Jamiroquai Biography, Discography, Music News on 100 XR - The Net's #1 Rock Station!!!
Jamiroquai is a Pop-Soul band led by singer+songwriter Jay Kay, short for Jason Kay; he was born in Stretford, Manchester ENGLAND on December 30, 1969.
In the early '90s Kay joined the nascent London's Acid-Jazz movement and in the fall of 1992 released Jamiroquai's debut single "When You Gonna Learn?". At that time, he was backed by keyboardist+guitarist Toby Smith, bassist Stuart Zender, dijeridoo+vibes player Wallis Buchanan and drummer Nick Van Gelder.
Although this single failed to crack the top 50 in England, Kay signed a long-term recording contract with Sony's S2 label; Jamiroquai's full-length debut, "Emergency On Planet Earth", was finally released in mid-1993, it soared to the top of the U.K. Albums chart and generated three smash singles, the top 10 hit "Too Young To Die", "Blow Your Mind" which reached the #12 spot on the Official Pop chart and the title-track also hit the top 40.
Before the group recorded their second album, Van Gelder left the band and was replaced by drummer Derrick McKenzie; in autumn of 1994 Jamiroquai issued their sophomore effort, "The Return Of The Space Cowboy", which peaked at #2 in the U.K. Pop Albums chart; the record included three U.K. top 20 hits: "Stillness In Time", "Half The Man" and "Space Cowboy", the latter of which became a huge club success all over Europe as well as a #1 Billboard's Hot Dance single.
Two years later Jamiroquai broke into the American market with their third album, "Traveling Without Moving", the set peaked at #23 on The Billboard Top 200 list and went on to sell over 7 million copies worldwide; it featured the Modern Rock top 40 single "Virtual Insanity" which also rose to #3 in Britain, the Dance-oriented "Cosmic Girl", #6 in U.K. and the band's first Billboard Hot 100 entry, "Alright" which was a further #6 on the Official U.K. chart. In the spring of 1997, "Virtual Insanity", snagged a Grammy for Best Pop Performance.
1998 saw Jamiroquai contribute the song "Deeper Underground" to the soundtrack of "Godzilla", meanwhile bass player Stuart Zender left the group, the track shot to #1 in the U.K. Singles Pop chart.
In mid-1999 Jay Kay released the deeply personal "Synkronized", the Jamiroquai's fourth album was another worldwide smash, topping the charts in five countries, cracking the top 10 in Canada and reaching the #28 on The Billboard Top 200 list; the lead single, "Canned Heat", peaked at #4 in Britain and at #7 in the Canadian chart, it was followed by the U.K. top 20 hit, "King For A Day".
He continued to mine the Disco-Rock style two years later on the multi-platinum "A Funk Odyssey" led by the single cut, "Little L", which reached the #5 in the U.K. Pop chart; this album yielded two more U.K. top 20 singles: You Give Me Something" and "Love Foolosophy".
In mid-2005 Jamiroquai released its new album "Dynamite" which features the single "Feels Just Like It Should".