SIMON HARRIS

Simon Harris is a British producer of sample-based breakbeat and house music. As a remixer, music label owner and producer, Harris has worked with Simon Cowell (American Idol), James Brown, Prince, Joyce Sims, Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim), Paul Oakenfold, Tony! Toni! Toné!, War, Arthur Baker, Boyz II Men, Heatwave as well as (Steve "Silk" Hurley, Prince, Bass).

Originally a DJ, Harris started selling professional audio equipment in London's Tottenham Court Road, then became a club promoter. In 1983 Harris was invited to become one of the original remixers for Tony Prince's DMC (now the world's largest DJ association). Harris then joined forces with the late BBC Radio 1 DJ Froggy (1949–2008) and produced remixes for major labels including Polydor (James Brown, Roy Ayers), Chrysalis (Doug E. Fresh), A&M (Jeffrey Osborne), EMI, BMG, Columbia, Island, London and eventually PRT for The Real Thing's "You to Me Are Everything" remix (UK number three pop hit). In 1986 Harris and Froggy started their own independent label 'Music of Life'. The label was initially distributed by Morgan Khan's 'Streetwave' group and the first releases were from Cerrone ("Supernature") and Michael Jackson's sister La Toya.

Within a short time Froggy left to pursue other projects and Music of Life became one of the UK's first rap/hip-hop labels, initially licensing US products, and then with Harris producing many British rap artists including Derek B (the label's A&R executive), followed by Daddy Freddy, MC Duke, Tenor Fly, Hijack, Demon Boyz (Million Dan), and Einstein who later rapped on "Supermarioland" for Harris's Ambassadors of Funk project. Sister label 'Living Beat', releases include Samantha Fox (A Song for Europe), Rolf Harris (BBC TV), Dina Carroll, Jocelyn Brown and Joyce Sims. Also, via Germany's Edel Group, Simon remixed "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" by Prince.

Harris continued to remix and produce many artists. Simon Cowell commissioned him to remix Sinitta's "Window Shopping" for his Fanfare label, and shortly thereafter Pete Tong (BBC Radio 1) signed Harris as an artist to his Polygram FFRR label. The first release was a rap version of Michael Jackson's "Bad" ("Bad on the Mike"). This was followed by "Bass (How Low Can You Go?)" which achieved US Billboard Dance Number One status. FFRR released Harris's Bass album next followed by more singles including Marshall Jefferson's "(I've Got Your) Pleasure Control" (with Lonnie Gordon) and "Here Comes That Sound".