Labi Siffre
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Labi Siffre (born June 25, 1945) is an English poet, songwriter and singer.
Born the fourth of five children, at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital Hammersmith, London to a Barbadian / Belgian mother and a Nigerian father, Siffre was brought up in Bayswater and Hampstead and educated at a Catholic monastery school, St Benedict’s School, in Ealing.
Jazz and Blues records provided his musical education: Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis and Charlie Mingus among many. Jimmy Reed and Wes Montgomery loomed large as guitar influences; Billie Holiday, Jimmy Reed and Mel Tormé as vocal influences.
In July 1964 he met his partner Peter Lloyd. Under the Civil Partnership Act 2004, they became legally recognised partners when the Act entered into force in December 2005.
His first six albums of songs were released between 1970 and 1975, and a further three albums between 1988 and 1998. In the early 1970s he had solo hits with “It Must Be Love” (No. 14, 1971) (later covered by and a No. 4 hit for Madness, for which Siffre himself appeared in the video); “Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying” (No. 11, 1972); and “Watch Me” (No. 29, 1972).
In 1978 two of his songs, “Solid Love” (performed by Siffre) and “We Got It Bad” (co-written and performed by Bob James) reached the UK finals of the BBC’s A Song for Europe.
His 1987 hit “(Something Inside) So Strong”, which reached No. 4, an anti Apartheid anthem and more, has remained enduringly popular and is an example of the political and sociological thread running through much of Siffre’s lyrics and poetry since the single “Thank Your Lucky Star” and the album “For the Children” (1973).
Born the fourth of five children, at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital Hammersmith, London to a Barbadian / Belgian mother and a Nigerian father, Siffre was brought up in Bayswater and Hampstead and educated at a Catholic monastery school, St Benedict’s School, in Ealing.
Jazz and Blues records provided his musical education: Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis and Charlie Mingus among many. Jimmy Reed and Wes Montgomery loomed large as guitar influences; Billie Holiday, Jimmy Reed and Mel Tormé as vocal influences.
In July 1964 he met his partner Peter Lloyd. Under the Civil Partnership Act 2004, they became legally recognised partners when the Act entered into force in December 2005.
His first six albums of songs were released between 1970 and 1975, and a further three albums between 1988 and 1998. In the early 1970s he had solo hits with “It Must Be Love” (No. 14, 1971) (later covered by and a No. 4 hit for Madness, for which Siffre himself appeared in the video); “Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying” (No. 11, 1972); and “Watch Me” (No. 29, 1972).
In 1978 two of his songs, “Solid Love” (performed by Siffre) and “We Got It Bad” (co-written and performed by Bob James) reached the UK finals of the BBC’s A Song for Europe.
His 1987 hit “(Something Inside) So Strong”, which reached No. 4, an anti Apartheid anthem and more, has remained enduringly popular and is an example of the political and sociological thread running through much of Siffre’s lyrics and poetry since the single “Thank Your Lucky Star” and the album “For the Children” (1973).
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Best Of Labi Siffre
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Labi Siffre
Labi SiffreBuy- Download Album
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So Strong
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Remember My Song
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Shoutbox
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clenchedteeth wrote:
they call me the vulture, 'cos that's my name.
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VPrestige wrote:
His head game was on point
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invisiblerain wrote:
uncle dogg its on amazon .......
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phoebe-rose wrote:
Bless The Telephone is one of my favourite songs of all time.
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UncleDogg wrote:
lookin for “Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying” album!!! can anyone please give me the link to download it????
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andylockran wrote:
Amazing Voice - do you know if there are any tours planned this year? UK.
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RobinFranz wrote:
Dear Labi, great to see that there are other artists engaging in chillsoul. You might be interested in my chillsoul-track http://www.lastfm.de/music/RobinFranz/_/SundayAtDawn?autostart ITWT, RobinFranz
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EmpressNutjob wrote:
The Vulture & Too Late!!!
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ulinvodnaar wrote:
I Got The
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girl_from_oz wrote:
I love Something Inside So Strong
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wjelo wrote:
after hearing 'It Must Be Love' i thought the singer was a woman :D the name isn't a hint as well :}
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Sluwe_Vos wrote:
Wu-Tang covered him too.I Got The...
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Mr4teenth wrote:
YEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
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bAzTNM wrote:
Such a great singer.
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Tashness wrote:
If anybody could send me It Must Be Love i'd be very happy! :]
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rob22588 wrote:
Labi's the man. I got the Blues!
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larslindahl wrote:
then eminem
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larslindahl wrote:
dont forget jay z sampled him first
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Lecavalier4 wrote:
Kanye West, Will make him Famous :D The original is great from him. Superb track. I decide to get more from him.
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jappko wrote:
tnx to kanye, his popularity growin up ^_^
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