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Mika (UK)
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July 28, 20:00
 Mika (Michael Holbrook Penniman) was born in Beirut, Lebanon, the third of five children born to a Lebanese mother of Syrian-Lebanese descent and an American father. When he was one year old his family was forced to leave war-torn Lebanon and moved to Paris, and eventually to London by the time he was nine years old. The frequent moves, incidents like his father being taken hostage at Kuwait's American Embassy, and bullying at school affected young Mika to the point where he stopped talking and was taken out of school for six months. At this point, music became Mika's lifeline, and he soon began formal musical training, which included voice lessons. After listening to Nirvana's "Heart-Shaped Box" he wrote his first song, which he describes as an "awful" piano instrumental called "Angry". After a six-month break Mika attended St’ Philips School in Kensington, then Westminster School and the Royal College of Music. He was trained by Alla Ardakov (Ablaberdyeva) a Russian opera professional and his public performances and jobs have varied from classical performances in the Royal Opera House, writing in-flight music for British Airways and creating an Orbit chewing gum jingle. His debut radio appearance was on Dermot O'Leary's BBC Radio 2 show in September 2006, Later with Jools Holland and on The Friday Night Project on 19 January 2007. While he is rumoured to have a vocal range of five octaves, he actually claims that it is closer to three and a half octaves.
His first single was a limited 7"/download release called "Grace Kelly" (2006). It was play listed by BBC Radio 1 in the United Kingdom, and was also made Record of the Week by DJ Scott Mills. Universal Music released his single "Grace Kelly" by digital download on 8 January 2007, and it reached number one on the UK Singles Chart on 21 January 2007. The CD, 12", and limited-edition 7" versions were released on 29 January 2007. The release features remixes by Tom Neville, Bimbo Jones, Linus Loves, and Pull Tiger Tail.
Produced and mixed by Greg Wells in Los Angeles, with two songs co-produced by Jodi Marr and John Merchant, Mika's debut album “Life in Cartoon Motion” was released on 5 February 2007, and has brought comparison with artists such as Freddie Mercury, Scissor Sisters, Elton John, Robbie Williams and David Bowie. Mika was the musical act for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, on 26 March 2007 and for Jimmy Kimmel Live on 27 March 2007.
The album sold over five million copies worldwide, and Mika earned a 2008 Grammy nomination for Best Dance Record for "Live Today" as well as that year's Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year, among other accolades. Mika collaborated with producer Greg Wells, Imogen Heap, and Final Fantasy's Owen Pallett on his second album. Initially named "We Are Golden" after its lead single, the album's title was changed to "The Boy Who Knew Too Much" for its fall 2009 release.
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