Difference between revisions of "Sting"
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His early schooling would include attending St. Cuthbert's High School in Newcastle upon Tyne, and later the University of Warwick in Coventry, although he would leave after only one term. He held numerous jobs afterwards including working as a bus conductor, a construction worker, and a tax officer. | His early schooling would include attending St. Cuthbert's High School in Newcastle upon Tyne, and later the University of Warwick in Coventry, although he would leave after only one term. He held numerous jobs afterwards including working as a bus conductor, a construction worker, and a tax officer. | ||
− | Then - from [[1971]] to [[1974]] - he attended Northern Counties College of Education to qualify as a teacher, where he met [[Gerry Richardson]] (probably late in [[1971]]), and he then worked as a schoolteacher a St. Paul's First School in Cramlington for two years - | + | Then - from [[1971]] to [[1974]] - he attended Northern Counties College of Education to qualify as a teacher, where he met [[Gerry Richardson]] (probably late in [[1971]]), and he then worked as a schoolteacher a St. Paul's First School in Cramlington for two years - from [[1974-09-09]] on [[1976-07-16]]. |
=Early musical career= | =Early musical career= |
Revision as of 23:57, 14 June 2020
Sting | |
---|---|
Sting at Hamilton Arts Gallery in London in 1982 - copyright by Adrian Buttigieg | |
Basic information | |
Birth name: | Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner |
Birth date: | 1951-10-02 |
Origin: | Wallsend, England |
Occupation(s): | Musician, songwriter, producer, actor |
Associated acts: | The Police, Last Exit |
Official website: | http://www.sting.com |
- For other uses, please see Sting (disambiguation)
Contents
Background
Born in Wallsend, in the northeast of England, Gordon was the first son of Ernest Summer and Audrey Cowell. He has one younger brother, Philip, and two younger sisters, Angela and Anita. As a child, Gordon would often assist his father, who managed a dairy, with early morning milk-delivery rounds while Audrey worked as a hairdresser.
His early schooling would include attending St. Cuthbert's High School in Newcastle upon Tyne, and later the University of Warwick in Coventry, although he would leave after only one term. He held numerous jobs afterwards including working as a bus conductor, a construction worker, and a tax officer.
Then - from 1971 to 1974 - he attended Northern Counties College of Education to qualify as a teacher, where he met Gerry Richardson (probably late in 1971), and he then worked as a schoolteacher a St. Paul's First School in Cramlington for two years - from 1974-09-09 on 1976-07-16.
Early musical career
While holding down these numerous jobs in through the mid-70s, Sumner still held hopes of a successful career as a musician. He would perform during vacations, weekends, and late hours of the night whenever he could score a gig, and played with several local jazz groups such as the Phoenix Jazzmen, the Newcastle Big Band, the River City Jazzmen and Last Exit. It was during his time with the Phoenix Jazzmen that he picked up the nickname "Stinger" due to a black-and-yellow striped sweater he wore to a performance. Bandleader Gordon Solomon declared it made him look like a bumblebee and thus the name was born. That nickname was soon shortened to the well known "Sting".
Sting's early bands - he sometimes played in several bands at the same time:
- Earthrise (probably starting in early 1972)
- Newcastle Big Band (early 1973 - mid 1975) / Tyneside Jazz Orchestra (late 1975 - 1976)
- Phoenix Jazzmen (starting early 1973)
- River City Jazzmen
- Vieux Carre Jazzmen
- Last Exit (October 1974 - February 1977)
He performed in some stage productions in Newcastle:
- Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1974-06-06 - 1974-09-21)
- Rock Nativity (1974-12-18 - 1975-01-25)
- Hellfire (1976-04-02 - 1976-06-19)
The Police
- Main article: The Police
This section needs more information.
Solo music career
This section needs more information.
Acting
- Main article: Filmography (Sting)
Sting's striking good looks made him a wanted property as both a model, during his early struggling times with The Police and as an actor. Landing the part of "The Ace Face" in the movie adaption of The Who's Quadrophenia would prove to be a huge break for the band, thanks to the publicity his appearance would generate. Following Quadrophenia, Sting would continue to dabble occasionally in acting, notably in the film adaptions of Brimstone & Treacle and Dune. In 1989 he would also star in the New York and Washington productions of The Threepenny Opera as Macheath (Mack the Knife).
Activism and charitable work
This section needs more information.
Personal life
Sting's first marriage was to Frances Tomelty, an actress from Northern Ireland. The union lasted from 1976 to 1984, during which time they had two children: Joseph, born in 1976 and Fuchsia Katherine, born in 1982. He separated from Frances not soon after the birth of Katherine in 1982 and began living with Trudie Styler, also an actress who would later become a film producer. They would marry in 1992, and have four children: Bridget Michaela; born 1984-01-19, Jake, born 1985-05-24; Eliot "Coco" Pauline, born 1990-07-30, and Giacomo Luke, born 1995-12-17.
In 1980 moved to Galway, Ireland, becoming a tax exile, and has since bought numerous other properties to call home. There is the Elizabethan manor house "Lake House" with its 60-acre estate in Wiltshire, England; a country cottage in the Lake District; a New York City apartment; a beach house in Malibu, California, a 600-acre estate in Tuscany, Italy; and two properties in London: an apartment on The Mall and an 18th century terrace house in Highgate.
Sting's parents both died from cancer in 1987. There was some controvesy over his decision not to attend either funeral, his reason being that the media circus surrounding him attending would have been disrespectful to his parents.
Sting is a noted advocate of yoga.
Legal battles
This section needs more information.
Discography
- Main article: Discography (Sting)
Studio albums
- Outlandos d'Amour - 1978 (with The Police)
- Reggatta de Blanc - 1979 (with The Police)
- Zenyatta Mondatta - 1980 (with The Police)
- Ghost In The Machine - 1981 (with The Police)
- Synchronicity - 1983 (with The Police)
- The Dream Of The Blue Turtles - 1985
- ...Nothing Like The Sun - 1987
- The Soul Cages - 1991
- Ten Summoner's Tales - 1993
- Mercury Falling - 1996
- Brand New Day - 1999
- Sacred Love - 2003
- Songs From The Labyrinth - 2006
Live albums
- Bring On The Night - 1986
- Acoustic Live In Newcastle - 1991
- ...All This Time - 2001
- The Journey And The Labyrinth - 2007
Awards, nominations and other notable achievements
1984
- Grammy Awards: Brimstone and Treacle - Best Rock Instrumental Performance - Won
- Grammy Awards: Every Breath You Take - Song of the year - Won
1986
- Grammy Awards: The Dream Of The Blue Turtles - Best Engineered Recording - Nominated
- Grammy Awards: The Dream Of The Blue Turtles - Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Nominated
- Grammy Awards: The Dream Of The Blue Turtles - Album of the Year - Nominated
- Grammy Awards: The Dream Of The Blue Turtles - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance - Nominated
1987
- Grammy Awards: Bring On The Night - Best Music Video, Long Form - Won
1988
- Grammy Awards: Bring On The Night - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance - Won
1989
- Grammy Awards: ...Nothing Like The Sun - Album of the Year - Nominated
- Grammy Awards: Be Still My Beating Heart - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance - Nominated
1992
- Grammy Awards: The Soul Cages - Best Rock Song - Won
1993
- MTV Movie Award: It's Probably Me - Best Movie Song (shared with Eric Clapton) - Nominated
1994
- Grammy Awards: If I Ever Lose My Faith In You - Record of the Year - Nominated
- Grammy Awards: Ten Summoner's Tales - Album of the Year - Nominated
- Grammy Awards: Demolition Man - Best Rock Solo Vocal Performance - Nominated
- Grammy Awards: Ten Summoner's Tales - Best Music Video, Long Form - Won
- Grammy Awards: If I Ever Lose My Faith In You - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance - Won
- Grammy Awards: If I Ever Lose My Faith In You - Song of the Year - Nominated
- MTV Movie Award: All For Love - Best Movie Song (shared with Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart) - Nominated
1996
- Grammy Awards: When We Dance - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance - Nominated
1997
- Grammy Awards: Mercury Falling - Best Pop Vocal Album - Nominated
1998
- Sierra Award: Freak, The Mighty - Best Original Song - Won
1999
- Golden Glove: The Mighty - Best Original Song - Motion Picture (shared with Trevor Jones) - Nominated
- Grammy Awards: You Were Meant For Me - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance - Nominated
2000
- Grammy Awards: Brand New Day - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance - Won
- Grammy Awards: Brand New Day - Best Pop Vocal Album - Won
- Sierra Award: My Funny Friend And Me - Best Song - Nominated
2001
- Academy Awards: My Funny Friend And Me - Best Music, Original Song (shared with David Hartley) - Nominated
- Annie Awards: Perfect World - Outstanding Individual Achievement for a Song in an Animated Production (shared with David Hartley) - Won
- Critics Choice Award: My Funny Friend And Me - Best Song (shared with David Hartley) - Won
- Golden Globe: My Funny Friend And Me - Best Original Song - Motion Picture (Shared with David Hartley) - Nominated
- Grammy Awards: She Walks This Earth - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance - Won
- Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards: My Funny Friend And Me - Best Original Song (shared with David Hartley) - Won
- Golden Satellite Award: My Funny Friend And Me - Best Original Song (shared with David Hartley) - Nominated
2002
- Academy Awards: Until - Best Music, Original Song - Nominated
- Critics Choice Award: Until - Best Song - Nominated
- Emmy Awards: Sting...All This Time - Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program - Won
- Golden Globe: Until - Best Original Song - Motion Picture - Won
- World Soundtrack Award: Until - Best Original Song Written for a Film - Nominated
2003
- Grammy Awards: Fragile - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance - Nominated
2004
- Academy Awards: You Will Be My Ain True Love - Best Music, Original Song - Nominated
- American Screenwriters Association - David Angell Humanitarian Award
- Golden Globe:You Will Be My Ain True Love - Best Original Song - Motion Picture - Nominated
- Grammy Awards: Whenever I Say Your Name - Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals (Shared with: Mary J.Blige) - Won
- Grammy Awards: Send Your Love - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance - Nominated
- World Sountrack Award: You Will Be My Ain True Love - Best Original Song Written for Film (shared with Alison Krauss) - Won
2005
- Grammy Awards: You Will Be My Ain True Love - Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media - Nominated
See also
External links
References
- "Sting." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 25 Jun 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sting_%28musician%29>
- "Sting (I) - Awards" Internet Movie Database. IMDb.com, Inc. 9 Mar 2010 <http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001776/awards>
- The New York Times Magazine - December 9, 1984 (Stinger nickname)