Rag'n'Bone Man: Everything you need to know 🎶
We LOVE him!
Unless you have been living under a sound-proof rock for the last few years, you'll have surely heard of the iconic Rag'n'Bone Man, the voice and brains behind huge hits such as 'Human', 'Giant', 'Alone' and 'Lovers In a Past Life'.
We've gathered together pretty much everything you'd need to know about the 'Skin' singer, from his real name, to what awards he has won, and even just how far he will push his love for sportswear!
In celebration of his latest collab with Calvin Harris, we think it's a great time to brush up on your facts about the star! Just how much do you really know about the deep-toned, blues-inspired singer?
What is Rag'n'Bone Man's most recent single?
Rag'n'Bone Man teamed up with Calvin Harris for the second time, five years after the release of their massive song 'Giant'. The song called 'Lovers In A Past Life' was released on 16th February, and was a big hit with their fans.
Who is Rag'n'Bone Man?
Simple really, Rag'n'Bone Man the multi-award winning singer responsible for huge hits such as 'Giant' and 'Skin'. His deep, baritone voice took the world by storm back in 2016 when he released his first hit single, 'Human'... You may have heard of it.
How old is Rag'n'Bone Man?
The singer was born on 29th January, in 1985, making him currently 39-years-old.
Where is he from?
He was born in Uckfield, in East Sussex, before later moving to Brighton.
What is Rag'n'Bone Man's real name?
Rag'n'Bone Man's real name is Rory Graham.
How did Rag'n'Bone Man get his name?
When he was just 15-years-old, Rory began MCing with a drum and bass crew, adopting the handle Rag 'N' Bonez - a name inspired by British sitcom Steptoe and Son, a comedy about a father and son who run a rag and bone business.
How did Rag'n'Bone Man get famous?
Back in 2011, a fresh-faced Rag'n'Bone Man began working with UK hip-hop label High Focus Records and released a number of recordings with them, including an EP in 2013 named 'Dog 'n Bone'. The following year he began collaborating with record producer Mark Crew, who was also busy at the time working on Bastille's debut album 'Bad Blood'.
After the release of his next EP, 'Wolves', in 2014, the singer then featured on Bastille's track 'Remains', which featured on the band's third EP. Soon after, following the release of his next EP 'Disfigured', Rag'n'Bone Man's track 'Bitter End' began to make waves on the radio.
It was then in 2016 that the world was taken by storm with his hit track 'Human'.
Does Rag'nBone Man get recognised in public often?
Rag'nBone Man joined us at Hits Live Birmingham in 2021 and got chatting about getting stopped by fans while out and about. He told us: "When I'm in Tesco’s buying stuff to make my little boy brownies at the weekend if people come and tap you on the shoulder or they're like, 'Can we have a picture?' I still find that weird now but it’s not like I can hide behind a lamppost." He also revealed that the most awkward place he gets stopped is the toilet!
What are Rag'n'Bone Man's biggest songs?
Rag'n'Bone Man - 'Human'
Released in 2016, Rags' massive track 'Human' flew to the Number 2 spot on the UK Singles Chart, as well as hitting the Number 1 spot in the Official Singles Charts in Austria, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland.
The track, which featured on his 2017 album of the same name, has since been certified 3x Platinum in the UK and 2x Platinum in the US.
WATCH: Rag'n'Bone Man - 'Human' official music video
Rag'n'Bone Man - 'Skin'
Released in 2017, 'Skin' was the third single from Rag'n'Bone Man's debut album, 'Human'. Inspiration for the song allegedly came to Rags while watching a Game of Thrones episode, concerning the relationship between Jon Snow and Ygritte. The track made it to the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart, hitting the Number 13 spot.
WATCH: Rag'n'Bone Man - 'Skin' official music video
Rag'n'Bone Man - 'Giant'
Released in 2019, 'Giant', a collaboration between Rags and Calvin Harris, quickly shot up the UK Singles Chart to the Number 2 spot, staying there for five consecutive weeks. With the catchy song being described as a gospel-inspired, dance and house track, it's no surprise that it's now been certified 2x Platinum in the UK!
WATCH: Calvin Harris and Rag'n'Bone Man - 'Giant' official music video
Rag'n'Bone Man - 'All You Ever Wanted'
The singer releasing the brilliant track 'All You Ever Wanted' in January 2021. The bop served as the lead single from his upcoming studio album 'Life by Misadventure'.
WATCH: Rag'n'Bone Man - 'All You Ever Wanted' official music video
Rag'n'Bone Man - 'Alone'
Rag'n'Bone Man released 'Alone' in July 2021. Taken from his second album 'Life By Misadventure', the track is accompanied by an amazing music video, directed by Joe Connor.
'Alone' was written after conversations with a friend, who told the singer about experiencing judgement from her family for not marrying and having children. He said: “I really feel for women, because men don’t get that kind of pressure from their families.”
Rag'n'Bone Man - 'Lovers In A Past Life'
As mentioned above, in February 2024, Rag'n'Bone Man and Calvin Harris released their second collab 'Lovers In A Past Life'. Speaking to us about the song, Rag'n'Bone Man said: "It was kind of written as a sort of love ballad, I kind of phoned my guy at the label and was like: 'oh, maybe we should think about some different producers', and the words he said to me was: 'Well we did a good one with Calvin before'. And I was like 'good point' and the rest is history."
Calvin added: "They sent me the song, the demo, or whatever it was, very complete one, do you know what I mean and it was amazing! So, easiest job in the world for me, so I'm like, this is class, like objectively it's just a great song. But, all I had to do was stick some drums on it and a guitar, and mix it, and then that was it! Which is, you know, a lot less than I do for most songs. So it was like a gift from the gods."
How many albums has he released?
Rag'n'Bone Man has released two albums so far. The singer released his debut 'Human' in 2017 and the follow up 'Life by Misadventure' in May 2021.
The 39-year-old has also released five EPs, 'Bluestown' (2012), 'Dog 'n' Bone' (2013), 'Put That Soul on Me' (2014), 'Wolves' (2014) and 'Disfigured' (2015), as well as releasing 18 singles.
Rag'n'Bone Man and Calvin Harris
In 2019, Rag'n'Bone teamed up with Calvin Harris on the huge track 'Giant', which was a big hit for the pair.
Celebrating five years since the song's release in January 2024, Calvin hinted that another collaboration could be on the cards. Posting a snap with Rag'n'Bone Man on Instagram, the Scottish DJ wrote: '5 years since Giant! What a voice on this lad! Should we do another one to celebrate?!'.
Fans were quick to express their desire for another song from the pair - we'd definitely love to see this happen!
'Lovers In A Past Life' was later released on 16th February 2024.
Rag'n'Bone Man and Pink
It's the collab we never knew we needed! Rags took to his Instagram back in March 2021 to announce that his second single from his album, 'Life By Misadventure', would be called 'Anywhere Away From Here' and feature none other than pop-superstar Pink.
Announcing the news, the singer wrote, 'Been keeping this one quiet for a while... My next single 'Anywhere Away From Here' is with the incredible @pink 🤩 Out on 09.04.21 🙌🏻' (sic).
The 'Raise Your Glass' singer also took to her Instagram to tease the new track at the time, sharing a sneak peak of a music video for the melodic tune.
Rag'n'Bone Man took to his social media accounts to celebrate the release of the single on 9th April, writing, 'It’s an honour to have P!nk on this record and I’m so glad she is able to be a part of it... ‘Anywhere Away From Here’ with @Pink is out now 💥🐺' (sic).
The pair performed their track at the 2021 BRIT Awards.
While at Hits Live Birmingham, Rag'n'Bone Man chatted to us about the collab with P!nk: "I feel very lucky to have worked with someone like P!nk because she’s amazing, and that she said yes to doing that song in particular because I know that it wasn’t a kind of big pop smash. (She) believed in it as a song, as I did as well. I feel very grateful that I got to do that."
Is Rag'n'Bone Man going on tour?
Not currently. Rag'n'Bone Man performed a series of shows across the UK and Europe in Summer 2023.
Is Rag'n'Bone Man married?
Not anymore, no! The 'Skin' singer married his girlfriend of 10 years, Beth Rouy, back in May 2019 in a sportswear themed wedding - however, the pair separated after just six months, deciding they were better as close friends.
The pair are parents to son Reuben, who was born in 2017, as well as a cat named Patricia.
Rag'n'Bone Man is now in a relationship with Zoe Beardsall, who he met at the end of 2020. The couple got engaged in September 2023, after Rag'n'Bone Man popped the question during an American road trip!
What is his net worth?
As of 2021, Celeb Net Worth reported that Rag'n'Bone Man's net worth was around the whopping $7 million mark.
What awards has Rag'n'Bone man won?
Of course a hit-maker such as Rag'n'Bone man has a whole host of awards under his belt. Back in 2017, the singer picked up the BRIT Award for Breakthrough Artist and well as the Critics' Choice Award (now Rising Star).
The gongs didn't stop there, with him picking up the BRIT Award for Best British Single in 2018 for his track 'Human'.
The star is no stranger to rocking a BRIT Awards ceremony, with an iconic performance back in 2019 alongside huge names Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa and Sam Smith.
Check out some winners of the Critics' Choice BRIT Award that are now huge stars...
Adele: 2008
Adele won the award in 2008 and has since gone on to enjoy world domination. The singer has released four albums, '19', '21' ,'25' and most recently, '30' in November 2021.
With hits like 'Rolling In The Deep', 'Chasing Pavements' and 'Easy On Me', it is no surprise the singer is adored across the world by fans.
After making her comeback to music in 2021, Adele hasn't slowed down since, with the singer currently enjoying a stint in Las Vegas.
Florence & The Machine: 2009
Florence Welch of Florence & The Machine was given the award in 2009, much to her fans' delight. The singer went on to release amazing albums and perform at sell-out shows across the world.
Ellie Goulding: 2010
Ellie Goulding was crowned the winner of the award in 2010.
Ellie went on to release five massive albums, with her latest arriving in 2023. She teamed up again with Calvin Harris in 2023 on the track 'Miracle', which the pair performed at The BRITs 2024.
Jessie J: 2011
Jessie J won the award in 2011 and has smashed the charts ever since. After releasing her debut album 'Who You Are' in 2011, Jessie went on to achieve global success with hits like 'Domino', 'Price Tag' and 'Bang Bang' featuring Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj.
Emeli Sande: 2012
Emeli won in 2012 and released her massive debut album 'Our Version Of Events' in the same year.
The singer went on to perform at the London Olympics closing ceremony in 2012. She then went on to wow fans across the world with her incredible vocals on hits like 'Clown', 'Next To Me' and 'Heaven'.
Tom Odell: 2013
Singer-songwriter Tom Odell won the award in 2013, going on to release five albums since. His fifth album 'Best Day Of My Life' was released in October 2022.
Sam Smith: 2014
Since winning the award in 2014, Sam Smith hasn't look back! The vocalist has released four massive albums which include hits like 'Too Good At Goodbyes', 'One Last Song' and 'Promises'.
After teaming up with Calvin Harris in 2018, Sam then worked with former Fifth Harmony singer Normani on the track 'Dancing With A Stranger' and has since dropped tracks such as 'Unholy' and 'Gloria'.
James Bay: 2015
One year after winning the award in 2015, James Bay went on to win a BRIT Award for Best British Male Solo Artist in 2016.
The singer has since released amazing singles such as 'Hold Back The River' and 'Let It Go'.
Jack Garratt: 2016
Jack Garratt won in 2016 and continues to wow his fans with his vocal. The singer dropped his debut album 'Phase' in February 2016. Jack released his second album 'Love, Death & Dancing' in 2020.
Rag'N'Bone Man: 2017
Since Rag'n'Bone Man won the award in 2017, the singer has gone on to massive things.
Not only did he drop the massive hit 'Human', Rag'n'Bone Man, real name Rory Graham, teamed up with Calvin Harris on the amazing song 'Giants', with the pair working together again in 2024 on 'Lovers In A Past Life'.
Jorja Smith: 2018
Singer-songwriter Jorja Smith won the award in 2018 at the age of just 20.
Since winning the award last year, Jorja has released her debut album 'Lost & Found' which was positively received by fans.
Sam Fender: 2019
Sam Fender has become hugely popular over the last couple of years, so it's no surprise he won the award in 2019. His debut album 'Hypersonic Missiles' was adored by fans.
Sam dropped his second album ' Seventeen Going Under' in October 2021 and has since sold out shows across the world.
Celeste: 2020
British singer-songwriter Celeste won the prestigious award in 2020, going on to perform at the 2020 ceremony. After her victory, Celeste released her debut studio album in January 2021 and her single 'A Little Love' featured on the 2020 John Lewis Christmas ad.
Griff: 2021
Singer-songwriter Griff picked up the award in 2021. Gushing over her win, she said: "In my head I'm still screaming from the phone call when I found out. It's honestly such a miracle: how on earth did we manage to win a BRIT and break through during a pandemic?"
Holly Humberstone: 2022
Holly Humberstone picked up the award, now named the Rising Star Award, in 2022. She is known for her tracks 'London Is Lonely' and 'Falling Asleep At The Wheel'.
On receiving the award, Holly said: "I remember watching the BRITs with my parents each year and being totally awe struck by the artists coming together in what felt like another universe. Now to be named the BRITs Rising Star and nominated alongside two other incredible women, with the songs that started within those four walls at home is so mad. It just doesn't feel real. This year has been a wild ride and a year of firsts, and I am so grateful and thankful for everyone who has helped make this happen!"
FLO: 2023
The 2023 Rising Star Award went to girl group FLO, known for their songs 'Cardboard Box', 'Not My Job' and 'Immature'. They said of their win: "From growing up watching the BRITs, to finding each other and forming FLO, releasing our first body of work in 2022 and winning a BRIT award in the same year!! We are so shocked and grateful. We are the first group to win the BRITs Rising Star! We've just made history and couldn't have done it without our wonderful fans and supportive families. It's truly a dream come true. We feel so empowered creating the music we love and we hope others feel that too."
The Last Dinner Party
The Last Dinner Party were announced as the winners of the 2024 award after a stratospheric rise to fame. The five-piece from London started out only in 2020, giving their first performance in 2021 - so it's a pretty impressive trajectory.
They said of the win: "We are so proud beyond measure to have won the BRITs Rising Star. It's an honour to achieve something so iconic so early on in our career and we can only hope to keep making music that connects with all the incredible people who have listened to and supported us so far. Thank you!"
Now read:
13 of P!NK's most popular songs of all time 🎵
The biggest tours to look forward to in 2024 and beyond
Rag'n'Bone Man and Calvin Harris' new collab 'Lovers In A Past Life' is out now