Nicki French
British singer Nicki French is a soulful vocalist with a bent toward adult contemporary and dance-oriented pop music. Best known for her 1995 cover of Bonnie Tyler’s ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart,’ French was born in Cumbria in 1964 and grew up in Tenterden, Kent. Before launching her solo career, she spent many years working as a backing singer and session vocalist. In 1995, French released her debut album, Secrets, which featured several Europop, Hi-NRG-style cover songs including ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ and the Carpenters’ ‘For All We Know.’ ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ sold well, reaching number five on the U.K. Singles chart and number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. In 2000, French also represented the U.K. in the 2000 Eurovision Song Contest with the song ‘Don’t Play That Song Again,’ ultimately finishing in 16th place. Since that time, French has appeared on television and on-stage, starring in productions of Cinderella and Annie: The Musical. Largely known for her club-oriented cover songs, French has developed a strong following in the gay community and continues to record and perform often.
Read MoreDexys Midnight Runners
Dexys, formerly known as Dexys Midnight Runners, have made their triumphant return with their sixth studio album, ‘The Feminine Divine’. This latest release was announced alongside the lead single ‘I’m Going To Get Free’ and is now available for fans to enjoy. Established in 1978, Dexys Midnight Runners soared to the #1 spot in the UK in 1980 with their hit ‘Geno’, which was swiftly followed by their debut album ‘Searching For The Young Soul Rebels’. Following the success of this album, the band underwent significant lineup changes, with frontman Kevin Rowland reshaping the band’s horn-led sound and appearance.
In 1982, Dexys achieved commercial success with their album ‘Too Rye Ay’, featuring the global phenomenon ‘Come On Eileen’. This period saw the band incorporating influences from folk and Celtic music into their unique style. Three years later, Dexys unveiled a new sound and aesthetic with ‘Don’t Stand Me Down’, an album that puzzled critics initially but later gained appreciation and became a fan favorite upon reissue. The band eventually disbanded shortly after the release of this album.
In a remarkable return in 2003, Dexys regrouped for a series of live performances, dropping ‘Midnight Runners’ from their name. Subsequently, they embarked on creating a new album, which was eventually unveiled in 2012 as ‘One Day I’m Going to Soar’. This album was warmly received by critics, marking a splendid comeback for the band, followed by extensive touring. Amidst further changes in the lineup, Dexys presented a cover album titled ‘Let The Record Show: Dexys Do Irish and Country Soul’, fulfilling a vision Kevin had held since the mid-80s. Now, in 2023, the band has returned with a new album and a promise of more concerts to come.
Blues Traveler
With their rollicking mix of blues, rock, and soul, Blues Traveler combine the stretched out and rambling approach of jam bands with the razor sharp melodic sense of a classic pop band; it made them a hugely popular band from the start and a reliable concert draw ever since. The group were on the vanguard of the jam band scene of the 1990s, the first of their generation to sign to a major label, and one of a handful to experience genuine commercial success when “Run-Around” went into the Billboard Top Ten in 1995. By that point, Blues Traveler had already carved themselves a place within the firmament of modern rock, earning a loyal audience through their sweaty improvs of blues-based rock and coalescing their peers by launching the H.O.R.D.E. Festival in 1992. One of several Lollapalooza-inspired touring fests, it illustrated the large audience for jam bands and helped push Blues Traveler toward the top of the charts with their 1994 album Four going platinum six times. They continued to work steadily throughout the 2000s and beyond, sometimes experimenting — 2015’s Blow Up the Moon was filled with unexpected cameos — but always returning to the blues as their foundation, a debt underscored by the 2021 covers album Traveler’s Blues. Blues Traveler was formed in 1987 by singer/harmonica player John Popper, guitarist Chan Kinchla, bassist Bobby Sheehan, and drummer Brendan Hill; the band was part of a revival of the extended jamming style of ’60s and ’70s groups like the Grateful Dead and Led Zeppelin. Signed to A&M, they released their first album, Blues Traveler, in May 1990 and followed it with Travelers & Thieves in September 1991. Popper was in a serious car accident in 1992, leaving him unable to perform for a number of months. Fortunately, he recovered, but he had to perform in a wheelchair for a while. In April 1993, Blues Traveler released their third album, Save His Soul, which became the band’s first to make the Top 100. The band’s aptly named fourth album, Four, released in September 1994, first looked like a sales disappointment, but it rebounded in 1995 when “Run-Around,” a single taken from it, became the group’s first chart hit. The song became one of the biggest singles of 1995, spending nearly a full year on the charts and sending Four into quintuple-platinum status. As the group prepared the follow-up to Four, they released the live double album Live from the Fall in the summer of 1996. The group returned in the summer of 1997 with its fifth studio album, Straight on Till Morning. After completing his 1999 debut solo effort, Zygote, Popper — who’d been experiencing chest pains for months — was forced to undergo an angioplasty; weeks later, tragedy struck on August 20, 1999, when Sheehan was found dead in his New Orleans home. The new millennium saw a newly charged Blues Traveler with the addition of keyboardist Ben Wilson, and their sixth record, Bridge, appeared in May 2001. The next winter, Blues Traveler released the live What You and I Have Been Through. The studio record Truth Be Told followed in 2003, and another concert album, Live on the Rocks, appeared in 2004. The group returned to the studio in 2004, releasing the Jay Bennett-produced Bastardos! in September of the following year. In 2007, Blues Traveler released Cover Yourself, a collection of previous hits reworked with acoustic arrangements. The David Bianco-produced North Hollywood Shootout appeared from Verve Forecast in 2008. In March 2012, the band released 25, a two-disc set (one disc of hits and key tracks and a second disc of B-sides, demos, and rarities) celebrating the group’s 25th anniversary. It was followed in June by Suzie Cracks the Whip, the group’s 11th studio album, which was produced by S*A*M & Sluggo, and featured guest spots from Ron Sexsmith, Chris Barron (Spin Doctors), and Crystal Bowersox. Three years later, Blues Traveler returned with Blow Up the Moon, an album filled with collaborations from pop stars including Jewel, Hanson, Plain White T’s, and JC Chasez. Joining forces with producer Matt Rollings, Blues Traveler returned to their rootsy beginnings on 2018’s Hurry Up & Hang Around. They continued their back-to-basics move with the Grammy-nominated covers album, Traveler’s Blues, a 2021 record that featured guest appearances by Keb Mo, Crystal Bowersox, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Warren Haynes, and Rita Wilson. Another covers album, Traveler’s Soul–a collection of soul and R&B chestnuts featuring guest appearances by Pat Monahan, Alisan Porter, and Valerie June–arrived in October 2023. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine & William Ruhlmann, Rovi
Read MoreGavin DeGraw
GRAMMY® Award-nominated multiplatinum singer and songwriter Gavin DeGraw’s inimitable voice and soulful style boldly bloomed on his 2003 platinum-certified full-length debut, Chariot. It included the gold single “Follow Through,” as well as both platinum hits, “Chariot,” and “I Don’t Want To Be.” In 2008, his self-titled second album, Gavin DeGraw, bowed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Top 200 powered by the platinum-selling single “In Love With a Girl.” 2011’s gold-certified Sweeter saw him return to the Top 10 as the single “Not Over You” went four times platinum. Meanwhile, his 2013 duet with Colbie Caillat, “We Both Know,” garnered a GRAMMY® Award nomination in the category of “Best Song Written For Visual Media” for Safe Haven. He’s the rare talent who could seamlessly share the stage with Billy Joel and The Allman Brothers Band or Maroon 5 and Shania Twain. In 2016, Something Worth Saving incited widespread critical applause from USA Today, Billboard, Entertainment Tonight, and Huffington Post. With a front row seat to this wonderfully wild life led by his late parents Lynne and John Wayne, Gavin DeGraw recounts his most meaningful memories and valuable lessons on his seventh full-length offering, Face The River [RCA Records]. Now, he stitches together a timeless tale of his own soundtracked by a signature fusion of pop, soul, country, folk and funk.
Read MoreSophie B. Hawkins
Sophie B. Hawkins burst onto the international music scene with her 1992 platinum-selling debut album, Tongues and Tails, which included the indelible hit song Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover, and earned her a Best New Artist Grammy nomination. The last three decades have brought multiple awards, sold out concerts, appearances on film and television, performances with some of the best known names in the business, a documentary feature, a critically-lauded tour-de-force performance as Janis Joplin in the nationally-touring play Room 105, songs appearing in hit films and TV shows, and five more albums, including Whaler, which featured the record-breaking longest-running single in Billboard Adult Contemporary chart history, the Number One hit, As I Lay Me Down. Much more than just a singer, Sophie writes all of her own songs, is a multi-instrumentalist, and has been fully involved in every aspect of the production of her records herself, from background vocals and playing her own instruments, to engineering and production of her albums. She has proved an enduring artist with a fierce commitment to artistic integrity while both constantly evolving, and remaining steadfastly true to her own authentic history and experience which connects her to her fans at the very deepest levels.
Read Sophie’s full bio on her website at: https://www.sophiebhawkins.com
Lonestar
Not every musician has the opportunity to revisit and even potentially improve upon their biggest hits. On the forthcoming TEN to 1 record, the award-winning band Lonestar— Dean Sams (keyboards, acoustic guitar, background vocals), Michael Britt (lead guitarist, background vocals ), Keech Rainwater (drums), and Drew Womack (lead vocals, guitar)—are taking a fresh look at all 10 of their chart-topping country songs. This streak started in 1996 with the band’s second single, the rock-edged ‘No News,’ and continued with the following year’s ‘Come Cryin’ to Me’ and ‘Everything’s Changed.’ The band’s quadruple-platinum 1999 album Lonely Grill spawned four No. 1 hits (including the beloved global smash ‘Amazed’) and established Lonestar as music’s preeminent pop-country band—a status they’d maintain through the 2000s and beyond. With these re-recordings, the band members were mindful of striking a balance between preserving the sonic elements fans were familiar with—and not repeating them. Fittingly, TEN to 1 record reflects the ways Lonestar’s hits have evolved over the years during the band’s rousing, high-energy concerts.
Such talent has contributed to the band winning many of music’s top honors, including Academy Of Country Music awards for New Vocal Group in 1996, Single and Song Of The Year in 2000, along with Humanitarian Of The Year in 2002. They also won Country Music Association’s Vocal Group of the Year and International Artist Achievement award in 2001. All told, Lonestar have sold more than 10.5 million records since their formation. With the release of TEN to 1 record, the band members are full of gratitude for what they’ve accomplished already, and excited about what the future holds. ‘It’s amazing that we’re still standing and putting on great shows after all these years,’ Sams says. ‘The fans are still coming out to our shows night after night, to see us and hear our music. That’s almost 30 years of touring, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am—and I’ve never once taken it for granted.’
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde, the daughter of ’50s British pop singer Marty Wilde, made a significant impact in the music industry during the ’80s. Initially associated with the new wave movement, her music evolved into mainstream pop, solidifying her position as a versatile artist. Kim’s career spanned into the 21st century, where she continued to release music that resonated with audiences in the dance and adult contemporary genres.
Signing with producer Mickie Most’s Rak Records in 1980 marked the beginning of Kim Wilde’s successful journey. Her breakout single, ‘Kids in America,’ catapulted her to fame in 1981, reaching high positions on the charts both in the UK and the US. Throughout the ’80s, Kim Wilde maintained a strong presence in European markets, showcasing her enduring popularity. Despite fluctuations in her commercial success, Kim’s talent shone through in collaborations, duets, and chart-topping albums that cemented her legacy as a powerhouse in the music industry.
John Parr
John Parr received a call from record producer David Foster in Spring 1985 to create a song for the film ‘St Elmo’s Fire’, leading to the iconic track ‘St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)’ dedicated to Rick Hansen. The song topped the Billboard Charts in Sept ’85, earning Parr a Grammy Award nomination and wide acclaim. With over 10 Million albums sold, John has shared the stage with legends like Toto, Tina Turner, and Bryan Adams. His 80’s movie hits, including ‘The Minute I Saw You’ and ‘Restless Heart’, cemented his status as a musical powerhouse.
Read MoreCounting Crows
After nearly seven years, GRAMMY and Academy Award-nominated rock band Counting Crows announce their highly anticipated new project, BUTTER MIRACLE, SUITE ONE. Produced by Brian Deck, the four-track, nineteen-minute suite is set for worldwide release on May 21 via BMG and is available for pre-order now.
Counting Crows have enchanted listeners worldwide for more than two decades with their intensely soulful and intricate take on timeless rock & roll. Exploding onto the music scene in 1993 with their multi-platinum breakout album, August and Everything After, the band has gone on to release seven studio albums, selling more than 20 million records worldwide, and is revered as one of the world’s most pre-eminent live touring rock bands. In 2004, Counting Crows recorded the chart-topping “Accidently in Love” for the animated motion picture Shrek 2. The instant success of the track earned them an Academy Award nomination for “Best Original Song” at the 2005 Academy Awards, a Golden Globe nomination for “Best Original Song,” and a GRAMMY Award nomination for “Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.” Over the last 30 years, the masterful songwriting from frontman Adam Duritz put the band at No.8 on Billboard Magazine’s 2021 “Greatest Of All Time: Adult Alternative 25th Anniversary Chart.”
Thompson Twins
At their peak in the mid-80s, Thompson Twins were one of the UK’s biggest synth-pop provocateurs, filling stadiums and playing Live Aid with hits like Hold Me Now and Doctor! Doctor! The trio of Tom Bailey, Joe Leeway and Alannah Currie saw themselves as much a production company as a band, their experimentalism coming from years in London’s squat scene. Universal themes hid more subversive content. Under Bailey’s hooky melodies, Currie’s lyrics challenged the politics of love and played with darker themes. The aesthetic spliced constructivism, surrealism, Dadaism, and gender-mashup fashion, winning many copycats. Bailey formed the band in ’77, with Pete Dodd, John Roog, and Chris Bell, releasing two albums, A Product Of and Set, the latter featuring Leeway and Currie, before evolving into the iconic trio.
Quick Step & Side Kick, recorded in ’83 in the Bahamas with producer Alex Sadkin included hits Lies, Love on Your Side and If You Were Here. Videos featured on MTV and remixes tore up dance floors in New York and LA. In ’84 Hold Me Now from Into The Gap was their biggest US hit followed by Doctor Doctor and Sister of Mercy. Here’s To Future Days (’85) produced by Nile Rodgers spawned hits Lay Your Hands On Me and King for a Day. After Leeway left, they released Close to the Bone (’87), Big Trash (’89) and Queer (’91), before forming trip-hop outfit Babble, releasing The Stone (’94) and Ether (’96). Bailey continues as Tom Bailey and International Observer. -Jenny Valentish
Jennifer Paige
Pop singer/songwriter Jennifer Paige was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. At age eight, she began performing in local coffeehouses as part of a duo with her older brother, Chance Scoggins. Two years later, she began studying piano. A short time after moving to Los Angeles, Paige teamed with producer Andy Goldmark and began work on her self-titled debut LP in 1996. Originally released on the German indie label Edel, Jennifer Paige was issued in the U.S. on Hollywood Records in 1998. The album spawned the international chart-topping single “Crush,” which would become her best-known hit. By the new millennium, she was in her early twenties and moving beyond the mainstream teen pop that made her a star. Released in fall 2001, second album Positively Somewhere reflected Paige’s fresh and sophisticated musical direction. The reception in Europe and Asia was positive, but the LP suffered from poor promotion in her home country. Although a quick label release — Flowers: The Hits Collection — was issued by Edel in 2003, Paige retreated to the background, songwriting for other artists. In 2008, she returned with Best Kept Secret, which featured the singles “Wasted” and “Ta Voix (The Calling),” as well as a duet with Nick Carter titled “Beautiful Lie.”
In 2010 she formed the duo Paige & Palermo with Coury Palermo. In addition to 2013’s Stay EP, they also recorded a pair of Christmas covers (“Silent Night” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”). The former featured on Paige’s own 2012 seasonal release, Holiday. After a lengthy period of silence and a crowdfunding campaign launched in 2015, Paige returned with her fifth studio full-length, Starflower, which was released in 2017. ~ Jason Ankeny & Neil Z. Yeung, Rovi
Melissa Etheridge
Melissa Lou Etheridge, born on May 29, 1961, is a renowned American singer, songwriter, musician, and guitarist. Etheridge made her mark in the music industry with her eponymous debut album in 1988, which quickly gained popularity and reached No. 22 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album’s lead single, ‘Bring Me Some Water,’ earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female in 1989. Following the success of her debut, Etheridge released her second album, ‘Brave and Crazy,’ in the same year, securing two more Grammy nominations.
In 1992, Etheridge introduced her third album, ‘Never Enough,’ featuring the award-winning lead single ‘Ain’t It Heavy,’ which brought her the first Grammy Award of her career. However, it was her 1993 album ‘Yes I Am’ that propelled her to mainstream stardom. The album produced hits like ‘I’m the Only One,’ ‘If I Wanted To,’ and ‘Come to My Window,’ all of which made it to the Top 40 in the U.S. ‘Yes I Am’ spent a remarkable 138 weeks on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 15 and achieving a RIAA certification of 6× Platinum, making it her best-selling album to date.
Throughout her career, Etheridge continued to release successful albums such as ‘Your Little Secret’ in 1995, ‘Breakdown’ in 1999, ‘Skin’ in 2001, and ‘Lucky’ in 2004. Her journey faced a significant challenge in 2004 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite this, Etheridge returned triumphantly to the stage at the 2005 Grammy Awards, performing a moving tribute to Janis Joplin alongside Joss Stone. Recognized for her resilience, Etheridge released ‘Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled’ later that year, which was a commercial hit. With 16 studio albums under her belt, Etheridge’s musical style is characterized by confessional lyrics, folk-rock melodies, and distinctive vocals. Beyond music, Etheridge is a prominent advocate for gay and lesbian rights since publicly coming out in 1993, earning her numerous accolades including two Grammy Awards and an Academy Award for Best Original Song.