Named in 2011 as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine, Sting remains one of music’s major players, touring and recording at a prolific rate. Inspired by a musical he penned by the same name, Sting released his 11th solo album, The Last Ship, in September, 2013. The musical, a telling of the demise of the shipbuilding industry in Sting’s hometown of Wallsall, UK, opens on Broadway in 2014.
Singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, world music aficionado, activist, actor, and philanthropist, Sting has worn a multitude of hats over a career that goes all the way back to the early ‘70s. While known as the voice, songwriter, and bassist for the phenomenally successful band The Police, it is as a solo artist that the breadth of his talents have truly shone. From his beginnings as a brash punk rocker, Sting evolved into an artist who incorporated everything from jazz to reggae to classical. His 1985 release, Dream of the Blue Turtles, set the tone for his metamorphosis as a solo artist and was notable for his use of renowned jazz musicians within a pop rock setting.
Sting was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 as a member of the Police, and has won a total of 16 Grammy Awards for his work with the band and as a soloist. Add to that three Brit Awards, a Golden Globe, Emmy Award, and several Oscar nominations and one begin to understand the scope of his popularity. Always a crowd pleaser in a concert setting, ticket sales for Sting shows are strong across the globe. Over the course of their career, Sting has played many famous venues, like Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion and Madison Square Garden.
