Ali Campbell ADD

Ali Campbell has one of the UK’s most distinctive and recognisable voices.   As lead singer with the world-renowned group UB40, Ali Campbell has sold over 60 million records worldwide, toured across the globe, notched up four number No. 1 world-wide singles, over 40 Top 40 UK singles, released 24 studio albums and received an Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement.   A whole generation has grown up listening to Ali’s infectious vocals on classics like ‘One in Ten’ ‘Red Red Wine’, ‘Don’t Break My Heart’ and ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’.   In October 2007 , Ali released a solo album , Running Free , featuring many guest artists including , amongst others, Smokey Robinson , Mick Hucknall and Sly and Robbie the album was a success and went top ten in the UK charts and attained gold status.   In January 2008 , Ali announced his departure from UB40, after 28 years with the band, due to management and business disputes , which are part of an ongoing investigation. Following Ali’s departure , Mickey Virtue , the keyboard player from UB40 , also resigned from the band for the same reasons and has now joined Ali as part of his new band - the DEP band .   Ali went on to complete a sell out concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall in April 2008 , which featured many of the guest artists who appeared on Running Free . Following this , Ali and the Dep band , continued touring internationally for the remainder of 2008 visiting countries from Russia to Africa to Europe .   In May 2008 , Ali was invited to record the official anthem for the ‘Goal 4 Africa ‘ campaign , a Nelson Mandela linked charity to raise money to educate children in rural Africa . He recorded Many Rivers to Cross , with Ladysmith Black Mambazo and performed the anthem in the Allianz stadium in Munich , Germany at a huge football event which had a TV broadcast to 65 countries world wide .     Most recently in January and February 2009 , Ali and the band have just completed tours of Australia and New Zealand and are now preparing for the release of Ali’s new album, Flying High - in June 2009 supported by a Uk tour .   Ali has been quoted as saying , that he is happier than he has ever been and he certainly appears to be going from strength to strength - I feel a new lease of life , he says - I perform a mixture of some songs from the solo albums as well as the classics , like Red Red Wine , that I am known for - but it is like a breath of fresh air , performing with the new band and I am enjoying every minute of it - He is excited too , about the forthcoming album and says “ I am looking forward to releasing the new album and then touring round the world for the rest of 2009.   Whether as part of UB40 in the past, or currently today , in his solo career , Ali has always stayed true to his love of reggae and its ongoing capacity for innovation, the music that first inspired him and continues to do so, to this day.