Wayne Wilkins

Wilkins was born in Croydon. He began taking piano lessons by the age of four.[12] Wilkins earned a scholarship to a music conservatory as a child.[12] Growing up, he played organ at cathedrals and other venues around London.[12]

Wilkins went on to Royal College of Music in London.[12] Wilkins later graduated with a physics degree from Imperial College.[12]

While in college one of Wilkins early jobs was teaching piano.[12] He also interned at Townhouse Studios and Olympic Studios where he received further training in engineering, mixing, and producing.[13]

While Wilkins was interning at Olympic Studios he got the opportunity to work for famous engineer Spike Stent.[13] Stent's resume includes working with such artists as Madonna, Beyoncé, Björk, Lily Allen, Depeche Mode, Massive Attack, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Oasis, U2, Usher, and Lady Gaga.[14] Working for Stent provided Wilkins the opportunity to program for the engineer and work on high budgeted recordings.[13] During his tenure with Stent Wilkins was able to work with producers and artists such as Timbaland, Oasis, Rodney Jerkins, Madonna and U2.[13] Wilkins was able to work on the No Doubt Rock Steady album, which Wilkins says later on afforded him higher profile opportunities for him to work on in the industry.[13]

In 2000, Wilkins started working independently.[13] The first band Wilkins produced after going independent was The Corrs.[13][15]

In May 2004, Natasha Bedingfield released "Single", a song co-written and co-produced by Wilkins.[4][5][6] The song went on to reach No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart.[7] Natasha Bedingfield followed "Single" with "These Words" released in August 2004.[1] Co-produced and co-written by Wilkins, the song climbed to No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart and reached No. 17 on Billboard's Hot 100.[2][3]

Wilkins co-wrote and co-produced another hit for Natasha Bedingfield, "Love Like This", which also featured Sean Kingston.[16] The song released in September 2007 went platinum, to the top of Billboard 's Dance/Club Play Songs, and to No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3]

Keri Hilson released her debut single "Energy" off her gold album In a Perfect World... in May 2008.[17][18] Wilkins co-wrote and co-produced the single with fellow prominent members of production team The Runaways, Sam Watters, Rico Love, and Louis Biancaniello.[19]

In early 2008, Wilkins co-wrote "We Break the Dawn" alongside Solange Knowles and Andrew Frampton for Michelle Williams' third album Unexpected. He was also involved in creating the remix for the same song.

In June 2008, Shontelle's "T-Shirt" was released. It was co-written by Wilkins.[20] The single was a dance hit in the United Kingdom and the United States. Reaching No. 1 on UK's Urban Chart and No. 1 on Billboard 's Hot Dance Club songs.[21]

Beyoncé released her Grammy Award winning album, I Am... Sasha Fierce, in November 2008 which included the Wilkins' production and co-written single "Sweet Dreams".[22][23][24] The song went on to reach platinum status and landed at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[8][25]

In May 2009, former American Idol winner Jordin Sparks released the single "Battlefield". Wilkins co-wrote and co-produced the song that reached the top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100. With this song Wilkins assisted the singer in achieving her third top 10 Billboard Hot 100 single.[26][27]

In 2009, he worked with Irish pop band Westlife for a track "Sound of a Broken Heart" included in their Where We Are album where it charted at No. 2 in both UK Albums Chart and Irish Albums Chart.

Cheryl Cole released the single "Fight For This Love" in October 2009, taken from her album 3 Words.[4][28] Wilkins co-wrote and co-produced the single which went platinum in the UK and reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart.[4][9][10]

In July 2014, Cheryl Cole released the single "Crazy Stupid Love" from her fourth studio album. The song topped the UK Singles Chart. Wilkins co-wrote and co-produced the song, which also features British rapper Tinie Tempah.

• 2005 BMI London Award for "These Words"[29]
• 2006 BMI London Award for "Single"[29]
• 2007 BMI London Award for "Love Like This"[29]
• 2008 BMI Pop Award for "Love Like This"[29]
• 2008 BMI London Award for "T-Shirt"[29]
• 2009 Grammy nomination Album of the Year – Beyoncé – I Am… Sasha Fierce[30]
• 2009 BMI Pop Award for "Battlefield"[29]
• 2010 BMI London Award for "Battlefield"[29]
• 2010 BMI London Award for "Sweet Dreams"[29]