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ALI CAMPBELLhas one of the
UK’s most distinctive and recognisable voices. A whole generation has grown up listening to Ali’s infectious vocals on classics like ‘One in Ten’ ‘Red Red Wine’, ‘Don’t Break My Heart’ and ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’. In October 2007, Ali released a solo album, Running Free, featuring many guest artists including, amongst others, Smokey Robinson, Mick Hucknall and Sly and Robbie the album went top ten in the UK charts and attained gold status. In January 2008, Ali announced his departure from UB40, after 28 years with the band, due to management and business disputes, which are part of an ongoing investigation. Ali went on to complete a sell out concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall in April 2008, featuring many of the guest artists who featured on Running Free. Following this, Ali and his new band, the Dep band, continued touring internationally for the remainder of 2008 visiting countries from Russia to Africa to Europe. In May 2008, Ali was invited to record the official anthem for the ‘Goal 4 Africa campaign’, a Nelson Mandela linked charity to raise money to educate children in rural Africa . He recorded Many Rivers to Cross, with Ladysmith Black Mambazo and performed the anthem in the Allianz stadium in Munich, Germany at a huge football event which had a TV broadcast to 65 countries world wide. The campaign runs for 2 years in the lead up to the World Cup in South Africa, where the total raised will be announced. Ali has also been recording his next solo album, ‘Flying High’ which is due for release in early summer 2009. Whether as part of UB40 or in his solo career, Ali has always stayed true to his love of reggae and its ongoing capacity for innovation, the music that first inspired him and continues to do so, to this day.
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