Hanson

Formed in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1992 by brothers Isaac, Taylor, and Zac Hanson, pop trio Hanson began their career as teen pop idols but matured into a proper pop / rock within a matter of years. Initially known as the Hanson Brothers when they made their live debut in 1992, they shortened their name to Hanson the following year. After two self-penned independent albums – Boomerang (1995) and MMMBop (1996) – they were discovered after performing at the Wisconsin State Fair and were signed to Mercury Records. Their debut major label album Middle of Nowhere was released in 1997 and featured the international hit single “MMMBop,” which reached Number 1 in the US, UK, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Germany, Sweden, and New Zealand. The album itself also reached the top of the charts in Australia, the UK, and Germany and landed in the Top 5 in the US, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and Switzerland. More than just a teen pop band, Hanson’s songwriting skills and musicianship began to reveal that the brothers’ music was steeped in soul, early rock ’n’ roll, and piano‑driven pop traditions. Their next album, the Christmas-themed Snowed In, was released at the end of 1997 and was also successful. This Time Around, the trio’s proper follow-up to Middle of Nowhere didn’t appear until 2000 but still charted globally. Leaving their teen pop behind, Hanson spent the early 2000s reshaping their trajectory. They matured as songwriters and performers and left the comfort of a major label and began to release albums on their own independent label 3CG Records. Maintaining artist control, the band was not as commercially successful although their core fanbase continued to follow their every move. While their focus continued to be Hanson, each member worked on projects outside the band. The most high-profile of these projects was the pop supergroup Tinted Windows, which featured Taylor Hanson on vocals, James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) on guitar, Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick) on drums, and Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne) on bass. Their 2009 self-titled album was not a huge commercial success but became a beloved release in the power pop community. Tinted Windows planned on reuniting for a new album, but the COVID-19 death of Adam Schlesinger put an end to that project. Hanson – the band - continues to play live shows and release albums including Shout it Out (2010), Anthem (2013), String Theory (2018), Against the World (2021), and Red Green Blue (2022).