Mick Hucknall

Biography: A British singer and songwriter. He was the lead singer of the British band Simply Red, and is recognisable for his smooth, distinctive voice and wide vocal range, as well as his red curly hair.

Hucknall was born in Denton, as an only child. His mother left him when he was three; the upheaval caused by this event inspired him to write the song "Holding Back the Years". He was raised by his father, Reginald (1935 - 5 November 2009), a barber in Stockport. He attended Audenshaw School. It would not be until some years later (mid-1990s) that he would finally reconnect with his mother, Maureen, who was by then living in Dallas. As of a 2008 interview, he had only seen her on two occasions since she first abandoned the family.

Hucknall was among the people present at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester in June 1976 where the Sex Pistols were playing. His interest in the music scene led to the launch of his career in the late 1970s, when he was part of the formation of the band Frantic Elevators.

The Frantic Elevators released four singles, including a version of "Holding Back the Years", which he later recorded with Simply Red.

As lead singer and core member of Simply Red, he has become the identifiable face of the band. His face, including his long curly red hair, was featured prominently on album artwork and in videos.

Hucknall is also one of the founders and financial backers of the successful reggae label Blood and Fire. He also manages the record label simplyred.com.

In October 2007, on David Jensen?s show on the Gold network, he announced Simply Red would split in 2009.

On 19 May 2008 Hucknall released his first solo album Tribute to Bobby, a tribute to the blues musician Bobby Bland. Poverty, the first single from the album, was released on 19 May, with the second, Farther Up the Road scheduled for release on 14 July.

In June 2009, Mick took part in ?Songbook? as part of the Sky Arts series, whereby music artists reflect on their favourite compositions and their background history in music.

In October 2009, Mick appeared at a charity performance as vocalist for a reformed version of Faces, replacing Rod Stewart. In May 2010, it was announced that the new Faces line-up with Mick as front man would be performing festival shows in 2010, followed by a world tour in 2011.

Hucknall is active in politics and is a prominent celebrity supporter of the UK Labour Party.

Simply Red were touring Australia in February 2009 and were due to do a concert in the Yarra Valley, on the weekend of the Black Saturday bushfires, which devastated a large area of the state of Victoria. Because of the bushfires, the concert had to be cancelled. Mick Hucknall and the band donated generously to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

Hucknall and his partner, Gabriella Wesberry, had a daughter, Romy True Hucknall, in June 2007. Hucknall and Wesberry married on 25 May 2010, at the 16th-century Forter Castle in Glenisla, Perthshire, Scotland. He spends a considerable amount of time in Ireland, where he purchased the Glenmore Estate in County Donegal.

Along with American actors Johnny Depp, John Malkovich and Sean Penn, Hucknall part-owned the Parisian restaurant-bar Man Ray.

He co-owns Ask Property Development, a company that constructs city squares and public buildings. He spends much time in Catania, Sicily, where he produces wines under the label "Il Cantante" (The Singer).

Hucknall has commented that derogatory references to his red hair are a form of bigotry.

Hucknall is a Manchester United fan