Simon Harris
Encyclopedia
Simon Harris is predominantly known as the owner and founder of the record label Music of Life
and writer/producer of most of its extensive catalog of songs, although he is also an influential DJ
, award winning producer
, remix
er of several Grammy Award winning artists and pioneer of electronic music
.
, (UK), Harris is a British producer of sample-based
breakbeat
and house music
. Well known as both a remix
er, music label
owner and producer with a hit-making ability and an innovative style, Harris has enjoyed working with many well known and talented people in his 30 year career including Simon Cowell
(American Idol
), James Brown
, Prince
, Joyce Sims
, Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim
), Paul Oakenfold
, Tony! Toni! Toné!
, War
, Arthur Baker
, Boyz II Men
, Heatwave
and many more including several number one hits (Steve "Silk" Hurley, Prince, Bass) licensed and released in over 70 countries.
Originally a DJ, Harris started selling professional audio equipment in London's Tottenham Court Road
, then became a club promoter. In 1983 Harris was invited to become one of the original remixers for Tony Prince's DMC
(now the world's largest DJ association). Harris then joined forces with the late BBC Radio 1
DJ Froggy (1949–2008) and was commissioned for many hit remixes for major labels including Polydor
(James Brown, Roy Ayers
), Chrysalis
(Doug E. Fresh
), A&M
(Jeffrey Osborne
), EMI
, BMG
, Columbia
, Island
, London
and eventually PRT for The Real Thing
's 'You to me are everything' remix (UK number three pop hit). In 1986 Harris and Froggy started their own independent label 'Music of Life'. The label was initially distributed by Morgan Khan's 'Streetwave' group and the first releases were from Cerrone
(Supernature) and Michael Jackson
's sister La Toya
.
Within a short time Froggy left to pursue other projects and Music of Life became one of the UK's first rap/hip-hop labels, initially licensing US products, and then with Harris producing many influential and innovative British rap artists including Derek B
(the label's A&R executive), followed by Daddy Freddy
, MC Duke
, Tenor Fly, Hijack
, Demon Boyz
(Million Dan), and Einstein who later rapped on the UK top ten hit 'Supermarioland
' (Nintendo
) (licensed into many European countries and Japan) for Harris's 'Ambassadors of Funk'. With sister label 'Living Beat', there were many projects with artists including Samantha Fox
(A Song for Europe
), Rolf Harris
(BBC TV
), Dina Carroll
, Jocelyn Brown
and Joyce Sims
. Also, via Germany's Edel Group
, Simon remixed the UK number one pop hit 'The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
' by Prince.
Harris has produced many breakbeat albums designed for DJs and producers, including 'Beats. Breaks and Scratches' in 12 volumes. This was licensed and used by many Grammy Award
winning artists including R.E.M. and Luther Vandross
. Other artists who produced similar albums for Music of Life include Paul Oakenfold
, George Clinton
and Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim).
Harris continued to remix and produce many artists. Simon Cowell commissioned him to remix Sinitta's 'Window Shopping' for his Fanfare label, and shortly thereafter Pete Tong
(BBC Radio 1) signed Harris as an artist to his Polygram FFRR
label. The first release was a rap version of Michael Jackson's Bad (Bad on the Mike). This was followed by 'Bass (how low can you go?)' which achieved US Billboard
Dance Number One status and became a pop hit in many countries including the UK where it was a number 11 pop hit with an appearance by Harris on 'Top of the Pops
'. FFRR released Harris's 'Bass' album next followed by more singles including Marshall Jefferson
's 'I've got your Pleasure control' (with Lonnie Gordon
) and 'Here comes that Sound' (a UK top 40 pop hit).
Summary:
Producer/Performer of Billboard
No1 hit ‘Bass (how low can you go?), this was a hit in many countries with major worldwide releases.
Producer of hit Nintendo
‘Supermario’ dance music release reaching top 10 status in the UK and released in Germany, Australia and Japan with an album and other Nintendo
related releases with the involvement of Mario
’s creator Shigeru Miyamoto
.
Founder of groundbreaking British Hip Hop label ‘Music of Life
’ with hundreds of productions involving new British, US and Jamaican rap and reggae
artists, released in over 70 countries. Music of Life
was founded in 1986 with vinyl single and album releases followed by CD and now downloads featured on iTunes
and other major internet download stores.
Remixer for many major artists and music companies and commissioned by Simon Cowell
(American Idol) for Sinitta remix, projects with Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim
), Arthur Baker, War, James Brown
, George Clinton
, the first Elvis Presley
dance mix (Bossa Nova Baby on RCA), Toni Toni Tone and for Prince
’s first UK number one hit (The Most beautiful Girl in the World).
Responsible for production of groundbreaking fusion of reggae and hip hop with Asher D and Daddy Freddy
, ‘Ragamuffin Hip Hop’ began the ‘ragga’ revolution in 1987 with the initial release on US label Profile
(Run DMC) followed by Chrysalis, this style of music has continued and influenced most of today’s major rap artists many of whom include ragamuffin hip hop
style songs on their hit albums.
Well known music technology innovator at the forefront of the 80s dance music revolution in the field of using samplers on dance music productions, featured on many TV shows and documented in books and magazines as an influential innovative producer and remixer.
Recipient of many gold and silver discs awarded by the British Phonographic Institute in recognition of high sales volumes.
Guest speaker and judge at dance music seminars and conventions including DMC world DJ championships (world’s largest DJ association).
Producer of ‘Beats Breaks and Scratches; series of albums – industry standard world’s best selling breakbeat
and sample album series licensed worldwide and featured by major grammy award winning artists including Luthor Vandross, REM, Beastie Boys
.
Celebrity DJ/demonstrator of JBL
speaker systems at London’s APRS
(association of professional recording studios) followed by special features in UK’s top rated in car audio magazine.
Member of British industry organisations BPI
, PRS, MCPS
, PPL
, VPL and AIM.
Work regularly featured by the BBC
and many other leading British broadcasters. Samples and segments from Harris's work appears on many hits including the instantly recognizable 'Yeah Yeah' vocal sample on 'Get Ready for This
' by 2 Unlimited
and 'Take me to the Hospital' featured on the 2009 UK No1 hit The Prodigy
album 'Invaders Must Die' (EMI).
production (KISS-FM
, CD WOW!
, Coca-Cola
) and several TV documentaries including Run-D.M.C.
(Kings of Rap, broadcast on MTV
in the US) and REM!X (featuring Frankie Knuckles
, David Morales, Jason Nevins
, Arthur Baker, Norman Cook, Paul Oakenfold and more). In addition Harris's productions are currently featured on many motion picture and TV soundtracks. Harris is currently involved in many new projects most notable being his musical production career with a new project studio and is currently working on a new album of his own material which will heavily feature breakbeats, synthesizers and samples due for commercial release in 2011.
Music of Life
Music of Life is a British independent dance music label formed in 1986 by two influential DJ remixers, Froggy and Simon Harris. Following several successful productions, one of which reached No3 in the UK pop music charts Harris and Froggy decided to launch their own label, they were offered a...
and writer/producer of most of its extensive catalog of songs, although he is also an influential DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
, award winning producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
er of several Grammy Award winning artists and pioneer of electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
.
Biography
Originally from LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, (UK), Harris is a British producer of sample-based
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
breakbeat
Breakbeat
In 1992, a new style called "jungalistic hardcore" emerged, and for many ravers it was too funky to dance to. Josh Lawford of Ravescene prophesied that the breakbeat was "the death-knell of rave" because the ever changing drumbeat patterns of breakbeat music didn't allow for the same zoned out,...
and house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
. Well known as both a remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
er, music label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
owner and producer with a hit-making ability and an innovative style, Harris has enjoyed working with many well known and talented people in his 30 year career including Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
(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...
), James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
, Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
, Joyce Sims
Joyce Sims
Joyce Sims is an American singer-songwriter. Her biggest hit single was "Come into My Life," which reached top-10 status in both the US Billboard R&B chart and the UK Singles Chart in 1987/8....
, Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim
Fatboy Slim
Norman Quentin Cook better known by his former stage name Fatboy Slim, is a British DJ, electronic dance music musician, and record producer. He is a pioneer of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s...
), Paul Oakenfold
Paul Oakenfold
Paul Mark Oakenfold is a British record producer and a trance DJ.-Early Career: 1979–84:Paul Oakenfold's career was set to be a chef, after having hopes of becoming part of a band. He describes his early life as a "bedroom deejay" in a podcasted interview with Vancouver's 24 Hours, stating he grew...
, Tony! Toni! Toné!
Tony! Toni! Toné!
Tony! Toni! Toné! is an American Soul/R&B group from Oakland, California, popular during the late 1980s and early to mid 1990s. During the band's heyday, it was composed of D'wayne Wiggins on lead vocals and guitar, his brother Raphael Saadiq on lead vocals and bass, and their cousin Timothy...
, War
War (band)
War is an American funk band from California, known for the hit songs "Low Rider", "Spill the Wine", "The Cisco Kid" and "Why Can't We Be Friends?". Formed in 1969, War was a musical crossover band which fused elements of rock, funk, jazz, Latin, rhythm and blues, and reggae...
, Arthur Baker
Arthur Baker (musician)
Arthur Baker is an American record producer and DJ best known for his work with hip hop artists like Afrika Bambaataa, Planet Patrol, and the British group New Order.-Early career:...
, Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are the most successful R&B group of all time, having sold more than albums worldwide. In the 1990s, Boyz II Men found fame on Motown Records as a quartet, but original member Michael McCary...
, Heatwave
Heatwave (band)
Heatwave was an international funk/disco musical band featuring Americans Johnnie Wilder, Jr. and Keith Wilder of Dayton, Ohio, Englishman Rod Temperton , Swiss Mario Mantese , Czechoslovak Ernest "Bilbo" Berger , Jamaican Eric Johns and Briton Roy Carter .They were known for their successful...
and many more including several number one hits (Steve "Silk" Hurley, Prince, Bass) licensed and released in over 70 countries.
Originally a DJ, Harris started selling professional audio equipment in London's Tottenham Court Road
Tottenham Court Road
Tottenham Court Road is a major road in central London, United Kingdom, running from St Giles Circus north to Euston Road, near the border of the City of Westminster and the London Borough of Camden, a distance of about three-quarters of a mile...
, then became a club promoter. In 1983 Harris was invited to become one of the original remixers for Tony Prince's DMC
Disco Mix Club
Disco Mix Club is a DJ remix service founded by Tony Prince which began as a radio show in 1981 on Radio Luxembourg in the UK. Prince helped popularise a new style of DJ mixes using the turntable as an instrument. DMC started operating as a remix service in 1983. They started producing remix...
(now the world's largest DJ association). Harris then joined forces with the late BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ Froggy (1949–2008) and was commissioned for many hit remixes for major labels including Polydor
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
(James Brown, Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers...
), Chrysalis
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
(Doug E. Fresh
Doug E. Fresh
Douglas E. Davis , better known by the stage name Doug E. Fresh, is an American rapper, record producer, and beat boxer, also known as the Human Beat Box...
), A&M
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
(Jeffrey Osborne
Jeffrey Osborne
Jeffrey Linton Osborne is an American funk and R&B musician, songwriter, lyricist, and former lead singer of the band, L.T.D.-Early life and career:...
), EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
, Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, Island
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
, London
London Records
London Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
and eventually PRT for The Real Thing
The Real Thing (group)
-Albums:Studio albums* Real Thing - UK #34* 4 from 8 * Step Into Our World , retitled Can You Feel the Force - UK #73* ....Saints Or Sinners? Live albums* The Real Thing Live Compilation albums...
's 'You to me are everything' remix (UK number three pop hit). In 1986 Harris and Froggy started their own independent label 'Music of Life'. The label was initially distributed by Morgan Khan's 'Streetwave' group and the first releases were from Cerrone
Cerrone
Marc Cerrone is a French disco drummer, singer-songwriter and record producer.Marc Cerrone has sold over thirty million albums and has often performed in front of hundreds of thousands of people at huge concerts and events such as The 2005 Dance Party Live in Versailles and The 2000 Los Angeles...
(Supernature) and Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's sister La Toya
La Toya Jackson
La Toya Yvonne Jackson is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, television personality, actress, businesswoman, philanthropist, activist and former model. She is the fifth child of the Jackson family...
.
Within a short time Froggy left to pursue other projects and Music of Life became one of the UK's first rap/hip-hop labels, initially licensing US products, and then with Harris producing many influential and innovative British rap artists including Derek B
Derek B
Derek Boland , better known by his stage name Derek B, was a British rapper. His most commercially successful releases were "Goodgroove" and "Bad Young Brother" in 1988.- Biography :...
(the label's A&R executive), followed by Daddy Freddy
Daddy Freddy
S. Frederick Small , better known as Daddy Freddy is a ragga vocalist.-Early life:Small was born in Kingston, Jamaica and grew up in the city's Trenchtown district. His house was a few minutes walk from Coxsone Dodd's influential record studio Studio One.His neighbours were Jacob Miller and...
, MC Duke
MC Duke
MC Duke was a British rapper from the East End of London, who recorded with DJ Leader 1. He was one of the pioneers of the early British hardcore sound and later went on to record as IC3.-Biography:...
, Tenor Fly, Hijack
Hijack (band)
Hijack were a hip hop group from Brixton in London, featuring Kamanchi Sly, DJ Supreme, DJ Undercover, Ulysses, Agent Fritz and Agent Clueso. Their first single, "Style Wars" caught the attention of the British hip hop community...
, Demon Boyz
Demon Boyz
The Demon Boyz were an English hip hop group formed in London by Demon D, Mike J and DJ Devastate. They began rapping whilst in their early teens, performing at the Rebel MC’s Beat Freak gigs. Their big break came when they won a competition on Dave Pearce’s rap show, their prize being to perform...
(Million Dan), and Einstein who later rapped on the UK top ten hit 'Supermarioland
Super Mario Land
is a platforming video game developed by Nintendo for the Game Boy handheld game console. It and the Game Boy debuted in Japan on April 21, 1989, in the United States on July 31, 1989, and in Europe on September 28, 1990...
' (Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
) (licensed into many European countries and Japan) for Harris's 'Ambassadors of Funk'. With sister label 'Living Beat', there were many projects with artists including Samantha Fox
Samantha Fox
Samantha Karen "Sam" Fox is an English dance-pop singer, actress, and former glamour model. In 1983, at the age of 16, she began her topless modeling career on Page Three of The Sun, and went on to become a popular pin-up girl...
(A Song for Europe
A Song for Europe
A Song for Europe may refer to:*A Song for Europe, former name of British pre-selection competition for the Eurovision Song Contest, now known as Eurovision: Your Country Needs You...
), Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris, CBE, AM is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter, composer, painter and television personality.Born in Perth, Western Australia, Harris was a champion swimmer before studying art. He moved to England in 1952, where he started to appear on television programmes on which he drew the...
(BBC TV
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
), Dina Carroll
Dina Carroll
Dina Carroll is an English singer of Scottish and African American descent who had a string of hits from the late 1980s to the early 2000s.-Early career:...
, Jocelyn Brown
Jocelyn Brown
Jocelyn Lorette Brown is an American R&B and dance music singer...
and Joyce Sims
Joyce Sims
Joyce Sims is an American singer-songwriter. Her biggest hit single was "Come into My Life," which reached top-10 status in both the US Billboard R&B chart and the UK Singles Chart in 1987/8....
. Also, via Germany's Edel Group
Edel Music
-History:Edel Music was founded in 1986 by Michael Haentjes in Germany as a mail order record company selling mostly soundtracks. With artists such as Scooter, SASH!, Holly Johnson and many others, it became a very successful pop music label...
, Simon remixed the UK number one pop hit 'The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World (Prince song)
"The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" is a song by Prince from his 1995 album The Gold Experience It was his first release since changing his stage name to an unpronounceable symbol. With the consent of Prince's usual record distributor Warner Bros...
' by Prince.
Harris has produced many breakbeat albums designed for DJs and producers, including 'Beats. Breaks and Scratches' in 12 volumes. This was licensed and used by many 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...
winning artists including R.E.M. and Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
. Other artists who produced similar albums for Music of Life include Paul Oakenfold
Paul Oakenfold
Paul Mark Oakenfold is a British record producer and a trance DJ.-Early Career: 1979–84:Paul Oakenfold's career was set to be a chef, after having hopes of becoming part of a band. He describes his early life as a "bedroom deejay" in a podcasted interview with Vancouver's 24 Hours, stating he grew...
, George Clinton
George Clinton (funk musician)
George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
and Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim).
Harris continued to remix and produce many artists. Simon Cowell commissioned him to remix Sinitta's 'Window Shopping' for his Fanfare label, and shortly thereafter Pete Tong
Pete Tong
Peter "Pete" Tong is an English DJ who works for BBC Radio 1. He is known worldwide by fans of electronic music for hosting programmes such as Essential Mix and Essential Selection on the radio service, which can be heard through Internet radio streams, for his record label FFRR Records, and for...
(BBC Radio 1) signed Harris as an artist to his Polygram FFRR
FFRR Records
FFRR Records is a subsidiary of London Records, founded and run by English DJ Pete Tong. FFRR has also two subsidiaries: Double F Double R Records and Ffrreedom Records...
label. The first release was a rap version of Michael Jackson's Bad (Bad on the Mike). This was followed by 'Bass (how low can you go?)' which achieved US Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Dance Number One status and became a pop hit in many countries including the UK where it was a number 11 pop hit with an appearance by Harris on 'Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
'. FFRR released Harris's 'Bass' album next followed by more singles including Marshall Jefferson
Marshall Jefferson
Marshall Jefferson is an American musician, working in house music, in particular, the subgenres of Chicago house and deep house.-Biography:...
's 'I've got your Pleasure control' (with Lonnie Gordon
Lonnie Gordon
Lonnie Gordon is a female Hi-NRG, house and soul singer-songwriter from New York's Bronx, who has scored many chart hits during the 1990s and 2000s.-Early life and career:...
) and 'Here comes that Sound' (a UK top 40 pop hit).
Summary:
Producer/Performer of Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
No1 hit ‘Bass (how low can you go?), this was a hit in many countries with major worldwide releases.
Producer of hit Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
‘Supermario’ dance music release reaching top 10 status in the UK and released in Germany, Australia and Japan with an album and other Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
related releases with the involvement of Mario
Mario
is a fictional character in his video game series, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as Nintendo's mascot and the main protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation...
’s creator Shigeru Miyamoto
Shigeru Miyamoto
is a Japanese video game designer and producer. Miyamoto was born and raised in Kyoto Prefecture; the natural surroundings of Kyoto inspired much of Miyamoto's later work....
.
Founder of groundbreaking British Hip Hop label ‘Music of Life
Music of Life
Music of Life is a British independent dance music label formed in 1986 by two influential DJ remixers, Froggy and Simon Harris. Following several successful productions, one of which reached No3 in the UK pop music charts Harris and Froggy decided to launch their own label, they were offered a...
’ with hundreds of productions involving new British, US and Jamaican rap and reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
artists, released in over 70 countries. Music of Life
Music of Life
Music of Life is a British independent dance music label formed in 1986 by two influential DJ remixers, Froggy and Simon Harris. Following several successful productions, one of which reached No3 in the UK pop music charts Harris and Froggy decided to launch their own label, they were offered a...
was founded in 1986 with vinyl single and album releases followed by CD and now downloads featured on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and other major internet download stores.
Remixer for many major artists and music companies and commissioned by Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
(American Idol) for Sinitta remix, projects with Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim
Fatboy Slim
Norman Quentin Cook better known by his former stage name Fatboy Slim, is a British DJ, electronic dance music musician, and record producer. He is a pioneer of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s...
), Arthur Baker, War, James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
, George Clinton
George Clinton (funk musician)
George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
, the first Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
dance mix (Bossa Nova Baby on RCA), Toni Toni Tone and for Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
’s first UK number one hit (The Most beautiful Girl in the World).
Responsible for production of groundbreaking fusion of reggae and hip hop with Asher D and Daddy Freddy
Daddy Freddy
S. Frederick Small , better known as Daddy Freddy is a ragga vocalist.-Early life:Small was born in Kingston, Jamaica and grew up in the city's Trenchtown district. His house was a few minutes walk from Coxsone Dodd's influential record studio Studio One.His neighbours were Jacob Miller and...
, ‘Ragamuffin Hip Hop’ began the ‘ragga’ revolution in 1987 with the initial release on US label Profile
Profile Records
Profile Records was a record label that specialized in many types of urban-oriented music, such as hip hop, active until 1996..- History :In 1980, at 23 years old, after working briefly for MCA, Cory Robbins was looking to start a record label. He invited his songwriter friend Steve Plotnicki to be...
(Run DMC) followed by Chrysalis, this style of music has continued and influenced most of today’s major rap artists many of whom include ragamuffin hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
style songs on their hit albums.
Well known music technology innovator at the forefront of the 80s dance music revolution in the field of using samplers on dance music productions, featured on many TV shows and documented in books and magazines as an influential innovative producer and remixer.
Recipient of many gold and silver discs awarded by the British Phonographic Institute in recognition of high sales volumes.
Guest speaker and judge at dance music seminars and conventions including DMC world DJ championships (world’s largest DJ association).
Producer of ‘Beats Breaks and Scratches; series of albums – industry standard world’s best selling breakbeat
Breakbeat
In 1992, a new style called "jungalistic hardcore" emerged, and for many ravers it was too funky to dance to. Josh Lawford of Ravescene prophesied that the breakbeat was "the death-knell of rave" because the ever changing drumbeat patterns of breakbeat music didn't allow for the same zoned out,...
and sample album series licensed worldwide and featured by major grammy award winning artists including Luthor Vandross, REM, Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
.
Celebrity DJ/demonstrator of JBL
JBL
JBL is an American audio electronics company currently owned by Harman International. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing. Their primary products are loudspeakers and associated electronics. There are two independent divisions within the company — JBL Consumer and JBL Professional...
speaker systems at London’s APRS
Association of Professional Recording Services
The Association of Professional Recording Services represents those who work in the audio industry in the United Kingdom. They have a strong presence within the industry and lobby on behalf of their members for the best environment possible to be working in...
(association of professional recording studios) followed by special features in UK’s top rated in car audio magazine.
Member of British industry organisations BPI
British Phonographic Industry
The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies...
, PRS, MCPS
Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society
The Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society is an organisation that pay royalties to composers, songwriters and music publishers when a composition is manufactured into any format. This includes copies of the music alone such as CDs and downloads, and also products that use the music as a part of...
, PPL
Phonographic Performance Limited
PPL is the London-based United Kingdom music licensing company which undertakes collective rights management of recorded music and music videos for public performance, broadcast and new media use...
, VPL and AIM.
Work regularly featured by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and many other leading British broadcasters. Samples and segments from Harris's work appears on many hits including the instantly recognizable 'Yeah Yeah' vocal sample on 'Get Ready for This
Get Ready for This
"Get Ready for This" was later remixed and re-released for 2 Unlimited's compilation album Greatest Hits Remixes.-Dancemania:The song has appeared on the eurodance compilation Dancemania series albums, including Dancemania Super Techno II , Dancemania Speed 6 and Dancemania Super Techno Best...
' by 2 Unlimited
2 Unlimited
2 Unlimited is a Dutch Eurodance/Hi-NRG act formed in 1991. The project was the brainchild of Belgian producers Jean-Paul DeCoster and Phil Wilde, and was fronted by a Dutch duo, rapper Ray Slijngaard and singer Anita Doth. During five years of enormous worldwide popularity, the act scored 16 chart...
and 'Take me to the Hospital' featured on the 2009 UK No1 hit The Prodigy
The Prodigy
The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
album 'Invaders Must Die' (EMI).
Recent career
Harris has sustained a 30 year production career which has so far resulted in the sales of millions of records and CD's, greatly impacting the global music marketplace, his work is varied and has included music video (Daddy Freddy, Joyce Sims), Radio and TV commercialTelevision advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
production (KISS-FM
KISS-FM (brand)
KISS-FM is the brand name of a Top 40 music format heard on FM radio stations in many cities in the United States . Clear Channel Communications claims ownership of the KISS-FM brand and operates most KISS-FM formatted stations, though not KISS-FM in San Antonio, Texas itself .-Origin and...
, CD WOW!
CD WOW!
CD WOW! is an online retailer, offering Games, CD, DVD, Books and Cosmetics. Similar to Amazon.com, it offers websites in and ships from multiple countries including: UK, USA, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Australia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Japan and Germany. Started...
, Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
) and several TV documentaries including Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
Run–D.M.C. was an American hip hop group from Hollis, in the Queens borough of New York City. Founded by Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, and Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell, the group is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture.Run–D.M.C...
(Kings of Rap, broadcast on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
in the US) and REM!X (featuring Frankie Knuckles
Frankie Knuckles
Frankie Knuckles is an American DJ, record producer and remix artist. He played an important role in developing house music as a Chicago DJ in the 1980s and he helped to popularize house music in the 1990s, with his work as a producer and remixer...
, David Morales, Jason Nevins
Jason Nevins
Jason Nevins is an American DJ, producer and remixer, who is most widely known for his pop dance productions.-Career:In the early 1990s, Nevins began releasing singles under various monikers through various dance labels, but achieved global recognition in 1998 with his production of Run-DMC's...
, Arthur Baker, Norman Cook, Paul Oakenfold and more). In addition Harris's productions are currently featured on many motion picture and TV soundtracks. Harris is currently involved in many new projects most notable being his musical production career with a new project studio and is currently working on a new album of his own material which will heavily feature breakbeats, synthesizers and samples due for commercial release in 2011.
External links
- Simon Harris New Blog site 2010
- The Simon Harris MySpace Page
- Simon Harris at Discogs
- http://twitter.com/smnharrisSimon Harris at TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
]