Based in England Rick Astley is a singer/songwriter who is known for his pop hits from the 1980s. After recording with his band FBI, Astley recorded his first solo effort, a song titled "Never Gonna Give You Up" that was released in 1987. Driven by his lush vocals, the track was a dance pop hit that spearheaded Astley's career and remains his most recognizable track. When his debut album was released in 1987, he was quickly thrust into the spotlight of pop music and found himself on his first world tour on the cusp of the 1990s. By the end of the trying tour Astley was taking a beating from the press who questioned his artistic merit, so he decided to distance himself from pop music and pursue his true passion: soul music. His third studio album Free, was released in 1991 followed by 1993's Body and Soul. Directly following his 1993 record, Astley retired from the music business at the age of 27 and wouldn't return to record his own material for another decade. He launched a comeback tour in 2004 before recording and releasing his fifth studio album Portrait, in 2005.
