Simply Red

Simply Red is a British band currently composed of Mick Hucknall (lead singer) and various backing musicians. The band's name is, in part, a reflection for Hucknall's passion for the Manchester

Simply Red is a British band currently composed of Mick Hucknall (lead singer) and various backing musicians. The band's name is, in part, a reflection for Hucknall's passion for the Manchester United football team. The name also reflects Hucknall's curly mane of red hair, as well as his leftist political stance. The band's original line up was Hucknall, Tony Bowers (bass), Fritz McIntyre (keyboards), Tim Kellett (brass), Sylvan Richardson (guitar) and Chris Joyce (drums).

The band's debut single "Money's Too Tight to Mention" (1985) reached the British Top 20, and in 1986 their song "Holding Back the Years" hit the number one position in the United States. The band also had a U.S. Number One in 1989 with their cover of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' "If You Don't Know Me By Now", one of many remakes of soul music classics. They also performed together with singer Tom Jones for a track of his 1999 album Reload. Simply Red are re-recording seven catalogue studio albums with a view to reissue in 2006 via their official website.