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Sade ( SHAH-day or shah-DAY) are an English band, formed in London in 1982. It comprises Sade Adu (vocals), Paul Denman (bass), Stuart Matthewman (saxophones, guitars) and Andrew Hale (keyboards, piano); the band has not had a drummer since 1986, and employs session musicians for recordings and live shows. Their style spans genres such as soul, quiet storm, smooth jazz and sophisti-pop.

Sade's debut studio album, Diamond Life (1984), topped the charts of several countries, sold over four million copies worldwide, won the Brit Award for Best British Album. Their second studio album, Promise (1985), was certified double platinum in the UK, and quadruple platinum in the US, peaking at number one in both territories; it also won the band their first Grammy Award. Their following two albums, Stronger Than Pride (1988) and Love Deluxe (1992), drew further success and awards. They released their fifth studio album 8 years later with Lovers Rock (2000), which won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album. Ten years after that, their sixth studio album, Soldier of Love (2010), became their first number one debut in the US, and their first number one overall since Promise; it won the band its fourth Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

All of Sade's albums, including compilations and a live album, have charted in the US Top Ten. As of 2012, their sales in the US stood at 23 million units, and by 2014, their sales worldwide stood at 75 million. The band was ranked at number 50 on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" and inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2026.

History

1980s

The musical group Sade was formed in London in 1982, by members of the Latin soul band Pride. Sade Adu, Stuart Matthewman (sax), Paul Denman (bass), and Paul Anthony Cooke (drums), formed the break-away group and began to write its material. They named the band after lead singer Sade Adu, and made their debut performance in December 1982 at Ronnie Scott's Club in London in support of Pride. In May 1983, the band performed its first US show at Danceteria in New York City. Andrew Hale joined on keyboards in mid-1983; Cooke was replaced on drums by Dave Early in early 1984.

Sade received more attention from the media and record companies than Pride had, and eventually separated from that group altogether. On 18 October 1983, the singer signed with CBS Records (which was absorbed by its parent label, Epic Records, in 1986). As singer and band established themselves, Epic Records printed "Pronounced Shar-day" on the record labels of the band's releases, which led to mispronunciation in rhotic North American accents.

In February 1984, Sade released its first single, "Your Love Is King", which became a Top Ten hit. A second single, "When Am I Going to Make a Living" barely made the Top 40, but the band's debut album, Diamond Life, was released in July 1984 and peaked at No. 2. It spent over six months in the UK Top Ten and was later certified 4× platinum by the BPI. Diamond Life won the 1985 Brit Award for Best British Album, and was later included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.