Sting – famous British musician

Sting is a British musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, activist, actor and philanthropist. In 1976-1984 he was the leader of the group The Police. In 1984 Sting began his career as a solo artist.
Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner (his real name) was born on October 2, 1951 in Wallsend, North East of England. His father Ernest Matthew Sumner worked in a local engineering company. Later he bought a small dairy shop. As a child, Sting helped his father to deliver milk in the morning. His mother Audrey worked as a hairdresser and a nurse. She taught his son to play the piano at home. Gordon was the eldest of four children in the family. He has younger sisters Anita and Angela, and brother Philip.
At the age of 10 Gordon received his first guitar from his father’s friend. While studying at school the boy often visited music clubs with his friends. According to Sting, Jimi Hendrix had a great influence on him.

After graduating from school Gordon worked as a conductor, a tax inspector, an English teacher. Soon he realized that his main passion was music. Gordon joined local jazz band Newcastle Big Band as a bassist. Later he joined Phoenih Jazzmen where he was nicknamed Sting by Gordon Solomon. At the same time, together with other musicians, Sting organized his first band – Last Exit. Thanks to the song I Burn for You (was dedicated to Francis Tomelti, his future wife) the group managed to get to London.
In 1977, drummer Stewart Copeland, guitarist Andy Summers and Sting formed the band The Police. The first two singles, Fall Out and Roxanne, were not successful as long as Miles Copeland heard them. He became a manager of the group and signed a contract with A&M, which immediately released their debut album Outlandos d’Amour (№ 6 in the United Kingdom, November 1978). Then followed albums Reggatta de Blanc, Zenyatta Mondatta, Ghost in the Machine and Synchronicity (with mega-hit Every Breath You Take). After a triumphant world tour in 1984, Gordon decided that he had achieved everything he could and the band broke up at the height of its popularity.
His first solo album The Dream of the Blue Turtles went platinum.

In 1987 he recorded the album Nothing Like the Sun. The song They Dance Alone (Cueca Solo) written by Sting in memory of victims of repression in Chile, was very popular.
He released The Soul Cages in 1991 and Ten Summoner’s Tales in 1993.
In November 1993, the single All for Love recorded with Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart topped the US charts and in December 1994 it was on the second place in the UK. The single became a soundtrack for the film The Three Musketeers.
In 2003 he released his new album Sacred Love. For the song Send Your Love from this album Sting was nominated for Grammy.
On September 24, 2013 the new album The Last Ship was released. It became the first studio album in the last ten years.
In July 2016 the musician has announced the release of a new rock album, 57th & 9th.

Personal life
From 1976 to 1984 Sting was married to actress Frances Tomelti. They have two children: Joseph Sumner (born on November 23, 1976) and Fuchsia Catherine Sumner (born on April 17, 1982).
On August 20, 1992 he married actress Trudie Styler. They have four children: Bridget Michael Sumner (born on January 19, 1984), Jake Sumner (born on May 24, 1985), Eliot Paulina Sumner (born on July 30, 1990) and Giacomo Luc Sumner (born on December 17, 1995).

After traveling through the Brazilian rainforests Sting became an ardent defender of nature and established the Foundation with his wife to protect tropical forests. One of the subspecies of the frog Dendropsophus stingi was named in his honor.

Interesting facts
– Sting has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his achievements and contributions to the field of music.
– The famous wrestler Steve Borden also appears under the pseudonym Sting. It is noteworthy that the rights to this alias previously belonged to him, but soon Sumner bought them.
– Sting image was taken by Alan Moore to create John Constantine in a series of comics Hellblazer.
– Sting played himself in several episodes of the series Studio 60 On Sunset Strip and was the protagonist of the weekly show Studio 60 with the song Fields of Gold.
– He provided financial support to the young British director Guy Ritchie for his debut film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and in return received a small role of JD, Eddie’s father.
– It was Sting who introduced Madonna to her future husband Guy Ritchie. He is a godfather of their son.
– In his youth Gordon was engaged in athletics and even won the second place in the England Championship.
– At the end of 2010 he visited Russia.
– His song Fragile was included in the charity album Songs for Japan.
– Sting is a good winemaker.
– He is a big fan of chess, his idol is Garry Kasparov.
– Sting is a vegetarian, practices yoga, runs and does aerobics.
– The song Shape of my hart can be heard in the famous Luc Besson’s film Leon.

Sting – famous British musician