Sugar Ray

Biography

Sugar Ray is an American rock band formed in Newport Beach, California in 1986 that currently consists of Mark McGrath, Rodney Sheppard, Dean Butterworth, and Kristian Attard. Originally playing heavier nu metal and funk metal style music, the band shifted styles to a more radio-friendly pop sound after they achieved success with "Fly" (1997). The band then achieved success with "Every Morning×Every Morning22 September 1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Every Morning3:512Rivers2:523Aim for Me (main version)2:29" (1999), "Someday×Someday1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Someday (album version)4:052Every Morning (acoustic)3:183Someday (acoustic)6:14" (1999), "Falls Apart×Falls Apart1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Falls Apart (Album Version)4:172Falls Apart (Edit)4:163Falls Apart (Instrumental)4:13" (1999), "Answer the Phone×Answer the Phone2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Answer the Phone3:582Falls Apart (live From Spain)4:263Fly (live From Spain)" (2001), and "When It's Over×When It's Over2001 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1When It's Over3:402Someday (live acoustic)3:453Every Morning (live acoustic)3:15" (2001). The band has released seven studio albums: Lemonade and Brownies×Lemonade and Brownies11 April 1995 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Snug Harbor0:502Rhyme Stealer2:523Iron Mic4:414Hold Your Eyes3:295The Greatest3:596Big Black Woman1:447Mean Machine2:428Dance Party U.S.A.3:19910 Seconds Down3:4110Danzig Needs a Hug3:0611Drive By1:5912Caboose3:1413Scuzzboots3:2914Streaker / One Brave Cowboy7:45 (1995), Floored×Floored24 June 1997 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 13 tracks1RPM3:222Breathe3:263Anyone3:304Fly4:525Speed Home California2:426High Anxiety3:327Tap, Twist, Snap3:138American Pig4:019Stand and Deliver2:5910Cash1:3611Invisible3:1012Right Direction2:5413Fly4:05 (1997), 14:59 (1999), Sugar Ray (2001), In the Pursuit of Leisure (2003), Music for Cougars (2009), and Little Yachty (2019).

Formation and Lemonade and Brownies (1986–1996)

The band members grew up in Orange County, California. Rodney Sheppard played in several reggae bands and worked with future Good Charlotte drummer Dean Butterworth. In the late 1980s, prior to Sugar Ray, Sheppard and Stan Frazier played together in a band under the name The Tories. Later additions Murphy Karges and Mark McGrath changed the band's name to Shrinky Dinx (initially "Shrinky Dinks"). After signing with Atlantic Records, the name was changed to Sugar Ray, after Sugar Ray Leonard, upon threat of a lawsuit from the Milton Bradley Company, maker of the Shrinky Dinks toy.
The band's debut album, Lemonade and Brownies×Lemonade and Brownies11 April 1995 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Snug Harbor0:502Rhyme Stealer2:523Iron Mic4:414Hold Your Eyes3:295The Greatest3:596Big Black Woman1:447Mean Machine2:428Dance Party U.S.A.3:19910 Seconds Down3:4110Danzig Needs a Hug3:0611Drive By1:5912Caboose3:1413Scuzzboots3:2914Streaker / One Brave Cowboy7:45, was released in 1995 and though it was not a commercial success, it did earn the band recognition in alternative music circles. It included the song "Mean Machine×Mean Machine1995 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Mean Machine2:442White Minority1:043Wasted0:504Wango Tango3:56", which peaked at No. 45 on the Radio & Records active rock chart.

Floored (1997–1998)

The band's first mainstream hit was "Fly", released in May 1997. It was included on the album Floored×Floored24 June 1997 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 13 tracks1RPM3:222Breathe3:263Anyone3:304Fly4:525Speed Home California2:426High Anxiety3:327Tap, Twist, Snap3:138American Pig4:019Stand and Deliver2:5910Cash1:3611Invisible3:1012Right Direction2:5413Fly4:05 and featured reggae musician Super Cat. "Fly" did not sound anything at all like the rest of the tracks on the album and received frequent radio play, reaching number 1 on Billboard's Airplay List. As a result of the success of "Fly", Floored sold well and achieved the RIAA certification of double platinum. By the end of 1997, critics were skeptical that Sugar Ray could put out another successful song and labeled them a one-hit wonder. The same year, Sugar Ray was featured in the movie Fathers' Day, starring Billy Crystal and Robin Williams.
Sugar Ray played on the Vans Warped Tour in 1997.

14:59 (1999–2000)

14:59, released in January 1999, was the band's reply to suggestions that they were a one-hit wonder, with the title implying that their 15 minutes of fame were not quite up — their "fame clock" read 14:59.
"Every Morning×Every Morning22 September 1997 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Every Morning3:512Rivers2:523Aim for Me (main version)2:29", which was widely compared to "Fly", had similar success during the spring of 1999, reaching number 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. When asked about the band's change of style, bassist Murphy Karges said, "We never had any credibility. Nobody ever gave us any so how could we lose any?"
Their follow-up single "Someday×Someday1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Someday (album version)4:052Every Morning (acoustic)3:183Someday (acoustic)6:14" also enjoyed extensive airplay later that year and reached number 7 in the U.S. "Falls Apart×Falls Apart1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Falls Apart (Album Version)4:172Falls Apart (Edit)4:163Falls Apart (Instrumental)4:13" reached number 29 in early 2000. 14:59 outsold its predecessor and was certified triple platinum.
The band toured in support of the album, and were scheduled to perform at Woodstock '99 but McGrath fell ill, with nodules on his throat, and they cancelled.
In 2000, Sugar Ray did a cover version of John Cale and Brian Eno's song "Spinning Away" for the soundtrack to the film The Beach.

Sugar Ray (2001–2002)

Sugar Ray, released in June 2001, included "When It's Over×When It's Over2001 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1When It's Over3:402Someday (live acoustic)3:453Every Morning (live acoustic)3:15", which reached number 13 in the U.S. "Answer the Phone×Answer the Phone2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Answer the Phone3:582Falls Apart (live From Spain)4:263Fly (live From Spain)" peaked at number 33 on the US Adult Pop Airplay chart and number 39 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart in late 2001.
Due to the band's popularity, the band made a cameo appearance in Scooby-Doo in 2002.

In the Pursuit of Leisure and The Best of Sugar Ray (2003–2005)

In the Pursuit of Leisure, released in June 2003, contains the band's cover of Joe Jackson's "Is She Really Going Out With Him?×Is She Really Going Out With Him?SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Is She Really Going Out With Him?3:48". ProHoeZak guested live with the band in 2003 having appeared on "Mr. Bartender (It's So Easy)".
In 2005, Sugar Ray released a greatest hits album, The Best of Sugar Ray×The Best of Sugar Ray20 June 2005 · Album · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Shot of Laughter3:422Answer the Phone3:593Fly4:544Someday4:055Under the Sun3:226Every Morning3:427Mean Machine2:428Falls Apart4:179Time After Time3:5610Rhyme Stealer2:5311When It's Over3:3912RPM3:2213Is She Really Going Out With Him?3:5014Psychedelic Bee1:5415Chasin' You Around3:38, with three new songs, "Shot of Laughter", "Time After Time", and "Psychedelic Bee".

Inactivity and Music for Cougars (2006–2009)

The band then went into a period of relative inactivity. In September 2004, Mark McGrath became an anchor on the television show Extra.
In January 2006, Sugar Ray was released from their recording contract with Atlantic Records.
In mid-2007, their previously unreleased song "Into Yesterday" was used on the Surf's Up movie soundtrack, and the band made brief tour in Asia in August 2007 where they headlined Singfest.
Jason Bernard, a music producer and friend of the band brought them a deal to sign with his label, Pulse Recordings, and the band recorded their next album, Music for Cougars×Music for Cougars21 July 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Girls Were Made to Love3:392Boardwalk3:263She's Got The (Woo-Hoo)3:354Love Is the Answer3:575Rainbow3:176Closer3:337When We Were Young3:218Going Nowhere2:499Love 1013:1710Last Days3:3311Morning Sun3:4412Dance Like No One's Watchin'3:53, released in July 2009. The first single was "Boardwalk". Some critics noted that McGrath aimed to lower people's expectations for the album during its promotion by saying things like: "I know people aren't sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for a Sugar Ray album, but that wasn't the point."

Lineup changes and 1990s nostalgia touring (2010–2017)

Craig "DJ Homicide" Bullock left the band in 2010.
In 2011, the band had what McGrath described as not "the highest-grossing year for Sugar Ray".
Murphy Karges and Stan Frazier left in 2012, one not wanting to tour anymore, and the other taking a job with Aaron Rodgers. This left Rodney Sheppard and McGrath as the remaining original members. Percussionist Al Keith, bassist Justin Bivona, and drummer Jesse Bivona, were hired as replacements.
In a lawsuit filed in October 2013, Karges and Frazier claimed that McGrath forced them and Bullock out of the band to be able to claim a higher share of revenues.
In 2012, McGrath worked with Art Alexakis, frontman and vocalist of Everclear, on starting up a 1990s nostalgia tour, the "Summerland" tour, which included Marcy Playground, Gin Blossoms, and Lit.
Percussionist Al Keith (Khalil Al-Rashad) injured his foot in July 2012 at Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, California, during the song "Fly". He was absent from shows until August 2012. The tour was deemed a success, and McGrath initially spoke of the possibility of it becoming a yearly event.
McGrath announced a "Mark McGrath & Friends" tour, in which the band would perform alongside other 1990s alternative rock bands Smash Mouth, Spin Doctors, and Vertical Horizon, on a cruise ship, though the plans were cancelled, with the idea losing support after the Carnival Triumph cruise ship disaster.
McGrath and Alexakis disagreed on the future direction for the "Summerland" tour, leading to Sugar Ray leaving its 2013 incarnation in favor of starting a rival nostalgia tour called "Under the Sun", which ran from 2013 to 2015.
For the tour, drummer Jesse Bivona and bassist Justin Bivona were temporarily replaced by drummer Dean Butterworth and bassist Serg Dimitrijevic, as the Bivona brothers' band The Interrupters are opening for Rancid.
McGrath released an EP as a solo EP entitled Summertime's Coming in 2015.
Drummer Jesse Bivona and bassist Justin Bivona left Sugar Ray in 2016. Drummer Dean Butterworth became a full member in fall 2014, while bassist Kristian Attard became a full member in 2016.

Little Yachty (2019–present)

In June 2019, ten years after the band last released music, Sugar Ray signed with BMG Rights Management and signed a talent management agreement with APA.
In July 2019, the band released Little Yachty. The album title is a reference to both the rapper Lil Yachty and the fact that McGrath views Sugar Ray as a "yacht rock" band.
In September 2025, the band performed at an NFL game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers.

Musical style

Sugar Ray's sound originally fused hair metal and hardcore punk with sampledelic hip-hop, new wave, disco, and dub. This sound has been predominantly categorized as nu metal and funk metal, as well as alternative metal, hard rock, punk rock, punk metal, and rap metal. Music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the band's early sound as a fusion of metal, funk, reggae, and rap. He also stated that after the success of their hit "Fly" they "no longer tried to ape the Red Hot Chili Peppers."
Regarding the band's first two albums, singer Mark McGrath stated, "we were the Chili Peppers with zero talent. [...] Out of necessity we kind of became known as a metal band, a little pre nu-metal type rap rock thing before there was rap rock."
Sugar Ray shifted to a pop rock sound following the mainstream success of "Fly", beginning with their third studio album, 14:59 (1999).
The band's later music has been categorized as skate punk, pop, and alternative pop.
The band's overall sound, throughout its shifts in style, has been characterized as alternative rock.