Sting and the Police
Wallsend lad Gordon Sumner started playing jazz locally with the Phoenix Jazz Men, Newcastle Big Band then notably with Last Exit who became popular on Tyneside and he also gained the nickname Sting. His vocal and bass playing talent was noted by Curved Air drummer Stewart Copeland when Last Exit supported Curved Air in Newcastle. In 1976 Last Exit relocated to London but the group soon dissolved leaving Sting in London. When Stewart Copeland was putting together what became the Police Sting was invited to join them and soon impressed with his natural ability to write catch songs. AND then The Police became rsather big.
Sting’s candid autobiography Broken Music can be found on Amazon as can
Every Little Thing: The Adventures of Sting Stuart and Andy
Stuart Copeland’s Police Diaries
and a load of others, they were and still are very popular