|
|
Sting
-Bio
.  Gordon
Sumner, 2 October 1951, Wallsend, Tyne & Wear,
England. Sting's solo career began in 1982, two years
before the break-up of the Police, for whom he was
lead singer and bassist. In that year he starred in the
film Brimstone And Treacle and from it released a
version of the 30s ballad, 'Spread A Little Happiness',
composed by Vivian Ellis. Its novel character and
Sting's own popularity ensured Top 20 status in Britain.
While continuing to tour and record with the Police, he
also co-wrote the Dire Straits hit 'Money For
Nothing' and sang harmonies on Phil Collins' No
Jacket Required. By 1985, however, the other members
of the Police were pursuing solo interests and Sting
formed a touring band, the Blue Turtles. It included
leading New York jazz figures such as Branford
Marsalis (alto saxophone), Kenny Kirkland
(keyboards) and Omar Hakim (drums). The group
recorded his first solo album at Eddy Grant 's
studio in Jamaica before Marsalis and Sting performed at
the Live Aid concert with Phil Collins. The
Dream Of The Blue Turtles found Sting developing the
more cerebral lyrics found on the final Police album, Synchronicity.
It also brought him three big international hits with 'If
You Love Somebody Set Them Free' (UK number 26, US number
3), 'Fortress Around Your Heart' (UK number 49, US number
8) and 'Russians' (UK number 12, USnumber 16). In 1985,
Michael Apted directed Bring On The Night, an in
concert film about Sting and his touring band (a live
album was also released). Following a tour with the Blue
Turtles, Sting recorded 1988's Nothing Like The Sun
(a title taken from a Shakespeare sonnet) with Marsalis
and Police guitarist Andy Summers plus guests Ruben
Blades, Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler.
The album was an instant success internationally and
contained 'They Dance Alone (Gueca Solo)', Sting's
tribute to the victims of repression in Argentina, in
addition to a notable recording of Jimi Hendrix 's
'Little Wing'. This track featured one of the last
orchestral arrangements by the late Gil Evans. The
same year Sting took part in Amnesty International's Human
Rights Now! international tour and devoted much of
the following two years to campaigning and fundraising
activity on behalf of environmental causes, notably
highlighting the plight of the Indians of the Brazilian
rainforest. He set up his own label, Pangaea, in the late
80s to release material by jazz and avant garde
artists. In August 1990, a track from Nothing Like The
Sun, 'An Englishman In New York' (inspired by English
eccentric Quentin Crisp), reached number 15 in the
UKcharts after being remixed by Ben Liebrand. In 1991
Sting released the autobiographical The Soul Cages
from which 'All This Time' reached number 5 on the US Billboard
charts. He continued in a similar vein with Ten
Summoner's Tales, which contained further high
quality hit singles including 'If I Ever Lose My Faith In
You' and 'Fields Of Gold'. 'All For Love', a
collaboration with Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart
for the movie The Three Musketeers, topped the US
charts in November 1993, and reached number 2 in the UK
in January 1994. The compilation Fields Of Gold
highlighted Sting's considerable accomplishment as one of
the finest quality songwriters to appear out of the
second UK 'new wave' boom (post-1977). The collection
featured two new tracks, 'When We Dance' and 'This Cowboy
Song',the former providing Sting with his highest
charting UK solo single when it reached number 9 in
October 1994. Sting spent a traumatic time during the
summer of 1995 when he had to testify in court after
accusing his accountant of stealing vast sums of his
income. The outcome was in Sting's favour and the
accountant Keith Moore was jailed for six years. Mercury
Falling was very much a marking-time album, not as
strong as Ten Summoner's Tales but good enough to
satisfy his fans and placate most reviewers. |
