BIOGRAPHY
Brian Ferry is a British singer and songwriter born on September 26, 1945 in Washington, Tyne and Wear. Ferry is known for his stylish and sophisticated, as well as his crooner and gravelly voice. He was a member of the band Roxy Music before pursuing a successful solo career. Ferry has also recorded under the name Ferry & Manzanera and with guitarist Phil Manzanera.
Ferry grew up in Washington, Tyne and Wear. His father, Fred Ferry, was a miner, and his mother, Mary, was a homemaker. Ferry was raised Catholic and attended the Catholic school in Washington. In 1963, Ferry studied fine arts at Newcastle-upon-Tyne University.
After graduating, Ferry worked as a graphic designer for an advertising agency before forming the band Roxy Music with guitarist Phil Manzanera, bassist Graham Simpson, drummer Paul Thompson, and saxophonist/oboist Andy Mackay. The band was influenced by the avant-garde art scene of the early 1970s, as well as popular music acts like the Velvet Underground, David Bowie, and Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd.
Roxy Music found success with their first two albums, Roxy Music (1972) and For Your Pleasure (1973), which Ferry wrote and sang lead vocals on. The band's third album, Stranded (1973), featured the hit single "Street Life," which Ferry co-wrote with Mackay.
After Roxy Music disbanded in 1976, Ferry embarked on a successful solo career, releasing a series of well-received albums including In Your Mind (1977), The Bride Stripped Bare (1978), Flesh + Blood (1980), Boys and Girls (1985), Bete Noire (1987), and Mamouna (1994). Ferry has also collaborated with other artists like Brian Eno, Robert Fripp, Nile Rodgers, and David Gilmour.
In recent years, Ferry has continued to tour and release new music, including the albums Olympia (2010), The Jazz Age (2012), and Avonmore (2014). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.