MCA Records Complete Artist Roster
- Rhythm and blues, Jazz, Soul music52nd Street were a British jazz-funk and R&B band formed in Manchester in late 1980. Throughout the 1980s the group enjoyed success not only in the UK but also on the Billboard chart in the United States. Their biggest and best-known hit single was "Tell Me", released in 1985 by the 10 Records subsidiary of Virgin Records in the UK, and then months later on in 1986 on MCA Records in the US. The original line-up consisted of Tony Henry, Derrick Johnson, Desmond Isaacs, Tony Thompson and Jennifer McCloud. Within six months vocalist Rose Williams and saxophonist Eric Godden both came and departed before the line-up settled with John Dennison replacing Desmond Isaacs and Beverley McDonald replacing Jennifer McCloud.
- New Wave, Rock music, Alternative rockA House was an Irish band from the 1980s to the 1990s, recognized for the clever, "often bitter or irony laden lyrics of [frontman] Dave Couse ... bolstered by the [band's] seemingly effortless musicality". The single "Endless Art" is one of their best known charting successes. A House were managed throughout their career by Liam Crinion.
- Pop music, Eurodance, EuropopA-Teens was a Swedish pop music group from Stockholm, Sweden, formed by Niklas Berg in 1998 as an ABBA tribute band called ABBA Teens and later renamed to A-Teens. They were composed of Marie Serneholt, Amit Sebastian Paul, Dhani Lennevald and Sara Lumholdt. The band's debut album became a success around the world and in 2001 it was reported that the band had sold 6 million albums worldwide. After six years together, the band announced they would take a break in 2004 after the release of their Greatest Hits album. Each song from that album became a Top 20 hit in at least one country around the world.
- Acid house, Electronic music, Alternative rockAlabama 3 is an English band mixing rock, electronic, blues, country, gospel, and spoken word styles, founded in Brixton, London in 1995. In the United States, the band is known as A3, allegedly to avoid any possible legal conflict with the country music band Alabama. The group achieved international fame when the producers of hit TV series The Sopranos chose the track "Woke Up This Morning" for the show's opening credits. The band is notable for their fusion of styles, ironic lyrics, intentionally humorous personae, and outrageous live performances. Every member of the group has an alias, the band's founding members adopting the personas Larry Love and The Very Reverend Dr. D. Wayne Love.
- Aaron Hall (born August 10, 1964), is an American soul singer and songwriter. He is a current member of the group Guy, which he founded in the late 1980s, along with New jack swing producer Teddy Riley and songwriter Timmy Gatling, who was later replaced by Hall's brother Damion Hall. In 1988, they released their debut album which went on to sell over a million copies being certified platinum. Hall led the group in songs like "Groove Me", "I Like" and "Piece Of My Love".
- Honky-tonk, Country, Western swingThe Ace in the Hole Band is the backup band for country music performer George Strait, who was the band's lead singer before beginning his solo career in the early 1980s. The band formed at San Marcos, Texas in the 1970s, and recorded several singles for "D Records" including the Strait-penned "I Just Can't Go On Dying Like This" and "I Don't Want To Talk It Over Anymore". After Strait attained status as the "King of Country", the group released an album of its own in 1995 featuring vocals from Darrell McCall and Mel Tillis. The band, originally known as "Stoney Ridge", performs such styles of traditional country music as honky-tonk and western swing and were influenced by such performers as Bob Wills and Johnny Bush. Contemporaries of the band include Asleep at the Wheel and Jerry Jeff Walker.
- New Wave, Pop music, Power popAdam Ant, born Stuart Leslie Goddard on November 3, 1954, is a renowned English singer and musician who became a star during the punk rock explosion of the late 1970s. A pivotal figure in the New Wave movement, Ant's eccentric style, both musically and visually, set him apart from his contemporaries. His distinct blend of pop and punk music, as well as his unique fashion sense characterized by flamboyant, tribal-inspired costumes and heavy makeup, became synonymous with the Adam and the Ants band. Ant's journey into music began at London's Hornsey College of Art, where he studied graphic design before forming the band Bazooka Joe. It was eventually rebranded as Adam and the Ants in 1977, marking the formal beginning of Ant's illustrious career. The band's first album Dirk Wears White Sox was released in 1979, introducing listeners to a fresh, innovative sound that blended punk's raw energy with an arty intellect. However, it was the consecutive releases of Kings of the Wild Frontier and Prince Charming in 1980 and 1981 respectively that propelled Adam and the Ants to international stardom. Beyond his success with Adam and the Ants, Ant also achieved considerable acclaim as a solo artist. After disbanding Adam and the Ants in 1982, he released his debut solo album, Friend or Foe, which produced several hits including the unforgettable Goody Two Shoes. His venture into acting further broadened his creative landscape. He starred in various films and television series, adding another layer to his expansive career. Ant's enduring influence on music and culture remains indisputable, solidifying his place as a distinguished icon in entertainment history.More Adam Ant
- #195 of 205 onThe Greatest Rock Songwriters Of All Time
- #158 of 295 onThe Greatest Musical Artists of the '80s
- #227 of 283 onThe Greatest Live Bands of All Time
- Acid houseAdam Paul Tinley (born 1968), known professionally as Adamski, as well as Sonny Eriksson, is an English DJ, musician, singer and record producer, prominent at the time of acid house for his tracks "N-R-G" and "Killer", a collaboration with Seal.
Adrenalin M.O.D.
Acid house, Pop musicAdrenalin M.O.D. was a British male vocal/instrumental acid house pop group. The members were Richie Ferme, Morris Bird and Darren Mohammed. Their only chart success was called "O-O-O", which was released on the MCA label. It entered the UK Singles Chart on 8 October 1988, and reached #49; it was in the chart for two weeks.- Blues-rock, Indie, Rock musicAlain Johannes Mociulski (born May 2, 1962) is a Chilean-American multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, whose primary instruments are guitar and drums. He is a founding member of several bands, including the alternative rock group Eleven, and has been involved with acts such as hard rock band Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures, PJ Harvey, Chris Cornell, Arctic Monkeys, Mark Lanegan and The Desert Sessions, both as a musician and as a producer. Alain Johannes is nephew of Chilean nueva ola musician Peter Rock.He was born in Santiago de Chile.
- Pop music, Rock music, Experimental rockAlanis Morissette, a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, musician, and actress, has been a significant figure in the alternative rock scene since the mid-1990s. Born on June 1, 1974, in Ottawa, Canada, she began her career as a pop artist in her home country before evolving into an influential alternative rock icon. Her musical journey is marked by introspective lyrics and expressive vocals, creating a unique sound that resonates with listeners worldwide. Morissette's breakthrough came in 1995 when she released the album Jagged Little Pill, which was a departure from her earlier pop sound. This album, produced by Glen Ballard, was a raw exploration of her life experiences and quickly garnered global attention. It sold over 33 million copies worldwide and won five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. The album's most notable singles, "You Oughta Know," "Hand in My Pocket," and "Ironic," secured Morissette's position as a voice of her generation. Aside from her successful music career, Morissette has also ventured into acting. She made her debut in the 1993 Nickelodeon series You Can't Do That on Television and later appeared in popular shows like Sex and the City and Weeds. In addition to her acting roles, she has dedicated her time to activism, focusing on issues such as mental health and female empowerment. Throughout her career, Alanis Morissette has continually evolved, proving her versatility as an artist and establishing her legacy in the world of music and beyond.
- Post-bop, JazzAlex Blake (born Alejandro Blake Fearon, Jr.) is a post-bop jazz double-bassist and electric bass guitarist.
Rock music, Garage rock, Shock rockThis is about the Alice Cooper Group that existed until 1975.- Pop music, Italo disco, Dance musicAlisha Ann Itkin (born April 16, 1968, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American freestyle and dance-pop singer who had several club hits in the 1980s and 1990s.
All City
Hip hop musicAll City was an American rap duo composed of Brooklyn-based rappers J. Mega and Greg Valentine. They are best known for their hit single "The Actual". All City was formed in 1993 after Mega and Valentine met after both performed at the Lyricist Lounge. The duo eventually caught the attention of Onyx who helped get the duo a record deal with MCA Records. All City's debut album Metropolis Gold was released in late 1998. The album's lead single was "The Actual" which became a hit on the rap charts, peaking at number three. The album itself, however, was not a commercial success, not selling enough copies to reach the Billboard 200. After the album ran its course, the duo disbanded with no further releases.- Blues-rock, Rock music, Southern rockThe Allen Collins Band was a spinoff of southern-rock bands Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Rossington-Collins Band. It existed from 1983 to 1984 and was formed shortly after the dissolution of the Rossington-Collins Band.
- Contemporary R&B, Rhythm and bluesAllure is an American New York-based R&B girl group that formed in the early 1990s as a quartet, now a trio, best known for their hit single "All Cried Out" with 112 which reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Original members were Alia Gray (née Davis), Hem-Lee (aka Linnie Belcher), Lalisha Sanders and Akissa Mendez.
- Progressive rock, Canterbury scene, Symphonic rockAndrew Latimer (born 17 May 1949, Guildford, Surrey, England) is an English musician and composer who is a founding member of the progressive rock band Camel. Best known as a guitarist and singer, Latimer is a flautist and keyboardist as well.Latimer's most common guitar of choice is a Gibson Les Paul, but he is also known for playing Fender Stratocasters and other guitars. From the 1990s onward, he also played a Burny Super Grade, an 80s copy of the Gibson Les Paul Model. The amplifiers he uses range from Fender, Vox, and Marshall. Along with partner Susan Hoover, Latimer relocated to America where they established a music production company named Camel Productions to release Camel's new studio albums: Dust and Dreams (1991), Harbour of Tears (1996), Rajaz (1999) and A Nod and a Wink (2002) as well as a host of "Official Bootlegs" on CD. The band went on the road in 1992, 1997, 2000, 2001, and 2003. They released their first full concert DVD in 1997 titled Coming of Age which began a series of subsequent DVD releases. In mid-2006, Latimer and Hoover returned to the UK and established Camel Productions UK Ltd. In May 2007, Hoover announced through the Camel Productions website and newsletter that Latimer had suffered from a progressive blood disorder polycythaemia vera since 1992, which had unexpectedly progressed to myelofibrosis. In November 2007, he underwent a successful bone marrow transplant and began a long road to full recovery. In October 2013, Latimer took Camel back to centre stage. To celebrate the occasion, Camel played The Snow Goose in its entirety for the first set and dedicated it to the co-founding band members Andy Ward, Peter Bardens (deceased) and Doug Ferguson. Additionally, Camel had re-recorded the album earlier in the year. The re-recording remains remarkably faithful to the original, but includes some minor rearrangements and some extended sections. A live DVD, titled In From The Cold, was recorded at the Barbican Centre London. The Snow Goose tour had been a complete sellout and the band was asked to continue in early 2014. However, the second half of the tour featured Ton Scherpenzeel (Kayak) as keyboardist Guy Leblanc had become seriously ill, subsequently passing away on 27 April 2015.Despite being troubled by arthritis is his hands and knees, Latimer took Camel back on the road in 2015. In 2016 they toured Japan with new keyboardist Pete Jones and in 2018 Camel toured extensively featuring their most popular recording Moonmadness. The 2018 tour culminated with the band's return to The Royal Albert Hall where a sellout crowd embraced the occasion. The performance was video recorded for anticipated release on DVD and Blu-Ray.
- New Wave, Rock music, New RomanticismAndrew Taylor (born 16 February 1961) is an English musician, singer, songwriter and record producer, best known as a former member of both Duran Duran and The Power Station. He has also recorded and performed as a solo artist, and served as a guitarist, songwriter and record producer for the likes of Robert Palmer, Rod Stewart, The Almighty, Thunder, Love and Money, Mark Shaw, Then Jerico, C. C. Catch, Paul Rodgers (with The Law), Belinda Carlisle, Gun and many more.
Andy Howard
Pop music, Pop rock, Alternative rock- Rock music, Progressive rock, Art rockAndrew Powell (born 19 February 1950, Stepney, London) is an English guitarist and songwriter, and a founding member of the British band Wishbone Ash, known for their innovative use of twin lead guitars. He is named in discussions of the most influential guitarists in rock music history, often alongside other Wishbone Ash guitarists including Ted Turner and Laurie Wisefield.
- Dream pop, Alternative rockAngelfish was a short-lived early-1990s Scottish alternative rock group originating from Edinburgh, Scotland, formed as a side-project to Scottish group Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie, after keyboardist and backing vocalist Shirley Manson was signed as a solo artist to circumvent the Mackenzies' existing record contract. Angelfish released a single self-titled studio album, Angelfish, and two singles of which the first was an EP for minor college radio hit "Suffocate Me". The music video for "Suffocate Me" was famously aired once by MTV during 120 Minutes, where it was seen by Garbage co-founder Steve Marker. Manson was asked to join Garbage and accepted. The Angelfish side-project was dissolved, while Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie continued on for another two years without Manson.
- Neo soul, Contemporary R&B, Soul musicAnthony Cornelius Hamilton (born January 28, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer who rose to fame with his platinum-selling second studio album Comin' from Where I'm From (2003), which featured the title track single "Comin' from Where I'm From" and the follow-up "Charlene". Nominated for 17 Grammy Awards, he is also known for the song "Freedom" from the soundtrack album of Django Unchained co-written and sung as a duo with indie soul singer Elayna Boynton.More Anthony Hamilton
- #93 of 147 onThe 145+ Best R&B Artists Of All Time, Ranked
- #28 of 78 onThe Best Tiny Desk Concerts From NPR Music
- #8 of 51 onThe Best Neo Soul Artists
- Brazilian jazz, Latin jazz, SambaAntônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim, often hailed as one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century, was a pivotal figure in the development and global popularization of bossa nova music. Born on January 25, 1927, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this iconic musician exhibited an early attraction towards music, particularly that which encapsulated the spirit of his Brazilian heritage. He studied music theory, harmony, and composition in his youth, laying the foundation for his phenomenal career. Jobim's professional journey began in the late 1950s when he teamed up with poet Vinicius de Moraes to write a play. This collaboration became a cornerstone for Jobim's career, leading to the creation of songs like "Se Todos Fossem Iguais a Você" and "A Felicidade", both of which later became classic pieces of the bossa nova canon. However, it was the song "The Girl from Ipanema", co-written with de Moraes and Norman Gimbel, that catapulted Jobim to international fame. This Grammy-winning song went on to become one of the most recorded songs in history, firmly establishing Jobim's position among the greats of world music. Over his career, Jobim composed more than 400 songs, many of which have been covered by prominent musicians worldwide. His compositions seamlessly blended elements of jazz with traditional Brazilian rhythms, producing a unique sound that left an indelible mark on the music industry. Jobim passed away in 1994, but his legacy continues to live on. His contributions to bossa nova and world music have been celebrated posthumously with numerous honors, including induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Latin Grammy Trustees Award.More Antônio Carlos Jobim
- #352 of 536 onThe 540+ World's Greatest Guitarists Of All Time, Ranked
- #38 of 55 onThe 35+ Best Latin American Singers, Ranked
- #3 of 67 onWho Is The Most Famous Antonio In The World?
- Rock music, Hard rockApril Wine is a Canadian rock band formed in 1969 and based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The band enjoyed international success in the 1970s and 1980s, releasing more than 20 albums since 1971.
- Bubblegum pop, Synthpop, Pop musicAqua is a Danish-Norwegian eurodance group, best known for their 1997 breakthrough single "Barbie Girl". The group formed in 1989 and achieved huge success around the globe in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The group released three albums: Aquarium in 1997, Aquarius in 2000 and Megalomania in 2011. The group sold an estimated 33 million albums and singles, making them the most successful Danish band ever. In their prime, Aqua's singles managed to chart top ten in a number of countries where continental European pop acts would not normally succeed, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan. The group managed to top the UK Singles Chart with their first three singles. The group also caused controversy with the double entendres in their "Barbie Girl" single, with the Barbie doll makers Mattel filing a lawsuit against the group. The lawsuit was finally dismissed by a judge in 2002, who ruled "The parties are advised to chill." The band's members are vocalists Lene Nystrøm and René Dif, keyboardist Søren Rasted, and guitarist Claus Norreen.
- CountryAshton Delilah Shepherd (born August 16, 1986) is an American country music singer-songwriter. She was first signed to Universal Music Group Nashville's MCA Nashville division in April 2007. Her 2008 debut album Sounds So Good produced two top 40 hits on the Hot Country Songs charts: "Takin' Off This Pain" and the title track. In 2011, she released her second album, Where Country Grows, which includes the top 20 hit "Look It Up".
- CountryAtlanta was an American country music group formed in 1982 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. It was composed of Brad Griffis, Bill Davidson, Tony Ingram, Alan David, Allen Collay, Bill Packard, Jeff Baker, Dick Stevens and John Holder. Between 1983 and 1988, Atlanta recorded two albums for MCA Records and charted nine hit singles on the Billboard country charts. Its chart history included two Top Ten country hits in "Atlanta Burned Again Last Night" and "Sweet Country Music." The latter was also the band's highest charting single, peaking at number 5.
- Rock music, Folk rock, Southern rockAtlanta Rhythm Section (or ARS) is an American Southern rock band, formed in 1970 by Rodney Justo (singer), Barry Bailey (guitar), Paul Goddard (bass), Dean Daughtry (keyboards), Robert Nix (drums) and James B. Cobb, Jr. (guitar). The band's current lineup consists of Daughtry and Justo, along with guitarists David Anderson and Steve Stone, bassist Justin Senker and drummer Rodger Stephan.
- #217 of 238 onThe Greatest Classic Rock Bands
- #10 of 54 onThe Best Bands Named After Cities
- #14 of 62 onThe Best Bands Named After Real Places
- Adult contemporary music, Pop music, Dance-popAtlantic Starr is a White Plains, New York-based band and among their biggest hits were "Always", "Secret Lovers", “Send for Me”, “Circles”, “Silver Shadow” and "Masterpiece".
