Scottish singer-songwriter Jimmy Somerville entered the music industry as the lead vocalist of the British pop band Bronski Beat. The trio, originally co-founded along with Steve Bronski and Larry Steinbachek, scored an international success with their debut single entitled "Smalltown Boy". In 1986, Somerville also co-founded The Communards before launching his solo career in 1989. According to the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique, Somerville himself sold 1,422,905 albums and singles in France as of 2009. While additional 1,765,500 units in common with the Communards.