Helen Adu was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. When she was four, she and her older brother moved with their mother to England. When Sade was 11, the family moved to Holland-on-Sea. After completing her school at 18, she studied at Saint Martin's School of Art in London.
While in college, Sade sang backing vocals in the band Pride. Her performance of "Smooth Operator" drew interest from record companies and in 1983, she signed a solo recording contract with Epic Records. Three members of Pride have been her backing band ever since: Stuart Matthewman, Andrew Hale and Paul Denman.
Sade released her debut album, Diamond Life, in 1984. The album hit #1 in several countries and sold over four million copies in the United States alone. Sade's first single was "Your Love Is King", which peaked at #6 in the U.K., #7 in Ireland and #8 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the U.S.
"Hang On To Your Love" was not a big hit, but should have been, making it one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.
Sade saved the best for the last single from Diamond Life. "Smooth Operator" reached #5 in the United States and #1 on the AC chart, and #9 in France.
Sade won the Grammy for Best New Artist and was nominated for MTV Awards for Best Female Video and Best New Artist. In 1985, she followed with the album Promise, which hit #1 in both the U.K. and the U.S. It too sold over four million copies in the States. "The Sweetest Taboo" gave Sade two straight #1's on the Adult Contemporary chart, though most of the rest of the world had yet to discover her and the band.
Sade performed at Live Aid in London before an estimated worldwide television audience of 1.4 billion. She was nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for Promise and Sade was nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Video Artist. "Jezebel" is another great track on the album.
Sade once again was nominated at the American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist. "Paradise" reached #1 on the R&B chart, #3 on the AC chart and #16 overall.
Sade fans should also check out "Haunt Me", another outstanding track on the album.
Sade captured the Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group for "No Ordinary Love", which was featured in the movie Indecent Proposal. The single reached #9 in the United States on the R&B chart and #14 on the AC chart and #14 in the U.K.
"Kiss Of Life" was a moderate hit in the U.S. and Sade briefly "retired". In 2000, Sade came out of retirement to perform at the MOBO Awards, her first live appearance in several years. She then released the album Lovers Rock, which peaked at #3 in the U.S. and won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album. "By Your Side" peaked at #18 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
Sade went on a world tour to support the album. She received her fourth Grammy Award for the album for Best R&B Performance and was nominated for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Album at the American Music Awards.
In 2002, Sade was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for her services to popular music.
Sade has sold 110 million albums worldwide, but as pointed out above, nearly all her success has come in the United States, where she has had five Top 10's on the AC chart and two #1's. Only one of her songs, "Your Love Is King", has ever placed in the Top 10 in any other country (U.K.).
While in college, Sade sang backing vocals in the band Pride. Her performance of "Smooth Operator" drew interest from record companies and in 1983, she signed a solo recording contract with Epic Records. Three members of Pride have been her backing band ever since: Stuart Matthewman, Andrew Hale and Paul Denman.
Sade released her debut album, Diamond Life, in 1984. The album hit #1 in several countries and sold over four million copies in the United States alone. Sade's first single was "Your Love Is King", which peaked at #6 in the U.K., #7 in Ireland and #8 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the U.S.
"Hang On To Your Love" was not a big hit, but should have been, making it one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.
Sade saved the best for the last single from Diamond Life. "Smooth Operator" reached #5 in the United States and #1 on the AC chart, and #9 in France.
Sade won the Grammy for Best New Artist and was nominated for MTV Awards for Best Female Video and Best New Artist. In 1985, she followed with the album Promise, which hit #1 in both the U.K. and the U.S. It too sold over four million copies in the States. "The Sweetest Taboo" gave Sade two straight #1's on the Adult Contemporary chart, though most of the rest of the world had yet to discover her and the band.
"Never As Good As the First Time" was lined up as the second single from the album and once again, the U.S. led the way with a #6 ranking on the AC chart and #8 overall. It was the only country to place this great song in the Top 10.
"Is It A Crime" was different; the best it could attain anywhere in the world was #32 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the United States. Thus, another of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.
Sade performed at Live Aid in London before an estimated worldwide television audience of 1.4 billion. She was nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for Promise and Sade was nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Video Artist. "Jezebel" is another great track on the album.
Sade came back with the album Stronger Than Pride in 1988. "Love Is Stronger Than Pride" was not released in the U.S. and the best it did was #18 in the Netherlands.
Sade once again was nominated at the American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist. "Paradise" reached #1 on the R&B chart, #3 on the AC chart and #16 overall.
Sade fans should also check out "Haunt Me", another outstanding track on the album.
Love Deluxe was released in 1992, reaching #3 and selling over four million albums. Sade recorded "Please Send Me Someone to Love" for the movie Philadelphia before embarking on a world tour.
Sade captured the Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group for "No Ordinary Love", which was featured in the movie Indecent Proposal. The single reached #9 in the United States on the R&B chart and #14 on the AC chart and #14 in the U.K.
"Kiss Of Life" was a moderate hit in the U.S. and Sade briefly "retired". In 2000, Sade came out of retirement to perform at the MOBO Awards, her first live appearance in several years. She then released the album Lovers Rock, which peaked at #3 in the U.S. and won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album. "By Your Side" peaked at #18 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
Sade won the American Music Award for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist.
In 2010, Sade released the album Solider of Love. The title song debuted at #11 on the Urban Hot AC chart, the highest debut of the decade, and peaked at #6 on the R&B chart. The album went to #1 in the U.S. and #4 in the U.K.
In 2002, Sade was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for her services to popular music.
Sade has sold 110 million albums worldwide, but as pointed out above, nearly all her success has come in the United States, where she has had five Top 10's on the AC chart and two #1's. Only one of her songs, "Your Love Is King", has ever placed in the Top 10 in any other country (U.K.).
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