In this fifth post in Set List's 13th anniversary, I am highlighting Sting - an inspired musician solo and always known for The Police. As one of the best-selling artists of all time, Sting is a defining icon.
The Police formed in 1977 and broke up in 1986. Sting went solo in 1985.
With The Police and as a solo artist, Sting earned 17 Grammy Awards, Song of the Year ("Every Breath You Take"), 3 Brit Awards, a Golden Globe Award, an Emmy Award, 4 Academy Award nominations, an Ivor Novello Award, and a Polar Music Prize.
Point of interest - "Every Breath You Take" is the most-played song in radio history.
Sting was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. As a member of The Police, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.
In 2014, Sting was named a Kennedy Center Honoree.
Sting received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2000.
Solo and with The Police, Sting has sold over 100 million records.
On his own, Sting's discography includes 15 studio albums from 1985 to 2021.
His debut solo - The Dream of the Blue Turtles - went Triple Platinum within a year of release and garnered 4 Grammy nominations.
His 1987 album - ...Nothing Like the Sun - went Double Platinum, won a Brit Award (1988), and 3 Grammy nominations (1989).
Sting's third album (1991) - The Soul Cages - went Platinum.
His fourth album (1993) - Ten Summoner's Tales - reached No. 2 in the UK and the U.S., went Triple Platinum in a little over one year, and was nominated for a Mercury Prize (1993) and a Grammy (1994).
Sting's compilation album - Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting - went Double Platinum.
His sixth album (2000) - Mercury Falling - did not do well and eventually dropped from the charts. His next album however - Brand New Day - went Triple Platinum and garnered two Grammy awards.
Sting's next album was a live album with CD and DVD. The concert for the DVD component was scheduled for September 11, 2001 but was initially cancelled. Fans, though, wanted the concert to move forward. The album, ...All This Time, was dedicated to the lives lost.
Sting's next album (2003) - Sacred Love - was a collaboration with Mary J. Blige and Anoushka Shankar.
His 2006 album - Songs from the Labyrinth - recognized classical music.
His 2009 album - If on a Winter's Night... - received mixed interest by fans.
Sting's eleventh album (2013) - The Last Ship - was inspired by the musical, The Last Ship, created by him.
His next album (2016) - 57th & 9th - reflected an intersection in New York City that he crossed when going to studio sessions.
44/876 (2018) - Duo album with Sting and Shaggy (Jamaican rapper, singer, and songwriter)
My Songs (2019) - A collection of re-recorded songs throughout Sting's solo career and career with The Police.
In 2021, Sting released Duets, featuring collaborations with a variety of artists.
In 2021, Sting released his 15th album - The Bridge.
This post is reflective of Sting's solo work and honors. A more comprehensive background and highlights can be found on Wikipedia.
Moment of intrigue - Sting performed at Royal Albert Hall for Queen Elizabeth's 92nd birthday in 2018. Duran Duran performed at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
