Fans around the world are mourning the sudden passing of former One Direction member Liam Payne, who died at the age of 31 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Payne rose to stardom in the group One Direction, before going on to have a solo career. He had a son, Bear, with the former Girls Aloud singer Cheryl.
Journey to stardom
Payne joined One Direction in 2010 with Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik, after each of them competed as solo artists on the British talent show “British Idol”. After failing to make it on their own, Simon Cowell and the judges decided to bring them together, creating a group that would become one of the most successful boy bands in the world.
The group became an instant hit, selling more than 50 million records worldwide, including five studio albums, four of which topped the Billboard charts.
One Direction broke up in 2016 after Malik left in 2015. Their last tour was in 2015 and their last album “Made in AM” was released in November of that year and featured hits like “Perfect” and “Drag Me Down”.
Payne embarked on a solo career and collaborated with Quavo on the 2017 single “Strip That Down.” In March, he released his new single “Teardrops,” which he co-wrote with *NSYNC* JC Chasez. Payne recently praised the artistry behind the track, saying, “You’re all so talented and I’m so lucky to have you”.
Liam Payne’s greatest hits from his solo career
Strip That Down
Payne’s debut single “Strip That Down” (2017), co-written with Ed Sheeran, marked his transition from boy band to solo artist, mixing R&B and pop music with catchy beats, all together transformed into one.
Get Low
Released in July 2017, this EDM hit featuring Zedd showcases Payne’s versatility. The tropical electronic sound of this song makes it the perfect summer song.
Bedroom Floor
The song, based on an R&B track from Payne’s debut album “LP1”, released in October 2017, explores the challenges of homelessness.
For You
“For You” featuring Rita Ora became one of the best songs from the 2018 Fifty Shades Freed soundtrack. The song also appeared on Ora Phoenix and Payne’s LP1 album, becoming one of her biggest hits.
Familiar
Showcasing Payne’s versatility, ” Familiar” (2018), featuring Colombian singer J Balvin, combines Latin and pop music, demonstrating Payne’s willingness to experiment with different genres.
