The band Il Divo was created in 2003 by Simon Cowell. The reality show star and music manager got the idea after listening to the song ‘Con ti partiro’ performed by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli. He conducted a worldwide search from 2001-2003. After two years Spanish baritone Carlos Marin, Swiss tenor Urus Buler, American tenor David Miller and the pop singer from France Sebastien Izambard were chosen to form Il Divo. The operatic band became an international sensation due to their beautiful voices, good looks and diverse cultural backgrounds.
Il Divo released their first album in 2005. The debut album featured a Spanish rendition of Toni Braxton’s “Unbreak My Heart”, Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” and the original song “Mama”. In the US, the album became a top seller after they appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show. In the United Kingdom, the album reached number one on the UK record charts. The quartet released another album in 2005 called Ancora. The album entered the American, Australian and UK charts at number one.
Il Divo performed ‘The Time of Our Lives’ which is the official FICA WorldCup song in June 2006. The band sung with Toni Braxton, the R&B singer, during halftime at an opening game between Costa Rico and Germany. In July 2006, the band performed the song a second time at a closing ceremony.
The Promise was released in 2008 and became a top seller in the UK. It was advertised as their most diverse and dynamic album ever created. The band added more range, styles and color to The Promise. Together the band claims to have found a new unity of purpose despite their diverse backgrounds.