Jimmy Somerville

Jimmy Somerville is a Scottish singer whose falsetto became one of the distinctive voices of British electronic pop. With Steve Bronski and Larry Steinbachek, he formed Bronski Beat in 1983. Their breakthrough song “Smalltown Boy” brought the experience of a young gay man into mainstream pop.

Somerville subsequently formed the Communards with Richard Coles. Their recordings included “Don’t Leave Me This Way”, featuring Sarah Jane Morris. His solo career began with Read My Lips and included a version of Sylvester’s “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)”. Across these projects, dance music, gay visibility and political expression remained closely connected.