Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner CBE (who was born on 2 October 1951) is known as Sting. He is an English musician and actor. Sting was the frontman, songwriter – as well as the bassist – for new wave rock band the Police between 1977 and 1984. He went on his own in 1985 and has included elements of rock, jazz, reggae, classical, new-age, and worldbeat into his music.
As a solo musician, in addition to a member of the Police, Sting has won 17 Grammy Awards – he won Song of the Year for “Every Breath You Take”. In addition, he won:
- Three Brit Awards, in addition to Best British Male Artist in 1994 and Outstanding Contribution in 2002,
- A Golden Globe,
- An Emmy, as well as
- Four nominations for the Academy Award for the Best Original Song.
In 2019, Sing received a BMI Award for “Every Breath You Take” becoming the most-played song in radio history. In 2002, he won the Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.
Also, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Sting was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – as a member of the Police – in 2003. In 2000, he got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for recording. In 2003, a CBE was bestowed on Sting by Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace for services to music. In 2014 he was made a Kennedy Center Honoree at the White House and – in addition – was awarded the Polar Music Prize in 2017.
String’s Early Life
Sting was born at Sir GB Hunter Memorial Hospital in Wallsend, Northumberland and was the eldest of four children who were born to parents Audrey, a hairdresser, and Ernest Matthew Sumner, a milkman as well as an engineer.
Sting grew up quite near Wallsend’s shipyards, which made a lifelong impression on him. He assisted his father deliver milk and at 10 years old he became “obsessed” with an old Spanish guitar that was left behind by an emigrating mate of his father’s. Like any good online casino welcome bonus would do too, this spurred a lifelong passion in hi, that led to big winning hits.
His Early Career
In 1971, after a short-lived stint at the University of Warwick in Coventry and a succession of odd jobs, Sting enrolled at Northern Counties Teachers Training College (which is now Northumbria University) with every intention of becoming a teacher.
While at school he performed in local clubs, mainly with jazz bands such as Phoenix Jazzmen and Last Exit. He got the nickname “Sting” from one of his Phoenix Jazzmen bandmates because of the black-and-yellow striped sweater he frequently wore while performing. After graduating in 1974, Sting taught at St Paul’s First School in Cramlington for two years.
Sting’s Personal Life
Sting was married to actress Frances Tomelty between 1976 and 1984. The couple were divorced after it was revealed that Sting was having an affair with actress Trudie Styler, who was a close friend of Tomelty’s. Sting got married to Trudie Styler at the Camden Registry Office in the early 90s.
Leave a Reply