Composer, singer, actor, and activist; Sting has won universal acclaim in all these roles, but he defies easy labeling. He’s best described as an adventurer and risk-taker. As he himself said, “I love to put myself in new situations. I’m not afraid to be a beginner.” Husband and father of six, masterful guitarist and bassist, and devoted Yoga practitioner, he’s made a career, in fact, of new beginnings.

A milkman’s son from Newcastle, England, Sting was a teacher, soccer coach and ditch digger before turning to music. His eclectic tastes, equally inspired by jazz and the Beatles, would eventually prove prophetic. In 1977, Sting met Stewart Copeland and they, along with guitarist Andy Summers, formed the Police. The band quickly became a success both in the UK and US scoring several No. 1 hits including “Roxanne,” “Every Breath You Take,” “King of Pain,” and “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic.” They earned five Grammy Awards and two Brits, and in 2003 the band was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The trio’s live work forecasts the astonishing inventiveness and range of influences that Sting would fully realize in his solo career.

With the release of Dream or the Blue Turtles in 1985, followed by Bring On The Night, Nothing Like The Sun, The Soul Cages, Ten Summoner’s Tales, Mercury Falling, Brand New Day, All This Time, Sacred Love, Songs From the Labyrinth, and If On a Winter’s Night…, Sting has evolved into one of the world’s most distinctive and highly respected performers. As a solo artist, he has collected an additional 11 Grammys, two Brits, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, three Oscar nominations, Billboard Magazine’s Century Award, and MusiCares 2004 Person of the Year.

He has appeared in 15 films, Executive Produced the critically acclaimed “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints,” and in 1989 starred in “Threepenny Opera” on Broadway.

Also an accomplished author, Sting published a memoir entitled Broken Music in 2003, which spent 13 weeks on the New York Times Best Sellers list. He most recently released Lyrics, a comprehensive collection of lyrics and personal commentary, also featuring photographs from throughout his career.

In 2007, The Police reformed and embarked on a world tour. The much heralded tour played to over 3.7 million people on five continents and ranked as the third highest grossing tour of all time. The tour also garnered numerous accolades including “Major Tour of the Year” from Pollstar, “Top Selling” and “Top Tour of the Year” from Billboard, along with the People’s Choice award for “Favorite Reunion Tour of 2007.”

Never afraid to blaze the path of new musical territory, Sting’s foray into the classical realm began with the crossover success of his #1 album “Songs from the Labyrinth,” a lute-based interpretation of the music of 16th century composer John Dowland, released in 2006 on Deutsche Grammophon.

Sting continued to pursue his passion for uniting musical genres with his most recent release “If On A Winter’s Night…” which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s classical chart and remains there. Deutsch Grammophon also released a live concert performance on DVD entitled, Sting: A Winter’s Night…Live from Durham Cathedral. Filmed at the magnificent Durham Cathedral near Sting’s hometown, he was joined by 35 musicians and conducted by producer Robert Sadin. The DVD also includes a behind-the-scenes look from the concert’s conception leading up to final rehearsals. Along the way, Sting revisits places from his childhood and reunites with old friends and band mates, swapping stories and reminiscing.

Sting’s acclaimed ventures into the classical realm were further complemented by an invitation to perform with the legendary Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 2008. After reworking selections from his expansive catalog, he and several members of his longtime band joined the orchestra in a performance that left an indelible mark on Sting. Eager to explore the possibilities of further symphonic collaboration, Sting was thrilled when the Philadelphia Orchestra asked him to join them in commemoration of the 153rd anniversary of the Academy of Music earlier this year.

Consequently, Sting, accompanied by the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, will embark on a world tour this summer. The tour will find Sting performing his most celebrated songs re-imagined for symphonic arrangement. The 45-piece orchestra will be conducted by Maestro Steven Mercurio (Pavarotti, Bocelli).

Sting’s support for human rights organizations like the Rainforest Foundation, Amnesty International and Live Aid mirrors his art in its universal outreach. Along with wife Trudie Styler, Sting founded the Rainforest Foundation in 1989 to protect both the world’s rainforests and the indigenous people living there. Together they have held 16 benefit concerts to raise funds and awareness of our planet’s endangered resources. Since its inception, the Rainforest Foundation has expanded to a network of interconnected organizations working in 18 countries over 3 continents.

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