“Sade Adu”
Share
Sade was born Helen Folasade Adu on January 16, 1959, in Ibadan, Nigeria. Her father was a Nigerian Economics teacher, her mother was an English nurse. Sade was deeply influenced by these diverse backgrounds. She was raised in England by her mother.
Music was not Sade's initial passion. She pursued a different path, studying fashion at the St. Martins School of Art in London. Her creative spirit found expression in clothing design.
Some of her friends from school reached out to her saying they were in need of a vocalist for their band. Sade decided to lend her voice to their cause. She really enjoyed songwriting but singing made her nervous, and her stage fright was serious.
She overcame her stage fright and went on a tour with a North London Latin funk band called Pride, from 1981 to 1983. During this time, one of the songs she performed "Smooth Operator" had record labels knocking on her door, eager to sign her as a solo artist. There was just one catch: they didn't want to sign the other members of her band.
Loyalty ran deep within Sade, and she refused to abandon those who had helped her launch her career. She struck a deal with Epic Records, demanding that they sign three of her band members. Together, they formed the group known as "Sade," with Sade herself as the face.
Their first single, "Your Love Is King," released in February 1984, became a top 10 British hit and marked a turning point in their careers. In 1986, Sade won a Grammy for Best New Artist, solidifying her status.
Sade always remained grounded and true to herself. She shied away from self-promotion and the media circus, preferring to let her music speak for her. She believed that appearing on TV or in music videos would reduce her to a tool of the record industry.
This exclusivity, class, and mystery only added to her allure, making her even more popular. With six multi-platinum albums to her name, Sade's journey became a testament to the power of talent, authenticity, and staying true to your principles in this world.
Hopefully we get one more album.
HELLA INSPIRED.
Music was not Sade's initial passion. She pursued a different path, studying fashion at the St. Martins School of Art in London. Her creative spirit found expression in clothing design.
Some of her friends from school reached out to her saying they were in need of a vocalist for their band. Sade decided to lend her voice to their cause. She really enjoyed songwriting but singing made her nervous, and her stage fright was serious.
She overcame her stage fright and went on a tour with a North London Latin funk band called Pride, from 1981 to 1983. During this time, one of the songs she performed "Smooth Operator" had record labels knocking on her door, eager to sign her as a solo artist. There was just one catch: they didn't want to sign the other members of her band.
Loyalty ran deep within Sade, and she refused to abandon those who had helped her launch her career. She struck a deal with Epic Records, demanding that they sign three of her band members. Together, they formed the group known as "Sade," with Sade herself as the face.
Their first single, "Your Love Is King," released in February 1984, became a top 10 British hit and marked a turning point in their careers. In 1986, Sade won a Grammy for Best New Artist, solidifying her status.
Sade always remained grounded and true to herself. She shied away from self-promotion and the media circus, preferring to let her music speak for her. She believed that appearing on TV or in music videos would reduce her to a tool of the record industry.
This exclusivity, class, and mystery only added to her allure, making her even more popular. With six multi-platinum albums to her name, Sade's journey became a testament to the power of talent, authenticity, and staying true to your principles in this world.
Hopefully we get one more album.
HELLA INSPIRED.