Sting

He was born on October 2, 1951 in the port city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a major industrial center in the north of England. His father, Ernest Matthew Sumner, worked for many years as an assembler for a local engineering company. He later purchased a small dairy store. His mother, Audrey, worked as a hairdresser and nurse.

She had a classical music education and managed to develop her son's natural abilities by teaching him piano at home. He was offered a serious course in music school, but Sting was truly attracted to jazz and guitar.

After a meager living as a road worker and music teacher, Sting had the opportunity to move to London and play professionally. He was spotted by American drummer Stuart Copeland and convinced him to take up rock.

In 1977, drummer Stuart Copeland, guitarist Andy Summers and Sting formed The Police. The first two singles, "Fall Out" and "Roxanne," were not successful - until they were heard by entrepreneur Miles Copeland (Stuart's older brother). After becoming the band's manager, he signed a contract with A&M, which immediately released their debut album, Outlandos D'Amour (November 1978).

The first success was followed by "Regata De Blanc", "Zenyatta Mondatta", "Ghost in the Machine" and "Synchronicity" (with the megahit "Every Breath You Take"). After a triumphant world tour, Sting decided that he had achieved all he could with the band, and the band broke up at the peak of its popularity.

Sting's independent career was no less successful. His first album with jazz elements, Dream of the Blue Turtles, went platinum. The album Soul Cages (1991), the recording of which coincided with the loss of his parents, and Ten Summoner's Tales (1993) introduced Sting as a mature composer.

In 1987, after touring with Blue Turtles, Sting recorded the album Nothing Like The Sun (the title was inspired by a line from Shakespeare's sonnet). The album featured such stars as Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler. The disks were released in Autumn 1987 and immediately found their way to the top of the charts all over the world. The song "They Dance Alone (Gueca Solo)", written by Sting in memory of the victims of repression in Chile, became especially popular. In 1988 the musician begins to support the activity of Amnesty International and also cares of the fate of Brazilian forests and Indians living there.

In 1991 Sting releases his autobiographical album The Soul Cages, from which the single "All This Time" reached number five on Billboard's Top 100. He continued in the same vein with Ten Summoner's Tales, which included such hits as "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You" and "Fields Of Gold." In November 1993, the single "All For Love," recorded with Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart and released on the soundtrack to the movie The Three Musketeers, topped the U.S. charts, and in December 1994, it reached number two in the UK.

In the summer of 1995, Sting testifies in court against his accountant, whom the singer accuses of stealing his income. As a result of the trial, accountant Keith Moore is sentenced to six years in prison.

The Mercury Falling album was not as good as Ten Summoner's Tales, but it was enough to satisfy fans and placate the press. The title track from his new album, Brand New Day, proved that Sting is still capable of producing hits. The song reached number 13 in the British charts. The album was also a success in the US, where it stayed in the charts long enough. The album also won two Grammy awards. Much more modest was the singer's album All This Time, released on the tragic day of September 11, 2001.

Recorded in the first half of 2003, Sacred Love bears a clear imprint of the world events taking place at the time. Sting's lyrics touch on war, religion, understanding and misunderstanding, but the main theme, as the album title suggests, was love. The song "Send Your Love" from this album brought another Grammy nomination to Sting.

Sting and his companion of many years (they recently married) Trudy Styler, their children and their dogs live a relatively quiet life in a country estate near London. Sting admits to having mastered the practice of tantric sexual meditation.

After a trip to the Brazilian rainforest, Sting became an avid conservationist and, together with his wife, set up the Rainforest Foundation.