Liam Payne was a singer and pop star best known for his time with the best-selling British group One Direction, one of the biggest boy bands of all time.
- Died: October 16, 2024 (Who else died on October 16?)
- Details of death: Died in Buenos Aires after a fall at the age of 31.
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Liam Payne’s legacy
Payne was just 14 years old when he first auditioned for the British TV talent competition “The X Factor,” singing Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon.” He didn’t make the cut, but at show judge Simon Cowell’s urging, he returned two years later for another try. This time, after a performance of “Cry Me a River,” he earned a standing ovation from Cowell. He was put together with four other soloists – Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik – to perform in the group category. With that, One Direction was born.
One Direction quickly became a massive success. Their 2011 debut album, led by the single “What Makes You Beautiful,” was a huge hit, thrusting Payne into stardom while still in his teens. The quintet became one of the biggest boy bands of all time, with four of their five studio LPs, including the first, debuting at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard charts. They sold over 70 million records overall, won dozens of awards worldwide, were among the top five highest earning celebrities in 2015 and 2016, and were named Billboard’s 2014 Artists of the Year.
When the group when on hiatus in 2016, Payne launched a solo career, working as a producer and songwriter; he’d created the publishing company Hampton Music Limited two years prior. His debut solo single, “Strip That Down,” was released in 2017. Co-written with Ed Sheeran and Steve Mac, and featuring rapper Quavo, it was a top-10 hit. Payne’s only solo EP project, “First Time,” was released in 2018, then his debut album, “LP1,” followed in 2019, hitting the top 20 on English album charts. A second LP was in progress at the time of his death.
Payne often sang with a falsetto, recognizable on hit songs like “Story of My Life,” “Night Changes,” and “Best Song Ever.”
Tributes to Liam Payne
Full obituary: Variety
