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One-name wonders

February 27, 2009 at 4:35AM

The British Isles have had a long tradition of sending one-name singers to the U.S. pop charts:

Donovan

Real name: Donovan Phillips Leitch.

Big hits: "Sunshine Superman" (1966), "Mellow Yellow" (1966), "Hurdy Gurdy Man" (1968).

Fact: His children, Donovan Leitch Jr. and Ione Skye, are both movie actors.

Lulu

Real name: Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie.

Big hit: "To Sir, With Love" (1967).

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Fact: She starred in the movie "To Sir, With Love" opposite Sidney Poitier.

Sting

Real name: Gordon Sumner.

Big hits: With the Police: "Roxanne" (1978) and "Every Breath You Take" (1983). Solo: "Fragile" (1988) and "All This Time" (1995).

Fact: He's acted in more than a dozen movies, including "Dune" and "The Bride."

Bono

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Real name: Paul David Hewson.

Big hits: With U2, "With or Without You"( 1985), "Desire" (1988) and "Beautiful Day" (2000).

Fact: He adopted the stage name Bono Vox, Latin for "good voice."

Morrissey

Real name: Steven Patrick Morrissey.

Big hits: With the Smiths: "How Soon Is Now" (1985) and "Sheila Take a Bow" (1987). Solo: "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" (1989).

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Fact: He's an advocate for vegetarianism and animal rights.

Sade

Real name: Helen Folasade Adu.

Big hits: "Smooth Operator" (1984) and "Sweetest Taboo" (1985).

Fact: Born in Nigeria, Sade went to London to study fashion.

Seal

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Real name: Seal Henry Olusegun Kwassi Olumide Adelo Samuel.

Big hits: "Crazy" (1991) and "Kiss From a Rose" (1996).

Fact: He is married to supermodel Heidi Klum.

Duffy Real name: Aimee Ann Duffy.

Hit: "Mercy" (2008).

Fact: She got discovered on the Welsh version of "American Idol."

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Adele

Real name: Adele Laurie Blue Adkins.

Hit: "Chasing Pavements" (2008).

Fact: the 2009 Grammy winner for best new artist -- like last year's winner, Amy Winehouse, attended the Brit School, a free arts high school in a London suburb.

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about the writer

about the writer

Jon Bream

Critic / Reporter

Jon Bream has been a music critic at the Star Tribune since 1975, making him the longest tenured pop critic at a U.S. daily newspaper. He has attended more than 8,000 concerts and written four books (on Prince, Led Zeppelin, Neil Diamond and Bob Dylan). Thus far, he has ignored readers’ suggestions that he take a music-appreciation class.

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