Waist High favorite Jimmy Somerville co-founded Bronski Beat in 1983. Their biggest hit, "Smalltown Boy," was considered groundbreaking in 1984, as it was the striking tale of a boy who was cast away by his family and neighbours for being gay.
Somerville left Bronski Beat in 1985 and formed The Communards with classically trained pianist Richard Coles. They had a number of hits, including a cover version of Thelma Houston's "Don't Leave Me This Way," which spent four weeks at number one and became the biggest selling UK single of 1986. In that same year, he also sang backing vocals on the Fine Young Cannibals' version of "Suspicious Minds."
The Communards split in 1988 and Somerville launched his solo career.
In 1995 he went to #1 on the U.S. dance chart with "Heartbeat." His fourth solo album, Home Again, was released in 2005. The Very Best of Jimmy Somerville: Bronski Beat and the Communards was also released in 2005, and includes "Smalltown Boy," "Why," "Disenchanted," "Never Can Say Goodbye," "I Feel Love/Johnny Remember Me," and "Aint Necessarily So."
Material: wikipedia.org
