Brian Travers saved up and bought his first saxophone whilst working as an electrical apprentice for NG Bailey, leaving after a few years to become a founding member of UB40 alongside Jimmy Brown, Earl Falconer and Ali Campbell.

The remaining seven members released a statement saying: " Ali made a very simple decision, he chose to pursue and put his solo career over and above continuing to work with UB40 after February 2008, it ’ s as simple as that ".

UB40 ( a reggae group from Birmingham, whose first album was released in 1980 ) was named after the form issued by the DHSS to those claiming unemployment benefit, the full name of which was Unemployment Benefit form 40.

He was to appear in the evening after UB40.

UB40 were finishing their set on the main stage, and Wonder's equipment was set up, plugged in and ready to be rolled on after a 10-minute act on a side stage.

On 12 June 2010, UB40 played a one-off concert to motor racing fans at the Le Mans 24 hour race.

* UB40 interview by Pete Lewis, ' Blues & Soul ' November 2010

* UB40, on their Labour of Love IV album ( 2010 ) and as a single released on 25 January 2010

He is one of only two British reggae acts ( along with UB40 ) to have an American Billboard number one: " Close to You " in 1990.

The event has attracted such artists as Herbie Hancock, Courtney Pine, Ocacia, Branford Marsalis, En Vogue, George Benson, Santana, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, The Isley Brothers, UB40, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Luther Vandross, Trey Songz, Rihanna, Elton John, John Legend, Mario, Ne-Yo, Zionomi, Amy Winehouse, Angie Stone, Ciara, Boyz II Men, India. Arie, Smokey Robinson, American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino and Malcolm-Jamal Warner.

As UB40 grew in popularity, they encouraged and supported local musicians and bands from Birmingham such as, Beshara, by taking them on a tour.

" Priest had joined UB40 on their arena tour in 2007, culminating in sell-out shows at the NEC Birmingham in December.

" Priest had joined UB40 on tour in 2007, culminating in sell out shows at the National Exhibition Centre ( NEC ) in Solihull in December.

UB40 were influenced by the many blues parties they attended as teenagers in the multicultural Balsall Heath area of Birmingham.

It was reported by some Birmingham newspapers on 13 March 2008, that Maxi Priest would be the new lead singer of UB40 and had recorded a cover of Bob Marley ’ s " I Shot the Sheriff " with the band, based on information from an unnamed " source close to the band.

Another local newspaper reporting that Maxi Priest would be the new UB40 frontman, also included a statement from band spokesman Gerard Franklyn which contradicted this claim: " Maxi is collaborating with the band to record material but there is no decision been made to replace Ali Campbell with one definitive singer.

It was reported in some newspapers in the Birmingham area, including the Birmingham Mail on 13 March 2008, that Priest would be replacing Ali Campbell as the new lead singer of UB40, and that he had recorded a cover of Bob Marley ’ s " I Shot the Sheriff " with the band, based on information from " an unnamed source close to the band.

Another local newspaper, the Express & Star that had reported that Priest would be the new UB40 frontman, included a statement from band spokesman Gerard Franklyn which contradicted the claim, stating " Maxi is collaborating with the band to record material but he won't be the new lead singer, that will be Duncan Campbell, the brother of Ali and Robin Campbell.

Better-known bands such as The Police, The Clash and UB40 helped popularize Dub, with UB40s Present Arms In Dub album being the first dub album to hit the UK top 40.

The name " UB40 " was selected in reference to the document issued to people claiming unemployment benefit from the UK government's Department of Health and Social Security ( DHSS ) at the time of the band's formation.

The UK was one of the two main countries in the development of rock music, and has provided global acts including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd, Queen, Elton John, David Bowie, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, The Kinks, Yardbirds, Sex Pistols, The Clash, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Dire Straits, Bee Gees, Rod Stewart, The Animals, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Whitesnake, Motörhead, Phil Collins, Duran Duran, Billy Idol, ELO, The Hollies, Sting, Annie Lennox, George Michael, Genesis, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Police, UB40, Ozzy Osbourne, The Smiths, Joy Division, Foreigner, Elvis Costello, Dusty Springfield, Status Quo, Cat Stevens, Judas Priest, Bonnie Tyler, Pet Shop Boys, Joe Cocker, T. Rex, Depeche Mode, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Roxy Music, The Jam, Rainbow, Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Seal, Eurythmics, Free, King Crimson, Moody Blues, The Troggs, Steve Winwood, Robert Palmer, Cream, The Foundations, Herman's Hermits, Procol Harum, Yes, The Pretenders, Simple Minds, Marillion, Nazareth, The Sweet, Human League, Supertramp, Tears for Fears, New Order, Bad Company, Brian Johnson, The Stone Roses, Pulp, Suede, Manic Street Preachers, Travis, Oasis and Blur.

Many of these Jamaican-influenced UK bands ( such as UB40 ) adopted pop styles to appeal to mainstream audiences, but some UK reggae bands ( such as Steel Pulse ) played songs with more confrontational socio-political lyrics.

The more reggae based music of UB40 allowed them to continue to chart in to the twentieth century, enjoying four number ones in the UK, the last of these in 1994.

Some major UK acts include The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Elton John, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Deep Purple, Sex Pistols, Eric Clapton, The Clash, Van Morrison, Dire Straits, The Police, Fleetwood Mac, Genesis, George Michael, Pet Shop Boys, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart, The Who, Eurythmics, Dusty Springfield, The Cure, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Duran Duran, Oasis, Radiohead, Coldplay, Muse, Gorillaz, Robbie Williams, Seal, Bee Gees, Spice Girls, UB40, Adele, Jessie J Amy Winehouse ... Other popular European musicians are U2 ( Ireland ), Björk ( Iceland ), ABBA ( Sweden ), a-ha ( Norway ), Andrea Bocelli ( Italy ), Julio Iglesias ( Spain ), Nana Mouskouri ( Greece / France ), Kati Wolf ( Hungary ), Boney M. ( Germany ), Daft Punk ( France ), Charles Aznavour ( France ), Johnny Hallyday ( France ), Modern Talking ( Germany ), Scorpions ( Germany ), Rammstein ( Germany ), Ace of Base ( Sweden ), t. A. T. u.

Later Musical Youth, UB40, the first truly mixed-race UK dub band, and Pato Banton found commercial success, as did 2 Tone band The Beat who drew their influences from Jamaican ska music.

The UK band, UB40, incorporated the " Amandla, Awethu " chant into Sing Our Own Song from the 1986 album Rat In The Kitchen.

Artists such as Ace of Base, Chaka Demus & Pliers and Pato Banton ( with the help of UB40 ), took their radio-friendly " pop / reggae " hits to the top of the UK charts for weeks.

UB40 are a British reggae / pop band formed in 1978 in Birmingham.

This cover version adds a toasted verse by UB40 member Astro, opening: " Red Red Wine, you make me feel so fine / You keep me rocking all of the time ".

The Very Best of UB40 1980-2000 is a greatest hits album from the British dub / reggae band UB40.

* " King ," a song by UB40 on their debut album, Signing Off

Before some of them could play their instruments, Ali Campbell and Brian Travers travelled around Birmingham promoting the band, putting up UB40 posters.

UB40 caught their first break when Chrissie Hynde saw them at a pub and gave them an opportunity as a support act to her band, The Pretenders.

In 2006 UB40 was nominated for a Grammy Award ( Reggae category ) for their album Who You Fighting For.

In developing the club's musical identity the Berrows also gave free rehearsal space to bands like Dexys Midnight Runners and UB40, with The Beat filming a video for their song " Mirror In The Bathroom " taking full advantage of the many mirrors that walled the club.

Maxi Priest and UB40 mimicked the song's melody and chord progression in their 2008 collaboration " Dance Until the Morning Light ", from the UB40 album TwentyFourSeven.

In music, the reggae group UB40 took their name from the form used to ' sign on ' at the Unemployment Benefit office ( the form is now designated ES40JP ).

In 1993, British reggae band UB40 covered the song, as first single from their 1993 album Promises and Lies.

UB40 made their rendition for their cover versions album Labour of Love.

" Cherry Oh Baby " has been covered by both The Rolling Stones ( on their 1976 album, Black and Blue ) and UB40 ( on their 1983 album, Labour of Love ).

In 2002, the Virgin Records compilation album Young Gifted & Black featured sleeve notes by Robin Campbell from UB40.

* Homegrown ( UB40 album ), 2003

* Love Songs ( UB40 album )