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At the age of eleven, Ed's father took him to the Queen's Golden Jubilee open air concert in London where Eric Clapton performed Layla, and where the riff gave Ed the inspiration to take up the guitar.
Later his father took him to see Damien Rice in Northern Ireland, since when a signed photo played a memorable influence in respecting fans, and inspiring Ed to write and perform his own songs.
Ed's first rap and grime influence was from a present from his uncle, the Marshall Mathers album by Eminem, which Ed learned and credits for curing his stammer.

In Spring 2009, Ed released his EP "You Need Me", then toured with Just Jack, and collaborated with Essex singer, Leddra Chapman, before touring with Example.
In Autumn 2009, Ed released his EP "Loose Change", featured his future debut single, "The A Team".
Although registering to study at the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) in Guildford, Ed dropped out to try his luck in the USA.

Ed set off to a poetry night in Los Angeles, played open microphone nights throughout the city, before being spotted at The Foxxhole by Jamie Foxx.  There the offer to use Foxx's recording studio, and putting him up in his Hollywood home for the rest of his stay, lead to networking, and Ed grew a fan base through YouTube.
Ed released another two EPs in 2010; "Live at the Bedford" and "Songs I Wrote with Amy", the latter referring to love songs written in Wales with the singer, Amy Wadge.

In April 2011, Ed presented four free shows to about a thousand fans at the Barfly in Camden Town, including outside after the venue had closed.
On 26 April 2011, Ed performed "The A Team", on the TV music show, "Later... with Jools Holland".
By the end of April, through Elton John and Jamie Foxx, Ed was signed to Asylum/Atlantic Records, releasing "The A Team" as his debut single.  This reached the top ten in Australia, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway and the Netherlands.
In June, Ed's Debut single, "The A Team", reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart.
Ed the headlined the BBC Introducing tent at Glastonbury Festival, performing "You Need Me, I Don't Need You", which would be released on 26 August as the second single from the album Plus.  This second single peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart.

Ed's first album "+" pronouced Plus, including "The A Team" and "Lego House" was released.
"Lego House" was released as Ed's third single, reaching the top ten in Australia, Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, and the Flemish Ultratop 50 and the Wallonian Ultratip.
Before the end of 2011, Ed received nominations for international awards, and was winner of two:

• 2011 Q Awards winner for Breakthrough Artist, and Best Single for "You Need Me, I Don't Need You".
• 2011 Urban Music Awards Best Male Artist winner.

• 2012 BRIT Awards Voted Best British Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough of the Year.
• 2012 "The A Team" gains Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically.

In early 2012, Ed joined Snow Patrol on their North American "Fallen Empires Tour".
In March he was contacted by Taylor Swift, sowing the seeds for collaboration on "Everything Has Changed", and opening her Red Tour from March to September 2013.

Ed's song "I See Fire" featured in the end credits of "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug", and was included on the deluxe version of Multiply.
Ed continued movies with the song "All of the Stars", as the soundtrack for "The Fault In Our Stars", with which he performed a duet on the Voice USA, with the late Christina Grimmie.
Ed later made a cameo appearance in Bridget Jones' Baby.

Although Ed did not receive the nomination for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards until 2014, he won the following for 2013:

• 2013 BMI London Awards winner of Pop Award Songs for "The A Team" and duet with Taylor Swift "Everything Has Changed".
• 2013 Nickelodeon UK Kids' Choice Awards winning Favorite UK Male Artist.
• 2013 Teen Choice Awards Choice Breakout Artist.

Ed's second studio album "x" (pronouced Multiply) released with songs written on the Red Tour, some produced by Rick Rubin, Pharrell Williams, Gosling and Benny Blanco.