SIMPLY RED

Simply Red

Simply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, New Romantic, rock, reggae and jazz. Since their early days the main driving force behind the band was singer Mick Hucknall, who by the time the band broke up in 2010 was the only original member left.

Origin: Manchester, England

Genres: Pop rock, blue-eyed soul

Years active: 1985–2010

Labels: Elektra, East West, Simply Red.

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Concert:

Simply Red - Festival de Viña del Mar 2009 Chile 

Album:

Simply Red - Stars (1991) Full Album 

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JOE COCKER

Joe Cocker

John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE (born 20 May 1944) is an English rock and blues singer, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of the Beatles.

He is the recipient of several awards, including a 1983 Grammy Award for his #1 hit "Up Where We Belong", a duet he performed with Jennifer Warnes. He was ranked #97 on Rolling Stone's 100 greatest singers list.

Birth name: John Robert Cocker

Also known as: Vance Arnold, "The Sheffield Soul Shouter"

Born: 20 May 1944 (age 67), Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, UK

Genres: Blues, rock, blues-rock, blue-eyed soul

Occupations: Musician, songwriter, actor

Instruments: Vocals, harmonica, guitar, drums

Years active: 1960–present

Labels:Regal Zonophone, A&M, Capitol, EMI, Decca

Associated acts: The Grease

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Joe Cocker in Concert Live in Baden-Baden, "Organic Tour" 1996

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STING

Sting

Sting (born Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner on 2 October 1951), CBE, is an English musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, activist, actor and philanthropist. Prior to starting his solo career, he was the principal songwriter, lead singer and bassist of the New Wave band The Police.

Sting has varied his musical style throughout his career, incorporating distinct elements of jazz, reggae, classical, New Age, and worldbeat into his music. As a solo musician and member of The Police, Sting has received sixteen Grammy Awards for his work, receiving his first Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance in 1981, three Brit Awards — winning Best British Male in 1994, a Golden Globe, an Emmy Award, and several Oscar nominations for Best Original Song. He is a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Birth name: Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner

Notable instruments:Fender Precision Bass, Fender Jazz Bass, Ibanez Musician Bass, Fender Telecaster Bass  

Also known as: Sting

Born: 2 October 1951 (age 60) Wallsend, England, United Kingdom

Genres: Rock, pop, New Wave, jazz, New Age, blue-eyed soul

Occupations: Musician, singer-songwriter, producer

Instruments: Vocals, bass guitar, guitar, double bass, keyboards, saxophone, lute

Years active: 1971–present

Labels: A&M, Deutsche Grammophon, Universal Music Group

Associated acts: The Police

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Sting - Live In Berlin  2010

LOU REED

Lou Reed

Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed (born on March 2, 1942) is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades. Though the Velvet Underground were a commercial failure in the late 1960s, the group has gained a considerable cult following in the years since its demise and has gone on to become one of the most widely cited and influential bands of the era. As the Velvet Underground's principal songwriter, Reed wrote about subjects of personal experience that rarely had been examined so openly in rock and roll, including sexuality and drug culture.

After his departure from the group, Reed began a solo career in 1971. He had a hit the following year with "Walk on the Wild Side", although he subsequently lacked the mainstream commercial success its chart status seemed to indicate. Reed's work as a solo artist frustrated critics wishing for a return of the Velvet Underground. In 1975 Reed released a double album of feedback loops, Metal Machine Music, upon which he later commented: "No one is supposed to be able to do a thing like that and survive."

In 2008, Reed married performance artist Laurie Anderson.

Birth name: Lewis Allan Reed

Born: March 2, 1942 (age 69), Brooklyn, New York, United States

Genres: Rock, experimental rock, art rock, protopunk, noise music, drone music, psychedelic rock, folk rock, glam rock, blue-eyed soul, spoken word

Occupations: Musician, songwriter, producer, photographer

Instruments: Vocals, guitar, ostrich guitar, bass, synthesizer, keyboards, piano, harmonica, drums, percussion

Years active: 1964–present

Labels: Matador, MGM, RCA, Sire, Reprise, Warner Bros.

Associated acts: The Velvet Underground, John Cale, Nico, David Bowie, The Killers, Mick Ronson, Gorillaz, Laurie Anderson, Peter Gabriel, Metallica.

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