Labi Siffre is a British singer, songwriter, poet, and activist whose music has touched audiences across generations. Best known for songs like “It Must Be Love,” “Crying Laughing Loving Lying,” “Watch Me,” and “(Something Inside) So Strong,” he emerged in the early 1970s and later became a cult figure whose work has been sampled by major hip‑hop artists. His story is one of talent, resilience, and openness about his identity at a time when few black British musicians spoke publicly about being gay.
Born Claudius Afolabi Siffre on 25 June 1945 in Hammersmith, London, he grew up in Bayswater and Hampstead and attended St Benedict’s School in Ealing. His father was Nigerian and his mother had Barbadian and Belgian roots. Siffre began playing jazz guitar in Soho in the late 1960s and released his debut album in 1970, blending folk, soul, jazz, and pop.
His name is pronounced “LAB‑ee SIF‑ree”. He has been openly gay for much of his public life, met his long‑term partner Peter Lloyd in 1964, and later entered a civil partnership with him in 2005. After Lloyd’s death in 2013, Siffre married Rudolf van Baardwijk in December 2014; van Baardwijk died in 2016. Siffre is also an atheist and has been a vocal advocate for both his sexuality and his secular worldview.
Labi Siffre songs
Siffre’s songwriting career produced several landmark tracks that have endured both as original recordings and through cover versions and samples. Below is a quick overview of key details, followed by a deeper look at his music and vinyl discography.
Labi Siffre (born Claudius Afolabi Siffre)
25 June 1945 (age 79)
Singer, songwriter, poet, activist
“It Must Be Love”, “I Got The…”, “My Song”
Key insights
- Siffre’s music has been sampled by major hip‑hop artists, including Eminem on “My Name Is”.
- He is openly homosexual and a vocal atheist, which he addresses on his X profile.
- His song “It Must Be Love” became a hit for Madness in 1981.
- He took a hiatus from music between 1975 and 1988, returning with a more spiritual focus.
- His songwriting often avoids gender‑specific pronouns, a choice many writers connect to his life as a gay man.
- His early‑1970s albums were originally released on vinyl and remain collectible.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Birth Name | Claudius Afolabi Siffre |
| Date of Birth | 25 June 1945 |
| Place of Birth | London, England |
| Genres | Soul, blues, pop, spoken word |
| Years Active | 1970–1975, 1988–1998 |
| Spouse/Partner | Widower (husband Rudolf van Baardwijk died 2016) |
| Net Worth (est.) | $1–5 million (speculative, unverified) |
Labi Siffre vinyl
Siffre released six albums between 1970 and 1975, and another four between 1988 and 1998 – ten in total, though compilations and later releases may alter the exact count. His early‑1970s work is especially prized on vinyl. Key albums include his self‑titled debut (1970), The Singer and the Song, Crying Laughing Loving Lying, For the Children, and Remember My Song (1975), which contains the track “I Got The…” that was later sampled by Eminem. Collectors often search for original pressings on Discogs and eBay.
Original UK pressings of Siffre’s early albums can fetch high prices. Reissues have appeared occasionally, but no official box set has been announced as of 2025. Check dedicated record stores and online marketplaces for availability.
Labi Siffre – My Song
“My Song” appears on the 1972 album Crying Laughing Loving Lying. It is a soulful ballad about personal commitment, typical of his introspective and gentle style. The track is part of the same period that produced his biggest hit “It Must Be Love”, which reached No. 14 on the UK singles chart in 1971 and was later covered by Madness to great success. Another notable single from that era is “Watch Me”.
Labi Siffre husband
Siffre’s personal life has been marked by two long‑term relationships that ended in bereavement. He met Peter Lloyd in July 1964 and they were together for 48 years, entering into a civil partnership in 2005 when it became legal in the UK. Lloyd died in 2013. Siffre later married Rudolf van Baardwijk in December 2014; van Baardwijk died in 2016. After these losses, Siffre was reported to be living in Spain.
Labi Siffre age
Siffre was born on 25 June 1945, which makes him 79 years old as of 2025. Sources confirm his date of birth consistently across Wikipedia, Last.fm, and the Big Issue.
Labi siffre young
Details about his early life are limited. He was the fourth of five children, raised in Bayswater and Hampstead, and educated at St Benedict’s School in Ealing. He formed his first band in his teens and began playing jazz guitar in Soho clubs in the late 1960s, shortly before his recording debut.
Labi Siffre net worth
No reliable, source‑backed net worth figure exists for Siffre. Online estimates ranging from $1 million to $5 million are speculative and should be treated with caution. Royalties from his own recordings and from samples (notably Eminem’s use of “I Got The…” on “My Name Is”) likely contribute to his income, but no financial disclosures are publicly available.
Any net worth figure for Labi Siffre found on celebrity net worth sites is unverified. No reputable financial or interview source has confirmed an exact amount. Treat all estimates as rough guesses.
Labi Siffre pronunciation
The correct pronunciation of his name is “LAB‑ee SIF‑ree”. The first name rhymes with “cabby” and the surname has a short “i” in the first syllable and a long “ee” at the end. It is commonly mispronounced, but Siffre himself has not publicly corrected the record beyond the accepted phonetic form.
Timeline of Labi Siffre’s life and career
- 1945 – Born in London to a Barbadian/Belgian mother and a Nigerian father.
- 1970 – Debut album Labi Siffre released.
- 1971 – “It Must Be Love” reaches No. 14 on the UK singles chart.
- 1972 – Album Crying Laughing Loving Lying includes “It Must Be Love” and “My Song”.
- 1975 – Remember My Song released, featuring “I Got The…”.
- 1975–1988 – Music hiatus; focuses on poetry and personal life.
- 1984 – Begins writing poetry; later publishes Blood on the Page (1995) and Monument (1997).
- 1987 – “(Something Inside) So Strong” reaches No. 4 in the UK, inspired by apartheid‑era imagery.
- 1998 – Final studio album The Last Songs released.
- 2000s – Publicly identifies as homosexual and atheist.
- 2023 – Last active on X; remains a cult figure.
What is known and what remains unclear
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| Born in 1945, British, black, homosexual, atheist. | Exact net worth is not publicly documented. |
| Known songs: “It Must Be Love”, “I Got The…”, “(Something Inside) So Strong”. | Husband’s name (Peter Lloyd) is confirmed by some sources but not all; Rudolf van Baardwijk is more consistently reported. |
| Two long‑term partners: Peter Lloyd (deceased 2013) and Rudolf van Baardwijk (deceased 2016). | Details of his early life before music are sparse. |
| Lived in Spain after van Baardwijk’s death. | Current whereabouts or if he is still alive (last verified post 2023). |
Context and significance
Siffre’s work bridges 1970s soul with later hip‑hop sampling culture. His openness about his sexuality was rare for a black British artist in the 1970s, and contributed to his marginalisation from mainstream radio at the time. In the decades since, his music has been rediscovered by new audiences, partly thanks to prominent samples by Eminem and Jay‑Z. His poetry and social commentary – often posted on his X account – reflect a strong philosophical and skeptical worldview.
Sources and quotes
“Siffre is an atheist and a homosexual, and has been an advocate for both.”
Wikipedia
“PositiveAtheist/Homosexual/Black/SongwriterMusicianSingerPoet/Commentator/Widower/English/British/EU.”
X bio
“Labi Siffre (born June 25, 1945) is an English poet, songwriter, and singer.”
Last.fm
For further reading, see the Labi Siffre – Wikipedia entry, Labi Siffre on Spotify, and Labi Siffre on X (official).
Summary and next steps
Labi Siffre remains a quietly influential figure – a singer‑songwriter whose gentle soul‑pop anthems and later, more spiritual work, continue to resonate. His openness about his sexuality and his atheism, combined with the sampling of his music by hip‑hop giants, ensures his legacy is still growing. Potential reissues of his early vinyl albums, a documentary exploring his life, and continued discussion of his sampling in hip‑hop are all likely developments. For more cultural context, read our guide to Where Is Your Heart – Location, Myth, and Song History and explore the story of another iconic British figure in Stephen Fry Movies and TV Shows: Full List and Guide.
Frequently asked questions about Labi Siffre
How old is Labi Siffre?
Labi Siffre was born on 25 June 1945, making him 79 years old as of 2025. His age is consistently reported across reliable sources.
What is Labi Siffre’s net worth?
Exact net worth is not publicly available. Estimates range from $1 to $5 million based on royalties and album sales, but these are speculative.
Was Labi Siffre married?
He was in a civil partnership with Peter Lloyd (1964–2013) and later married Rudolf van Baardwijk in 2014. Both partners predeceased him.
What is Labi Siffre’s most famous song?
“It Must Be Love” is his best‑known track, reaching No. 14 in the UK in 1971 and later a hit for Madness. “(Something Inside) So Strong” and “I Got The…” are also iconic.
Where can I buy Labi Siffre vinyl?
Original vinyl can be found on Discogs, eBay, and in specialist record stores. Some albums have been reissued, but no complete box set exists.
Is Labi Siffre still alive?
As of the last verified post on his X account in 2023, he was alive. No later public updates have been found, so current status is unconfirmed.
What genres did Labi Siffre make?
His music blends soul, blues, pop, jazz, and later spoken word. He often avoided genre boundaries.
How do you pronounce Labi Siffre?
It is pronounced “LAB‑ee SIF‑ree”. The first name rhymes with “cabby”.
Where was Labi Siffre born?
He was born in Hammersmith, London, England. He grew up in Bayswater and Hampstead.
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Lucy Hartley covers community affairs, civic society, local services and public life for Civic Affairs.