Taio Cruz

Contemporary R&B singer and songwriter Taio Cruz was born of a Nigerian father and a Brazilian mother, and raised in London, England. Cruz scored success first as a songwriter, co-writing smash hits like Rihanna's "Umbrella" and "Your Game" for British POP IDOL winner Will Young. In 2006 Cruz began releasing singles under his own name, and cracked the British charts with the hits "I Just Wanna Know" and "Moving On." His full-length debut DEPARTURE, which offered the summation of Cruz's dancey, pop-flavoured R&B, appeared in 2008.

• pop
• r&b/soul