M People

M People

M People are a dance music group from Manchester, United Kingdom, formed in 1990. The line-up includes Heather Small, Mark Bell, Paul Heard, Mike Pickering and Shovell. The group takes its name from the first letter of Mike Pickering’s first name, and Pickering forms the band.

Style and activity

The group works across club, dance, dance-pop, electronic and house music. It achieves its greatest success during the 1990s and remains active.

Recordings and recognition

M People release the studio albums Northern Soul in 1991, Elegant Slumming in 1993, Bizarre Fruit in 1994, Bizarre Fruit II in 1995 and Fresco in 1997. By 2021, the group has sold over 11 million records worldwide. In 2016, Billboard ranks M People as the 83rd most successful dance act of all time.