Cambridge Encyclopedia :: Cambridge Encyclopedia Vol. 72

Sting

Singer, songwriter, and actor, born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE England, UK. Former vocalist and lyricist of The Police, his first film role came in Quadrophenia (1978), and his first solo hit song was ‘Spread A Little Happiness’ (1982), taken from the soundtrack of the television film Brimstone and Treacle, in which he also starred. His debut album, The Dream of the Blue Turtles (1985), topped both the UK and US music charts. Later albums include Soul Cages (1991), which reached number 1 in the UK music charts, Mercury Falling (1996), and Sacred Love (2003). Songs of the Labyrinth (2006), an album of Elizabethan lute music, topped the classical album chart on its release. Later films include Dune (1984), Stormy Monday (1988), and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1999). He has been much associated with campaigns to do with the environment and with Amnesty International, and in 1989 he was a keynote speaker at the 2nd annual Human Rights Awards ceremony. His autobiography, Broken Music, appeared in 2003.

Sting

Sting onstage in Budapest, 2000
Background information
Birth name Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner
Born October 2, 1951
Wallsend, England
Genre(s) Rock
Pop
New Wave
Occupation(s) singer-songwriter-guitarist
Instrument(s) Vocals
Guitar
Bass Guitar
Years active 1977 - Present
(solo: 1982 to present)
Label(s) A&M Records
Associated
acts
The Police
Website www.sting.com

Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, CBE (born 2 October 1951), usually known by his stage name Sting, is an English musician from Newcastle upon Tyne.

Albums

The Dream of the Blue Turtles
(1985)
UK #3, USA #2
US: Sales 3 million

...Nothing Like the Sun
(1987)
UK #1, USA #9
US: Sales 2 million

The Soul Cages
(1991)
UK #1, USA #2
US: Sales 1 million

Ten Summoner's Tales
(1993)
UK #2, USA #2
US: Sales 3 million

Mercury Falling
(1996)
UK #4, USA #5
US: Sales 1 million

Brand New Day
(1999)
UK #5, USA #9
US: Sales 3 million

Sacred Love
(2003)
UK #3, USA #3
US: Sales 1 million

Songs from the Labyrinth
(2006)
UK #24, USA #25

Live Albums

Bring On the Night
(1986)
UK #16

Acoustic Live in Newcastle
(1991)
UK Release

All This Time
(2001)
UK #3 US #32

Compilations

Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984-1994
(1994)
UK #2 USA #16
Sales 2 million

The Very Best of Sting & The Police
(1997)
UK #1 USA #46
USA Sales 500,000

At the Movies
(1999)
Japan Release

Soundtracks

Demolition Man
(1993

The Living Sea: Soundtrack from the IMAX Film
(1995)

Foreign Language Albums

Nada Como el Sol
(1988)

Virtual albums

iTunes Originals - Sting

Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
U.S. Hot 100 U.S. Modern Rock UK Singles Chart
1982 "Spread a Little Happiness" - - #16 Brimstone and Treacle OST
1985 "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" #3 - #26 The Dream of the Blue Turtles
1985 "Love Is the Seventh Wave" #17 - #41 The Dream of the Blue Turtles
1985 "Fortress Around Your Heart" #8 - #49 The Dream of the Blue Turtles
1985 "Russians" #16 - #12 The Dream of the Blue Turtles
1986 "Moon Over Bourbon Street" - - #44 The Dream of the Blue Turtles
1987 "We'll Be Together" #7 - #41 ...Nothing Like the Sun
1988 "Englishman in New York" #84 - #51 ...Nothing Like the Sun
1988 "Be Still My Beating Heart" #15 - - ...Nothing Like the Sun
1988 "Fragile" - - #70 ...Nothing Like the Sun
1988 "They Dance Alone" - - #94 ...Nothing Like the Sun
1990 "Englishman In New York" (Ben Liebrand remix) - - #15 -'
1991 "All This Time" #5 #1 (2 weeks) #22 The Soul Cages
1991 "Mad About You" - - #56 The Soul Cages
1991 "The Soul Cages" - #9 #57 The Soul Cages
1992 "It's Probably Me" (with Eric Clapton) - - #30 Ten Summoner's Tales
1993 "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You" #17 - #14 Ten Summoner's Tales
1993 "Seven Days" - - #25 Ten Summoner's Tales
1993 "Fields Of Gold" #23 - #16 Ten Summoner's Tales
1993 "Shape Of My Heart" - - #57 Ten Summoner's Tales
1993 "Demolition Man" - - #21 Demolition Man OST
1994 "All For Love"(with Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart) #1 - #2 The Three Musketeers OST
1994 "Nothing 'Bout Me" #57 - #32 Ten Summoner's Tales
1994 "When We Dance" #38 - #9 Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984-1994
1995 "This Cowboy Song" - - #15 Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984-1994
1996 "Spirits In The Material World" (with Pato Banton) - - #36 Ace Ventura OST
1996 "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" #86 - #15 Mercury Falling
1996 "You Still Touch Me" #60 - #27 Mercury Falling
1996 "I Was Brought to My Senses" - - #31 Mercury Falling
1996 "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying" #94 - #54 Mercury Falling
1997 "Roxanne '97" (Puff Daddy Remix) (feat. The Police
1999 "Brand New Day" #100 - #13 Brand New Day
2000 "Desert Rose" (feat. Cheb Mami) #17 - #15 Brand New Day
2000 "After the Rain Has Fallen" - - #31 Brand New Day
2003 "Rise & Sting) - - #2 Slicker Than Your Average (Craig David album)
2003 "Send Your Love" - - #30 Sacred Love
2003 "Whenever I Say Your Name" (Duet with Mary J. Blige) - - #60 Sacred Love
2004 "Stolen Car (Take Me Dancing)" - - #60 Sacred Love
2005 "Taking the Inside Rail"  ?

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