This article is about the band Sugar Ray. For the boxers see, Sugar Ray Leonard or Sugar Ray Robinson.

Sugar Ray is a rock band from Orange County, California. The band formed in 1992 with the name Shrinky Dinx, later changing it (upon threat of lawsuit from Hasbro, maker of the Shrinky Dinx toy) to Sugar Ray after the boxer Sugar Ray Leonard. Their debut album, Lemonade and Brownies, was released in 1995, though it failed to produce a major hit. Their early work was strongly influenced by funk metal, punk, and alternative rock.

Sugar Ray's first mainstream hit came in the summer of 1997 with their song "Fly", which was released on the album Floored and featured notable reggae artist Super Cat. "Fly" was notable for not sounding anything at all like the rest of the tracks on the album and received frequent (some called it "constant") radio play. As a result of the success of "Fly", Floored sold extremely well and was certified double platinum. However, by the end of 1997, critics skeptical that Sugar Ray could put out another successful song labeled them a one-hit wonder.

Their 1999 album 59 was the sardonic reply to these accusations, with the title implying that their fifteen minutes of fame were not quite up—their "fame clock" reading 14:59. "Every Morning", which received widespread comparisons to "Fly", rose to similar success in late 1998. Their follow-up single "Someday" received extensive airplay during 1999 as well. This album, which outsold its predecessor and was certified triple platinum, proved that Sugar Ray was not a one-hit wonder after all. Sugar Ray was also set to play at Woodstock '99, but had to cancel due to illness.

Their 2001 self-titled album Sugar Ray produced another hit with "When It's Over" and reached the same level as their previous singles. Sugar Ray's 2003 effort In the Pursuit of Leisure, and the first single from that album, "Mr. Bartender (It's So Easy)" received a lukewarm reception. In 2005, Sugar Ray released a greatest hits album, with two new songs, including the single "Shot of Laughter".

Band members

• Mark McGrath - vocals
• Rodney Sheppard - guitar
• Murphy Karges - bass
• Stan Frazier - drums
• Craig Bullock - turntables

Former members

• Leor Dimant - turntables (1995-1996)

Discography

1. |#12

1. |#17

1. |#6

1. |#29

1. |#136

Hit Singles (in chronological order)

• "Fly" US: #1 (airplay)
• "Every Morning" US: #3 UK: #10
• "Someday" US: #7
• "Falls Apart" US: #29
• "When It's Over" US: #13 UK: #32
• "Answer The Phone" US# 40
• "Ours"
• "Mr. Bartender (It's So Easy)" #12 (Video)
• "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" US #70
• "Chasin' You Around"
• "Shot of Laughter" US #50

External links

• Sugar Ray official site
• In-depth biography of the band
• Press release for 'The Best of Sugar Ray'

American musical groups | Post-grunge groups | Third-wave ska groups | California musical groups

Sugar Ray