TIMELINE

Sade (Helen Folasade Adu) was born in Nigeria on January 16, 1959, and was raised in London. Although Sade originally began studying fashion design, her desire for music led her to a jazz-funk group named Pride. Sade, the woman, and Sade, the band, became staples on the pop and R&B charts from the mid-80's and into the 90s. By selling millions of LPs around the world, Sade brought a level of class and a smooth jazz sound the ears of pop radio, always maintaining a high level of quality. The longevity of Sade's music best represents the uniqueness of its sound.

Sade, the band, was formed with Adu, and former Pride members Stuart Matthewman (on sax and guitar), Andrew Hale (on keyboards), and Paul Spencer Denman (on bass). Sade's musical style has been described as "smoky faux-jazz." As Stephen Holden observed in the New York Times, "...in a pop climate obsessed with changing sounds and the language of the street, Sade has shown herself to be a pop classicist more interested in creating a durable body of work than in keeping up... (her) best songs find fresh images for expressing time-honored sentiments and placing them in settings that distill particular moods with a special intensity."

Sade had their first major success in the UK when their first single "Your Love Is King" went Top 10. Sade's debut LP, Diamond Life, was released in the US.

Sade hit the Top 40 with "Smooth Operator."

Diamond Life was certified platinum.

The video for "Smooth Operator" was nominated for 2 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Female Video and Best New Artist.

Sade appeared in the film Absolute Beginners singing "Killer Blow."
Sade won a British Phonographic Institute Award for Best Album (Diamond Life).

Sade hit the Top 40 with "The Sweetest Taboo."

Promise was certified platinum.

Sade won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

Promise was certified 2x platinum.

Sade's sophomore follow-up, Promise was released and gave Sade a second Top 10 hit, "The Sweetest Taboo" and the tracks, "Is It A Crime," "Jezebel," and "Never As Good As The First Time."

Sade were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group (Promise).

Sade released Stronger Than Pride and continued her smoky style with tours and television appearances. Tracks such as "Paradise," "Love Is Stronger Than Pride," and "Nothing Can Come Between Us" continued Sade's popularity.

Stronger Than Pride was certified platinum.

Diamond Life was certified 2x platinum, Stronger Than Pride was certified 2x platinum, and Promise was certified 3x platinum.

# 184 Singles Artist of the Year

Sade's LP, Love Deluxe, was released and yielded the hit, "No Ordinary Love." The LP also contains the favorites "Cherish The Day," "Kiss Of Life," and "Pearls." "No Ordinary Love" was also featured in the movie Indecent Proposal which helped increased sales of the LP.

Sade hit the Top 40 with "No Ordinary Love."

# 86 Singles Artist of the Year

Love Deluxe was certified platinum.

Love Deluxe was certified 2x platinum.

Sade topped the Billboard Year-End Charts as the Top R&B Album Artist - Duos/Group.

Love Deluxe was certified 3x platinum.
Sade contributed a song to the Philadelphia soundtrack: "Please Send Me Someone To Love."

Sade won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group ("No Ordinary Love").
Diamond Life was certified 3x platinum.

A greatest hits compilation was released: The Best Of Sade.
Stronger Than Pride was certified 3x platinum.

Sade could also be found on the video release, Sade Live which includes 17 live performances from 1993.

After the release of The Best Of Sade, Sade took time off from recording to focus on her marriage and child. The remaining members of the band went on to release their own LP Sweetback.

Love Deluxe was certified 4x platinum.

The Best Of Sade was certified platinum.

Diamond Life was certified 4x platinum.

Sade was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group ("Please Send Me Someone To Love").

The Best Of Sade was certified 2x platinum.

Sade failed to pull her car over when asked by the police in Jamaica. Sade reportedly cursed the officers as she was loaded in to the squad car and taken to the station. Months later, an arrest warrant for Sade was issued after she failed to appear in court in Jamaica to face charges of dangerous driving and disobeying a police officer. Sade later stated that she was unable to appear in court due to the hospitalization of her child. Medical proof of her child's hospitalization allowed the arrest warrant to be "stayed."

The Best Of Sade was certified 3x platinum.

Promise was certified 4x platinum.

Sade was still in trouble with authorities in Jamaica from charges stemming from last year of reckless driving - an arrest warrant was issued after she did not appear in court. Her lawyer stated that the singer had previous engagements outside of the country.

Music365 reported that Sade was back in the studio in England recording new material for an LP to be released in 2000.

The Best Of Sade was certified 4x platinum.

VH1: 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll ranked Sade at # 66.

Sade returned to the music scene with the release of Lovers Rock.

Lovers Rock was certified 2x platinum.

# 104 Singles Artist of the Year

Sade hit the Top 40 with "By Your Side."

Sade was nominated for a Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist.

Sade was nominated for a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Female Artist - R&B.

Sade toured - her first tour in 8 years - beginning in Vancouver and then heading to the U.S.
Lovers Rock was certified 3x platinum.

Sade was nominated for a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best R&B/Soul Album: Solo (Lovers Rock).

Sade won an American Music Award for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist.

Sade released the live LP - Lovers Live along with the video - Sade: Lovers Live.
Sade won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album (Lovers Rock) and was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance ("By Your Side").

Lovers Live was certified gold.

Sade ranked # 34 on VH1: 100 Sexiest Artists.

# 254 on the Top Pop Artists of the Past 25 Years chart.