Colin Vearncombe, known by his stage name Black, was an English singer-songwriter born on May 26, 1962, in West Derby, Liverpool, England. He developed an interest in music after being inspired by Elvis Presley's performance in the film "Jailhouse Rock." Vearncombe attended Prescot Grammar School and later enrolled in an art foundation course at Liverpool Polytechnic.

Vearncombe's music career began in 1981 with the release of his first single "Human Features" on Rox Records. He performed under the name Black, alongside bassist Dane Goulding and drummer Greg Leyland. His early career saw collaborations with Dave "Dix" Dickie, leading to a contract with WEA Records. Despite initial struggles, including being dropped by WEA, Vearncombe found success with the independently released single "Wonderful Life" in 1985, which later became an international hit after being picked up by A&M Records.

Black's debut album, "Wonderful Life," sold over 1.5 million copies, and his follow-up album, "Comedy," received critical acclaim. However, Vearncombe faced challenges in maintaining commercial success, leading him to establish his own label, Nero Schwarz, and release the album "Are We Having Fun Yet?" in 1993.

Vearncombe's music was characterized by his sophisticated jazz-pop style and distinctive vocal delivery, drawing comparisons to artists like Bryan Ferry and Morrissey. He continued to release music under his real name and as Black until 2005.

On January 10, 2016, Vearncombe was involved in a serious car accident in Ireland, resulting in a severe head injury. He passed away on January 26, 2016, at the age of 53, leaving behind a significant musical legacy, his wife, and three children.