Simon Harris (musician)

{{Short description|British music producer, DJ, remixer and electronic musician}}

{{Multiple issues|

}}

Simon Harris is a British music producer, DJ, remixer and electronic musician from London predominantly known for his 1988 hit song "Bass (How Low Can You Go?)".{{cite journal |title=Bass production |journal=Micro Music |date=August 1989 |issue=Aug/Sep 1989 |pages=67–69 |url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/mr-bass-man/5240 |publisher=Music Magazine Archive |access-date=23 August 2023 |last1=Marshall |first1=Vie }} He is also the founder of the hip hop label Music of Life and the producer of most of its catalogue of songs.{{cite web|title=Simon Harris|url=http://www.myspace.com/megalaser|publisher=MySpace|access-date=26 September 2010}}{{better source|date=April 2024}}

Biography

Harris{{Cite web |title=Simon Harris |url=https://music.metason.net/artistinfo?name=Simon%20Harris |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=metason.net |language=EN}} started as a mobile DJ in the Chigwell, Essex area in 1977 and became known for his mixing. In 1979, he became a DJ at Radio Forest Hospital Radio and promoted disco events featuring Capital Radio DJs. In 1981, Harris met Froggy{{Cite web |date=2022-09-15 |title=Froggy got Britain mixing - DJ History |url=https://djhistory.com/read/froggy/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=djhistory.com |language=en-US}} at one of these events and the two then formed a mixing team which resulted in a succession of releases including the 1987 "Decade Remix" of "You to Me Are Everything" by the Real Thing which became a top 10 UK hit.

Froggy{{Cite web |title=Interview: UK Mixing Pioneer DJ Froggy |url=https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2018/01/froggy-interview |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=daily.redbullmusicacademy.com |language=en}} and Harris then decided to launch their own label,{{Cite web |title=Simon Harris {{!}} Discover music on NTS |url=http://www.nts.live/artists/22026-simon-harris |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=NTS Radio |language=en}} Music of Life which was initially distributed by StreetSounds. Then, in 1986, Froggy left and Harris took the direction of Music of Life into hip hop and the label released several early British hip hop tracks by artists including Derek B, the Demon Boyz, Asher D and Daddy Freddy and Einstein but it was the series of breakbeat albums Beats, Breaks and Scratches{{Cite web |title=Simon Harris discography - RYM/Sonemic |url=https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/simon_harris |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Rate Your Music |language=en}} which included sampled scratches{{Cite web |title=Mixcloud |url=https://www.mixcloud.com/whosampled/simon-harris-interviewed-for-whosampled/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=www.mixcloud.com}} that were released in territories such as Germany and the US. Harris was signed to UK label FFRR{{Cite web |title=FFRR - Music label - RYM/Sonemic |url=https://rateyourmusic.com/label/ffrr/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Rate Your Music |language=en}} by Pete Tong in 1987 with the initial release being Bad on the Mic{{Cite web |last=A |first=Mike |date=1987-10-10 |title=October 10, 1987: Simon Harris featuring 3 Boom MC's, Heavy D & The Boyz, Bananarama, Glen Goldsmith, Cameo |url=https://jameshamiltonsdiscopage.com/1987/10/10/october-10-1987-simon-harris-featuring-3-boom-mcs-heavy-d-the-boyz-bananarama-glen-goldsmith-cameo/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=James Hamilton's Disco Page |language=en}} and remixes for Joyce Sims, Steve "Silk" Hurley, D-Mob feat. Gary Haisman, Sinitta{{Cite web |date=2020-06-17 |title=Sinitta – TOTP Rewind – the 80s |url=https://80spop.wordpress.com/category/sinitta/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=TOTP Rewind - the 80s |language=en}} for Simon Cowell's Fanfare label and then also featured in music production magazines describing the sampling technique{{Cite journal |last=Marshall |first=Vie |date=August 1989 |title=Mr Bass Man (MIC Aug/Sep 1989) |url=https://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/mr-bass-man/5240 |journal=Micro Music |issue=Aug/Sep 1989 |pages=67–69}} included on the 1988 FFRR Records album, Bass{{Cite web |last=Dam |first=Nostra |date=2020-12-16 |title=Simon Harris |url=https://www.bestmusic80.com/post/he-took-control-of-our-pleasure |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=BestMusic80 |language=en}} and numerous radio mixes including Dave Pearce's 'Fresh start to the week' in 1988{{Cite web |last= |date=2020-08-27 |title=Dave Pearce Fresh Start to the Week Feat Simon Harris in Conversation/ In the Mix [Plus a Silver Bullet session] – 11 April 1988 [REMASTERED] |url=https://randomrapradio.com/2020/08/27/dave-pearce-fresh-start-to-the-week-feat-simon-harris-in-conversation-in-the-mix-11-april-1988-remastered/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Random Rap Radio |language=en}} and covered in UK magazine Hip Hop Connection.{{Cite web |title=Hip Hop Connection #219 (Jan/Feb 2008) – Britcore |url=https://www.undergroundunited.de/hip-hop-connection-219-janfeb-2008/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |language=en-GB}} In 1992, Harris produced the Ambassadors of Funk{{Cite news |date=2017-11-12 |title=Revisiting Nintendo's novelty pop hit |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/revisiting-nintendos-novelty-pop-hit |access-date=2024-03-08 |work=Eurogamer.net |language=en}} with a UK top 10 hit. Harris's association with sampling evolved from vinyl onto the sampling CD{{Cite journal |last=Goodyer |first=Tim |date=March 1992 |title=Criminal Record? (MT Mar 1992) |url=https://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/criminal-record/957 |journal=Music Technology |issue=Mar 1992 |pages=54–59}} in the 1990s and then more recently to digital releases on the Mastermix DJ label,{{Cite web |title=Simon Harris Producer Page |url=https://mastermixdj.com/simon-harris-producer-page/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Mastermix |language=en-GB}} Plus Soda Music in Greece.{{Cite web |title=Simon Harris - Remixer Producer - Plus Soda Music |url=https://plussodamusic.com/simonharris.html |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=plussodamusic.com}} "Bass (How Low Can You Go?)" was remixed in 2016 by German production team Milk & Sugar.{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=2015-02-09 |title=Premiere: Milk & Sugar vs. Simon Harris - 'Bass (How Low Can You Go)' |url=https://www.clashmusic.mtcserver.com/news/premiere-milk-sugar-vs-simon-harris-bass-how-low-can-you-go/ |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews |language=en-GB}} Harris has been involved in many remix projects including the songs "Boogie Nights"{{Cite web |title=Chilfest |url=https://www.chilfest.co.uk/heatwave |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Chilfest |language=en}} and "Gangsters of the Groove" for Heatwave,{{Citation |title=The Best of Heatwave [Griffin] - Heatwave {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-heatwave-griffin-mw0000976553 |access-date=2024-03-08 |language=en}} the first ever official Elvis Presley remix for BMG Rights Management "Bossa Nova Baby",{{Cite web |title=ElvisNews.com - Elvis Presley news magazine - By Fans For Fans |url=https://www.elvisnews.com/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=ElvisNews.com |language=en}} Grace Jones,{{Cite web |author=DjPaulT |date=2022-07-14 |title=Foggy |url=https://burningtheground.net/tag/foggy/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Burning The Ground: DjPaulT's 80's and 90's Remixes |language=en-US}} Prince's No. 1 hit "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" and more recent DJ productions on Traxsource{{Cite web |title=Simon Harris - Never B Another -The Remixes |url=https://www.traxsource.com/title/1729206/never-b-another-the-remixes |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=www.traxsource.com}} and the ELROW Music release "This Is Serious" with Morrison which was remixed by Dennis Ferrer{{Cite web |last=Farmer |first=Grahame |date=2019-07-23 |title=Dennis Ferrer remixes Simon Harris 'This Is Serious' |url=https://datatransmission.co/news/dennis-ferrer-remixes-simon-harris-this-is-serious/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Data Transmission |language=en-GB}} and featured successfully on the BBC Radio 1 Friday night dance shows.

Discography

=Singles=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2" style="width:26em;"\| Single ! colspan="3"\| Peak positions ! rowspan="2"\| Album
style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="35"\| UK {{cite web\|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/simon%20harris/\| title=Official Charts Company: Simon Harris\| publisher=Official Charts Company\| access-date=1 April 2014}} ! width="35"\| GER {{cite web\|url=http://www.officialcharts.de/suche.asp?search=Simon+Harris&x=11&y=4&country=de \|title=Simon Harris – German Chart \|publisher=charts.de \|access-date=1 April 2014}}{{dead link\|date=December 2021\|bot=medic}}{{cbignore\|bot=medic}} ! width="35"\| US Dance {{cite magazine\|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/279376/simon-harris/chart \|title=Simon Harris – US Dance Club Songs Chart \|magazine=Billboard \|access-date=1 April 2014}}
1987 ! scope="row"\| "Bad on the Mike" (featuring 3 Boom MC's) \| –	–	– \| align="left" rowspan="1"\| Single only
rowspan="2"\| 1988 ! scope="row"\| "Bass (How Low Can You Go)"{{Cite news \|date=2021-12-24 \|title=Simon Harris, 'Bass (How Low Can You Go?)' \|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2008/07/22/simon_harris_bass_how_low_can_you_go/ \|access-date=2024-03-09 \|newspaper=Washington Post \|language=en-US \|issn=0190-8286}} \| 12	47	3 \| align="left" rowspan="4"\| Bass!
scope="row"\| "Here Comes That Sound"{{Cite web \|title=A review \|url=https://www.repeatfanzine.co.uk/Reviews/platinum%20blonds.htm \|access-date=2024-03-09 \|website=www.repeatfanzine.co.uk}} \| 38 \|\| – \|\| 14
rowspan="2"\| 1989 ! scope="row"\| "(I've Got Your) Pleasure Control" (featuring Lonnie Gordon){{Cite web \|title=Lonnie Gordon \|url=https://www.stockaitkenwaterman.co.uk/lonnie-gordon \|access-date=2024-03-09 \|website=StockAitkenWaterman \|language=en}} \| 60	–	rowspan="2"\|23
scope="row"\| "Another Monsterjam" (featuring Einstein){{Cite web \|title=swedishcharts.com - Simon Harris - Another Monsterjam \|url=https://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Simon+Harris&titel=Another+Monsterjam&cat=s \|access-date=2024-03-09 \|website=swedishcharts.com}} \| 65 \|\| –
rowspan="3"\| 1990 ! scope="row"\| "Ragga House (All Night Long)" (featuring Daddy Freddy) \| 56	–	– \| align="left" rowspan="3"\| Disturbing the Peace
scope="row"\| "Don't Stop the Music" (featuring Dina Carroll & Monte Luv) \| 84 \|\| – \|\| –
scope="row"\| "Time" (featuring Leslie Lyrics) \| – \|\| – \|\| –
rowspan="2"\| 1991 ! scope="row"\| "Louder Than a Shotgun" \| –	–	– \| align="left" rowspan="3"\| Back to the Bass{{Cite web \|title=spanishcharts.com - Discography Simon Harris \|url=https://spanishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Simon+Harris \|access-date=2024-03-09 \|website=spanishcharts.com}}
scope="row"\| "Summertime" \| – \|\| – \|\| –
rowspan="1"\| 1992 ! scope="row"\| "Rollin' with the Punches" \| –	–	–
align="center" colspan="15" style="font-size:8pt"\| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2" style="width:26em;"| Single

! colspan="3"| Peak positions

! rowspan="2"| Album

style="font-size:smaller;"

! width="35"| UK
{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/simon%20harris/| title=Official Charts Company: Simon Harris| publisher=Official Charts Company| access-date=1 April 2014}}

! width="35"| GER
{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.de/suche.asp?search=Simon+Harris&x=11&y=4&country=de |title=Simon Harris – German Chart |publisher=charts.de |access-date=1 April 2014}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

! width="35"| US Dance
{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/279376/simon-harris/chart |title=Simon Harris – US Dance Club Songs Chart |magazine=Billboard |access-date=1 April 2014}}

1987

! scope="row"| "Bad on the Mike" (featuring 3 Boom MC's)

| –

–

| align="left" rowspan="1"| Single only

rowspan="2"| 1988

! scope="row"| "Bass (How Low Can You Go)"{{Cite news |date=2021-12-24 |title=Simon Harris, 'Bass (How Low Can You Go?)' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2008/07/22/simon_harris_bass_how_low_can_you_go/ |access-date=2024-03-09 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}

| 12

| align="left" rowspan="4"| Bass!

scope="row"| "Here Comes That Sound"{{Cite web |title=A review |url=https://www.repeatfanzine.co.uk/Reviews/platinum%20blonds.htm |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=www.repeatfanzine.co.uk}}

| 38 || – || 14

rowspan="2"| 1989

! scope="row"| "(I've Got Your) Pleasure Control" (featuring Lonnie Gordon){{Cite web |title=Lonnie Gordon |url=https://www.stockaitkenwaterman.co.uk/lonnie-gordon |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=StockAitkenWaterman |language=en}}

| 60

–

rowspan="2"|23

scope="row"| "Another Monsterjam" (featuring Einstein){{Cite web |title=swedishcharts.com - Simon Harris - Another Monsterjam |url=https://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Simon+Harris&titel=Another+Monsterjam&cat=s |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=swedishcharts.com}}

| 65 || –

rowspan="3"| 1990

! scope="row"| "Ragga House (All Night Long)" (featuring Daddy Freddy)

| 56

–

| align="left" rowspan="3"| Disturbing the Peace

scope="row"| "Don't Stop the Music" (featuring Dina Carroll & Monte Luv)

| 84 || – || –

scope="row"| "Time" (featuring Leslie Lyrics)

| – || – || –

rowspan="2"| 1991

! scope="row"| "Louder Than a Shotgun"

| –

–

| align="left" rowspan="3"| Back to the Bass{{Cite web |title=spanishcharts.com - Discography Simon Harris |url=https://spanishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Simon+Harris |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=spanishcharts.com}}

scope="row"| "Summertime"

| – || – || –

rowspan="1"| 1992

! scope="row"| "Rollin' with the Punches"

| –

–

align="center" colspan="15" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.