Alex Washington

Alex Washington is one of the world's most versatile and volatile pop sensations. The singer-turned-model-turned-singer-turned-actor-turned-model-turned-junkie-turned-singer has had a very storied career for one spanning only 5 short years, and it is a career that has nearly ended in great disaster after numerous false starts, drug addictions, and volatile romantic entanglements. However, Washington's continued success can squarely be attributed to a knack for great pop music, as well as a notoriously close relationship with the paparazzi.
== Early Life ==
An only child, Washington grew up in the suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania known as Llanview. A musically bright but troubled child, Washington's parents abandoned him at an early age on the doorstep of one Dr. Dorian Lord Calliston Santi Vickers Hayes Laurence Cramer, who raised the young boy before boring of him and sending him to boarding school in 1991. Upon his return to Llanview in 1995, Washington's musical talents began to shine through. Though danger was lurking when the youngster was to perform at a Charity Ball supporting the local hospital, when a jealous Starr Manning attempted to replace the young singer's glass of water with acid. Luckily, the girl's evil plan was thwarted before Washington could take a sip. After this debacle, Washington made the painful decision to leave Llanview behind for greener pastures, and departed for Los Angeles, where his musical career would begin.
== Moving To LA/Signing to ABS ==
Washington moved in with adopted sister Cassie in Los Angeles, and attempted to pursue a singing career in 2001. However, Washington struggled in Hollywood. His tender age (only 14 at the time), created great problems for the young singer, and many performance opportunities were unavailable to him as he wasn't permitted into many clubs to perform. Upon finally getting some exposure, the singer met with bosses at the American record company ABS to discuss a possible deal, which was finalized in June 2003.
== Discotheque ==
Washington's first single release was "Disco", released in October 2004, and performed well at #2 in the American charts, as did the single's follow-up "Boys/Girls", a duet with fellow American star Leanne - reaching #3. However, once the time came to release the accompanying album, several difficulties arose. An increasing apathy towards the promotion of his music caused Washington to cancel several promotional appearances for his third single, a cover of Kylie Minogue's "On A Night Like This". The kicker was Washington's kidnapping and subsequent release without harm. As the public were hoping for some bloodshed, the singer received little to no public sympathy and resented him taking up column inches where there was no harm done to him. As a result, the single went no higher than #7, and the album Discotheque debuted at #6 before quickly falling down the chart and barely reaching Gold certification.
== Big Brother ==
In the Spring of 2005, CBS Television asked Washington to take part in their first Celebrity Big Brother, featuring only music stars. The event was a mediocre ratings event at first, but once boredom set in in the house, alcohol consumption began to increase. At the end of one episode, singer Sam, whom Washington had been eyeing since entering the house (despite being attached to boyband member Michael Collock), and a female contestant disappeared into a bedroom. Once the cameras stopped rolling for the night, Washington and Hannah Bojwolb, member of popular girlgroup Rapture drunkenly had sex in the living room in an attempt to catch the attention of the couple in the bedroom. While their attempt at attention failed, the pair ended up conceiving a child, Bapette Washington, born in December 2005.
However, despite the media circus surrounding the latter portion of the series run and greatly increased ratings for the series, this did not translate into bigger sales for Washington, as the album's fourth single "Fly" only reached #11, and all subsequent single releases were quickly axed.
== Pop Tart ==
Washington's dramatics began to head into overdrive when his second album was to be released in late 2005. Following his run in Big Brother, Washington returned to a relatively quiet time with then boyfriend Michael Collock. However, that quiet was to be a calm before the storm as Washington's Big Brother exploits were to gain much noteriety in the press once baby Bapette was born. Shocked by the secret Washington had kept from him regarding the child, Collock abruptly left Washington despite their having an open relationship. At this point Washington dove nose-first into a heavy drugs and drink habit, and quickly changed the tone of his recordings for the Pop Tart album.
In early November the drugs spun out of control and Washington collapsed of an overdose in the early hours of the morning while in a New York City nightclub. The singer eventually recovered, and despite the negative publicity from the incident, Washington scored a massive hit with the album's lead single, a cover of Marvin Gaye's 1977 single "Anger", a vengeful record aimed squarely at Collock. The single was at #1 for 3 weeks and the subsequent album release saw Washington collect his first #1 album, selling over 600,000 copies in its first week in stores.
Subsequent single releases were cancelled however as Washington took time to recover from his overdose. Second single "Tonight, Tonight" was to be released in February 2006 and saw minimal radio airplay but was quickly withdrawn from play upon announcement of the single's cancellation. Sales for Pop Tart have topped 2 Million units in the US despite the lack of single releases and the album is still considered one of Washington's finest works.
== Move to London/Famous, Rich & Beautiful ==
In Spring 2006, following Washington's overdose, Washington left America behind him and ventured onto the UK. Upon his arrival in London, Washington immediately struck a chord with the press. Washington's acid tongue, sexual nature, and sharp sense of style were immediately impressive to the UK public. Despite none of his previous singles making any waves in the UK, his first single on new label Soho, entitled Diva, debuted at #2 In April 2006. In this period, Washington struck up a very sexual friendship and eventually romantic relationship with teen R&B star Paulo Araujo. Much was made of Paulo's age at the time (at the time the couple first met, Araujo was only 16), but nonetheless, the couple became a press darling with their wild antics and crazed partying. This lifestyle helped Washington's career immensely, as his follow-up single, the Tiga-produced Brothers, raced up to #1 and stayed there for 2 weeks. In addition, Washington's first UK album Famous Rich & Beautiful, debuted at #3, rising to #2 for the next 2 weeks, eventually going platinum.
== Washington Comes & Goes ==
After Washington's third album Famous, Rich & Beautiful debuted at #3 in the summer of 2006, a third single "Body Heat (All Night)" was planned, but quickly cancelled after Washington abruptly split with Araujo and left for New York and Milan to continue his modelling career. After a successful run as the face of Fendi for 2006, Washington returned in 2007, reunited with Araujo and released the third and final single from Famous, Rich & Beautiful, the Spring 2007 single Eclipse. Though their relationship remained strained through this period, Washington remained committed to Araujo until leaving once again for America to pursue further modelling opportunities and acting opportunities. 
A planned follow-up album to Famous, Rich & Beautiful was planned, tentatively titled Technopornographic, but the idea was quickly shelved after label execs vetoed its release, as well as the release of what was later described by Washington as a "lacklustre" first single "Trial Separation". 
Throughout the next year, Washington's drug and alcohol abuse worsened immensely, leading him to lose many modelling contracts as well as have several acting projects cancelled due to his erratic and sometimes violent behaviour. Then on 28 August 2008, Washington overdosed backstage at a Fall/Winter Preview show for Fendi and was rushed to hospital. After release, he was immediately sent to Betty Ford Clinic at the urging of his management, and spent the next 3 months recuperating before finally leaving, clean and sober, and ready to return to his first love, music.
== Redux/Comeback ==
Washington didn't take too long finding songs for his second UK album Redux. The singer's absence from the scene presented him with many opportunities to find and write material, and with the added help of contributions not only from longtime friend Sophie Ramone, and newcomer superstars Indigo Peak, a collection of Grade-A material was brought together.
However, Washington's return to Britain was marked with a few sour notes initially. many reports noted that he returned to his countryside home outside London to find his longtime partner Paulo Araujo had moved out and now had a child with pompous popstar BRAXTON. In addition, his record label had disappeared into the faceless corporate void of Ensemble Records. After negotiating a contract reprisal, Ensemble allowed Washington to release his album on two conditions: that his first single from Redux, entitled Brand New Me charted Top 10; and that he get a haircut. The results of the haircut were widely touted by the media, and Brand New Me debuted at #3 the week of 15 February, 2009.
In addition to his own album, Washington has already written and produced tracks for numerous other acts, including his album's second single, his Tango Challenge duet with ex- Paulo Araujo, entitled Sort It Out (Part 3), which made #4 in the UK charts. Alex's third single from Redux, entitled Bust The Beat, was written and co-produced by Indigo Peak, and is set for release 18 May, 2009. 
This may be the last time Alex works with Indigo Peak however, as member Yannik became head of Ensemble Records and called the administrators to have Alex declared bankrupt on 6 May, 2009, citing that his debts were among the major causes of concern for the label. All of Alex's cash reserves were seized, and Alex was escorted from Ensemble HQ after threatening to pin Yannik to the wall using a stapler and push pins.
== Move to Television ==
Midway through promoting his third album, Redux, Washington announced his appearance in a new TV series, entitled King Me to begin airing on the CW Network, as well as the BBC. It would be Washington's first major acting role and a huge starring role. With many celebrity cameos (including first episode cameos from fellow popstars Jack Stevens and Emily Henning, the show was given major publicity for its debut May 4, 2009.
On May 4, 2009, the first episode aired on the CW Network, pulling in a 3.9/7 rating, making it the highest-rated show on the CW in nearly 2 years. The network is set to keep the show on their schedules throughout the summer and are expected to pick up the show for the fall season as well. However, Washington's character was killed in a coup on the summer season's finale after he altered his look. Washington was to due the show's producers but the lawsuit was thrown out of court.
== Circa ==
Washington's fifth album Circa is due for release October 19, 2009 via his newest label Wired Records. The move comes after plenty of drama at Ensemble HQ, and the deal marks Washington's third UK record contract in as many albums.
After being accused and prosecuted in the bombing death of Morris David Cat's makeup artist, Washington fled to Zimbabwe for the next year and a half, as the country does not have an extradition treaty with the UK. After charges were cleared, Washington returned to the UK and resumed his music career.
== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
Year	Title 	Peak (URAPS)	Certification	Sales
2006	Famous, Rich & Beautiful	#2 (2 wks.) 	PLATINUM 	357,000+
2009	Redux 	#2 	2x PLATINUM 	882,487
2009	Circa 	#1 	PLATINUM 	564,844
===Singles===
Year	Single title 	Peak 	Album 	
2006	Diva 	#2 	Famous, Rich & Beautiful	
2006	Brothers 	#1 (2 wks.)	Famous, Rich & Beautiful	
2007	Eclipse 	#4 	Famous, Rich & Beautiful	
2009	Brand New Me 	#3 	Redux 	
2009	Sort It Out (Part 3) (with Paulo Araujo)	#4 	Redux 	
2009	Bust The Beat 	#4 	Redux 	
2009	The Passive Reflux EP 	#4 	Redux 	
2009	1234 	#2 (2 wks.)	Circa 	
Category:Artists with number ones