  Jamiroquai consists of Jay Kay
(on vocals), Stuart Zender (on bass), Derrick
McKenzie (on drums), Toby Smith (on
keyboards), and Wallis Buchanan. The leader
of Jamiroquai, Jay Kay, grew up around music
with a jazz singing mother. In 1992, Kay
formed Jamiroquai and soon was heard in clubs
around England and with their first single
"When You Gonna Learn?" The band
had begun taking England by storm with their
mix of funk, dance, soul, and hip hop
rhythms.
 Jamiroquai released Emergency
On Planet Earth after signing with Sony Records
with an 8 record deal. The LP topped the
album charts in England and the band was a
success in their homeland - making them the
top selling debut British act of the year.
Other tracks on the LP include "Too
Young Too Die" and "Revolution
1993."
Jamiroquai were nominated for 5
Brit Awards for Best Album (Emergency
On Planet Earth), Best British Dance Act, Best
British Group, Best British Newcomers, and
Best Video
 Jamiroquai released The
Return Of The Space Cowboy. The Source
said of the LP: "...a mixture of acid
jazz-like keyboards with an overlay of bright
horns and hard baselines... this group may
still be light years ahead of the hip-hop
world..." Success in England and even
Japan continued for the band, but American
audiences where still hard to reach.
Jamiroquai topped the Billboard
Hot Dance Music Club Play chart for a week
with "Space Cowboy."
 Jamiroquai released Travelling
Without Moving. Jamiroquai emerged from their
U.K. fame with their third LP and the success
of their video for "Virtual Insanity." The track also
became their first American Top 40 hit and
hit the Top 3 in England. Other tracks on the
LP included "Alright" and
"Cosmic Girl."
 The video for
"Virtual Insanity" won 4 MTV Video Music
Awards for Video of the Year, Best Special Effects (Phil Anderson &
Elaine), Best Cinematography (Steven Keith-Roach),
and Breakthrough Video, and was nominated for
Best New Artist, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Editing, and Best Choreography.
Jamiroquai won a Grammy Award for
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with
Vocal ("Virtual Insanity") and was
nominated for Best Pop Album Category (Travelling
Without Moving).
 Jamiroquai topped the UK Singles
chart with "Deeper Underground" for
a week - the single was from the Godzilla soundtrack.
Bassist Stuart Zender resigned
from Jamiroquai to spend more time with his
family.
 # 136
Singles Artist of the Year
At the start of
the year, Kay found some problems at an
airport in Madrid when complaints over lost
luggage reportedly resulted in an arrest for
disturbing the peace.
 The next much anticipated LP
release by Jamiroquai, Synkronized, happened along with a
tour in England and the U.S. - starting in
California. Kay has said the LP has
"more boogie factor."
Jamiroquai could be heard on the
benefit LP No
Boundaries: A Benefit For The Kosovar
Refugees with "Wolf In
Sheep's Clothing."
Jamiroquai performed at
Woodstock '99 in Rome, New York
The band hit the Top 40 with
"Canned
Heat."
Synkronized topped the UK Album
chart for a week.
Jamiroquai were nominated for 2
Brit Awards for Best British Video for Deeper
Underground" and Best British Dance Act.
Jamiroquai was
nominated for a VH1 Fashion Award for the
Visionary Video Award.
"Canned
Heat"
topped the Billboard Club Play chart for a
week.
Jamiroquai were nominated for 2
MTV Europe Music Awards for Best Group and
Best Dance Artist.
Jamiroquai made the
news when it was revealed that Jay Kay opted
to celebrate New Year's Eve with his fiancée
and turned down a million-dollar gig in the
U.S.
MTV: 100
Greatest Videos Ever Made includes
"Virtual Insanity" at # 24.
Jamiroquai were
nominated for a Brit Award for Best British
Dance Act.
Jamiroquai
topped the Billboard Club Play chart with
"Supersonic" for 1 week.
At the World Music Awards,
Jamiroquai walked away with Best British
Group.
VH1: 100
Greatest Videos includes:
# 14
- "Virtual Insanity."
 Jamiroquai
released their next LP, A
Funk Odyssey.
A
Funk Odyssey topped the UK LP charts for 2
weeks and the Billboard Electronic Albums
chart for a week.
Kay was charged with common
assault and criminal damage after an
altercation with a photographer in London.
 Charges against Kay for assault
and damage were dropped.
Jamiroquai
released Dynamite (Entertainment
Weekly:
C-).
Jamiroquai topped the
Billboard Hot Dance Music Club Play chart
with "Feels Just Like It Should."
 Jamiroquai was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Short Form ("Feels Just Like
It Should").
Jamiroquai
released High
Times: 1992-2006 - a retrospective
CD and DVD.
Jamiroquai
topped the
UK LP chart with High
Times: 1992-2006.
Jamiroquai topped the Billboard
Hot Dance Club Play chart with
"Runaway."
Kay announced he was retiring
from music saying he was bored and stated:
"I might be back if I get my inspiration
again, but who knows. All I'm going to do now
is fly my helicopter and look for the right
lady to have children with."
VH1: 100
Greatest Songs of the 90's included "Virtual Insanity" at # 70.
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