Simply Red

Simply Red is a British soul and pop band fronted by singer Mick Hucknall, formed in Manchester in the mid-1980s. Hucknall previously fronted the punk band The Frantic Elevators, whose final single «Holding Back the Years» drew critical acclaim before the group disbanded; that song, re-recorded by Simply Red, would later become one of the band biggest hits. Assembling a group of session musicians, Hucknall and manager Elliot Rashman built Simply Red into one of the most distinctive blue-eyed soul acts to emerge from the UK.

The band blended soul, pop and reggae-tinged rhythms with Hucknall smoky, expressive vocals, achieving major commercial success through the late 1980s and 1990s. Signature tracks such as «Holding Back the Years», «Stars», «If You Don’t Know Me by Now», «Fairground» and «Money$ Too Tight (To Mention)» showcased their ability to move between heartfelt balladry and dancefloor-ready grooves, earning them a devoted international following, particularly across Europe.

While the lineup around him has changed considerably over the decades, Mick Hucknall has remained the band constant creative center. Simply Red has sold tens of millions of albums worldwide, cementing its place as one of the defining British soul-pop acts of its era, and continues to record and perform.