• Sting was the frontman and bassist for the wildly successful British rock band The Police before disbanding the group in 1984 to pursue a solo career. He has since become one of the world's most popular touring acts and an iconic figure in contemporary rock music, selling over 45 million records worldwide, as well as a film actor and political activist. He recently reunited with The Police and embarked on an international tour.

  Sting's daughter, Coco Sumner, suffered a fractured skull after falling in a restaurant in early May of 2009 and hitting her head. She is said to be "recovering well" after being hospitalized for four days in Los Angeles.The Sun: Sting girl in horror diner fall (May 4, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Real name: Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner
  2. Born: October 2, 1951
  3. Birthplace: Wallsend, England
  4. Spouse: Trudi Styler
  5. Has six children
  6. Grammy Awards: 16
  7. Nominated for 3 Oscars
  8. Shares songwriting credit and appears on Dire Straits song "Money for Nothing"
  9. Former English teacher and ditch digger
  10. Founder of The Rainforest Foundation
  11. Godfather to Madonna's son Rocco

• Nickname

  While playing with the jazz group The Phoenix Jazzmen, Sumner appeared one night in a striped black-and-yellow sweater, making him resemble a bee. His band mates began calling him "Sting," and the name stuck. He now uses it both professionally and in his personal life, on everything except legal documents.

• Solo Career

  Sting released his first solo single, "Spread a Little Happiness," in 1982 while still with The Police, for the soundtrack to the film Brimstone and Treacle. He also started work on his debut solo album, 1985's The Dream of Blue Turtles, while still with the band. The record went Triple Platinum that year and was nominated for a Grammy for Album of the Year.

  For the next decade, Sting was among the most popular musical artists in the world. In 1993, he recorded the song "All for Love" along with Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart for the film The Three Musketeers and scored a #1 hit, shifting his audience from college rock fans to an adult contemporary fanbase.

  His work since then has followed this trend and seen his popularity as a radio/recording artist begin to wane, however, he remains a hugely popular touring act.

• Film Career

  Sting made his film acting debut as "Ace Face" in 1979's Who musical Quadrophenia. Other significant performances include the 1982 film Brimstone and Treacle, the 1988 Mike Figgis film Stormy Monday and Guy Ritchie's Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. He was an executive producer on the 2006 film A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  The Police | Peter Gabriel | Bass Guitar | Robert Palmer | Don Henley | Steve Winwood | How to Play Bass Guitar for Newbies | Coco Sumner

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