Born on October 13, 1978, in Backnang, Baden-Württemberg, German singer/songwriter Gregor Meyle had been been musically active but first achieved fame when he competed on the television program SSDSDSSWEMUGABRTLAD, a casting show similar to American Idol and Pop Idol. He reached the finals before losing to winner Stefanie Heinzmann, and was then offered a recording contract with Universal Music Group. His self-written debut single, the emotional ballad "Niemand," became a Top 30 hit in Germany, charted Top 50 in Switzerland, and was covered by former rival Heinzmann on her debut EP, 2008's My Man Is a Mean Man. Meyle's full-length album debut, So Soll Es Sein, was also released in 2008, and charted Top Ten in Germany and Top 50 in Austria. ~ Jason Birchmeier