Rag'n'Bone Man
A British singer with a soulful baritone voice who broke records with his debut album 'Human,' blending blues, hip-hop, and raw emotional power.
Born 1985 (age 41)·British singer·Birthday: January 29·Millennials
Biography
Rory Graham, the man behind Rag'n'Bone Man, is a striking figure whose voice—a weathered, monumental baritone—seems to carry the weight of decades of blues and soul tradition. He didn't emerge from a stage school, but from the UK's underground hip-hop and blues circuits, where he performed under a nickname inspired by a classic television show. His breakthrough, 'Human,' was a seismic event in pop music, a starkly honest anthem that connected globally because of its raw vulnerability and his utterly commanding delivery. The subsequent album of the same name shattered UK sales records, proving a mass appetite for authenticity. He defies easy categorization, weaving elements of electronic music, folk, and gospel into a sound that is distinctly his own, built on lyrical depth and that once-in-a-generation voice.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Rag'n'Bone was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rag'n'Bone Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Rag'n'Bone's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His debut album 'Human' became the fastest-selling debut album by a male artist in the UK in the 2010s.
- Won the BRIT Award for British Breakthrough Act and the Critics' Choice Award in 2017.
- The single 'Human' achieved multi-platinum status in over a dozen countries and won the BRIT Award for Best British Single in 2018.
- Collaborated with global artists like Pink, Calvin Harris, and Gorillaz.
Did You Know?
His stage name is a reference to the British TV series 'Steptoe and Son,' where the characters were rag-and-bone men (scrap collectors).
He was a prominent figure in the UK hip-hop and drum and bass scenes before his solo pop breakthrough.
He has large, distinctive tattoos covering much of his body, including a prominent skeleton on his forearm.
He worked as a carer for people with disabilities before his music career took off.
“I'm only human, I make mistakes. I'm only human, that's all it takes to put the blame on me.”
