Sade to Release 'The Ultimate Collection' on May 3

NEW YORK, March 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As a follow up to the platinum-selling Soldier Of Love, which spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard album chart and garnered a well-deserved Grammy, Sade is back with The Ultimate Collection on May 3. In addition to classic Sade songs, the must-have, two-disc album will include three new, never-before heard songs including "Moon & The Sky" (featuring Jay-Z). Here for the first time, fans can find all of their favorite Sade classics from their most iconic albums including songs from the Best Of collection and the greatest hits off of Lover's Rock and Soldier Of Love. The track listing for The Ultimate Collection will be revealed shortly.  Sade also announced today, the second leg of their ultimate summer tour kicking off on June 16th, marking their highly anticipated return to the world stage in ten years.  

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110323/NY69155)

Pre-orders of the album begin today at Sade.com.  Fans who pre-order The Ultimate Collection will have exclusive early access to tickets beginning March 30th in select markets. For complete presale and ticket on sale information, visit Sade.com.  Tickets for the newly announced dates go on sale to the public beginning April 2nd at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com.  

Sade will be joined on tour by fellow Grammy winner John Legend, performing in top arenas across North America, in an effort to reach their vast and loyal fans.  Sade's classic sound set to haunting, unmistakable vocals creates the most intimate of concert experiences in a way that only an unforgettable Sade performance can. Sade performed for more than a million fans during their last tour in 2001.

The accomplishments of Soldier Of Love so far are astounding. The single, "Soldier of Love" – which Sade co-produced with Mike Pela, and was written by Sade along with longtime collaborators Andrew Hale, Stuart Matthewman and Paul Spencer Denman made radio history upon its release. In less than four weeks "Soldier of Love" propelled into the top five at both Urban Hot AC and Smooth Jazz radio charts, making it one of the fastest moving records of the year. The track held the #1 spot at Urban Hot AC radio for four weeks straight and topped the Smooth Jazz chart for two weeks. Sade is now the first group since the Isley Brothers in 2001 to earn a #1 spot as a lead act on the R&B Chart.

Known for their one of a kind timeless sound, Sade has enjoyed phenomenal success both internationally and stateside throughout the span of their twenty-seven year career. Since the release of their debut album, Diamond Life in 1984 the band has seen all five of their studio albums land in the Top 10 on Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart selling a total of more than 50 million albums worldwide to date. They've been nominated for American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards and have won four Grammy Awards – first in 1986 for Best New Artist, then in 1994 for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group for "No Ordinary Love", again in 2002 for Best Pop Vocal Album with Lovers Rock and most recently in 2011 for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group for "Soldier Of Love".

John Legend, who will join Sade on all tour stops, is a nine-time Grammy Award winner.  His most recent work with the Roots on WAKE UP! won awards for Best R&B Album, Best R&B Song ("Shine") and Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance ("Hang On In There") at the 2010 53rd Annual Grammy Awards Ceremony.

Sade and John Legend Summer Tour Dates:

(Newly announced dates are noted in bold below.)

For complete ticket and tour information visit, SADE.COM and LIVENATION.com

SOURCE Epic Records