Happy Birthday Sade

Birthday wishes to Sade who celebrates today (January 16).  Born Helen Folasade Adu in Nigeria, she was raised in England.  While studying fashion design at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design she joined the band Pride and began her performing and songwriting career.  In 1983 Sade was signed by Epic Records and insisted bandmates, Stuart Matthewman, Andrew Hale and Paul Denman, join her on her debut album Diamond Life.  The album contained her smash hit "Smooth Operator" which launched her worldwide following.  Sade released her latest album, Soldier of Love, in 2010, her first new project in ten years.  She returned to the stage with her 'Sade Live' tour in 2011 and landed the number ten spot on the Top Grossing Tours of 2011, according to Billboard.