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Michael James Hucknall (born 8 June 1960) is an English singer and songwriter. Hucknall achieved international fame in the 1980s as the lead singer and songwriter of the soul-influenced pop band Simply Red, with whom he enjoyed a 25-year career and sold over 50 million albums. Hucknall was described by Australian music magazine Rhythms as "one of the truly great blue-eyed soul singers", while Q credited him with "the most prodigious voice this side of Motown". Hucknall, born at Saint Mary's Hospital, Manchester, on 8 June 1960, was an only child. His mother abandoned the family when he was three; the upheaval caused by this event inspired him to write "Holding Back the Years", which would become one of Simply Red's biggest and best-known hits. He was brought up in Denton by his father, Reginald (1935–2009), a barber in Stockport. According to Hucknall he had a happy childhood until the age of 10, when he began to clash with his father "because there was no woman to act as referee". He attended Audenshaw School, before continuing his education at Tameside College and Manchester Polytechnic's School of Art, where he was a fine art student: whilst at art school he lived in Hulme. It would not be until the mid-1990s that he would reconnect with his mother, Maureen, who was by then living in the US city of Dallas. As of a 2008 interview, he had only seen her twice since she left. He is of Irish ancestry from his mother, whose father was from County Offaly, along with his paternal grandmother. His maternal grandmother was Jewish. Hucknall was among the people present at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester in June 1976 where the Sex Pistols were playing. His interest in the music scene led to the launch of his career in the late 1970s, when he was part of the band Frantic Elevators. The Frantic Elevators released four singles, including a version of "Holding Back the Years", which he later recorded with Simply Red. As lead singer and core member of Simply Red, he became the identifiable face of the band. His face and long curly red hair were featured prominently on album artwork and in videos. In 1997, Hucknall won an Outstanding Achievement award from the Music of Black Origin Awards (MOBO Awards) despite being white. Hucknall is also one of the founders and financial backers of the reggae label Blood and Fire. He also manages the record label simplyred.com. In October 2007, on David Jensen's show on the Gold network, he announced Simply Red would split in 2009. In 2008, he released his first solo album Tribute to Bobby, a tribute to the blues musician Bobby "Blue" Bland. In October 2009, Hucknall appeared at a charity performance as vocalist for a re-formed version of Faces, replacing Rod Stewart. In October 2011, he was awarded with a BASCA Gold Badge award in recognition of his contribution to music. In October 2012, he released American Soul, a collection of his favourite music re-recorded with his vocals. ... Source: Article "Mick Hucknall" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.


Recorded at Sydney's Opera House in October 2010 during Simply Red's farewell tour of 2009-2010, the aptly named Farewell captures Mick Hucknall in fine nostalgic form. There are no surprises, either in song selection or in his band's impeccably smooth approach, but comfort is the point of the whole affair: it's one last chance for fans to hear those songs again. For anybody who isn’t a fan -- or got off board somewhere around the time when Stars turned Simply Red into sensations everywhere but the U.S. -- this will hardly be cause for re-evaluation, but Farewell does celebrate everything that made Mick Hucknall into an international superstar.

When an artist of the stature of Quincy Jones celebrates his 75th birthday you can be sure it's going to be quite a party. The main concert lasted over two and a half hours and the musicians then spilled out into the bars and cafes of Montreux with the music still going strong as the sun was coming up the next morning! Backing on all tracks provided by the Montreux In The Big Band conducted by Pepe Lienhard. Incredible line-up of artists including: Patti Austin, Petula Clark, Billy Cobham, Herbie Hancock, Mick Hucknall, Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan, Angelique Kidjo, Beverley Knight, James Moody, Nana Mouskouri, Naturally 7, Paolo Nutini, Freda Payne, Lee Ritenour, Curtis Stigers and many more. Performing songs and music associated with Quincy Jones throughout his long career.

On June 28, 2011, the "King of the Blues" B.B. King played to an adoring sold-out crowd at London's spectacular Royal Albert Hall. It was another unforgettable night in the career of one of the most legendary bluesmen to ever pick up a guitar. Joining the illustrious Mr. King onstage were guitar virtuoso Derek Trucks, "songbird extraordinaire" Susan Tedeschi, The Rolling Stones' Ronnie Wood, Simply Red's Mick Hucknall and former Guns N' Roses axeman Slash.

British band Simply Red paved their way onto the charts with three well-received albums, but it was their fourth that really set the band apart from other soul-influenced acts. With 1991's STARS, the group explored new avenues, adding hip-hop inspired elements to their already established soul grooves. This approach proved to be popular with fans, and STARS sold more copies than any of their previous efforts, staying on the top of the UK charts for a total of 19 weeks. As part of the CLASSIC ALBUMS series, this documentary features song and video clips from STARS, accompanied by revealing interviewsThe band discuss at length how they approached writing music for this groundbreaking album, with various managers and producers of the band offering insight into its recording and production process.

This was recorded in 2010 in Montreux, and the concert can be found on the same DVD as "Simply Red : Live at Montreux 2003", which was released in 2012.


In May 2007, the Royal Albert Hall in London - one of the most famous performing arts venues in the world - became home to Simply Red for six nights. These sold-out dates served to showcase their new album 'Stay' alongside well loved classics from their incredible back catalogue of hits. 'Stay - Live at the Royal Albert Hall' captures the excitement of an evening with Simply Red at one of the world's premier venues but also offers an intimate glimpse of the life backstage from one of Britain's most successful bands ever.

Silky vocals meet bouncy grooves on Mick Hucknall's classic hits.


With a jazzy band featuring brass instruments, Mick Hucknall, the lead singer of Simply Red, performs his hits in the magical setting of the ancient amphitheater in Taormina. Recorded on July 23, 2003, at the ancient theater in Taormina, Sicily.

With a jazzy band featuring brass instruments, Mick Hucknall, the lead singer of Simply Red, performs his hits in the magical setting of the ancient amphitheater in Taormina. Recorded on July 23, 2003, at the ancient theater in Taormina, Sicily.
