Simply Red

Simply Red
Lead singer Mick Hucknall
Lead singer Mick Hucknall
Background information
OriginManchester, England
Genres
Years active
  • 1985–2010
  • 2015–present
Labels
Members
Past members
Websitesimplyred.com

Simply Red are an English soul and pop band formed in Manchester in 1985.[4] Band leader, singer and songwriter Mick Hucknall was the only original member left by the time Simply Red initially disbanded in 2010.[5] They have released thirteen studio albums, from Picture Book (1985) through Time (2023), all of which have peaked within the top ten on the UK Albums Chart; with the albums A New Flame (1989), Stars (1991), Life (1995) and Blue (1998), along with their Greatest Hits (1996) album, reaching number one. Their 1991 album Stars is one of the best-selling albums in the United Kingdom.[6]

The group released ten songs that have reached the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart, including "Stars", the Fugees-assisted "Angel", "The Air That I Breathe" and "Sunrise", with the single "Fairground" peaking atop the UK Singles Chart. Their singles "Holding Back the Years" and "If You Don't Know Me by Now" both reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.

At the 1992 and 1993 Brit Awards, they received the award for Best British Group.[7] They have received three Grammy Award nominations, including one for Best New Artist in 1987. Their version of "If You Don't Know Me by Now" won songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff the Grammy Award for the Best R&B Song. The band re-formed in 2015. Simply Red have sold over 50 million albums.[8]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Times was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2011). "Simply Red". Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85-712595-8.
  3. ^ "Pop/Rock » Punk/New Wave » Sophisti-Pop". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  4. ^ "Simply Red discography - RYM/Sonemic". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  5. ^ McCormick, Neil (26 October 2007). "Simply Red: Splitting up is never easy". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Top 40 Best Selling Albums: 28 July 1956 – 14 June 2009" (PDF). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  7. ^ "Simply Red: BRITs Profile". Brit Awards. Retrieved 21 November 2012
  8. ^ "Simply Red to reunite for 30th anniversary tour". BBC. 25 March 2017.