Within the late Nineties, Sugar Ray burst onto the music scene with a sound that captured the sun-soaked, carefree vibe of Southern California. Shaped in Newport Seashore in 1986, the band began as a gaggle of highschool buddies experimenting with a uncooked mixture of funk metallic, punk, and various rock below the title Shrinky Dinx. Authorized strain from the Milton Bradley Firm, makers of the Shrinky Dinks toy, prompted the title change to Sugar Ray, impressed by boxer Sugar Ray Leonard. Their early work, just like the 1995 debut album Lemonade and Brownies, leaned closely right into a chaotic mix of genres, incomes them a cult following in various circles however little mainstream traction. It wasn’t till 1997’s Floored and its breakout single “Fly” (that includes reggae artist Tremendous Cat) that Sugar Ray turned a family title, shifting towards a pop-rock sound that outlined their legacy. The album went double platinum, and their 1999 follow-up, 14:59, a tongue-in-cheek nod to their fleeting fame, produced hits like “Each Morning” and “Sometime,” cementing their standing with triple-platinum gross sales.
The early 2000s noticed Sugar Ray driving excessive, with their 2001 self-titled album delivering the hit “When It’s Over.” Nevertheless, subsequent releases like Within the Pursuit of Leisure (2003) and Music for Cougars (2009) struggled to duplicate earlier success, as pop-rock developments shifted and the band’s radio-friendly sound started to really feel dated. By the early 2010s, inside adjustments and a lackluster industrial response led to a decline. The band went on hiatus, with members pursuing particular person tasks, although they continued to tour sporadically, capitalizing on Nineties nostalgia with excursions like “Summerland” and their very own “Beneath the Solar.” In 2019, Sugar Ray signed with BMG Rights Administration and launched Little Yachty, their first album in a decade, that includes the one “Make It Simple.” Whereas it didn’t recapture their peak reputation, it confirmed the band’s resilience, persevering with to carry out at festivals and festivals into the 2020s.
Mark McGrath
Mark McGrath, born March 15, 1968, in Hartford, Connecticut, and raised in Newport Seashore, stays the charismatic face of Sugar Ray. After graduating from the College of Southern California in 1990, McGrath initially struggled with path till becoming a member of the band. His energetic stage presence and pop sensibilities drove Sugar Ray’s mainstream success. Put up-2000s, McGrath pivoted to media, co-hosting Further from 2004 to 2008 and internet hosting Don’t Overlook the Lyrics! in 2010. He additionally appeared on Killer Karaoke and varied TV exhibits like Legislation & Order: SVU and American Idol as a visitor decide. A 3-time Rock & Roll Jeopardy! champion, McGrath’s popular culture data shone by means of. Right now, he hosts a SiriusXM present on 90s on 9, performs with Sugar Ray, and stays lively in nostalgia excursions, embracing his position as a Nineties icon with self-aware humor.
Rodney Sheppard
Rodney Sheppard, born November 25, 1966, in Trinidad, is Sugar Ray’s lead guitarist and a founding member. Rising up in Orange County, Sheppard reduce his tooth in reggae bands, together with collaborations with future Good Charlotte drummer Dean Butterworth. His early work with Stan Frazier in The Tories laid the groundwork for Sugar Ray’s formation. Sheppard’s guitar riffs formed the band’s heavier early sound and tailored to their pop evolution. After the band’s industrial decline, he took time to show music to youngsters in Newport Seashore and began a household. As one of many two remaining unique members alongside McGrath, Sheppard continues to tour with Sugar Ray, contributing to Little Yachty and sustaining a low-key presence centered on music and household life.
Stan Frazier
Stan Frazier, born April 23, 1968, in Newport Seashore, was Sugar Ray’s drummer and a key songwriter throughout their adolescence. His work with Sheppard in The Tories helped form the band’s early funk-metal sound. Frazier’s rhythmic basis was essential to albums like Floored and 14:59. After the band’s 2009 album underperformed, Frazier left in 2011, taking a job with NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a shocking profession shift. He additionally pursued songwriting and A&R work, leveraging his trade expertise. In 2013, Frazier briefly reunited with former member Murphy Karges for a efficiency with the band Preserve Calm and Beat H.E.A.T. Right now, he stays largely out of the general public eye, specializing in household and behind-the-scenes music tasks in Newport Seashore.
Murphy Karges
Murphy Karges, born June 20, 1967, in Newport Seashore, supplied the basslines that anchored Sugar Ray’s sound. A childhood good friend of the band members, Karges joined after The Tories, contributing to the band’s early heavy fashion and later pop hits. His departure in 2011 got here after he expressed reluctance to proceed touring, choosing a quieter life. Karges transitioned into video directing and began a household, staying near his Newport Seashore roots. Like Frazier, he carried out with Preserve Calm and Beat H.E.A.T. in 2013, exhibiting he hadn’t completely left music behind. Karges has since maintained a low profile, with little public exercise past occasional native music appearances.
Craig “DJ Murder” Bullock
Craig “DJ Murder” Bullock, born January 31, 1972, joined Sugar Ray round 1996, including turntables and hip-hop aptitude to their sound, significantly on Floored. His contributions helped mix funk, rap, and rock within the band’s early work. Bullock left in 2010, in search of new artistic shops. He relocated to Florida, the place he turned a sought-after membership DJ, capitalizing on his turntable expertise. Whereas now not a part of Sugar Ray, Bullock’s affect stays of their early albums. He has stayed out of the highlight, specializing in his DJ profession and occasional music manufacturing, with little current public details about his actions.
Present Lineup: New Blood
After the departure of Frazier, Karges, and Bullock, Sugar Ray rebuilt with new members. Percussionist Al Keith joined in 2011, bringing recent power to reside performances. Bassist Justin Bivona and drummer Jesse Bivona, who had been touring help members, additionally joined however left formally in 2016, changed by drummer Dean Butterworth (a former collaborator of Sheppard’s) and bassist Kristian Attard. Butterworth, identified for his work with Good Charlotte, turned a full member in 2014, whereas Attard joined in 2016. This revamped lineup recorded Little Yachty and continues to tour, conserving Sugar Ray’s reside exhibits vibrant regardless of the absence of unique members.
Sugar Ray’s journey from a scrappy Orange County band to pop-rock icons is a testomony to their adaptability and resilience. With over 10 million information bought, 4 prime 10 singles, and a cultural footprint that features collaborations with Run-DMC and Put up Malone’s interpolation of “Fly” in “Sugar Wraith,” their affect endures. Whereas they could by no means reclaim their late-Nineties peak, Sugar Ray stays a fixture within the nostalgia circuit, with McGrath and Sheppard dedicated to performing so long as followers present up.
- E mail: neill@outloudculture.com
