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Hanson (band)
Encyclopedia
Hanson are an American pop rock
band formed in Tulsa, Oklahoma
, by brothers Isaac
(guitar, vocals), Taylor
(keyboards, piano, vocals), and Zac Hanson
(drums, vocals). They are best known for the 1997 hit song "MMMBop
" from their major label debut album Middle of Nowhere
, which earned three Grammy nominations. Despite the enormous commercial success of Middle of Nowhere, the band suffered from the merger that eliminated their label, Mercury Records
. The group was moved to Island Def Jam Music Group, which they eventually left after conflict with the label about creative input. Hanson have sold over 16 million records worldwide and have had eight top 40 singles in the UK and six top 40 singles in the US. The band now records under its own label, 3CG Records
.
Lawyer). The Hanson family also includes younger siblings: Jessica Grace (July 31, 1988), Avery Laurel (November 6, 1990), Joshua Mackenzie (January 7, 1994), and Zoë Genevieve (January 14, 1998).
Isaac married Nikki Dufresne (born November 25, 1983) on September 30, 2006; they have two sons, Clarke Everett (April 3, 2007) and James Monroe (July 1, 2008). Taylor married Natalie Bryant (December 28, 1983) on June 8, 2002; they have four children, Jordan Ezra (October 31, 2002), Penelope Anne (April 19, 2005), River Samuel (September 4, 2006), and Viggo Moriah (December 9, 2008). Zac married Kate Tucker (November 29, 1983) on June 3, 2006. The couple have 2 children, John Ira Shepherd (May 27, 2008), and Junia Rosa Ruth (December 15, 2010).
Men in the Hanson family are usually called by their middle names - most notably band members Isaac and Taylor, along with brother Joshua ("Mac" Mackenzie), father Clarke ("Walker"), Isaac's sons Clarke ("Everett") and James ("Monroe"), Taylor's son Jordan ("Ezra"), and Zac's son John Ira ("Shepherd").
and recorded songs like "Rockin' Robin
", "Splish Splash
" and "Johnny B. Goode
", as well as their own material. Their first performance as a professional group took place in 1992 at the Mayfest Arts Festival in Tulsa
.
Hanson also appeared on Carman
's Yo! Kidz: The Vidz, which cast Taylor as a young Biblical David
facing Goliath, Isaac as an event announcer, and Zac and other members of the family in the stands cheering on this "sporting event".
All three boys started their musical careers as pianists. Isaac later picked up a second-hand guitar, Zac borrowed an old set of drums, and Taylor became the keyboard player of what turned into a garage band
. The band recorded two independent albums in their hometown of Tulsa, Boomerang
(recorded in autumn 1994, released in 1995) and MMMBop
(released in 1996). The latter featured the original version of the song "MMMBop," which would later become the runaway single on their debut commercial record Middle of Nowhere
. The boys then found themselves at the South By Southwest
(aka SXSW) music festival in Austin, Texas
. There, they were promptly signed by manager Christopher Sabec
. He shopped them to several record companies, most of which dismissed the band as either a novelty or fraud before Steve Greenberg
, an A&R representative for Mercury Records
, heard them play a set at the Kansas State Fair
. After this performance, they were signed almost immediately by Mercury. They soon became a worldwide sensation with the release of their first major-label album, Middle of Nowhere
, which was produced by the Dust Brothers
.
Middle of Nowhere
was released in the U.S. on May 6, 1997, selling 10 million copies worldwide. May 6 was declared 'Hanson Day' in Tulsa by Oklahoma's then-governor Frank Keating
. Although 'Hanson Day' was originally intended to be a one-time occurrence, many Hanson fans all over the world still recognize May 6 as Hanson Day every year. Hanson's popularity exploded during the summer of 1997, and Mercury Records
released Hanson's first documentary Tulsa, Tokyo, and the Middle of Nowhere and their Christmas album Snowed In
in the wake of their success. Hanson also launched MOE (which stood for Middle of Everywhere), a fan club magazine that ran for 12 issues. After numerous unauthorized biographies of each of the brothers were published, Hanson turned to their close friend, Jarrod Gollihare of Admiral Twin, to write their authorized biography. Hanson: The Official Book reached number 9 on the New York Times Best Sellers List (nonfiction) on February 1, 1998. The band was nominated for three Grammy Award
s in 1998: Record of the Year
, Best New Artist
, and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
. During the summer of 1998, Hanson began a highly successful concert tour, the Albertane Tour
. They performed a string of shows throughout stadiums and arenas in the U.S., targeting young audiences with a playful and energetic style. A live album, titled Live From Albertane
, was released the following fall, as well as their second documentary The Road to Albertane
.
In response to the demand for their earlier work, Hanson re-released MMMBop
as 3 Car Garage
, minus four tracks, in May 1998. To date, the tracks from Boomerang
have not been re-released. Three tracks from Boomerang
("Boomerang", "More Than Anything", and "Rain (Falling Down)") and two of the remaining tracks from MMMBop
("Incredible" and "Baby (You're So Fine)") were released on the first MOE CD sent to fan club members.
During the Albertane Tour, Hanson wrote and demoed what would later become the songs for their fifth major studio album (Seventh overall), This Time Around. During this time period, Mercury Records, the band's label, had been merged with Island Def Jam. Almost immediately following the changeover in May 2000, Hanson released their seventh album, This Time Around, but due to lack of promotional funding, sales were low and the label eventually pulled funding for their tour. The band toured through the summer and fall of 2000 on their own funds.
to seek more creative freedom. Label executives had refused over 80 songs from the band, believing new material lacked marketability. The documentary film Strong Enough to Break
follows these events.
Hanson now records for their own independent label
, 3CG Records
. The label has distribution deals through Alternative Distribution Alliance
in the United States, Cooking Vinyl
in Europe, Sony Music in Asia and with various other distributors throughout the world. During the dispute with their former label, Hanson signed with the management company, 10th Street Entertainment, which also manages artists such as Meat Loaf
and Blondie
.
The band's Underneath Acoustic tour occurred during the Summer and Fall of 2003. Music included acoustic versions of songs from the then-forthcoming release, Underneath. The tour ended November 5, 2003 with a performance at Carnegie Hall
.
Released on April 20, 2004, Underneath sold 37,500 copies on the first week of release in the US alone. The album debuted at #1 on Billboard Top Independent Albums chart and #25 on the Billboard 200
album chart, making Underneath one of the most successful self-released albums of all time.
In autumn 2005, Hanson toured in the U.S. and Canada to support The Best of Hanson: Live & Electric
. They also visited colleges to showcase Strong Enough to Break
, the documentary chronicling difficulties with and departure from Island Def Jam. During college visits, the band held question-and-answer sessions about independent artists' role in the music industry.
was also released on iTunes. The program is edited into 13 episodes for release by podcast.
In March, 2007, Hanson began a "preview tour" to promote The Walk and give fans a taste of recent work. Over six days, Hanson performed at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey, Toad's Place in New Haven, Connecticut, The Crocodile Rock in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and The Supper Club in New York City. On March 30, Taylor and Zac appeared in Dallas, TX to screen their documentary at the AFI Film Festival. Afterward, the brothers held a Q&A session along with director Ashley Greyson
. Hanson performed in the UK during April 2007, playing songs from The Walk. They also promoted the release of the single "Go
" and the UK release of the album.
The Walk
, Hanson's second studio album with 3CG Records (seventh overall), was released in the U.S., Mexico and Canada on July 24. It was released in Japan on February 21 and in the UK on April 30.
On May 6, 2007, the 10th anniversary of Hanson Day, the band re-recorded their first major label album (third overall), Middle Of Nowhere
, at The Blank Slate bar in their hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma
. The band invited fan club members, causing hundreds to fly to Oklahoma for the acoustic event. Hanson played concerts in the summer of 2007, supporting release of The Walk. The band appeared in Providence
, Boston
, New York City, Toronto
, and Los Angeles.
The record Middle of Nowhere Acoustic
was released at the end of that year, exclusively on Hanson.net. The record included all but three songs of those originally in Middle of Nowhere
("Speechless", "Thinking of You" and "With You in Your Dreams") and featured the song Yearbook, never performed live before.
. The tour started in Hanson's hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma
, on September 30, 2009 and finished November 11, 2009 in Anaheim, California.
Hanson also released a five-song EP titled Stand Up, Stand Up
that was available at shows and on the band's official website. The tracks are acoustic versions of four new Hanson songs, plus the album version of "World's on Fire" which was originally going to be on their album Shout It Out but was ultimately left off the album. It was released worldwide on iTunes on December 8, 2009.
Meanwhile, in early 2009 Taylor Hanson launched a separate project including members of Smashing Pumpkins, Fountains of Wayne
and Cheap Trick
called Tinted Windows
, a power pop quartet whose debut album quickly earned critical praise and repeat airplay on leading syndicated FM radio programs.
In December 2009, Hanson announced they would play five consecutive concerts at New York's Gramercy Theater
. Each concert featured one of the band's four previous albums in their entirety, and the premiere of their upcoming Spring 2010 release. Dubbed 'Five of Five', the engagement began with a performance of Hanson's debut, Middle of Nowhere
, on April 26, 2010 and then moved onto 2000's This Time Around on April 27. 2004's Underneath followed on April 28 with 2007's The Walk on April 29. On April 30, the band unveiled their new album, Shout It Out. The concert series was also streamed live on band's official website, Hanson.net, and included an exclusive "Backstage Pass" stream for fan club members.
On March 6, 2010, Hanson shot dance and other sequences for their upcoming music video of their new single, "Thinking 'Bout Somethin'
", at Greenwood Avenue in Tulsa. Hanson recruited professional dancers for the shoot and also invited fans and local residents to take part in the video, which is an homage to the Blues Brothers. The video was directed by Todd Edwards, co-founder of Blue Yonder Films
. It was released for public viewing on their MySpace
channel on April 15, 2010. "Weird Al" Yankovic
has a cameo appearance as the tambourine player.
Hanson was the musical guest at the Tulsa stop of The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour
starring Conan O'Brien
on May 15, 2010. Conan accompanied the band in playing a cover of the song Never Been to Spain by American rock legends Three Dog Night
.
In June 2010, Hanson performed with former American Idol
contestant Siobhan Magnus
.
On June 8, 2010, Hanson's eighth studio record was released. Shout It Out
debuted at number 30 on Billboard 200, number 2 on the Indie chart, and #16 on the digital chart. On June 15, 2010, the band's free concert at the South Street Seaport
in New York City
rather incongruously ended in a riot after an estimated 20,000 fans showed up at a venue which could only accommodate half that many people. The rapper Drake
was also on the bill.
Hanson offered a "platinum package" of their Shout It Out record which included artwork hand-painted by the band's members. In October, 2010, Hanson released "The 113 Painting Book" which includes the paintings they created for these packages.
To promote their new album, Shout It Out
, Hanson toured from July 2010 through November 2010. The tour kicked off in Buffalo, NY
on July 21, with the final show in Toronto, ON
, on November 23. Throughout the tour, the band broadcasted live streams from their website. The footage included introducing the local musician winners of their opening band contest, a few full length concerts, and walks with fans to fight AIDS and poverty in Africa for their Take the Walk Campaign. One of the most notable concerts included two days in November at Walt Disney World Resort's Food and Wine Festival for the Eat to the Beat concert series.
As an April Fools' Day
joke, Hanson covered the song "Wait and Bleed
" by the heavy metal
band Slipknot
, and the website Shockhound
claimed that Hanson would record an entire album of Slipknot covers.
On April 25, 2011, Hanson sang their hit "MMMBop" on the U.S. version of Dancing with the Stars. The band also makes a cameo in Katy Perry
's music video for her song "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)
".
, South Africa to create "Great Divide
", which was released in the UK and U.S through iTunes in December 2006. All proceeds from the song were directed towards research and prevention of AIDS
in Africa.
On September 10, 2007, Hanson began "The Walk Tour" in Nashville. During the tour, Hanson continued their work against poverty and AIDS in Africa, partnering with American company, TOMS Shoes
. As part of TOMS' "Shoe Drop", for every pair of shoes sold, the company donated another pair for a child in Africa. Hanson brought awareness to this campaign by asking fans to join them in a 1-mile barefoot walk before each concert, to represent what a typical African child goes through on a daily basis.
The Walk tour was suspended after Isaac underwent lifesaving surgery for a pulmonary embolism
. Doctors treated his condition by relieving blood flow restrictions caused by excess chest muscle and scar tissue from the repetitive motions of guitar playing The tour resumed with Midwest and East Coast dates March through May, 2008. The brothers wrapped up the second leg of "The Walk Tour" after playing 20 concerts in four weeks.
Hanson embarked on the "Walk Around the World Tour" starting on September 7, 2008 in Portland, Oregon and ending November 16, 2008 in San Diego, California. Once again Hanson continued to help fight poverty in Africa
by continuing their 1-mile walks before the shows. A coffee table book
titled "Take the Walk" was released in late 2008 to coincide with their "Walk Around the World Tour". This book presents the band's story behind their inspiration for their fight on poverty in Africa. The book also features a special EP with new tracks recorded especially for the project. Both the music and the book will raise further funds for aid groups in Africa.
Hanson also joined the 9th annual Independent Music Awards
judging panel to assist independent musicians' careers.
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
band formed in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, by brothers Isaac
Isaac Hanson
Isaac Hanson is an American musician best known as a member of the pop rock trio Hanson, which includes his two younger brothers Taylor and Zac...
(guitar, vocals), Taylor
Taylor Hanson
Taylor Hanson is an American musician best known as a member of the pop rock band Hanson. He sings both lead and back-up vocals, and plays keyboard, percussion , guitar, harmonica, and piano...
(keyboards, piano, vocals), and Zac Hanson
Zac Hanson
Zachary Walker "Zac" Hanson is an American musician, best known as a member of the pop band Hanson. He plays drums, percussion, piano, guitar and also sings back-up and lead vocals...
(drums, vocals). They are best known for the 1997 hit song "MMMBop
MMMBop
"MMMBop" is a song written and performed by the American pop rock band Hanson from their 1997 album Middle of Nowhere. The song was nominated for two Grammys at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards in February 1998, and is the band's most successful single to date.By any measure, "MMMBop" was phenomenally...
" from their major label debut album Middle of Nowhere
Middle of Nowhere (Hanson album)
Middle of Nowhere is the third album by American pop rock group Hanson, and the first to be released on a major label, which was Polygram Records and Mercury Records. Released in 1997, it features slicker studio production compared to their previous indie efforts Boomerang and MMMBop...
, which earned three Grammy nominations. Despite the enormous commercial success of Middle of Nowhere, the band suffered from the merger that eliminated their label, Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
. The group was moved to Island Def Jam Music Group, which they eventually left after conflict with the label about creative input. Hanson have sold over 16 million records worldwide and have had eight top 40 singles in the UK and six top 40 singles in the US. The band now records under its own label, 3CG Records
3CG Records
3CG Records is an independent record label started by the pop/rock group Hanson in October 2003. "3CG" is the acronym for "3 Car Garage", a reference both to the album Hanson released as a compilation of songs they had previously released independently , before they had chart success, and to the...
.
Biographical information
Clarke Isaac (born November 17, 1980), Jordan Taylor (March 14, 1983) and Zachary Walker (October 22, 1985) are the oldest children of Clarke Walker Hanson and Diana Hanson (néeNEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Lawyer). The Hanson family also includes younger siblings: Jessica Grace (July 31, 1988), Avery Laurel (November 6, 1990), Joshua Mackenzie (January 7, 1994), and Zoë Genevieve (January 14, 1998).
Isaac married Nikki Dufresne (born November 25, 1983) on September 30, 2006; they have two sons, Clarke Everett (April 3, 2007) and James Monroe (July 1, 2008). Taylor married Natalie Bryant (December 28, 1983) on June 8, 2002; they have four children, Jordan Ezra (October 31, 2002), Penelope Anne (April 19, 2005), River Samuel (September 4, 2006), and Viggo Moriah (December 9, 2008). Zac married Kate Tucker (November 29, 1983) on June 3, 2006. The couple have 2 children, John Ira Shepherd (May 27, 2008), and Junia Rosa Ruth (December 15, 2010).
Men in the Hanson family are usually called by their middle names - most notably band members Isaac and Taylor, along with brother Joshua ("Mac" Mackenzie), father Clarke ("Walker"), Isaac's sons Clarke ("Everett") and James ("Monroe"), Taylor's son Jordan ("Ezra"), and Zac's son John Ira ("Shepherd").
1992–1996: Early years
In the early to mid 1990s, Isaac, Taylor and Zac sang a cappellaA cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
and recorded songs like "Rockin' Robin
Rockin' Robin (song)
This article is about the song. For the wrestler, see Rockin' Robin ."Rockin' Robin" is a song written by Leon René under the pseudonym Jimmie Thomas and recorded by Bobby Day in 1958. It was Day's only hit single, becoming a number-two hit on the Billboard Hot 100...
", "Splish Splash
Splish Splash (song)
"Splish Splash" is a 1958 song performed and co-written by Bobby Darin. It was written with DJ Murray the K , who bet that Darin couldn't write a song that began with the words, "Splish Splash, I was takin' a bath", as suggested by Murray's mother, Jean Kaufman. The song was credited to Darin and...
" and "Johnny B. Goode
Johnny B. Goode
"Johnny B. Goode" is a 1958 rock and roll song written and originally performed by American musician Chuck Berry. The song was a major hit among both black and white audiences peaking at #2 on Billboard magazine's Hot R&B Sides chart and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.The song is one of Chuck Berry's...
", as well as their own material. Their first performance as a professional group took place in 1992 at the Mayfest Arts Festival in Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
.
Hanson also appeared on Carman
Carman (singer)
Carmelo Domenic Licciardello known by his stage name, Carman, is a contemporary Christian music artist and evangelist.-Biography:...
's Yo! Kidz: The Vidz, which cast Taylor as a young Biblical David
David
David was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible and, according to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, an ancestor of Jesus Christ through both Saint Joseph and Mary...
facing Goliath, Isaac as an event announcer, and Zac and other members of the family in the stands cheering on this "sporting event".
All three boys started their musical careers as pianists. Isaac later picked up a second-hand guitar, Zac borrowed an old set of drums, and Taylor became the keyboard player of what turned into a garage band
Garage band
The term garage band can refer to:* A band that performs garage rock* GarageBand, audio production software published by Apple Inc.* GarageBand.com, a website that helps publicize emerging bands...
. The band recorded two independent albums in their hometown of Tulsa, Boomerang
Boomerang (Hanson album)
Boomerang is the first album by American pop rock group Hanson. Released in 1995 , it was an independent release, funded by the group's father. It is very uncommon to find this CD for sale anywhere, for only a large handful were produced...
(recorded in autumn 1994, released in 1995) and MMMBop
MMMBop (album)
MMMBop was released in 1996 and is Hanson's second independent album after Boomerang . It contains a few songs that were later rerecorded for their third studio album Middle of Nowhere . Many of these songs were also rereleased on 3 Car Garage . This album was not available in many stores and was...
(released in 1996). The latter featured the original version of the song "MMMBop," which would later become the runaway single on their debut commercial record Middle of Nowhere
Middle of Nowhere (Hanson album)
Middle of Nowhere is the third album by American pop rock group Hanson, and the first to be released on a major label, which was Polygram Records and Mercury Records. Released in 1997, it features slicker studio production compared to their previous indie efforts Boomerang and MMMBop...
. The boys then found themselves at the South By Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
(aka SXSW) music festival in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. There, they were promptly signed by manager Christopher Sabec
Christopher Sabec
Christopher Sabec is an entertainment attorney, manager and executive who has worked with Dave Matthews Band, Hanson, the Jerry Garcia Estate and Tea Leaf GreenSabec currently is the co-founder and CEO of DigitalRights...
. He shopped them to several record companies, most of which dismissed the band as either a novelty or fraud before Steve Greenberg
Steve Greenberg (record producer)
Steve Greenberg is a record producer currently heading the S-Curve Records label. He is noted for "discovering" popular musical acts such as Hanson, Baha Men, Jonas Brothers and Joss Stone. He received a 2000 Grammy Award in the "Best Dance Recording" category as a producer of "Who Let the Dogs...
, an A&R representative for Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
, heard them play a set at the Kansas State Fair
Kansas State Fair
The annual Kansas State Fair is held in Hutchinson each September. The 2012 State Fair runs from September 7 through September 16.The Kansas State Fair is held annually beginning the Friday following Labor Day and lasts for 10 days at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Kansas.The largest...
. After this performance, they were signed almost immediately by Mercury. They soon became a worldwide sensation with the release of their first major-label album, Middle of Nowhere
Middle of Nowhere (Hanson album)
Middle of Nowhere is the third album by American pop rock group Hanson, and the first to be released on a major label, which was Polygram Records and Mercury Records. Released in 1997, it features slicker studio production compared to their previous indie efforts Boomerang and MMMBop...
, which was produced by the Dust Brothers
Dust Brothers
The Dust Brothers are the Los Angeles, California based, Grammy Award winning producers, E.Z. Mike and King Gizmo , famous for their sample-based music in the 1980s and 1990s, and specifically for their work on the albums Paul's Boutique by the Beastie Boys, Odelay by Beck, and the soundtrack to...
.
1997–2000: Commercial success
Middle of Nowhere (Hanson album)
Middle of Nowhere is the third album by American pop rock group Hanson, and the first to be released on a major label, which was Polygram Records and Mercury Records. Released in 1997, it features slicker studio production compared to their previous indie efforts Boomerang and MMMBop...
was released in the U.S. on May 6, 1997, selling 10 million copies worldwide. May 6 was declared 'Hanson Day' in Tulsa by Oklahoma's then-governor Frank Keating
Frank Keating
Francis Anthony "Frank" Keating is an American politician from Oklahoma. Keating served as the 25th Governor of Oklahoma. His first term began in 1995 and ended in 1999...
. Although 'Hanson Day' was originally intended to be a one-time occurrence, many Hanson fans all over the world still recognize May 6 as Hanson Day every year. Hanson's popularity exploded during the summer of 1997, and Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
released Hanson's first documentary Tulsa, Tokyo, and the Middle of Nowhere and their Christmas album Snowed In
Snowed In
Snowed In is the fourth album by American pop rock group Hanson. A Christmas album, it was quickly released following the success of their previous album, Middle of Nowhere, and was recorded in London...
in the wake of their success. Hanson also launched MOE (which stood for Middle of Everywhere), a fan club magazine that ran for 12 issues. After numerous unauthorized biographies of each of the brothers were published, Hanson turned to their close friend, Jarrod Gollihare of Admiral Twin, to write their authorized biography. Hanson: The Official Book reached number 9 on the New York Times Best Sellers List (nonfiction) on February 1, 1998. The band was nominated for three Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s in 1998: Record of the Year
Grammy Award for Record of the Year
The Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer....
, Best New Artist
Grammy Award for Best New Artist
The Grammy Award for Best New Artist has been awarded since 1959. Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were handed out, for records released in the previous year. The award was not presented in 1967...
, and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
The Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals was awarded between 1966 and 2011...
. During the summer of 1998, Hanson began a highly successful concert tour, the Albertane Tour
Albertane Tour
The Albertane Tour was the American teenage pop rock band Hanson's first major concert tour. Albertane took off in 1998 after Hanson's album, Middle of Nowhere, became a huge hit the previous year...
. They performed a string of shows throughout stadiums and arenas in the U.S., targeting young audiences with a playful and energetic style. A live album, titled Live From Albertane
Live from Albertane
Live from Albertane is a live album by American pop rock group Hanson. As the name suggests, it is a live album, recorded during the group's Albertane Tour...
, was released the following fall, as well as their second documentary The Road to Albertane
The Road to Albertane
The Road to Albertane is a 1998 documentary that follows the American teenage band Hanson on their first major concert tour - the Albertane Tour....
.
In response to the demand for their earlier work, Hanson re-released MMMBop
MMMBop (album)
MMMBop was released in 1996 and is Hanson's second independent album after Boomerang . It contains a few songs that were later rerecorded for their third studio album Middle of Nowhere . Many of these songs were also rereleased on 3 Car Garage . This album was not available in many stores and was...
as 3 Car Garage
3 Car Garage
-Personnel:* John Chambers – guitar* JaMarc Davis – guitar* Louis Drapp – bass, guitar, harmonica* Isaac Hanson – fiddle, piano, guitar, producer, sequencing, lead vocals* Taylor Hanson – piano, conga, drums, producer, lead vocals...
, minus four tracks, in May 1998. To date, the tracks from Boomerang
Boomerang (Hanson album)
Boomerang is the first album by American pop rock group Hanson. Released in 1995 , it was an independent release, funded by the group's father. It is very uncommon to find this CD for sale anywhere, for only a large handful were produced...
have not been re-released. Three tracks from Boomerang
Boomerang (Hanson album)
Boomerang is the first album by American pop rock group Hanson. Released in 1995 , it was an independent release, funded by the group's father. It is very uncommon to find this CD for sale anywhere, for only a large handful were produced...
("Boomerang", "More Than Anything", and "Rain (Falling Down)") and two of the remaining tracks from MMMBop
MMMBop (album)
MMMBop was released in 1996 and is Hanson's second independent album after Boomerang . It contains a few songs that were later rerecorded for their third studio album Middle of Nowhere . Many of these songs were also rereleased on 3 Car Garage . This album was not available in many stores and was...
("Incredible" and "Baby (You're So Fine)") were released on the first MOE CD sent to fan club members.
During the Albertane Tour, Hanson wrote and demoed what would later become the songs for their fifth major studio album (Seventh overall), This Time Around. During this time period, Mercury Records, the band's label, had been merged with Island Def Jam. Almost immediately following the changeover in May 2000, Hanson released their seventh album, This Time Around, but due to lack of promotional funding, sales were low and the label eventually pulled funding for their tour. The band toured through the summer and fall of 2000 on their own funds.
2001–05: Independent career
After a three year struggle, the brothers left Island Def Jam RecordsThe Island Def Jam Music Group
The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group, formerly The Island Def Jam Music Group, is an umbrella label formed in 1999 when Universal Music Group merged two of its daughter companies, Island Records and Def Jam Recordings, to create a label group. In 2011, Motown Records was split from the Universal...
to seek more creative freedom. Label executives had refused over 80 songs from the band, believing new material lacked marketability. The documentary film Strong Enough to Break
Strong Enough to Break
Strong Enough to Break is a documentary film by Ashley Greyson that follows Hanson's struggle to release a follow up to their second studio album, This Time Around, and the creation of their independent record label 3CG Records...
follows these events.
Hanson now records for their own independent label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
, 3CG Records
3CG Records
3CG Records is an independent record label started by the pop/rock group Hanson in October 2003. "3CG" is the acronym for "3 Car Garage", a reference both to the album Hanson released as a compilation of songs they had previously released independently , before they had chart success, and to the...
. The label has distribution deals through Alternative Distribution Alliance
Alternative Distribution Alliance
The Alternative Distribution Alliance was created in 1993 by Warner Music Group and Sub Pop Records as a joint venture to distribute and manufacture records owned by indie labels. Headed up by Mitchell Wolk, ADA is the leading "indie" distribution company in the U.S. for both physical and digital...
in the United States, Cooking Vinyl
Cooking Vinyl
Cooking Vinyl is a UK-based independent record company, founded in 1986. Its original orientation was toward contemporary folk music—notably Billy Bragg, and Michelle Shocked's Texas Campfire Tapes, recorded on a Sony Walkman, one of its first releases...
in Europe, Sony Music in Asia and with various other distributors throughout the world. During the dispute with their former label, Hanson signed with the management company, 10th Street Entertainment, which also manages artists such as Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
and Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
.
The band's Underneath Acoustic tour occurred during the Summer and Fall of 2003. Music included acoustic versions of songs from the then-forthcoming release, Underneath. The tour ended November 5, 2003 with a performance at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
.
Released on April 20, 2004, Underneath sold 37,500 copies on the first week of release in the US alone. The album debuted at #1 on Billboard Top Independent Albums chart and #25 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
album chart, making Underneath one of the most successful self-released albums of all time.
In autumn 2005, Hanson toured in the U.S. and Canada to support The Best of Hanson: Live & Electric
The Best of Hanson: Live & Electric
The Best of Hanson: Live & Electric is Hanson's second live album and is the first live album to be released under their independent record label 3CG Records...
. They also visited colleges to showcase Strong Enough to Break
Strong Enough to Break
Strong Enough to Break is a documentary film by Ashley Greyson that follows Hanson's struggle to release a follow up to their second studio album, This Time Around, and the creation of their independent record label 3CG Records...
, the documentary chronicling difficulties with and departure from Island Def Jam. During college visits, the band held question-and-answer sessions about independent artists' role in the music industry.
2006–08: The Walk and tenth anniversary
On January 15, 2007, Hanson released on iTunes the first episode of their documentary podcast "Taking the Walk", detailing production of the studio album. The first episode of the band's documentary Strong Enough to BreakStrong Enough to Break
Strong Enough to Break is a documentary film by Ashley Greyson that follows Hanson's struggle to release a follow up to their second studio album, This Time Around, and the creation of their independent record label 3CG Records...
was also released on iTunes. The program is edited into 13 episodes for release by podcast.
In March, 2007, Hanson began a "preview tour" to promote The Walk and give fans a taste of recent work. Over six days, Hanson performed at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey, Toad's Place in New Haven, Connecticut, The Crocodile Rock in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and The Supper Club in New York City. On March 30, Taylor and Zac appeared in Dallas, TX to screen their documentary at the AFI Film Festival. Afterward, the brothers held a Q&A session along with director Ashley Greyson
Ashley Greyson
Ashley Greyson is a film and music video director, cinematographer, editor, and producer, who usually works with the band Hanson. He attended the USC School of Cinematic Arts....
. Hanson performed in the UK during April 2007, playing songs from The Walk. They also promoted the release of the single "Go
Go (Hanson song)
"Go" is a song written and performed by the pop-rock band Hanson. It is the second single from their album, The Walk , and the first single to be sung by youngest brother Zac Hanson.-Track listings:...
" and the UK release of the album.
The Walk
The Walk (Hanson album)
The Walk is the seventh album by American pop rock group Hanson. It was released on July 24, 2007 in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and on April 30, 2007 in the UK and on February 21, 2007 in Japan...
, Hanson's second studio album with 3CG Records (seventh overall), was released in the U.S., Mexico and Canada on July 24. It was released in Japan on February 21 and in the UK on April 30.
On May 6, 2007, the 10th anniversary of Hanson Day, the band re-recorded their first major label album (third overall), Middle Of Nowhere
Middle of Nowhere (Hanson album)
Middle of Nowhere is the third album by American pop rock group Hanson, and the first to be released on a major label, which was Polygram Records and Mercury Records. Released in 1997, it features slicker studio production compared to their previous indie efforts Boomerang and MMMBop...
, at The Blank Slate bar in their hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
. The band invited fan club members, causing hundreds to fly to Oklahoma for the acoustic event. Hanson played concerts in the summer of 2007, supporting release of The Walk. The band appeared in Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, New York City, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, and Los Angeles.
The record Middle of Nowhere Acoustic
Middle of Nowhere Acoustic
Middle of Nowhere Acoustic is a live acoustic album and DVD by Hanson. It was recorded on May 5, 2007 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their debut album Middle of Nowhere...
was released at the end of that year, exclusively on Hanson.net. The record included all but three songs of those originally in Middle of Nowhere
Middle of Nowhere (Hanson album)
Middle of Nowhere is the third album by American pop rock group Hanson, and the first to be released on a major label, which was Polygram Records and Mercury Records. Released in 1997, it features slicker studio production compared to their previous indie efforts Boomerang and MMMBop...
("Speechless", "Thinking of You" and "With You in Your Dreams") and featured the song Yearbook, never performed live before.
2009–present: Shout It Out
It was confirmed in June 2009 that the upcoming Hanson album was completed (titled "Shout It Out"), and planned for release on June 8, 2010. The band also announced that they would be co-headlining a tour with HellogoodbyeHellogoodbye
Hellogoodbye is a power pop band that was formed in Huntington Beach, California in 2001 by singer Forrest Kline. They were signed to Drive-Thru Records and released their first full-length album Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! in 2006, in addition to their previously released EP Hellogoodbye...
. The tour started in Hanson's hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, on September 30, 2009 and finished November 11, 2009 in Anaheim, California.
Hanson also released a five-song EP titled Stand Up, Stand Up
Stand Up, Stand Up (Hanson EP)
Stand Up, Stand Up is a live acoustic EP released by Hanson, recorded at the Tulsa Little Theatre in May 2009 with an intimate crowd of about 700 fan-club members over two days...
that was available at shows and on the band's official website. The tracks are acoustic versions of four new Hanson songs, plus the album version of "World's on Fire" which was originally going to be on their album Shout It Out but was ultimately left off the album. It was released worldwide on iTunes on December 8, 2009.
Meanwhile, in early 2009 Taylor Hanson launched a separate project including members of Smashing Pumpkins, Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne is an American power pop band that formed in New York City in 1996. The band consists of members Chris Collingwood, Adam Schlesinger, Jody Porter and Brian Young.-Early years:...
and Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
called Tinted Windows
Tinted Windows (band)
Tinted Windows is an American rock supergroup formed by guitarist James Iha, previously of The Smashing Pumpkins, singer Taylor Hanson of Hanson, bassist Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne and Ivy, and Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick. Josh Lattanzi also often performs with the band as the second...
, a power pop quartet whose debut album quickly earned critical praise and repeat airplay on leading syndicated FM radio programs.
In December 2009, Hanson announced they would play five consecutive concerts at New York's Gramercy Theater
Gramercy Theater
Gramercy Theatre is a music venue in Manhattan.-History:Built in 1937 and designed by architect Charles A. Sandblom in the Streamline Moderne style, the theatre is located at 127 E...
. Each concert featured one of the band's four previous albums in their entirety, and the premiere of their upcoming Spring 2010 release. Dubbed 'Five of Five', the engagement began with a performance of Hanson's debut, Middle of Nowhere
Middle of Nowhere (Hanson album)
Middle of Nowhere is the third album by American pop rock group Hanson, and the first to be released on a major label, which was Polygram Records and Mercury Records. Released in 1997, it features slicker studio production compared to their previous indie efforts Boomerang and MMMBop...
, on April 26, 2010 and then moved onto 2000's This Time Around on April 27. 2004's Underneath followed on April 28 with 2007's The Walk on April 29. On April 30, the band unveiled their new album, Shout It Out. The concert series was also streamed live on band's official website, Hanson.net, and included an exclusive "Backstage Pass" stream for fan club members.
On March 6, 2010, Hanson shot dance and other sequences for their upcoming music video of their new single, "Thinking 'Bout Somethin'
Thinking 'Bout Somethin'
"Thinking 'bout Somethin" is a song written and performed by American pop/rock band Hanson. It is the first single from their album, Shout It Out . Lead vocals are provided by Taylor Hanson....
", at Greenwood Avenue in Tulsa. Hanson recruited professional dancers for the shoot and also invited fans and local residents to take part in the video, which is an homage to the Blues Brothers. The video was directed by Todd Edwards, co-founder of Blue Yonder Films
Blue Yonder Films
Blue Yonder Films, is a film production company based in Los Angeles, and is the creator of the animated motion picture "Hoodwinked!" . Currently they have two films that are in production called 'Escape From Plant Earth' scheduled for release in 2009 and the sequel to Hoodwinked entitled...
. It was released for public viewing on their MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
channel on April 15, 2010. "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
has a cameo appearance as the tambourine player.
Hanson was the musical guest at the Tulsa stop of The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour
The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour
The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour was a comedy tour featuring Conan O'Brien. The title of the tour is a reference to the 2010 Tonight Show host and timeslot conflict which resulted in O'Brien resigning from his position as host of The Tonight Show in January 2010...
starring Conan O'Brien
Conan O'Brien
Conan Christopher O'Brien is an American television host, comedian, writer, producer and performer. Since November 2010 he has hosted Conan, a late-night talk show that airs on the American cable television station TBS....
on May 15, 2010. Conan accompanied the band in playing a cover of the song Never Been to Spain by American rock legends Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night
Three Dog Night is an American rock band best known for their music from 1968 to 1975. During that time the band charted 21 Billboard top 40 hits in America, three of which reached Number One...
.
In June 2010, Hanson performed with former American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
contestant Siobhan Magnus
Siobhan Magnus
Siobhan Evelyn Magnus is an American singer-songwriter from Barnstable, Massachusetts who was the sixth place finalist on the ninth season of American Idol.-Early life:...
.
On June 8, 2010, Hanson's eighth studio record was released. Shout It Out
Shout It Out (Hanson album)
Shout It Out is the eighth studio album released by American pop group Hanson. The album is the third release through their own label 3CG Records.Shout It Out was released on June 8, 2010 in the US, and July 14, 2010 in Japan....
debuted at number 30 on Billboard 200, number 2 on the Indie chart, and #16 on the digital chart. On June 15, 2010, the band's free concert at the South Street Seaport
South Street Seaport
The South Street Seaport is a historic area in the New York City borough of Manhattan, located where Fulton Street meets the East River, and adjacent to the Financial District. The Seaport is a designated historic district, distinct from the neighboring Financial District...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
rather incongruously ended in a riot after an estimated 20,000 fans showed up at a venue which could only accommodate half that many people. The rapper Drake
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
was also on the bill.
Hanson offered a "platinum package" of their Shout It Out record which included artwork hand-painted by the band's members. In October, 2010, Hanson released "The 113 Painting Book" which includes the paintings they created for these packages.
To promote their new album, Shout It Out
Shout It Out (Hanson album)
Shout It Out is the eighth studio album released by American pop group Hanson. The album is the third release through their own label 3CG Records.Shout It Out was released on June 8, 2010 in the US, and July 14, 2010 in Japan....
, Hanson toured from July 2010 through November 2010. The tour kicked off in Buffalo, NY
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
on July 21, with the final show in Toronto, ON
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, on November 23. Throughout the tour, the band broadcasted live streams from their website. The footage included introducing the local musician winners of their opening band contest, a few full length concerts, and walks with fans to fight AIDS and poverty in Africa for their Take the Walk Campaign. One of the most notable concerts included two days in November at Walt Disney World Resort's Food and Wine Festival for the Eat to the Beat concert series.
As an April Fools' Day
April Fools' Day
April Fools' Day is celebrated in different countries around the world on April 1 every year. Sometimes referred to as All Fools' Day, April 1 is not a national holiday, but is widely recognized and celebrated as a day when many people play all kinds of jokes and foolishness...
joke, Hanson covered the song "Wait and Bleed
Wait and Bleed
"Wait and Bleed" is a song by American heavy metal band Slipknot, featured on their 1999 debut self-titled album. The song was re-mixed with more prominent clean-sung vocals, and released as the lead single from the album in July 1999, and peaked at number 34 on the American Billboard Hot...
" by the heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Slipknot
Slipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
, and the website Shockhound
ShockHound
ShockHound was an online music download site, retail store and social networking platform launched by Hot Topic in 2008. ShockHound music files are available for download in the MP3 format, making them compatible with most digital music players, and free from digital rights management software...
claimed that Hanson would record an entire album of Slipknot covers.
On April 25, 2011, Hanson sang their hit "MMMBop" on the U.S. version of Dancing with the Stars. The band also makes a cameo in Katy Perry
Katy Perry
Katy Perry is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Santa Barbara, California, and raised by Christian pastor parents, Perry grew up listening to only gospel music and sang in her local church as a child. After earning a GED during her first year of high school, she began to pursue a...
's music video for her song "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)
Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)
"Last Friday Night " is a song by American recording artist Katy Perry. The song was produced by Lukasz Gottwald and Max Martin, who also co-wrote the song with Perry and Bonnie McKee for Perry's third studio album, Teenage Dream. Perry stated that she was inspired to write the track after a night...
".
Charitable acts
Hanson toured South America, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina-where a lot of Chilean fans traveled to Buenos Aires; and Europe and performed their first full electric shows in Australia during the 2005 "Live and Electric" tour. In July 2006, the band recorded with a school choir in SowetoSoweto
Soweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
, South Africa to create "Great Divide
Great Divide (song)
"Great Divide" is a song written and performed by American pop/rock band Hanson. It is the first single from their album, The Walk . Lead vocals are provided by Taylor Hanson....
", which was released in the UK and U.S through iTunes in December 2006. All proceeds from the song were directed towards research and prevention of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
in Africa.
On September 10, 2007, Hanson began "The Walk Tour" in Nashville. During the tour, Hanson continued their work against poverty and AIDS in Africa, partnering with American company, TOMS Shoes
TOMS Shoes
TOMS Shoes is a for-profit company based in Santa Monica, California, that also operates a non-profit subsidiary, Friends of TOMS. The company was founded in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie, an entrepreneur from Arlington, Texas. The company designs and sells lightweight shoes based on the Argentine...
. As part of TOMS' "Shoe Drop", for every pair of shoes sold, the company donated another pair for a child in Africa. Hanson brought awareness to this campaign by asking fans to join them in a 1-mile barefoot walk before each concert, to represent what a typical African child goes through on a daily basis.
The Walk tour was suspended after Isaac underwent lifesaving surgery for a pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism is a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches by a substance that has travelled from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream . Usually this is due to embolism of a thrombus from the deep veins in the legs, a process termed venous thromboembolism...
. Doctors treated his condition by relieving blood flow restrictions caused by excess chest muscle and scar tissue from the repetitive motions of guitar playing The tour resumed with Midwest and East Coast dates March through May, 2008. The brothers wrapped up the second leg of "The Walk Tour" after playing 20 concerts in four weeks.
Hanson embarked on the "Walk Around the World Tour" starting on September 7, 2008 in Portland, Oregon and ending November 16, 2008 in San Diego, California. Once again Hanson continued to help fight poverty in Africa
Poverty in Africa
Poverty in Africa refers to the lack of basic human needs faced by certain segments of African society. African nations typically fall toward the bottom of any list measuring small size economic activity, such as income per capita or GDP per capita, despite a wealth of natural resources...
by continuing their 1-mile walks before the shows. A coffee table book
Coffee table book
A coffee table book is a hardcover book that is intended to sit on a coffee table or similar surface in an area where guests sit and are entertained, thus inspiring conversation or alleviating boredom. They tend to be oversized and of heavy construction, since there is no pressing need for...
titled "Take the Walk" was released in late 2008 to coincide with their "Walk Around the World Tour". This book presents the band's story behind their inspiration for their fight on poverty in Africa. The book also features a special EP with new tracks recorded especially for the project. Both the music and the book will raise further funds for aid groups in Africa.
Hanson also joined the 9th annual Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
judging panel to assist independent musicians' careers.
Discography
- BoomerangBoomerang (Hanson album)Boomerang is the first album by American pop rock group Hanson. Released in 1995 , it was an independent release, funded by the group's father. It is very uncommon to find this CD for sale anywhere, for only a large handful were produced...
(1995) - MMMBopMMMBop (album)MMMBop was released in 1996 and is Hanson's second independent album after Boomerang . It contains a few songs that were later rerecorded for their third studio album Middle of Nowhere . Many of these songs were also rereleased on 3 Car Garage . This album was not available in many stores and was...
(1996) - Middle of NowhereMiddle of Nowhere (Hanson album)Middle of Nowhere is the third album by American pop rock group Hanson, and the first to be released on a major label, which was Polygram Records and Mercury Records. Released in 1997, it features slicker studio production compared to their previous indie efforts Boomerang and MMMBop...
(1997) - Snowed InSnowed InSnowed In is the fourth album by American pop rock group Hanson. A Christmas album, it was quickly released following the success of their previous album, Middle of Nowhere, and was recorded in London...
(1997) - 3 Car Garage3 Car Garage-Personnel:* John Chambers – guitar* JaMarc Davis – guitar* Louis Drapp – bass, guitar, harmonica* Isaac Hanson – fiddle, piano, guitar, producer, sequencing, lead vocals* Taylor Hanson – piano, conga, drums, producer, lead vocals...
(1998) - Live from AlbertaneLive from AlbertaneLive from Albertane is a live album by American pop rock group Hanson. As the name suggests, it is a live album, recorded during the group's Albertane Tour...
(1998) - This Time Around (2000)
- Underneath (2004)
- The WalkThe Walk (Hanson album)The Walk is the seventh album by American pop rock group Hanson. It was released on July 24, 2007 in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and on April 30, 2007 in the UK and on February 21, 2007 in Japan...
(2007) - Shout It OutShout It Out (Hanson album)Shout It Out is the eighth studio album released by American pop group Hanson. The album is the third release through their own label 3CG Records.Shout It Out was released on June 8, 2010 in the US, and July 14, 2010 in Japan....
(2010) - The Musical Ride Tour (2011)
Tours
- Albertane TourAlbertane TourThe Albertane Tour was the American teenage pop rock band Hanson's first major concert tour. Albertane took off in 1998 after Hanson's album, Middle of Nowhere, became a huge hit the previous year...
(1998) - This Time Around Tour (2000)
- Underneath Acoustic Tour (2003)
- Underneath Tour (2004)
- Live and Electric Tour (2005)
- The Walk Tour (2007)
- The Walk Around The World Tour (2008)
- Use Your Sole Tour (2009)
- Shout It Out Tour (2010)
- The Musical Ride Tour (2011)
Filmography
- Yo! Kidz: The Vidz (1994)
- Tulsa, Tokyo and The Middle of Nowhere (November 18, 1997)
- The Road to AlbertaneThe Road to AlbertaneThe Road to Albertane is a 1998 documentary that follows the American teenage band Hanson on their first major concert tour - the Albertane Tour....
(November 3, 1998) - Noah Knows BestNoah Knows BestNoah Knows Best is a television series that aired on Nickelodeon. The show premiered on October 7, 2000 and was canceled with five unaired episodes out of thirteen produced, due to low ratings. The show starred Phillip Van Dyke as the title character, Noah...
(November 18, 2000) - At The FillmoreAt the Fillmore (Hanson concert)At the Fillmore, is the 2nd live DVD by American band Hanson. It was recorded on 27th June, 2000 at The Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco...
(April 24, 2001) - Frank McKlusky, C.I. (2002)
- Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV series)Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV series)Sabrina, the Teenage Witch is an American sitcom based on the Archie comic book series of the same name.The show stars Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina Spellman, a teenager with magical powers, who lives with her aunts Hilda and Zelda , and their magical talking cat Salem...
(2002) - Underneath Acoustic LiveUnderneath Acoustic Live (Hanson concert)Underneath Acoustic Live, is the 3rd live DVD by American band Hanson. It was recorded on November 11, 2003 at The House of Blues in Chicago...
(July 27, 2004) - Strong Enough to BreakStrong Enough to BreakStrong Enough to Break is a documentary film by Ashley Greyson that follows Hanson's struggle to release a follow up to their second studio album, This Time Around, and the creation of their independent record label 3CG Records...
(2006) - Taking The Walk (2008)
- 5 of 5 (November 30, 2010)
- Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)"Last Friday Night " is a song by American recording artist Katy Perry. The song was produced by Lukasz Gottwald and Max Martin, who also co-wrote the song with Perry and Bonnie McKee for Perry's third studio album, Teenage Dream. Perry stated that she was inspired to write the track after a night...
Katy PerryKaty PerryKaty Perry is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Santa Barbara, California, and raised by Christian pastor parents, Perry grew up listening to only gospel music and sang in her local church as a child. After earning a GED during her first year of high school, she began to pursue a...
's Music Video, (2011)