La Bouche

1994–95: Career beginnings and Sweet Dreams

Primarily produced by longtime friend, Frankfurt-based techno DJ Ulli Brenner, their debut single "Sweet Dreams (Ola Ola E)" caught the attention of producer Frank Farian, the mastermind of the infamous 1980s duo Milli Vanilli, when Thornton recorded it and found work in studios recording demos. It was released in 1994 and was a pan-European and Australian hit. Years later, it was revealed that the rapper featured on the track was not McCray, but was actually Robert Haynes, who would later join Le Click. McCray provided vocals on every other La Bouche song. It was followed by "Be My Lover" in 1995, which peaked at number one in Germany and Sweden, while also reaching the Top 10 in fourteen European countries. It also peaked at number 27 in 1995 and number 25 in 1996 in the UK Singles Chart when re-issued in that year. "Be my lover" went to number 1 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1995 and climbed to number 6 on the Hot 100 in early 1996. It was then re-released in the UK and reached a new peak of number 25. It went on to win the ASCAP award for the "Most Played Song in America", and sold 6 million copies worldwide. La Bouche went on to become one of the biggest Eurodance groups of the '90s, with a string of hits worldwide. The debut album Sweet Dreams was released on June 12, 1995, which went to number 13 in the U.S., featured two more hit single releases, "Fallin' in Love" (a cover of the 1975 Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds song) and "I Love to Love".

While still with the group, Thornton had some American chart success as featured vocalist on the Le Click hit "Tonight is the Night", which reached number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was included on the U.S. version of La Bouche's debut album, peaking at number 28 on the Billboard 200. It was certified platinum by the RIAA and sold over 8 million copies worldwide. Thornton provided guest vocals on a lot of dance projects on single releases such as on Orange Blue's "If You Wanna Be (My Only)", Comic's "I Surrender to Your Love", 100%'s "Power of the Light", Trance-Vision's "Take Me 2 Heaven 2 Nite" and Men Behind's "How Can I".

1996–99: S.O.S. and All Mixed Up

A remix album called All Mixed Up was released in 1996. Their second studio album, S.O.S. was released in 1996, with A Moment of Love being the album title for the European version, preceded by the singles "Forget Me Nots", a cover of the Patrice Rushen song, "Bolingo (Love Is in the Air)", which only appears on the U.S. album version and followed by the singles "You Won't Forget Me", "A Moment of Love" and "S.O.S.", being minor to moderate hits in Europe. "You Won't Forget Me" was released in 1998 and reached number 48 on the Hot 100. One highlight on A Moment of Love was a bonus track, a cover version of the Elton John song "Candle in the Wind" in a gospel version which features guest vocalists Chilli of girl group TLC, Christin Sargent, Freda Goodlett, Rejime, The Jackson Singers, Joan Faulkner, Ma Belle and label mates No Mercy, which only appears on the European album version.

2000–01: Melanie Thornton's Solo Career and Death

Next to La Bouche, Thornton still provided guest vocals on singles such as Orange Blue's "Sunshine of my Life" and "Runaway" and 100%'s "The Way It Is", which led Thornton in February 2000 to leave La Bouche to pursue a full solo career. During this time, Thornton as a solo singer was climbing the German charts with her hit "Love How You Love Me". Towards the end of 2001, Thornton was asked to record "Wonderful Dream (Holidays are Coming)" for a Coca-Cola Christmas TV commercial to be shown on German television. While promoting it, and a re-release of her solo album Ready to Fly, she was killed in a plane crash near Zurich on November 24, 2001. After her death, the single went on to become her biggest solo hit, reaching number 3 on the German singles chart.

2002–07: Compilations, "return" of Thornton and breakup

In April 2002, Farian compiled songs from Thornton's solo album along with selections from the first and second La Bouche albums into a best of collection entitled Best Of billed as 'La Bouche feat. Melanie Thornton'. In November 2002, one year following Thornton's death, Farian prepared a tribute single entitled "In Your Life", a song which was previously unreleased. Farian combined her vocals with Kayo Shekoni's vocals from Le Click, a band which Thornton also provided guest vocals for, who completed the song with additional vocals. The single was released worldwide in 2002 and in the U.S. in 2003. It peaked at number 9 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.

On December 1, 2003, Thornton's first remix compilation album, Memories – Her Most Beautiful Ballads was released, which also includes new ballad versions of La Bouche songs such as "Sweet Dreams" and "Fallin' in Love". In 2007, the second La Bouche compilation called Greatest Hits was released along with a 3-track EP, released on iTunes under the name 'Le Click' titled Let's Click: 90's Dance Classics. These are 3 tracks from the S.O.S./A Moment of Love album recording sessions that didn't make the final cut.

2007–present: Tours and possible return

Since 2007, La Bouche has toured around Europe in different '90s revival shows like the "I Love the '90s" show which is held every year in the Ethias Arena in Hasslet, Belgium. La Bouche continues to wow fans around the world from Europe, South America, Australia and the USA. Lane has performed with several incarnations of La Bouche since Melanie's passing, and currently performs for sold out crowds with "The Voice" Hungarian born chanteuse Sophie Cairo aka Zsófi Farkas. "This is it," says Lane McCray of searching for the perfect compliment to his own voice and style. 2016 was busy for La Bouche as they were booked all over the globe. Performance dates can be found at officiallabouche.com website or at lanemccray.com.

Members

In 2002 Shekoni completed Thornton's vocals on "In your life" with additional backing vocals due to her death. Rayne only fronted the band during the groups' tours from 2007–2014, but no material had been released.

Remix albums

Compilation albums