A classical crossover vocalist, Will Martin had an eventful and mobile apprenticeship before landing a record deal and storming the charts. Born August 31, 1984, in Wellington, New Zealand, Martin got hooked on performing as a schoolboy and wound up playing songs to tourists in the vacation town of Taupo. Pining for the big time, Martin relocated to Auckland and auditioned for the vocal spot with a covers act. He got the job and was signed to a three-month gig at the Hard Rock Cafe in Dubai. Upon returning Martin got together a band, the Will Martin Trio, and played a number of corporate-sponsored events. More traveling was in store for Martin, as he took a job singing on a cruise liner in the Caribbean. But it was a 2006 trip to London that was to be the catalyst for his rise to fame. Impressing the A&R people at Universal, the label signed him up and sent him into the studio. His debut, A New World, was recorded in 2007. It hit number two on the New Zealand charts.