Sam Smith
A vocal powerhouse whose soul-baring ballads about heartbreak and identity shattered pop conventions and gave voice to a generation.
Born 1992 (age 34)·English singer and songwriter·Birthday: May 19·Millennials
Biography
Sam Smith arrived not with a whisper, but with the soaring, aching vulnerability of their voice on Disclosure's 'Latch.' That 2012 feature announced a new kind of pop star, one whose strength lay in emotional transparency. Their 2014 debut album, 'In the Lonely Hour,' was a masterclass in blue-eyed soul, spinning tales of unrequited love into global smashes like 'Stay With Me.' Smith's journey has been one of public evolution, coming out as gay and later as non-binary, with their music becoming a diary of self-discovery. Albums like 'The Thrill of It All' and 'Gloria' expanded their sonic palette while deepening their lyrical exploration of love, loss, and queer joy, securing their place as a defining artist of their era.
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.
Sam was born in 1992, 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 Sam Was Born
The biggest hits of 1992
#1 Movie
Aladdin
Best Picture
Unforgiven
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Sam's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1992Born
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1997Started school
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2005Became a teenager
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Could drive
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2010Could vote
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Turned 21
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2022Turned 30
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 34 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won four Grammy Awards in 2015, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year for 'Stay With Me.'
- Became the first openly non-binary artist to win a Grammy in a major category (Best Pop Vocal Album for 'Love Goes') in 2021.
- Their debut album 'In the Lonely Hour' topped the UK charts and sold over 12 million copies worldwide.
- Co-wrote and performed the James Bond theme 'Writing's on the Wall,' which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2016.
Did You Know?
They have a tattoo of a paper airplane on their finger, inspired by the title track of their album 'In the Lonely Hour.'
Before fame, they worked as a bartender in London and performed in a jazz band.
They are a trained vocalist who studied singing and songwriting at the Youth Music Theatre UK.
Their stage name uses 'they/them' pronouns, a choice they made public in 2019 to align with their non-binary identity.
““I think my purpose is to be open and honest about everything.””
