Oritsé Williams | |
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Oritsé at LCM 2016
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Born |
Oritsé Jolomi Matthew Soloman Williams 27 November 1986 West London, England |
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Years active | 2006–present |
Website | oritsewilliams |
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Oritsé Jolomi Matthew Soloman Williams (/oʊˈriː.ʃeɪ/, oh-REE-shay, born 27 November 1986), professionally as Oritsé, is an English singer-songwriter, dancer and record producer. He is best known as the founding member of the boy band JLS, who were runners-up to Alexandra Burke on the fifth series of The X Factor in 2008. JLS sold over 10 million records before disbanding in December 2013. Williams also won the ITV dancing competition Stepping Out in September 2013.
Since the age of 12, Williams has cared for his mother, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and his three brothers and sister. He attended Larmenier & Sacred Heart Primary School in West London, where he learnt to play the trumpet. He also attended British International School and the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School
In 2007, Williams and his brother came up with a "grand plan" to cure their mother's MS. His brother was studying to be a scientist to find a cure for the condition, whilst Williams was going to back him up through his love of music. Williams then set up a boy band called UFO ("Unique Famous Outrageous") with Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes and JB Gill. In 2008, UFO auditioned for the fifth series of The X Factor, but changed their name to JLS ("Jack the Lad Swing") as there was already a rock band called UFO. JLS made it all the way to the final, finishing as runners-up behind Alexandra Burke.