Sade is a British-Nigerian singer and songwriter whose net worth is estimated to be $70 million. She is most famous for creating the music band called “Sade,” which is responsible for the album “Diamond Life.”
Also, the band sang songs like “Flower of the Universe” for Disney’s movie “A Wrinkle in Time” and “The Big Unknown” for Steve McQueen’s film “Widows.”
Aside from singing, Sade is also known to be a smart investor. She also owns several properties. These include a $4.2 million townhouse in Islington, North London, a penthouse in the West, and houses in New York and Switzerland.
Profile Summary
| Net Worth | $70 Million |
| Full Name | Helen Folasase Adu |
| Age | 64 years old |
| Date of Birth | January 16, 1959 |
| Place of Birth | Ibadan, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Occupation | Singer & Songwriter |
| Parents | Father: Adebisi Adu Mother: Anne Hayes |
| Education | Graduate |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Husband | Ian Watts |
| Ex-Boyfriend | Robert Elms |
| Ex-Partner | Bob Morgan |
| Ex-Husband | Carlos Pliego |
| Child | Izaak Theo Adu |
| Height | 5’7″ 170 cm 1.70 m |
| Weight | 60 kg 132 lbs |
| Socials | Instagram |
Early Life
Sade, whose real name is Helen Folasase Adu, was born in Ibadan, Nigeria, on January 16, 1959. Her father “Adebisi Adu” was a Nigerian economics lecturer, while her mother “Anne Hayes” was an English Nurse.
When she was 4 years old, her parents separated, and her mother took her and her older brother “Banji” back to England. They lived with their grandparents near Colchester, Essex.
Regarding education, the 64-year-old British star “Sade” attended the Clacton County High School and Colchester Institute when she was 18 and then moved to London to study fashion design at Saint Martin’s School of Art.
Music Career
Sade grew up listening to American soul music, like Curtis Mayfield, Donny Hathaway, and Bill Withers. When she was a teenager, she saw the Jackson 5 in London. She worked behind the bar at the Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park and was more interested in the diverse audience than the show on stage.
At first, she didn’t plan to make music her career. She studied fashion in London, but her friends in a small band asked her to sing for them. Surprisingly, she discovered she liked writing songs. She had stage fright but overcame it, singing with a North London Latin funk band called Pride.
Her performance got her noticed, and she later formed her band called Sade. In 1983, they signed a record deal with Epic Records. A year later, the band released the album “Diamond Life,” which became one of the best-selling albums of its time, especially for a British female singer’s debut.
Her first single, “Your Love Is King,” became a hit in 1984, and she became a style icon of the 1980s. Magazines wanted her on their covers, even though she wasn’t trying to create an image.
In 1985, Sade performed at the Live Aid charity concert, and the next year, she was in the film “Absolute Beginners.” They released two more albums, “Stronger Than Pride” in 1988 and “Love Deluxe” in 1992. After Sade’s child was born, they took a break from making music.
After eight years without a new album, the band returned together in 1999 and released “Lovers Rock” in 2000. This album differed from their previous work, with softer sounds and pop songs.
The band didn’t make more music until “Soldier of Love” came out ten years later. Since then, they’ve released two songs: “Flower of the Universe” for Disney’s movie “A Wrinkle in Time” and “The Big Unknown” for Steve McQueen’s film “Widows.”
Despite her success, Sade’s life wasn’t luxurious. She lived in a cold fire station in London with her then-boyfriend, Robert Elms. She had to dress in bed because there was no heating, and the bathroom was on the fire escape. She continued to tour through the 1980s.
Sade values performing live because it connects her with fans who love her music. She has kept her private life private and doesn’t do many interviews. She believes that simple things don’t always hide secrets.
In the last 20 years, Sade focused more on her personal life, getting married, having a child, and moving to Gloucestershire. She released only three new studio albums during that time. She believes that personal growth is important for artistic growth.
She’s proud of her work and her latest album, “Soldier of Love,” even though it took a while for her to release it, which she regrets.
Albums
| Albums | Year of Release |
|---|---|
| Diamond Life | 1984 |
| Promise | 1985 |
| Stronger Than Pride | 1988 |
| Love Deluxe | 1992 |
| Lovers Rock | 2000 |
| Soldier of Love | 2010 |
Personal Life
In the 1980s, Sade lived in Tottenham with her boyfriend Robert Elms, who is a British radio presenter. In 1989, she got married to Spanish film director Carlos Pliego, but they divorced
in 1995. Later, in the late 1990s, she briefly lived in the Caribbean with Jamaican music producer Bob Morgan.
In 1996, she had her first child, who sang on her song “Babyfather” in 2010.
Sade moved to the countryside in Gloucestershire in 2005, where she bought a rundown cottage to renovate
After her relationship with Bob Morgan ended, she got together with Ian Watts, a former Royal Marine, in 2007.
In 2016, her child, Izaak Theo Adu, came out as a transgender man.
Awards & Nominations
Sade received special awards for her contributions to music. In 2002, she became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), and in 2017, she was promoted to Commander of the same order (CBE).
She was also the first Nigerian-born artist to win a Grammy Award in 1986, and in 2023, she was honored by being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
