Includes bibliographical references and index.

"Ed Sheeran couldn't believe his luck. The redheaded Brit was nineteen years old when he packed up his ukulele and headed to the United States. He landed in LA with no friends and no place to sleep. Sheeran's only move was to sing his heart out and hope for a break. Sheeran tracked down movie star and versatile entertainer Jamie Foxx leaving his radio show. Sheeran impressed Foxx, but Foxx wanted to hear what he could do live. So Foxx invited Sheeran to perform at his open mic showcase. At first, it didn't seem like a fit. The African-American crowd was expecting to hear R&B, and a pale Brit didn't seem like a likely candidate. But Sheeran had been playing shows since he was sixteen, in all types of venues. To him, it was just another chance to shine. Sheeran took the stage with soulful songs and a ukulele-and got a standing ovation"--,Provided by publisher.