakes And Whiskey. 2015-03-09. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  40. 1 2 "SafetySuit with Connell Cruise at U Street Music Hall | Eye On Annapolis". Eye On Annapolis. 2016-02-18. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  41. ↑ "Long Beach International Film Festival Takes Concept of "Dinner And A Movie" To Whole New Level – on the Beach". NewsLI.com. 2015-08-11. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  42. ↑ "Firefly Music Festival Announces 2016 Lineup Featuring Mumford & Sons, Blink-182 And Florence + The Machine -". mxdwn Music. 2015-11-18. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  43. ↑ "Connell Cruise to tour SA". Get It Online Joburg North. 2015-02-06. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  44. ↑ "A guide to NYC holiday concerts and events". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  45. ↑ "Connell Cruise Won't Choose Between the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  46. ↑ "NYC area concert listings for Feb. 15 – 21, 2016 | NextMosh.com". nextmosh.com. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  47. ↑ "Weekly Music Agenda". DCist. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  48. ↑ "CONNELL CRUISE 'INTO THE WILD' SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR - Mixed Apples". mixedapples.co.za. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  49. ↑ "The Fray - the Ticketpro Dome". the Ticketpro Dome. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  50. ↑ "LIVE: WXLO 104.5 "Almost Acoustic Xmas" (Worcester, MA) 12/10/15 | adamlambertlive". www.adamlambertlive.org. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  51. ↑ NuTickets. "Parklife Festival - Johannesburg - Sunday 3 May 2015 @ 10:00". breakout.nutickets.co.za. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  52. ↑ "SafetySuit - Tickets - Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA - February 5th, 2016". Troubadour. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  53. ↑ "MICK Spins for Nets at Halftime & Billboard Lounge Post-Game". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  54. ↑ "Firefly Fest Announces 2016 Lineup: Mumford & Sons, Deadmau5, and More". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  55. ↑ eMinor. "Watch Connell Cruise's Journey to Bonnaroo | ReverbNation". ReverbNation. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  56. ↑ "Harry Belafonte Stars At Changemaker Gala At Greenwich Film Festival". Greenwich Daily Voice. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  57. ↑ "Review: Connell Cruise - Barely Breathing - El Broide". El Broide. 2017-02-24. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  58. ↑ "Connell Cruise and Marcella Solimeo Win Dancing With The Stars SA | People Magazine". www.peoplemagazine.co.za. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  59. 1 2 Into the Wild - EP by Connell Cruise, 2015-07-31, retrieved 2018-05-28
  60. ↑ Barely Breathing by Connell Cruise, 2017-02-24, retrieved 2018-05-28
  61. ↑ Deluxe Edition by Connell Cruise, 2013-12-01, retrieved 2018-05-28
  62. ↑ "Connell Cruise - Not Just Friends (Ep)". SongLyrics.com. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  63. ↑ "Connell Cruise releases new studio album - Pieter Cloete". Pieter Cloete. 2017-03-14. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  64. ↑ The MoveMEANT Begins by We Will Worship, 2013-08-30, retrieved 2018-05-28
  65. ↑ Love Is Calling by Gracepoint Worship Music, 2017-11-23, retrieved 2018-05-28
  66. ↑ eMinor. "City of God | We Will Worship". ReverbNation. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  67. ↑ "The Prayer (feat. Connell Cruise)" from Take My Life by Audrey M on iTunes, 2012-03-01, retrieved 2018-05-28
  68. ↑ Miracle (feat. Connell Cruise) - Single by DJ Dekstir on iTunes, 2017-05-08, retrieved 2018-05-28
  69. ↑ Give Me Some (feat. Connell Cruise) - Single by Fibonacci, 2017-07-21, retrieved 2018-05-28
  70. ↑ Somlandela (With Love Is Calling) [feat. Connell Cruise] by Gracepoint Worship Music, 2017-11-23, retrieved 2018-05-28
  71. ↑ wwwmovement (2012-05-22), We Will Worship "Malibongwe" Live performance at MTN SAMA 18, retrieved 2018-05-28
  72. ↑ "Vote: 'The Voice SA' | WeekendSpecial". WeekendSpecial. 2017-05-18. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  73. ↑ "Get To Know The Voice SA Guest Connell Cruise!". M-Net - It's Magic - Get To Know The Voice SA Guest Connell Cruise!. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  74. ↑ "M-Net Signs up one of SA's Biggest Hitmakers!". M-Net Signs up one of SA’s Biggest Hitmakers!. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  75. ↑ "Louise McAuliffe on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  76. ↑ "The Gospel Spectacular - B SHARP ENTERTAINMENT". B SHARP ENTERTAINMENT. 2017-04-04. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  77. ↑ "GOSPEL SPECTACULAR 2017 - Joburg Theatre". Joburg Theatre. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  78. ↑ "2011 Metro FM Music Awards - all the winners | News | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  79. ↑ "5th SABC Crown Gospel Awards 2012 Winners | Parable Magazine". www.parable.co.za. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  80. ↑ "We Will Worship | Merchant Music". merchantmusic.co.za. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  81. ↑ "SAMA 2012 nominees announced". Channel24. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  82. 1 2 "A full list of all the 2014 SAMA nominees". Channel. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  83. ↑ "Sama Record of the Year nominees announced | DESTINY Magazine". DESTINY Magazine. 2014-04-08. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  84. ↑ "The full list of SAMA nominees". Channel. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
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