Nightline Playlist: Michael Bublé

Oct. 11, 2007 — -- Michael Bublé is a Grammy-nominated artist who has sold more than 11 million albums since releasing his self-titled debut in 2003.

He's known for his soulful, jazzy style and his latest album "Call Me Irresponsible" features versions of classic songs like "The Best Is Yet to Come" and "Wonderful Tonight." He loves the classics, but you might be surprised to learn that Bublé also loves what he calls "cheesy '80s songs."

"I think I've made a lot of '80s playlists," Bublé said. "I like the '80s a lot. It's fun for me. Especially now that my girlfriend [actress Emily Blunt] is 23 years old, so half the things I play are from the '80s … and it's kind of cool to introduce her to this new music and stuff. … I think some of the greatest songs come out of the '70s and '80s by the BeeGees and ABBA, and I think those are great pop songs. And, I mean, they stand the test of time."

Born in British Columbia in 1975, Bublé spent six years working with his father, a salmon fisherman. He says that growing up, he was inspired by the music of fellow Vancouver boy Bryan Adams.

"[My parents] brought me this record and I was infatuated by the fact that this man had had this huge success and that he was from my hometown," he said. "I dreamt of being a singer and an entertainer even from the time I was 5 or 6 years old, so to know that this guy had done it was really inspirational."

At 17, Bublé won the Canadian Youth Talent Search and soon local clubs began to let him perform in exchange for free service from his grandfather, a plumber.

Bublé also credits his grandfather with providing formative musical influences. "My grandfather is still an inspiration to me," he said. "And I think that what was kind of cool for me is that he would introduce me to these artists I'd never heard of, obviously, as a kid. And he would let me listen to Mel Torme or Ella Fitzgerald or Sinatra or the Mills Brothers. And what was kind of cool is that as I got into my early teens I got to introduce him to people that I loved, from Harry Connick Jr. to Diana Krall."