Age, Biography and Wiki
- Full Name: Helen Fọláṣadé Adu
- Born: January 16, 1959, in Ibadan, Nigeria
- Age in 2025: 66 years old
- Background: Sade is the daughter of Adebisi Adu, a Nigerian economics lecturer, and Anne, an English district nurse. After her parents’ separation, Sade moved to Essex, England, with her mother and brother at age four. She later studied fashion design in London.
- Career Start: Sade initially worked as a fashion designer and model before forming her own band after a stint with the group Pride.
- Notable Achievements: She is the second most successful solo female artist in British history, with over 110 million albums sold worldwide.
| Occupation | Jazz Singer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 16 January 1959 |
| Age | 66 Years |
| Birth Place | Ibadan, Nigeria |
| Horoscope | Capricorn |
| Country | Nigeria |
Height, Weight & Measurements
- Height: Approximately 5'7" (170 cm) (widely reported, but not officially confirmed)
- Weight and Measurements: Information about her weight and body measurements is not publicly available.
- Body Type: Sade has maintained a healthy, fit appearance throughout her career, often described as elegant and poised.
In late 1985, the band released their second album, Promise, which peaked at number one in both the UK and the US and became the band's first album to reach number one on the US Billboard 200. The album topped the chart in 1986 and spent two weeks at the peak position. Eventually, the album went on to sell four million copies in the region and was certified four times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album spawned two singles "Never as Good as the First Time" and "The Sweetest Taboo," the latter of which was released as the album's lead single and stayed on the US Hot 100 for six months. "The Sweetest Taboo" peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100, number one on the US adult Contemporary chart, and number three on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. Sade was so popular that some radio stations reinstated the '70s practice of playing album tracks, adding "Is It a Crime" and "Tar Baby" to their playlists. The following year, 1986, the band won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
In 1986, Sade made her acting debut in Absolute Beginners, a film adapted from the Colin MacInnes book of the same name about life in late-1950s London. Sade played the role of Athene Duncannon and lent her vocals to the film's accompanying soundtrack. The film was screened out of competition at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival and grossed £1.8 million in the UK. Sade's third album, Stronger Than Pride, was released on 3 May 1988, and like Sade's previous album became a commercial success and certified three times platinum in the US. The album was popularized by four singles, most notably the album's second single "Paradise", which peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming the band's first single to do so.
Sade's work has influenced and been recognised by many singers and hip hop artists. Rapper Rakim of Eric B. & Rakim stated he grew up listening to Sade's music and was influenced by her voice and style. Rakim has also referred to Sade's song "Smooth Operator" in the song "Microphone Fiend" (1988). Talib Kweli stated he learned about precision from Sade due to her performance of Love Deluxe in its entirety at Madison Square Garden. Rapper Missy Elliott cited Sade's performance of "Smooth Operator" as one of her favourites. Hip hop group Souls of Mischief stated they grew up listening to Sade's music. Hip hop group Tanya Morgan also described Sade as one of their favourite artists. Other rappers to recognise Sade include the former rap duo of Clipse – Malice and Pusha. In reaction to the newly released album Soldier of Love, rapper Kanye West wrote, "This is why i still have a blog. To be a part of moments like this ... new Sade ... How much better this ... than everything else?". Rapper Rick Ross stated in an interview that "People may know my infatuation with Sade. There's never been a bad Sade track. I love all different sides."
| Height | 170 cm |
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Dating & Relationship Status
- Current Relationship Status: As of 2025, Sade has kept her personal life private. She is reportedly single and does not frequently discuss her dating life or relationships publicly.
- Past Relationships: Sade has a son, Izaak, born in 1996. The identity of the father has not been publicly disclosed.
- Family Life: Family is described as a cornerstone of Sade’s life; she values her privacy and prioritizes her close relationships.
Her middle name, Folasade, means "crowned with wealth" in Yoruba. Her parents are Adebisi Adu, a Nigerian lecturer in economics of Yoruba background, from Ikere-Ekiti and Anne Hayes, an English district nurse; they met in London, married in 1955, and moved to Nigeria. Sade was four years old when her parents separated. Hayes returned to England with Sade and her elder brother, Banji, to live with their maternal grandparents near Colchester, Essex. At age 11, Sade moved to Holland-on-Sea, Essex with her mother and brother. After completing her education at Clacton County High School and Colchester Institute at the age of 18, she moved to London and studied fashion design at Saint Martin's School of Art.
Sade squatted in Tottenham in the 1980s, with her then-boyfriend Robert Elms. In 1989, she married Spanish film director Carlos Pliego. Their marriage ended in 1995. Sade moved briefly to the Caribbean to live with Jamaican music producer Bob Morgan in the late 1990s and gave birth on 21 July 1996 to her first child, who later sang on Sade's song "Babyfather" in 2010. Sade and Morgan separated, and she has been in a relationship with Ian Watts, a former Royal Marine, since 2007; from this relationship, she has a stepson.
In 2016, on National Coming Out Day, Sade's child, Izaak Theo Adu, came out as a transgender man. In September 2019, Izaak posted a message online, thanking his mother for her support through his transition. In the fall of 2024, Sade and the Red Hot Organization's TRANSA project released "Young Lion", a song dedicated to her son.
| Parents | |
| Husband | Carlos Pliego (m. 1989-1995) Ian Watts (m. 2007) |
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Net Worth and Salary
- Net Worth (2025): Estimates range from $40 million to $70 million, with the most recent and commonly cited figures around $70 million.
- Primary Income Sources:
- Music Sales & Royalties: Sade’s albums, spanning from "Diamond Life" to "Soldier of Love," have sold millions of copies and continue to generate significant royalties.
- Streaming: Her music remains in high demand on streaming platforms, providing a steady income stream.
- Touring: Sade’s selective but high-profile tours (e.g., the 2011 "Soldier of Love" tour) gross millions of dollars each time she takes the stage.
- Licensing: Her music is licensed for films, commercials, and TV shows, further boosting her earnings.
- Annual Income: Recent estimates suggest Sade earns around $7 million annually from her various endeavors.
Career, Business and Investments
- Musical Career: Sade is best known as the lead vocalist of the band Sade, whose timeless hits include "Smooth Operator," "No Ordinary Love," and "Soldier of Love".
- Influences and Legacy: Her unique blend of jazz, soul, and R&B has influenced artists like Drake and Beyoncé, and continues to inspire new generations of musicians.
- Business Ventures: While primarily known for music, Sade’s early career as a fashion designer and model helped shape her artistic vision. She maintains control over her brand and image, which increases her financial security.
- Investments: Sade has not publicly disclosed detailed information about her investments, but her diversified income streams from music, licensing, and occasional touring suggest a robust financial portfolio.
Helen Folasade Adu (born 16 January 1959), known professionally as Sade Adu or simply Sade ( or ), is a Nigerian-British singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist of her band Sade. One of the most successful British female artists in history, she is often recognised as an influence on contemporary music. Her success in the music industry was recognised with the honour Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2002, and she was made Commander in the 2017 Birthday Honours.
Social Network
- Social Media Presence: Sade is notoriously private and does not maintain official social media profiles. She rarely appears in the media and avoids public interviews.
- Online Presence: Despite her absence from social media, Sade’s music maintains a strong digital footprint, with millions of streams and dedicated fan pages across platforms.
Following an eight-year hiatus, the band released their fifth studio album, Lovers Rock, on 13 November 2000 and received positive reviews from music critics. The album reached number 18 on the UK Albums Chart, number three on the US Billboard 200, and has since been certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), having sold 3.9 million copies in the United States by February 2010. On 27 February 2002, the album earned Sade the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album, and the lead single "By Your Side" was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Although the single lost out to Nelly Furtado's "I'm Like a Bird", it has been listed as the 48th greatest love song of all time by VH1.
Education
- Early Education: Clacton County High School and Colchester Institute.
- Higher Education: Studied fashion design at Saint Martin’s School of Art in London.
- Career Transition: Her education in fashion design led to early work as a designer and model before moving into music.
She studied at Saint Martin's School of Art in London and gained modest recognition as a fashion designer and part-time model before joining the band Pride in the early 1980s. After gaining attention as a performer, she formed the band Sade, and secured a recording contract with Epic Records in 1983. A year later, the band released the album Diamond Life, which became one of the era's best-selling albums and the best-selling debut by a British female vocalist.
After completing a three-year course in fashion design, and later modelling briefly, Sade began backup singing with British band Pride. During this time, she formed a songwriting partnership with Pride's guitarist/saxophonist Stuart Matthewman; together, backed by Pride's rhythm section, they began doing their own sets at Pride gigs. Her solo performances of the song "Smooth Operator", co-written with Ray St. John, attracted record companies' attention, and in 1983 Sade and Matthewman split from Pride, along with keyboardist Andrew Hale, bassist Paul Denman, and drummer Paul Cook, to form the band Sade. By the time she performed her first show at London's Heaven nightclub, she had become so popular that 1,000 people were turned away at the door. In May 1983, Sade performed her first US show at New York City's Danceteria nightclub. On 18 October 1983, Sade Adu signed with Epic Records. The rest of the band signed in 1984.
Summary
Sade, the Nigerian-British music icon, stands as a paragon of artistic integrity and financial success. With a net worth approaching $70 million in 2025, she continues to influence music and culture globally. Her selective approach to touring, timeless discography, and loyal fan base ensure her legacy endures for generations.
