1983 2010
Sade are an English band that formed in 1983. The band's music features elements of R&B, soul, jazz, 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 Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and has sold more than 50 million units worldwide to date. They were ranked at #50 on VH1's list of the 100 greatest artists of all time
Her biggest hit to date is the enduring Your Love is King, and her debut album Diamond Life became a soundtrack to many a romantic evening during the 1980s.
Born in Nigeria, she moved to the UK at the age of four, settling in Colchester, Essex.
The singer - whose full name is Helen Folsesade Adu - studied fashion at St Martin's College in London, and went on to design for the likes of Spandau Ballet.
Solo
But music was a strong pull and influenced by such artists as Billie Holiday and Nina Simone, Sade joined a series of bands.
After singing with Arriva and Pride she launched a solo career and signed to Sony Records.
Her first single Your Love is King was released in 1984, showcasing her distinctive singing soft jazz style.
Sade went on to release the singles Smooth Operator from the Diamond Life album and Sweetest Taboo from her second long-player Promise.
Time out
Her success was also seen in the amount of albums she sold, including big sellers in the US.
But she did not relish the pressures of fame and took herself out of the pop arena through much of the 1990s.She return in 2000 with the album "Lovers Rock"
She divided her time between Spain and Jamaica to spend quality time with her daughter Ila.
Now 51, Sade made a comeback in 2010 with the album Soldier Of Love, which was hailed a success in both the UK and the US.
