London-born sanitation worker Andy Abraham rose to fame in the U.K. as a finalist on the second season of The X Factor. Abraham gave up his job as a printer in 1998 in order to pursue a music career, and was working as a dustman on the streets of London up until the time his wife signed him up to audition for the show. He made the cut and quickly became a favorite among fans and judges alike with his passionate renditions of classic R&B standards. Abraham made it to the finals only to be trounced by Shayne Ward, but defeat on The X Factor didn't spell disaster for the former dustman; Sharon Osbourne stepped in and helped Abraham land a record deal with Sony BMG. His first album, 2006's The Impossible Dream, managed to climb to the number two spot on the U.K. charts in its first week. Abraham embarked on a whirlwind tour of the U.K., and his second album, Soul Man, hit stores a few months later. ~ Margaret Reges