Sting (musician)

Sting (musician)
source
Name	Sting
Caption	Sting performing in 2018
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner
Birth date	2 October 1951
Birth place	Wallsend, Northumberland, England
Occupation	Musician, singer, songwriter, actor, activist
Years active	1971–present
Genre	Rock, pop, new wave, jazz, world, reggae
Instrument	Vocals, bass guitar, guitar, lute, keyboards
Label	A&M, Deutsche Grammophon, Cherrytree, Interscope
Associated acts	The Police, Dire Straits
Website	sting.com

Sting (musician). Gordon Sumner, known professionally as Sting, is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. He achieved global fame as the lead vocalist, bassist, and principal songwriter for the new wave band The Police from 1977 to 1984, before launching a highly successful solo career. Renowned for his distinctive voice, eclectic musical style, and intellectual lyrics, he has sold over 100 million records, won numerous awards including 17 Grammys, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Police.

Early life and education

Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner was born on October 2, 1951, in Wallsend, Northumberland, and grew up near the Tyne shipyards. His mother was a hairdresser and his father a milkman and engineer. He attended St. Cuthbert's High School in Newcastle upon Tyne and later studied English at the University of Warwick's Coventry College of Education. Before his music career, he worked as a teacher, a bus conductor, and a Royal Air Force reservist. His early musical education included learning the piano and playing jazz bass in local clubs like the Newcastle Jazz Club, where his black-and-yellow striped sweater earned him the nickname "Sting."

Career

Sting's professional breakthrough came in 1977 when he co-founded The Police with guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland. The band released five studio albums, including the landmark *Synchronicity*, and massive hits like "Roxanne" and "Every Breath You Take." He began his solo career in 1985 with the album *The Dream of the Blue Turtles*, featuring jazz musicians like Branford Marsalis. His subsequent solo work, including *...Nothing Like the Sun* and *Ten Summoner's Tales*, explored diverse genres. He has also composed for film and theatre, including the musical *The Last Ship*, and collaborated with artists such as Dire Straits on "Money for Nothing" and Craig David.

Musical style and influences

Sting's music incorporates elements of rock, pop, jazz, classical, world music, and reggae. His bass playing is melodic and rhythmic, influenced by jazz fusion players like Jaco Pastorius. Lyrically, he draws from literature, philosophy, and personal experience, with references to works by William Shakespeare and John Donne. Key influences include The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Miles Davis. His work with The Police was defined by reggae-inflected rhythms and economical song structures, while his solo explorations often feature complex arrangements and collaborations with musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and global traditions.

Activism and philanthropy

Sting is a prominent activist for environmental and human rights causes. He and his wife, Trudie Styler, co-founded the Rainforest Foundation Fund in 1989 to protect rainforests and support indigenous peoples. He has been a vocal advocate for Amnesty International, performing at benefit concerts like the 1988 Human Rights Now! tour. His activism extends to issues such as nuclear disarmament, refugee rights, and climate change, often addressed in songs like "Russians" and "Fragile." He has supported charities including Live Aid, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and War Child.

Personal life

Sting was married to actress Frances Tomelty from 1976 to 1984; they had two children, including actor Joe Sumner. He later married actress and producer Trudie Styler in 1992, with whom he has four children, including actress and model Mickey Sumner and filmmaker Eliot Sumner. He has residences in London, New York City, and a Lake House estate in Wiltshire. A dedicated practitioner of yoga and tantra, he has written about these disciplines. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2003 for services to music.

Discography

A select list of his major album releases includes: * With The Police: *Outlandos d'Amour* (1978), *Reggatta de Blanc* (1979), *Zenyatta Mondatta* (1980), *Ghost in the Machine* (1981), *Synchronicity* (1983). * Solo studio albums: *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), *The Last Ship* (2013), *57th & 9th* (2016), *My Songs* (2019).

Awards and recognition

Sting has received extensive accolades, including 17 Grammy Awards from over 40 nominations. He won three Brit Awards, including for Outstanding Contribution to Music. The Police were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. He has received a Golden Globe Award for "My Funny Valentine" and an Academy Award nomination for "You Will Be My Ain True Love" from *Cold Mountain*. Other honors include the Polar Music Prize, the Kennedy Center Honors, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2000, he received a Doctor of Music honoris causa from the University of Northumbria.

University of Newcastle University of Newcastle University.