HE'S already conquered the UK with a hit album and a string of singles showcasing his smooth soul sound.

Now Southampton singing sensation Craig David is preparing for his biggest challenge yet - to win over American audiences.

At the end of the month, the 20-year-old pop star, born and bred in the city, embarks on an 18-date tour of the US which will see him entertaining audiences all over the crucial sales territory, from Miami to San Francisco.

He's also been nominated for a prestigious Grammy award, but will have to wait until the end of February to find out whether he's won.

Craig, whose mum Tina still lives on the city's Holyrood estate where Craig grew up, has been in the States since the middle of last year promoting his album, Born To Do It.

The album, whose title was taken from a line in Craig's favourite film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, is already a major success in America, having gone platinum.

His single Seven Days, which was a UK number one hit in 2000, has also been well-received.

During the gruelling tour, which takes in major cities such as Washington, New York, Boston and entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas, Craig will be fronting his own, eight-piece band and playing some new material.

He will also be slipping over the border to play in Toronto, Canada.

This year is set to be one of the busiest yet for the former Bellemoor School pupil.

As well as the tour, he is currently working on his second album with producer and former Artful Dodger musician Mark Hill, also from Southampton.

The young superstar has been jetting between the UK and the States to work on the as yet untitled album, due for release later this year.

Craig, who recently made a flying visit to the UK to play in the Royal Variety Performance, is due back in the UK in May, when the first single from the new album will be released.