Harry Edward Styles, born 1 February 1994 (age 19),[28][29] is from the village of Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, England.[30] He is a former pupil at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School, a state comprehensive school.[30] Born to mother Anne Cox and father Des Styles,[4] he has an older sister, Gemma.[7] He was seven when their parents divorced, his mother subsequently getting remarried.[31] Following the divorce, Styles, his older sister and mother moved further out into the Cheshire countryside.[10] At the age of twelve he moved back to Holmes Chapel.[10] Prior to participating in The X Factor, the then sixteen-year-old Styles had a part-time job at the W. Mandeville Bakery in Holmes Chapel.[32]
Styles was the lead singer for the band White Eskimo with band members lead guitarist Haydn Morris, bass guitarist Nick Clough and drummer Will Sweeny.[30]They had once entered a Battle of the Bands competition, which they won.[10] As a child, Styles loved singing, noting Elvis Presley as one of his influences.[10] He also cites Presley for his musical beginnings.[10] Styles also cites contemporaries, Foster the People, Coldplay and Kings of Leon among his influences.[13] Styles states that The X Factor gave him "a lot more" confidence as a performer.[10] Styles says that he often looks to Coldplay front man Chris Martin for inspiration when performing on stage.[27] Styles also states that The Beatles had an influence on him growing up, as his father would play their music.
