Mark Morrison
Mark Morrison is known as the most successful British R&B singer of the mid-90s, with his breakthrough single, ‘Return of the Mack,’ achieving global success in 1996. Born in Hanover, Germany, to Barbadian parents, Morrison was raised in Leicester, UK, and Florida, US. In 1995, he introduced his debut singles ‘Crazy’ (UK Top-20) and ‘Let’s Get Down’ (UK Top-40), followed by the sensational release of ‘Return Of The Mack’ in 1996, which topped the UK charts for 2 weeks. He made history as the first black male solo artist to reach No. 1 in the 90s. Morrison’s debut album, ‘Return Of The Mack,’ became a multi-platinum sensation, with several other hit singles like ‘Crazy’ (Remix), ‘Trippin’,’ ‘Horny – Radio Edit,’ and ‘Moan and Groan,’ all making it to the UK Top-10, marking a historic achievement of 5 Top-10s from a debut album.
Despite facing imprisonment, Morrison’s talent shone brightly, earning him 4 Brit nominations, Mercury Music Prize/MTV Europe award nominations, and 5 MOBO nominations (winning the best R&B award). ‘Return of the Mack’ rose to No. 2 in the US amidst his challenges. He made a strong comeback with hits like ‘Who’s the Mack! (feat. Darkman)’ in 1997 and ‘Best Friend’ in 1999, while also releasing an independent album titled ‘Innocent Man’ in 2006. The title track was later sampled by Cassidy in 2007. Celebrating its 20th Anniversary, ‘Return of the Mack’ was remixed by Nevada to create ‘The Mack’ featuring Fetty Wap. This remix marked Morrison’s 10th UK Top-40 hit, achieving platinum certification and garnering over 230 million streams on Spotify, showcasing the artist’s enduring popularity.
Dead Or Alive
Dead or Alive, a British dance-pop group, rose to fame in 1980 with the enigmatic frontman Pete Burns. Burns, previously with the Mystery Girls and Nightmares in Wax, co-founded Dead or Alive with a talented lineup. Despite initial setbacks, the group evolved into a dynamic dance band under major label Epic. Their breakthrough came with the 1985 Hi-NRG hit ‘You Spin Me Round (Like a Record),’ propelling them to stardom. The success continued with chart-topping singles like ‘Brand New Lover’ and ‘My Heart Goes Bang,’ solidifying their place in music history.
Tragedy struck as band members departed, leaving Burns and Coy at the helm of Dead or Alive. The group persevered, releasing albums like ‘Fan the Flame, Part One’ and ‘Nukleopatra.’ Burns tragically passed away in 2016, followed by Coy’s untimely death in 2018. Despite ups and downs, Dead or Alive’s impact on the music scene, especially with iconic tracks like ‘You Spin Me Round,’ endures as a testament to their lasting influence and contribution to the dance-pop genre.
Pet Shop Boys
English synth pop duo Pet Shop Boys, consisting of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, have built a remarkable legacy in the music industry. Since their debut in the mid-’80s with hits like ‘West End Girls’ and ‘Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money),’ Pet Shop Boys have been known for their witty cultural observations, infectious melodies, and unique electronic soundscapes. Their ability to seamlessly blend genres, from disco to house to synth-pop, while maintaining their signature style, has solidified their status as influential artists.
Formed in London in 1981, Pet Shop Boys’ journey began when Neil Tennant, a former Marvel Comics editor turned journalist, and Chris Lowe, an ex-architecture student, bonded over their love for dance music and synthesizers. Renowned for chart-topping hits like ‘It’s a Sin’ and ‘What Have I Done to Deserve This?,’ the duo’s career milestones include the release of acclaimed albums such as Introspective, Behavior, and Very. Continuing to innovate, they explored Latin rhythms with Bilingual, ventured into theater with Closer to Heaven, and embraced electronic pop with releases like Super and Nonetheless. Pet Shop Boys’ musical evolution and enduring creativity have earned them a revered status in the electronic music scene.
Marshmello
GRAMMY-nominated Marshmello’s star continues to rise as the famously masked artist breaks boundaries across the industry. With chart-topping singles and collaborations with the likes of Juice WRLD, Halsey, Demi Lovato, Bastille, Kane Brown, Selena Gomez, Khalid, Jonas Brothers, and more, Marshmello has clocked a staggering 13 billion streams across Spotify alone. With over 40 million monthly listeners on the platform, he’s one of the top 40 most streamed artists in the world on Spotify and the third-most- subscribed artist on YouTube. Featured on the cover of the Forbes magazine ’30 Under 30′ issue, Marshmello has proved to not only be an innovative producer, but a forward-thinking businessman. With his own brand of chocolate-filled marshmallows (“Stuffed Puffs”), he’s also launched a children’s entertainment channel, Mellodees. Marshmello collaborated with the Jonas Brothers on their early summers mash ‘Leave Before You Love Me,’ which peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was also nominated for the best dance / electronic album at the 2022 Grammy’s. Most recently, Marshmello teamed up with Khalid to release ‘Numb,’ which has steadily climbed the Billboard Hot 100.
Read MoreTonic
Music always undoubtedly brings us closer together. The connection forged runs as deep as any family bond does. Similarly, the story of Tonic revolves around the longstanding, close brotherhood shared among members Emerson Hart [vocals, guitar], Jeff Russo [lead guitar], and Dan Lavery [bass]. Since 1996, the GRAMMY® Award-nominated multi-platinum trio has consistently delivered anthemic and undeniable rock fashioned from eloquent songcraft, lyrical honesty, and unshakable melodies. Along the way, they translated true experiences and real memories into a storied catalog that resounds as loudly today as it did over two decades ago.
After a five-year hiatus, the three-piece returned to the charts on the heels of Tonic in 2010, landing in the Top 50 of the Billboard Top Rock Albums Chart and Top 25 of the Billboard Top Independent Albums Chart. Following a successful Pledge Music campaign, they re-recorded the seminal Lemon Parade acoustically for 2016’s Lemon Parade Revisited. No matter what, the members of Tonic find themselves coming back together, hitting the road every year.
Jackie Evancho
Jackie Evancho first gained global recognition at the age of 10 when she dazzled audiences on NBC’s America’s Got Talent in 2010. Since then, she has achieved phenomenal success, with a series of platinum and gold albums and over 2.5 million sales in the US alone. Now, at 23, Jackie is transitioning from being a child prodigy to a versatile artist, focusing on her growth as a singer, songwriter, and performer. In a bold move towards a new creative direction, Jackie collaborated with Greg Camp, a founding member and principal songwriter of Smash Mouth, to create a 5 track EP set to be released in 2024. All the songs on the EP were written by Jackie herself and produced by Greg. The EP’s first single, “Behind My Eyes,” is scheduled for release on September 8th. According to Camp, Jackie’s recent work will pleasantly surprise her fans and the audience with its unique essence.
Read More5 Seconds of Summer
Hailing from Sydney, Australia, 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS) have brought pure rock energy to pop music over the past 10 years and toured the world several times over. While rooted in pop punk DNA, 5SOS have pushed the boundaries of traditional alternative pop music, taking influencers from wide-spanning genres throughout their career which is reflected sonically in the unique music they make. 5SOS continue to bring a new wave of depth and dimension to their industrial and harmony-driven sound and are always evolving their music with every album they release.
Their latest album 5SOS5, embarked on a new phase of their career. Written primarily in Joshua Tree, California, much of the record focuses on the magic that happens when just the four band members come together as one.
Nick Jonas
Nick Jonas, the singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actor known for his role in the hugely popular Disney Channel sibling pop/rock act, the Jonas Brothers. Since 2010, Nick has been focusing on his solo career, releasing solo material and appearing in musicals, films, and television shows. Collaborating with members of Prince’s New Power Generation, his debut album ‘Who I Am’ peaked at number three on the Billboard 200, setting the stage for further successful solo projects like ‘Nick Jonas’ and ‘Last Year Was Complicated.’ These albums featured collaborations with artists like Tove Lo, Ty Dolla $ign, and Big Sean, both entering the Top Ten of the Billboard 200 charts.
Starting his performance career at the young age of seven, Nick Jonas made his songwriting debut in 2002 with a holiday tune co-written with his father. Signing with Columbia Records in 2004, Nick began collaborating with his brothers Kevin and Joseph, leading to the formation of the Jonas Brothers. Despite initial challenges, the band found success with albums like ‘A Little Bit Longer’ and ‘Lines, Vines and Trying Times,’ showcasing Nick’s diverse musical talents. Exploring a solo venture with ‘Nick Jonas & the Administration,’ Nick released ‘Who I Am’ in 2010. This marked the beginning of his solo journey, where he achieved chart-topping success with singles like ‘Jealous’ and ‘Close,’ solidifying his position as a versatile artist in the industry.
Scandal
Guitarist Zack Smith founded the mainstream pop/rock band Scandal, after performing with various groups, some of which included Dee Murray and Davey Johnson from the Elton John band. The final lineup of Scandal was established in 1982, with the introduction of vocalist Patty Smyth, along with bassist Ivan Elias, guitarist Keith Mack, keyboardist Benji King, and drummer Frankie La Rocka. The band’s journey began with opening performances for renowned acts like the Kinks and Hall & Oates, leading to the release of their debut single, ‘Goodbye to You,’ in the same year, followed by their self-titled first album. In 1984, they released ‘The Warrior,’ which included the title track that became a Top Ten hit, propelling the album to platinum status. Despite their success, Patty Smyth pursued a solo career in the subsequent year, resulting in the disbandment of Scandal.
Read MoreReal McCoy
Real McCoy is the brainchild of producer, author and artist Olaf „O-Jay“ Jeglitza. With his expansive appreciation of all musical genres and his contacts in the burgeoning Berlin club scene, Jeglitza and his musical partner Frank „Quickmix“ Hassas, released their first Mixtapes and songs as Real McCoy in the mid-80´s. For their first commercial release (a rap-version of the Technotronic smash-hit „Pump Up The Jam – Rap“) their appeared under the name „M.C.SAR & The Real McCoy“. The song became an instant top 20 Hit in the German charts and was followed up by the song „It’s on You“. The song, written by Hassas & Jeglitza, became an even bigger hit, reaching various top spots in several European countries.
In 1993 Real McCoy inked a worldwide major deal. Fuelled by numerous smash singles (Another Night, Run Away, Automatic Lover, Love & Devotion and Come and get your love), their third album “Another Night” went Multi-Platinum in under 8 weeks. and took the charts by storm. Arista’s Clive Davis spearheaded the eventual recognition of the group as one of the break-out artists of 1995. With Jeglitza always involved as the band leader, Real McCoy were joined by different female vocalist over the time. By now, Real McCoy has been part of the music business for more than 30 years and the story continues…
38 Special
Originally, .38 Special emerged as part of the Southern rock scene alongside iconic bands like the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The band was helmed by Donnie Van Zant, the sibling of Skynyrd’s frontman, Ronnie Van Zant. Transitioning from traditional Southern boogie, .38 Special evolved their sound to blend elements of country-fried blues-rock and high-energy hard rock, resulting in a series of chart-topping albums and singles in the early ’80s, including hits like ‘Caught Up in You,’ ‘If I’d Been the One,’ ‘Back Where You Belong,’ and ‘Like No Other Night.’ Despite achieving success, the band faced a decline in the late ’80s with the advent of pop and heavy metal dominating the music scene.
The formation of .38 Special dates back to 1974 when Donnie Van Zant, together with Jeff Carlisi, Don Barnes, Ken Lyons, Jack Grondin, and Steve Brookins, established the band in Jacksonville, Florida. Following initial releases that garnered limited attention, the breakthrough came with their third album, ‘Rockin’ into the Night’ in 1979, marking a shift towards a more melodic and dynamic sound. Subsequent albums like ‘Wild-Eyed Southern Boys,’ ‘Special Forces,’ and ‘Strength in Numbers’ solidified their status as a popular touring act, propelled by hits such as ‘Hold On Loosely’ and ‘Caught Up in You.’ Despite lineup changes over the years, .38 Special maintained their musical essence, culminating in the success of their hit ballad ‘Second Chance’ from the album ‘Rock & Roll Strategy.’ The band’s legacy extends to their later releases, including ‘Bone Against Steel,’ ‘Resolution,’ and ‘Live at Sturgis,’ reflecting their enduring presence in the music industry.
Kim Carnes
Hailed by Rolling Stone for a voice that’s “worn, aged, soulful [and] defiant,” two-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and producer Kim Carnes’ 1981 synth-pop classic, Bette Davis Eyes, spent nine weeks at No. 1 and won her the Grammy for Record of the Year. Her string of other major hits includes More Love, Crazy In The Night (Barking At Airplanes) and What About Me?, and she has penned tunes for, among others, Big Mama Thornton, Tim McGraw, Tina Turner, and Deana Carter. She’s also the writer of three No. 1 country songs, including Reba McEntire and Vince Gill’s The Heart Won’t Lie and Make No Mistake, She’s Mine, by Ronnie Milsap and Kenny Rogers.
In 1980, Carnes and husband Dave Ellingson wrote Gideon, a concept album by Kenny Rogers, with whom she recorded the smash duet, Don’t Fall In Love With A Dreamer. Carnes co-wrote and recorded I’ll Be Here Where The Heart Is for the 1983 Flashdance soundtrack, earning her second Grammy, and was among the superstar talent assembled for 1985’s historic single, We Are The World. Numerous films have spotlighted her songs, including Vanishing Point, Spaceballs, Valentino: The Last Emperor, That’s Dancin’, Glee, and The Contender (in a duet with Jeff Bridges). On the small screen, she’s heard with Tim McGraw on a song for TV’s Yellowstone, as well as in the opening scene of 2022’s The Tourist. Carnes’ latest album is the critically acclaimed Chasin’ Wild Trains, featuring Al Anderson and Kings of Leon producer Angelo, among others.