La Bouche
Biography
La Bouche was a German-American Eurodance duo formed in Frankfurt by producer Frank Farian in 1994. The original lineup consisted of American singer Melanie Thornton and American rapper Lane McCray. Prior to forming La Bouche, Thornton and McCray were part of a German cover band called Groovin' Affairs.
Career Breakthrough
La Bouche's debut single, "Sweet Dreams," was released in 1994 and quickly gained attention in Europe. However, it was their second single, "Be My Lover" (1995), that catapulted them to international fame. "Be My Lover" became a top 10 hit across Europe and peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. Their debut album, "Sweet Dreams," was released in 1995 and featured other successful singles like "Fallin' in Love" and "I Love to Love." The album was certified platinum in the US, selling over 8 million copies worldwide.
Subsequent Years and Lineup Changes
In 1997, La Bouche released their second studio album, "A Moment of Love," which was known as "S.O.S." in some regions. The album included the single "You Won't Forget Me." A remix album titled "All Mixed Up" was released in 1996. Melanie Thornton left the group in February 2000 to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Natascha Wright.
Tragedy and Continuation
On November 24, 2001, Melanie Thornton tragically died in the Crossair Flight 3597 crash near Zurich, Switzerland, while promoting her solo album. Following her death, a tribute single titled "In Your Life," featuring previously unreleased vocals from Thornton and McCray, was released in 2002. A compilation album, "The Best of La Bouche featuring Melanie Thornton," was also released that year.
La Bouche Today
Lane McCray has continued to tour and perform as La Bouche with various vocalists. In 2015, Hungarian singer Sophie Cairo became the new official singer. The duo has since released new music, including the single "Night After Night" in 2018. McCray continues to keep the spirit of La Bouche alive through live performances worldwide.