Sade Adu was born Helen Folasade Adu on January 16, 1959 in Ibadan, Nigeria to a Nigerian father, Adebisi Adu, and an English mother, Anne Hayes. She has two siblings, Banji and Bisi. Adu spent the first few years of her life in Nigeria before her family relocated to Colchester, Essex, England when she was four.
As a child, Adu studied at Clacton County High School and studied fashion design at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. It was during her college years that Adu began to explore music and perform with friends from her college band. In 1982, she met guitarist and songwriter Stuart Matthewman and formed the band Sade.
The band’s debut album, Diamond Life, was released in 1984 and featured the hit single “Smooth Operator.” The album was a commercial success, selling over 6 million copies worldwide and reaching the top of the UK album chart.
In 1985, the band released their second album, Promise, which was equally successful and spawned the hit single “The Sweetest Taboo.” The album was certified platinum in the UK and the US and has since sold over six million copies worldwide.
Following the success of Promise, the band released their third album, Stronger Than Pride, in 1988. The album featured the hit single “Paradise” and was certified double-platinum in the UK and platinum in the US. Since then, the band has released seven studio albums, including their most recent album, Soldier of Love, released in 2010. The album was certified gold in the UK and the US and won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
Adu has also released two solo albums, Lover’s Rock (2000) and Soldier of Love (2010). In addition to Sade’s musical success, Adu has also been recognized for her philanthropic work. She has supported numerous charities and foundations, including War Child, UNICEF, and Amnesty International.
In 2002, Adu was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to music. In 2011, she was awarded the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection. Sade Adu is one of the most successful and influential musicians of the last several decades. Her soulful vocals and heartfelt lyrics have resonated with millions of listeners around the world. Her unique and timeless sound has earned her numerous awards and accolades, and she is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in modern music.
Written and compiled by ProfT for Naijatipsland
One of her songs that caught my attention back then was “smooth operator”. I listened to it on radio in the late 90s. “Sweetest taboo” still remains my favourite.