Adele

 Adele, byname of Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, (born May 5 1988, Tottenham, London, England), English pop singer and songwriter whose soulful emotional voice and traditional songs made her one of the most well-known entertainers of her generation.Adkins was born to a young single mother in various working-class neighborhoods of London. When she was a kid, she enjoyed singing contemporary pop songs and learning how to play the guitar as well as the clarinet. However, it wasn't until her early teens, when she was introduced to rhythm-and-blues singer Etta James and other mid-20th-century performers, that she began to consider a musical career. She began to learn at a state-funded secondary school in the performing arts. A friend began posting songs Adkins had written onto Myspace. Her music eventually caught the attention of record companies, and in 2006, several months after her graduation she signed a deal with XL Recordings.After growing anticipation in Britain through a few well-received live performances, Adele (as she now billed herself) released her debut album, 19, in the year 2008. (The title referred to the age at which she composed many of the songs.) The album debuted at number 1 on the British album charts. The singer's soft phrasing, tasteful arrangements and ability to channel her emotions experiences, particularly heartbreak, into songs that resonated with a wide audience were all highly praised by the critics. She also earned comparisons to Amy Winehouse, another young British singer who was clearly influenced by soul music. Adele's affable personality and her zaftig body made her a more accessible star.