We Help You Hire, Book and Produce a UB40 Performance
Hire UB40 For Your Event
Celebrity Direct Inc. will help you select, book and hire UB40 to perform at your corporate event, non-profit event or private performance.
We are always uniquely positioned as your advocate throughout the hiring process and we won’t let you overpay.
Contact us for availability, price and other production details at:
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UB40 Songs
- “Red Red Wine”
- “Falling In Love With You”
- “Here I Am”
- “Kingston Town”
- “Food For Thought”
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UB40 Bio
Named after a British unemployment benefit form, pop-reggae band UB40 were formed in a welfare line in 1978, and their multiracial lineup reflected the working-class community their members came from. The band consolidated its street credibility with political topics appealing to dissatisfied youth and got a boost from fans of the waning 2-Tone ska revival movement. Brothers Robin (lead guitar) and Ali Campbell (guitar, lead vocals) formed the centerpiece of the group, which also included bassist Earl Falconer, keyboardist Mickey Virtue, saxophonist Brian Travers, drummer Jim Brown, percussionistNorman Hassan, and toaster Terence “Astro” Wilson. The band purchased its first instruments with compensation money Ali Campbell received after a bar fight, even though few of the members knew how to play them.
In 1988, the group performed “Red Red Wine” at a Nelson Mandela tribute concert, and a Phoenix radio station trotted the single out for a second go-round. Listener response was far more enthusiastic, and “Red Red Wine” reentered the charts and went all the way to the top. Finally having hit on a way to conquer the lucrative American market, UB40responded with another covers album, Labour of Love II, which produced Top Ten singles with versions of the Temptations’ “The Way You Do the Things You Do” and Al Green’s “Here I Am (Come and Take Me).” The group scored a huge hit in America with Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” which was initially featured in the Sharon Stone film Sliver and spent seven weeks at number one. By this time, UB40 had largely abandoned their trademark left-wing politics and were concentrating more on perfecting their reggae oldies covers than their original material; however, the gimmick resulted in huge sales figures in both the U.S. and U.K., with Promises and Lies reaching number six in the States and number one in Britain.
UB40’s 2010 release, Labour of Love IV, introduced Ali’s brother Duncan as the group’s new lead singer. They also released a remastered two-CD/DVD version of Signing Off as a 30th Anniversary Special, which the band toured across America and Europe. In 2011, five founding members –Robin Campbell, Brian Travers, Terence Wilson, Norman Hassan, and Jim Brown — started bankruptcy proceedings against the existing group over debts accrued by their label, DEP International. Alongside former singer Ali Campbell, they were declared bankrupt that year. In 2013, they released their 18th studio album. Titled Getting Over the Storm, it featured covers of country music songs by the likes of Willie Nelson, George Jones, Randy Travis, and more. The album was a success, receiving widespread acclaim. In 2016, Astro, Campbell, and Mickey returned to record an album with the rest of the band; the results, released as Unplugged in November, contained acoustic interpretations of their most classic and influential tracks.
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Contact UB40 Manager or Agent | You May Ask?
How can I hire UB40 for a corporate event, non-profit or charity event or private performance? How much does UB40 cost for a performance, a song, an appearance at an event, party or convention ending gala? What kind of budget would I need for a UB40 performance at our event? How can I find out if UB40 is available for our event date? How do I contact UB40’s manager? How do I contact UB40’s agent?
We can answer all your questions.
Contact our National Booking Office or send us your questions via email to hire UB40.
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Why Celebrity Direct Inc.
Direct Source for Celebrity Performers We are the industry leader in celebrity talent buying and production for corporate events. We work on your behalf to hire the best possible celebrity for your budget and we are uniquely positioned as your advocate in the booking process so you never overpay.
Corporate & Non-Profit Events and Private Performances We are dedicated to private performances, not publicly ticketed events, and we are the experts in this highly specialized entertainment market.
Complete Turn-Key Production Nationwide Event planners work with us in several ways, either choosing from a menu of our services or asking us to produce a show delivered completely turn-key at your event nationwide.