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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Entertainment
Siobhan Macdonald & Abbie Meehan

Calvin Harris then and now - Dumfries roots, career and net-worth

Calvin Harris has gone from an unknown Scottish DJ to a global sensation, with hits alongside the likes of Rihanna, Dua Lipa and Tom Grennan.

He recently made headlines with his surprise engagement to BBC Radio 1 DJ Vick Hope, after secretly dating for months.

As reported by the Daily Record, the 38-year-old had been dating the TV and radio presenter for five months but they kept their romance under wraps before going public at the Chelsea Flower Show.

READ MORE - Scotland's Home of the Year viewers hit back claiming the wrong house won

Calvin - whose real name is Adam Richard Wiles - went from Myspace uploading to playing in Ibiza, so the Dumfries-born kid has had quite the career glow-up!

Calvin Harris performs on stage aged 24. (Getty Images)

But where are Calvin's humble beginnings? Find out more below:

Where is Calvin Harris from, and when did he begin writing music?

Calvin Harris was born in Dumfries, Scotland, and discovered his passion for music at the age of 15.

The amateur DJ and singer went on to release two songs through the Prima Facie label in 2002.

After an unsuccessful stint in London, he returned to Dumfries and developed solo recordings at home and posted them on his ‘Myspace’ page before being signed to a record label in 2006.

A young Calvin Harris makes bizarre video in Dumfries. (YouTube)

His debut album, 'I Created Disco', clocked in at number seven on UK Albums Chart in 2007, and included nostalgic bops like Acceptable in the 80's and The Girls.

Calvin then released Ready for the Weekend in 2009, which went on to debut at number one on the UK Albums Chart and received gold certification later that year.

It was after this album that he moved away from singing, and focussed on his role as a producer and allowing other vocalists to take the lead on his tracks.

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Who has Calvin worked with in music?

Calvin's success skyrocketed with his collaboration with Rihanna on We Found Love for his third album, as this was his first single to reach no.1 in the US - fully launching his career to superstardom.

He has also worked with the likes of Ellie Goulding, Katy Perry and even John Legend!

Who has Calvin Harris dated?

Singer Ellie Goulding and Calvin sparked rumours of a romance in 2013 when they shared a kiss in the music video for their hit ‘I Need Your Love’.

They pair are said to have dated for a few weeks – but Ellie has always maintained they were just friends.

Shortly afterwards Calvin started dating Ellie’s close pal Rita Ora.

Speaking on the rumours, Ellie said at the time: "We knew in that video we would just giggle and laugh the whole way through. Me and Calvin are really good friends.

"We make each other laugh. We text each other stupid stuff and we really get on and are similar."

When Rita and Calvin got together it seemed like a music match made in heaven – but after a blissful year together, things turned sour.

Calvin ended the relationship in 2014 and Tweeted: "To address speculation – myself and Rita ended our relationship some time ago. "She is a beautiful, talented woman & I wish her all the best."

It later emerged the since deleted public tweet was the first Rita had heard of their break up.

Speaking to Marie Claire magazine shortly after the break-up, Rita said: "It was more of a thing where I was in awe.

"I was at that point in my relationship where I felt he could do no wrong. I thought he had my back and that he'd never steer me wrong.

"But then I Will Never Let You Down came out, and everything started to go a bit weird. I don't know if it was because business was mixed with personal or what."

Calvin then enjoyed a 15-month romance with Taylor Swift between 2015 and 2016.

After apparently “really connecting” at the 2015 BRIT Awards, the pair became an item, and they made it Instagram official two months later when Calvin met Taylor’s cats Olivia Benson and Meredith Grey.

A year later Calvin gushed about his “beautiful girlfriend” as he accepted a Grammy Award.

But by June 2016 it was all over. Calvin tweeted: “The only truth is that a relationship came to an end & what remains is a huge amount of love and respect.”

However, the break up soon turned bitter after Taylor was spotted kissing Tom Hiddleston.

Talking about his split with Taylor, he told British GQ : "It's very difficult when something I consider so personal plays out very publicly.

"The aftermath of the relationship was way more heavily publicised than the relationship itself. When we were together, we were very careful for it not to be a media circus. She respected my feelings in that sense. I'm not good at being a celebrity.

"But when it ended, all hell broke loose. Now I see that Twitter thing as a result of me succumbing to pressure. It took me a minute to realise that none of that matters. I'm a positive guy.

"For both of us it was the wrong situation. It clearly wasn't right, so it ended, but all of the stuff that happened afterwards..."

Calvin has also dated Ex on the Beach star Megan Rees, singer Tinashe, and most recently Aarika Wolfe - before his engagement to new lover Vick Hope.

Has Calvin branched out to other career opportunities?

In 2013 the DJ moved away from the decks and turned to modelling.

Calvin became the face of an Emporio Armani underwear campaign, fully cementing his status as an A-List hunk compared to the beginning of his career.

Calvin Harris left us all open mouthed when his first Armani shoot was released. (Armani)

Designer Giorgio Armani said: "Calvin Harris is a truly cosmopolitan, dynamic young man who is capable of attracting the masses with his music and energy.

"He isn't a model by nature, and this creates a more sincere and engaging bond with the public."

What awards does Calvin have?

Calvin went on to receive a prestigious Ivor Novello Award in the category of ‘Songwriter of the Year’ which he considered "easily the greatest achievement of my entire life".

Calvin has been given 32 awards in total for his music career, including MTV Music Awards, a Grammy and two Brit Awards.

Calvin's latest album, Funk Wav Bounces Vol 1, was released in 2017 and featured collaborations with huge musical names from Ariana Grande, Snoop Dogg, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj.

The star is set to release the highly anticipated follow up album later this year.

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