Jimmy Somerville

Jimmy Somerville

Birthdate
June 22, 1961 (64 years old)
Place of Birth
Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Known For
Acting

Details

Birthdate
June 22, 1961 (64 years old)
Place of Birth
Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Known For
Acting

Biography

James William Somerville (born 22 June 1961) is a singer from Glasgow, Scotland who rose to prominence in the 1980s with the synth-pop groups Bronski Beat and the Communards. With Bronski Beat, Somerville achieved commercial success with the 1984 single "Smalltown Boy", which peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, topped the charts in Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and the Hot Dance Club Play chart in the United States. Additionally, the single peaked within the top ten of the charts in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and West Germany, and also charted on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. Bronski Beat's debut album The Age of Consent (1984) was the only release Somerville contributed to as lead vocalist before leaving the band in 1985 and joining The Communards. Following the deaths of Larry Steinbachek in 2016 and Steve Bronski in 2021, Somerville is the only surviving founding member of Bronski Beat.

The Communards, with Somerville on lead vocals, released their debut album Communards in 1986, spawning the internationally successful single "Don't Leave Me This Way". It reached the top spot in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands and the US Dance Club Songs. "Don't Leave Me This Way" was the best selling single of 1986 in the United Kingdom. Follow up single, "So Cold the Night", also achieved commercial success across Europe. Their second studio album Red was released in 1987 and continued their chart success. The Communards disbanded in 1988.

Following the disbandment of The Communards, Somerville launched his solo career. He is known in particular for his powerful and soulful countertenor/falsetto singing voice.

Born on 22 June 1961, James William Somerville grew up in Ruchill, a neighbourhood of northern Glasgow. In 1980, he moved to London, where he lived in squats. He immersed himself in gay culture, and attended the London Gay Teenage Group.

In 1983, Somerville co-founded the synth-pop group Bronski Beat, which had several hits in the British charts. Their biggest hit was "Smalltown Boy", which peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart. In the music video Somerville plays the song's titular character, who leaves his hostile hometown for the friendlier city, reflecting Somerville's own experiences when he moved to London.

Bronski Beat signed a recording contract with London Records in 1984 after doing only nine live gigs. The band's debut single, "Smalltown Boy", about a gay teenager leaving his family and fleeing his home town, was a hit, peaking at No 3 in the UK Singles Chart, and topping charts in Belgium and the Netherlands. The single was accompanied by a promotional video directed by Bernard Rose, showing Somerville trying to befriend an attractive diver at a swimming pool, then being attacked by the diver's homophobic associates, being returned to his family by the police and having to leave home. (The police officer was played by Colin Bell, then the marketing manager of London Records.) "Smalltown Boy" reached 48 in the U.S. chart and peaked at 8 in Australia. ...

Source: Article "Jimmy Somerville" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Jimmy Somerville's LGBTQ+ Titles

Orlando
Orlando
Singer / Angel
Looking for Langston
Looking for Langston
Angel

Acting (28)

2024
Bronski Beat - The Age Of Consent (40th year anniversary edition) as Self (archive footage)
2022
Hideous as The Guardian Angel
2015
Stars 80, le concert au Stade de France as Self
2007
How Gay Sex Changed the World as Self
2001
Star Academy as Self (1 episode)
1999
Countertenors as Self
1997
Lexx as Satin (1 episode)
1996
The Happy Prince as Swallow (voice)
1995
Musik für Sie as self (1 episode)
1992
Orlando as Singer / Angel
1992
Rhythm Divine - History of Disco Music as Self (archive footage)
1992
Morgenmagazin as Self (1 episode)
1991
Memorabilia: The Video Singles as Self
1990
Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter as Self
1990
Jimmy Somerville: The Video Collection 1984/1990 (Featuring Bronski Beat and The Communards) as Self - Performer
1990
Stars 90 as Self (1 episode)
1989
1987
Le monde est à vous as Self (3 episodes)
1987
Le monde est à vous as Self - The Communards (1 episode)
1987
Sacrée soirée as Self (4 episodes)
1987
Sacrée soirée as Self - The Communards (1 episode)
1986
Days Like These as Self
1986
ZDF-Fernsehgarten as Self (1 episode)
1986
Ambitions as Self - The Communards (1 episode)
1986
All Out! Dancing in Dulais as Self
1986
The Communards - Live at Full House Rock Show as Self
1983
Framed Youth: The Revenge of the Teenage Perverts as Self
1982
Champs-Elysées as Self - The Communards (3 episodes)

Directing (1)

1983
Framed Youth: The Revenge of the Teenage Perverts • Director
• Director

Sound (3)

1996
This Road Will Never End • Original Music Composer
• Original Music Composer
1993
The Attendant • Original Music Composer
• Original Music Composer
1990
Jimmy Somerville: The Video Collection 1984/1990 (Featuring Bronski Beat and The Communards) • Songs
• Songs

Crew (1)

2004
The Nomi Song • Thanks
• Thanks