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