Composer, singer, actor, activist—Sting has won universal acclaim in all these roles, but let's not forget that he's one of the finest bass players in popular music. From his chart-topping tenure with the Police to his amazingly varied solo career, Sting's cleverly constructed bass lines have always combined tremendous muscle and finesse.
Born Gordon Sumner in Newcastle, England, he was a teacher, soccer coach and ditch digger before his love for jazz and pop moved him to music. Sumner—nicknamed "Sting" for an oft-worn yellow and black jersey—met U.S. drummer Stewart Copeland while he was still bassist for popular Newcastle jazz/rock outfit Last Exit; the pair enlisted guitarist Andy Summers to form the Police in 1977.
The Police, of course, quickly rose to international stardom on the strength of sheer personality, ferocious musical ability and Sting's apparently endless ability to write hit after hit—“Roxanne,” "Message In a Bottle," "Don't Stand So Close To Me," “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” "Every Breath You Take," and more. By the time the Police disbanded in the mid-80s, they were considered by many as the biggest band in the world.
Sting released The Dream of the Blue Turtles, the first of his many top-selling solo albums, in 1985. It was followed by Bring On The Night (1986), Nothing Like The Sun (1987), The Soul Cages (1991), Ten Summoner’s Tales (1993), Mercury Falling (1996), Brand New Day (1999), All This Time (2001) and Sacred Love (2003).
He remains one of the world's most distinctive and highly respected performers, collecting (as a solo artist) 12 Grammys, 2 Brits, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, three Oscar nominations, Billboard Magazine’s Century Award, and MusiCares 2004 Person of the Year. He has appeared in more than 10 films and has written and recorded music for many more. Fender introduced its Artist Series Sting Precision Bass® guitar in 2001.
Sting’s support for human rights organization like the Rainforest Foundation, Amnesty International and Live Aid mirrors his art in its universal outreach. With his wife, Trudie Styler, he founded the Rainforest Foundation in 1989 to protect the world’s rain forests and the indigenous peoples who live in them; they have raised more than $19 million with 13 benefit concerts to raise funds for and awareness of the planet’s threatened resources. The Rainforest Foundation has now expanded to a network of interconnected organizations working in 18 countries worldwide.
