Sade (band)

Sade (pronounced /ʃɑːˈdeɪ/ shah-DAY) are an English R&B band that formed in 1983. The band's music features elements of R&B, soul, jazz, funk and soft rock. The band is named after their British Nigerian lead vocalist, Sade Adu.
Sade's debut album, Diamond Life, went Top Ten in the U.K. in late 1984 and sold platinum. In 1986, Sade won a Grammy for Best New Artist. Sade's US certified sales so far stands at 23.5 million units according to RIAA,[1] and has sold more than 50 million units worldwide to date.[2]

1980s

This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2010)
Sade were formed in 1982, when members of a Latin soul band Pride — Sade Adu, Stuart Matthewman, and Paul Spencer Denman — together with Paul Anthony Cook formed a break-away group and began to write their own material. In 1983, Andrew Hale joined the band, though Cook left in 1984. Sade, named for the moniker of their lead singer, made their debut in December 1982 at Ronnie Scott's Club in London, in support of Pride. In May 1983, the band performed their first US show at Danceteria Club in New York City. Sade received more attention from the media and record companies than Pride and finally separated. On 18 October 1983, the band signed with Portrait Records. All Sade albums were released through this label until it was absorbed by its parent label Epic Records in 1986.
On 25 February 1984, Sade released their first UK single "Your Love Is King". Their debut album Diamond Life was released on 28 July 1984 in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at #2 and was later certified 4x Platinum by the BPI. The band embarked on their first major UK tour, augmented by Dave Early (drums), Martin Ditcham (percussion), Terry Bailey (trumpet) and Gordon Matthewman (trombone). On 8 December 1984, the band released their first U.S. single "Hang on to Your Love", with the Diamond Life album following on 23 February 1985. Also in 1985, Sade won a BPI "Brit Award" for "Best Album". A third single, "Smooth Operator", was released from the album with a video directed by Julian Temple. It was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards—"Best Female Video" and "Best New Artist". On 13 July 1985, Sade performed at the Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in London. Sade Adu became the only African-born artist to appear in front of the live audience of 75,000, and an estimated worldwide television audience of 1.4 billion in 170 countries.
On 16 November 1985, Sade released their second album Promise in the United Kingdom (released in the US on 21 December 1985). The album peaked at no.1 in the UK and has been certified double Platinum by the BPI. In 1986, Sade Adu was nominated for an American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Video Artist and won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. In late 1985, Sade went on their first world tour to promote Promise. Augmenting the band were Dave Early (drums), Martin Ditcham (percussion), Gordon Matthewman (trumpet), Jake Jacas (trombone & backing vocals), Leroy Osbourne (vocals) and Gordon Hunte (guitar). On 28 June 1986, the band performed at the Artists Against Apartheid Concert in the Freedom Festival on Clapham Common in London. In 1987, the band were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for Promise.
On 14 May 1988, Sade released their third album Stronger Than Pride in the United Kingdom (released in the US on 4 June 1988). The album peaked at no.3 in the UK and has been certified Platinum by the BPI. It was preceded by the single "Paradise" which made the UK top 30 (and top 20 in the US). The band toured across the world again, augmented by Blair Cunningham (drums), Martin Ditcham (percussion), Leroy Osbourne (vocals), Gordon Hunte (guitar), James McMillan (trumpet) and Jake Jacas (trombone & vocals).
In 1989, Sade Adu was nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist.

1990s
Sade released their fourth album Love Deluxe on 11 November 1992 in the U.K. and November 21 in the US. The album peaked at number 3 on the US Album charts and was certified Quadruple-Platinum (4x),[3] but stalled at no.6[4] on the UK charts before being certified Gold[5] by the BPI.
In 1993, the band recorded a cover of the Percy Mayfield song "Please Send Me Someone to Love" for the Academy Award winning film Philadelphia, before launching their Love Deluxe world tour. Joining the band were Leroy Osbourne (vocals), Gordon Hunte (guitar), Trevor Murrell (drums), Karl Vanden Bossche (percussion) and Rick Braun (trumpet).
The 1994 Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group was awarded to Sade for "No Ordinary Love", featured in the 1993 film Indecent Proposal. In November, the group released their first compilation album, The Best of Sade. The album hit shelves on 12 November in the UK and on 26 November 1994 in the US, where it peaked at number 9 on Billboard's Album Chart[6] and was certified Quadruple-Platinum.[7]
In 1996, Hale, Denman, and Matthewman formed their own band as a side project, Sweetback, and released their self-titled first album.

2000s
In October 2000 Sade famously came out of retirement to perform at the prestigious MOBO Awards. Her appearance at the MOBO Awards ceremony was her first live performance since the early nineties and started a wave of speculation that a possible Sade comeback was on the cards. On 13 November 2000, Sade released their fifth studio album Lovers Rock in the United Kingdom (released the day after in the US). Their first album in eight years, Lovers Rock peaked at #18 in the UK (their only studio album not to make the top 10) though was certified Gold by the BPI.[citation needed] It fared better in the US, peaking at #3. It also won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album in 2002.[citation needed]
The band toured the US throughout 2001. The tour resulted in a live album, Lovers Live, which was released in the UK and US in February 2002.
In 2005, the band contributed the track "Mum" to the Voices for Darfur DVD.
The title track to Soldier of Love was released on the website and debuted on radio stations on December 8, 2009.[8]

2010s
Sade's sixth studio album Soldier of Love was released worldwide on 8 February 2010, their first album of new material in almost ten years.[9]
Following the release of the Soldier of Love single on 8 December 2009, the track debuted at #11 on the Urban Hot AC chart, making it the highest debut of the decade and the third highest all-time on the Urban Hot AC chart. "Soldier of Love" also debuted at #5 on the Smooth Jazz airplay chart while also becoming the first ever vocal to hit #1 on the Smooth Jazz Top 20 Countdown.[10]
After moving 502,000 copies, the album topped the Billboard 200 chart during its debut week. The album is the band's first #1 album since the 1986 Promise, which was #1 on the Billboard charts for two consecutive weeks. The group released the second single from the album, "Baby Father", in April 2010, followed by a video in May.
The band performed the first single from their new album on UK's Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on 26 February 2010.
On 13 April 2010, the band performed Babyfather and Sweetest Taboo on US's Dancing With The Stars.

Members

Sade Adu – vocals, lyricist, songwriter
Stuart Colin Matthewman – guitar, sax, songwriter
Paul Spencer Denman – bass, songwriter
Andrew Hale – keyboards, songwriter

Studio Albums
1984: Diamond Life
1985: Promise
1988: Stronger Than Pride
1992: Love Deluxe
2000: Lovers Rock
2010: Soldier of Love
Other Albums
1992: Remix Deluxe
1994: The Best of Sade
2002: Lovers Live

Videography

[edit]Live performances
1993: Life Promise Pride Love
1994: Live Concert Home Video
2002: Lovers Live
[edit]Music videos
Diamond Life' (1985)
Your Love is King – 3:37 (Directed by Jack Semmens)
Smooth Operator – 4:17 (Directed by Julian Temple)
Hang on to Your Love – 3:58 (Directed by Brian Ward)
When am I Going to Make a Living – 3:34 (Director unknown, this video is not available on the Sade video collection)
Promise (1986)
Never as Good as the First Time – 3:54 (Directed by Brian Ward)
Sweetest Taboo – 5:02 (Directed by Brian Ward)
Is it a Crime – 7:02 (Directed by Brian Ward)
Stronger Than Pride (1988)
Paradise – 3:37 (Directed by Alex McDowell)
Nothing Can Come Between Us – 3:51 (Directed by Sophie Muller)
Turn My Back on You – 4:08 (Directed by Sophie Muller)
Love is Stronger Than Pride (Directed by Sophie Muller)
Love Deluxe (1992)
No Ordinary Love – 4:01 (Directed by Sophie Muller)
Cherish The Day – 4:23 (Directed by Albert Watson)
Kiss of Life – 4:11 (Directed by Albert Watson)
Feel No Pain – 3:47 (Directed by Albert Watson)
Lovers Rock (2000)
By Your Side – 4:25 (Directed by Sophie Muller)
King Of Sorrow – 4:40 (Directed by Sophie Muller)
Voices for Darfur (2005)
Mum - 2:42 (The footages are from Sudan)
Soldier of Love (2010)
Soldier of Love – 4:59 (Directed by Sophie Muller, released January 12, 2010. Shot on Location in London, England)
Babyfather – 4:10 (Directed by Sophie Muller)