Biography of M People

The visionary behind the hit-making British house team M People is Mike Pickering (b. March 1958; Manchester), a respected DJ who played in Quando Quango, booked several early shows by the Smiths, and signed Happy Mondays and James to Factory Records while working A&R during the mid-'80s. Pickering later moved from Factory to the dance label Deconstruction, where he signed acts in addition to recording material with his own band, T-Coy. He formed M People in 1990 with Heather Small (b. Jan. 20, 1965; London) and former Orange Juice member Paul Heard (b. Oct. 5, 1960; London).The group signed to DeConstruction in 1991, and released the single "Colour My Life" that May. Second single "How Can I Love You More," propelled by Small's deep soul vocals, became a U.K. hit and spawned the 1992 album Northern Soul. Later that year M People issued the remix work Northern Soul Extended, and then began a blockbuster 1993 with "Movin' on Up." The album Elegant Slumming was also a hit, earning the group a BRIT award as Best UK Dance Act. The following year, Bizarre Fruit continued M People's success, and was followed in 1997 by Fresco. During the next two years, a pair of collections appeared: Classic M People and Testify.~ John Bush

Biography of A1 People

As A1 People, Simon Bowring and Matt Early produced nu-skool electro with a heavy debt to old-school acid house and disco. The duo, based in Greenwich, produced music under a variety of guises: Early as Hardbag and Funky Wogan; Bowring as Pentatonik, Troubleshooter, and Pentaura. A1 People released their first material, the "Goin' Down" single, in late 1997 on Hydrogen Dukebox. Another single, "Do It," followed the next year before the release of their debut album Fresh Juice. Visit was issued in early 2001. ~ John Bush