Matt Bianco

Melding together bossa nova rhythms, soft electronica, romantic crooning and summery, jazzy melodies, Matt Bianco created the soundtrack to laidback, sophisticated wining and dining in the 1980s. Led by frontman Mark Reilly, the band formed from the break-up of modern jazz ensemble Blue Rondo A La Turk and worked with Polish singer Basia on debut album Whose Side Are You On? (1984). It produced the hit single "Get Out Of Your Lazy Bed" and positioned the group alongside the likes of Sade, Everything But The Girl and Style Council as part of a smooth and mellow musical trend that was dubbed sophisti-pop. The band turned into a duo featuring Mark Reilly and producer Mark Fisher (who passed away in 2016), and went on to have big success in Europe with albums Matt Bianco (1986) and Indigo (1988), along with hit singles "Yeh Yeh" (a cover of an old Georgie Fame hit) and "Don't Blame It On That Girl"; but their popularity started to wane in the 1990s. Still recording and performing, they released their 12th album Hideaway in 2012 and have influenced the likes of Jamiroquai, Morcheeba and Simply Red. Since 2016, Matt Bianco has operated as a solo vehicle for Mark Reilly, with albums such as Gravity (2017), 2020's High Anxiety (with the Dutch band New Cool Collective), and 2025's Masquerader emerging.