Edward Christopher Sheeran , ( ; born 17 February 1991 ) is an English singer , songwriter , guitarist , record producer , and actor . He attended the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford as an undergraduate from the age of 18 in 2009 . In early 2011 , Sheeran independently released the extended play , '' No. 5 Collaborations Project '' . After signing with Asylum Records , his debut album , '' '' ( pronounced " plus " ) , was released in September 2011 . It topped the UK and Australian charts , reached number five in the US , and has since been certified seven-times platinum in the UK . The album contains the single " The A Team " , which earned him the Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically . In 2012 , Sheeran won the Brit Awards for Best British Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act . " The A Team " was nominated for Song of the Year at the 2013 Grammy Awards , where he performed the song with Elton John
2013 Grammy Awards
55th Annual Grammy Awards
Ed Sheeran