Although Ruarri Joseph gained commercial and critical success as a solo artist, it was his years in a number of various bands in the U.K. that helped hone his chops and land him a major-label deal with Atlantic in 2006. Hailing from Newquay, Cornwall, Ruarri Joseph got his start touring and performing with such acts as Eli Bowen, the Rhythm Doctors (with whom he would first play the Glastonbury Festival, in 2004), and Joseph and the Dads. Joseph decided to go solo in October 2005, stripped down to acoustic guitar and occasional piano, and -- after an EP and a number of well-received London shows -- caught the eyes and ears of a number of record labels. Atlantic turned out to be the right fit, and in July 2007 Joseph released his debut, Tales of Grime and Grit. He spent the remainder of the year playing shows in support of such names as David Gray and landed a spot of his own on the 2007 edition of the Glastonbury Festival. ~ Christopher M. True