Tangier was a popular Philadelphia-based American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 rock

Rock music

Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...

 band active in the late 1980s and early 90s. The band released one, self titled independent album on Wolfe Records.

Biography

Tangier formed in Philadelphia by songwriter / guitarist Doug Gordon and grew up in the clubs with bands such as Cinderella

Cinderella (band)

Cinderella is an American heavy metal band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They emerged in the mid-1980s with a series of multi-platinum albums and hit singles whose music videos received heavy MTV rotation. They were famous for being a glam metal band, but then shifted over towards a more hard...

, who would later help the group out by having Tangier open for them on their second major tour. The first, independent self-titled debut album, comprising Bill Mattson (vocals), Doug Gordon (guitar, songwriter), Rocco Mazzella (guitar, songwriter), Mike Kost (bass) and Mark Hopkins (drums).
After minor local success, Doug decided to disband Tangier, take time off and start fresh.
Doug wrote material and put together a new version of Tangier, utilizing only Mattson from the previous lineup.
Garry Nutt was brought on board, as well as Gari Saint on guitar and Jimmy Drnec on drums.
The new, unnamed band recorded demos and sought management and hooked up with Larry Mazer.
The band showcased for many labels and was finally signed by Derek Schulman, who was to head up the newly reborn and revamped ATCO label. Veteran producer Andy Johns

Andy Johns

Andy Johns is an engineer and producer who worked on well-known rock albums such as Led Zeppelin's IV and The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street. His sound is exemplified by Free's album Highway, which he engineered and produced....

 was selected for "Four Winds."
Bobby Bender was secured for the drums prior to recording "Four Winds."
The name Tangier was again used out of convenience and familiarity.
It produced the hit singles "On The Line" and "Southbound Train".

For their 2nd major label album Stranded there were some line-up changes again. Separating with both Mattson and Saint, the band brought in vocalist–guitarist Mike LeCompt. LeCompt's gruff soulful vocals brought a heavier edge to the band. This album produced the hit single "Stranded", featuring Pamela Anderson

Pamela Anderson

Pamela Denise Anderson is a Canadian-American actress, model, producer, author, activist, and former showgirl, known for her roles on the television series Home Improvement, Baywatch, and V.I.P. She was chosen as a Playmate of the Month for Playboy magazine in February 1990...

 in its music video.

Mike Lecompt and Garry Nutt are the only former members still active in the music business. LeCompt has his own band that performs regularly in the greater Philadelphia area. Bassist Nutt has been involved with Arcade

Arcade (band)

Arcade is a rock band formed in 1991 by ex-Ratt vocalist Stephen Pearcy, ex-Sea Hags guitarist Frankie Wilsex , ex-Talas/Michael Monroe guitarist Johnny Angel, and Cinderella drummer Fred Coury. Its originally proposed name was to be Taboo....

, Laidlaw, Davy Jones, Mike Tramp

Mike Tramp

Mike Tramp is a Danish singer and songwriter who is best known for his work with the hard rock bands White Lion and Freak of Nature...

, Cinderella

Cinderella (band)

Cinderella is an American heavy metal band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They emerged in the mid-1980s with a series of multi-platinum albums and hit singles whose music videos received heavy MTV rotation. They were famous for being a glam metal band, but then shifted over towards a more hard...

, Jean Beauvoir

Jean Beauvoir

Jean Beauvoir is an American singer bassist, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist.Beauvoir was born in Chicago to parents of Haitian background. He played drums as a child and switched to bass as a teenager. He was Gary U.S. Bonds's musical director at age 13; following this he sang in the doo wop...

, and is currently touring with Chubby Checker

Chubby Checker

Chubby Checker is an American singer-songwriter. He is widely known for popularizing the twist dance style, with his 1960 hit cover of Hank Ballard's R&B hit "The Twist"...

.

Past members

• Bill Mattson - Lead vocals
• Doug Gordon - Guitar, backing vocals
• Rocco Mazzella - Guitar, backing vocals
• Mike Kost - Bass guitar, backing vocals
• Mark Hopkins - Drums
• Garry Nutt - Bass guitar, backing vocals
• Gari Saint - Guitar, backing vocals
• Jim Drnec - Drums
• Mike LeCompt - Lead vocals, guitar

Mike Lecompt and Garry Nutt are the only former members still active in the music business. LeCompt has his own band that performs regularly in the greater Philadelphia area. Bassist Nutt has been involved with Arcade

Arcade (band)

Arcade is a rock band formed in 1991 by ex-Ratt vocalist Stephen Pearcy, ex-Sea Hags guitarist Frankie Wilsex , ex-Talas/Michael Monroe guitarist Johnny Angel, and Cinderella drummer Fred Coury. Its originally proposed name was to be Taboo....

, Laidlaw, Davy Jones, Mike Tramp

Mike Tramp

Mike Tramp is a Danish singer and songwriter who is best known for his work with the hard rock bands White Lion and Freak of Nature...

, Cinderella

Cinderella (band)

Cinderella is an American heavy metal band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They emerged in the mid-1980s with a series of multi-platinum albums and hit singles whose music videos received heavy MTV rotation. They were famous for being a glam metal band, but then shifted over towards a more hard...

, Jean Beauvoir

Jean Beauvoir

Jean Beauvoir is an American singer bassist, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist.Beauvoir was born in Chicago to parents of Haitian background. He played drums as a child and switched to bass as a teenager. He was Gary U.S. Bonds's musical director at age 13; following this he sang in the doo wop...

, and is currently touring with Chubby Checker

Chubby Checker

Chubby Checker is an American singer-songwriter. He is widely known for popularizing the twist dance style, with his 1960 hit cover of Hank Ballard's R&B hit "The Twist"...

.

Studio albums

Title	Release date	Label	Chart position
Tangier	1985	Wolfe Records
Four Winds	1989	Atco Atco Records ATCO Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.-Beginnings:Atco Records was founded in 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who...	91 U.S.
Stranded	1991		187 U.S.