Multi-Platinum, California rockers Sugar Ray have signed a new recordings agreement with BMG to release their forthcoming seventh studio album this summer. The upcoming album will be the group’s first set of original material in 10 years, following their last studio release, Music for Cougars, in 2009. Celebrating 25 years since the formation of Sugar Ray, the group, led by co-founding members Mark McGrath and Rodney Sheppard, have sold more than eight million albums around the world.
McGrath said, “We are honored and so grateful to be signing with our second major label 25 years after we signed with our first! We look forward to working with BMG – a company designed for the future. This is truly a modern-day musical partnership!”
John Loeffler, EVP, Repertoire & Marketing, New York, said, “BMG is thrilled to be the new label home of Sugar Ray. The band are once again delivering the soundtrack to the summer and we look forward to sharing it with fans around the world.”
Officially coming together in 1994, Sugar Ray first hit on the map following the release of their debut album Lemonade and Brownies in 1995, but it was the group’s sophomore effort Floored that thrust them into the mainstream spotlight. Following their collaboration with reggae artist Super Cat on the chart-topping single "Fly," the song would go on to dominate radio, with its accompanying video in high rotation, catapulting the album to double-platinum status.
The group quickly followed up with their third full-length in 1999 titled 14:59, a tongue-in-cheek reference to a fading “15 minutes of fame.” Ironically, the album would go on to outsell its predecessor, going triple-platinum with hit singles including the Gold-certified ‘Every Morning’, ‘Someday’ and ‘Falls Apart’. Their success continued with the release of the Gold-certified, self-titled album, Sugar Ray, which garnered the band its first ever Top 10 album on the heels of the single ‘When It’s Over’.
The following years brought the new studio album In The Pursuit of Leisure, followed by a Best Of Sugar Ray featuring remastered and previously unreleased material, and a Greatest Hits (remastered) set. Following a whirlwind of incredible success, and multiple tours around the world, the band decided to take a break from the grind of the record and tour cycle in 2004 before regrouping once again in 2009 for their last album release, Music for Cougars.
