Joe Jackson, born David Ian Jackson on August 11, 1954, in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, and raised in Portsmouth, began his music career after studying composition, piano, and percussion at the Royal Academy of Music. His early bands, Edward Bear and Arms and Legs, released unsuccessful singles before dissolving in 1976. In 1978, he signed with A&M Records as Joe Jackson, forming the Joe Jackson Band with Gary Sanford on guitar, Graham Maby on bass, and David Houghton on drums, releasing the debut album Look Sharp! in 1979, featuring new wave hits 'Is She Really Going Out with Him?' and 'It's Different for Girls'. Jackson's style evolved from new wave and punk influences to jazz-inflected pop, with the 1982 album Night and Day producing the worldwide hit 'Steppin' Out'. He has released 21 studio albums, including Volume 4 (2003) reuniting the original band and Rain (2007) as a trio, and received five Grammy nominations. Associated with the 1980s Second British Invasion, he has also composed classical music. Known for extensive touring, Jackson has performed with varied lineups, from the original quartet and 11-piece bands to piano-bass-drums trios, supporting albums like Blaze of Glory (1989) and Live Music (2011).