Baha Men formed in 1977[1] as High Voltage, initially playing disco and funk.[2] They performed regularly in nightclubs and hotels in the Bahamas and self-released several albums.[2]
In 1991, one of their tapes found its way to Atlantic Records A&R man Steve Greenberg, who signed the band to the Big Beat subsidiary, at the same time getting the band to change their name to the Baha Men.[2]
Early success
The following year, Baha Men released their first album, Junkanoo, which included the local hit "Back to the Island".[2]Kalik followed in 1994, including the international hit "Dancing in the Moonlight".[2] The band moved with Greenberg to Polygram for the 1997 album I Like What I Like and Doong Spank, released the following year.[2] The latter sold only 700 copies in the US and the band was dropped by the label.
Greenberg then started his own label, S-Curve, and signed the band.[2] Original vocalist Nehemiah Hield left in 1999, and was replaced by his nephew Omerit.[2] The band was most popular in the 1990s in Japan, and their 1999 album 2 Zero 0-0 was initially only released in that country.[2]
"Who Let the Dogs Out"
They achieved great, but short-lived, popularity with a 2000s remake of "Who Let the Dogs Out" (originally composed by Anslem Douglas), produced by Greenberg and Michael Mangini.[2] The song was a chart success in many countries and also became a popular song at US sporting events.[2] "Who Let the Dogs Out" also earned the band several awards: a Grammy Award in 2001 for Best Dance Recording;[2]Billboard Music Awards for World Music Artist of the Year and World Music Album of the Year; and a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award for Favorite Song. In 2002, they won another Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Band.
^March 13, 2001 in the US and elsewhere. Thompson, Dave (2002). Reggae & Caribbean Music. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. p. 29. ISBN0-87930-655-6. Retrieved 1 February 2016. Their 1999 album 2 Zero 0-0 was released only in the band's traditionally loyal stronghold of Japan. … Finally released in the US in 2001 (Universal)…
^"Australian Web Archive"(PDF). webarchive.nla.gov.au. 23 August 2006. Archived from the original on 26 June 2002. Retrieved 2 May 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)