Secret Life was a British R&B/

house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...

and pop band active from 1991 to 1996, particularly popular in the UK and

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

History

The first release by Secret Life was a

white label A white label record is a vinyl record with white labels attached. There are several variations each with a different purpose. Variations include test pressings, white label promos, and plain white labels. Test pressings Test pressings, usua ...

recording called "Spanish Lullaby", written and produced by Andy Throup and Jim Di Salvo. This was their first release from their "No Fixed Abode" recording studio, set up in

South London South London is the southern part of London, England, south of the River Thames. The region consists of the Districts of England, boroughs, in whole or in part, of London Borough of Bexley, Bexley, London Borough of Bromley, Bromley, London Borou ...

. The band then increased in size with the addition of Charlton Antenbring and Paul Bryant. Antenbring was a fashion student, disc jockey and reporter for ''

The Big Issue ''The Big Issue'' is a street newspaper founded by John Bird and Gordon Roddick in September 1991 and published in four continents. ''The Big Issue'' is one of the UK's leading social businesses and exists to offer homeless people, or indivi ...

''. Jim Di Salvo contributed on guitars,

cubase Cubase is a digital audio workstation (DAW) developed by Steinberg for music and MIDI recording, arranging and editing. The first version, which was originally only a MIDI sequencer and ran on the Atari ST computer, was released in 1989. Cut-dow ...

programming, sampling and music production. Throup was a classically trained pianist and contributed to cubase programming and music production. Bryant was the vocalist. Bryant and Throup co-wrote most of Secret Life's material. Contemporaneous to the development of Secret Life, Throup was also working with others involved with

techno Techno is a genre of electronic dance music (EDM) which is generally produced for use in a continuous DJ set, with tempo often varying between 120 and 150 beats per minute (bpm). The central rhythm is typically in common time (4/4) and often ch ...

and

music, such as noted techno and house DJ Lenny Dee. The band toured extensively, particularly in the United Kingdom, and performed on three popular UK TV music shows: ''The Beat'', ''Dance Energy'' and ''

The Hitman and Her ''The Hitman and Her'' is a British television dance music programme hosted by Pete Waterman and Michaela Strachan. The programme was produced for Granada Television and ran from September 1988 until December 1992 on ITV's Night Network. The ...

''. They also released several

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...

s. Di Salvo left the band in 1993 to set up "Bass Boom" recording studios. Di Salvo then released numerous singles and albums under his own name, and the alias act names of "The Juggler", "Bong Brothers" and "Salvo Jets", during the 1990s. One of Secret Life's first singles "As Always", a 1992 dance arrangement of Stevie Wonder's " As", was one of the most successful records issued by their then label, Cowboy Records, associated with their manager, Charlie Chester. After house producers

Masters At Work Masters at Work is the American garage house production and remix team of "Little" Louie Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez. The duo has produced music together under the names MAW, KenLou, Sole Fusion, Hardrive, and Nuyorican Soul. They have been r ...

remixed Secret Life's "Borrowed Time" (1994), Chester moved the band to Pulse-8 Records, with a view to enhanced pop appeal. He was able to obtain an eight album deal from the label. The group was now a core duo of Bryant and Throup. A pop-oriented single, "Love So Strong", previously issued by Cowboy Records in 1993, was remixed and released by Pulse-8 in 1994. Three other singles were released in 1994, followed by an album, ''Sole Purpose'', in 1995. According to one reviewer, "Production from

Brothers in Rhythm Brothers in Rhythm are a British electronic music group comprising Dave Seaman, Steve Anderson and Alan Bremner. The group was originally a duo comprising Seaman and Anderson, with Bremner joining later in 1999. They have remixed and/or produc ...

, Chris Porter and Pete Gleadall give ''Sole Purpose'' an R&B and house feel, and the album is topped off with... thoughtful lyrics and smooth vocals." From 1992 to 1996, the group released eight singles and one album. Five of the singles reached Number 1 on the Coolcuts and

Mixmag ''Mixmag'' is a British electronic dance and clubbing magazine published in London. Launched in 1983 as a print magazine, it has branched into dance events, including festivals and club nights. History The first issue of ''Mixmag'' was prin ...

dance charts in the United Kingdom. Two of the singles were also

Top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or " con ...

hit record A hit song, also known as a hit record, hit single or simply a hit, is a recorded song or instrumental that becomes broadly popular or well-known. Although ''hit song'' means any widely played or big-selling song, the specific term ''hit record' ...

on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

. Pulse-8 Records subsequently went bankrupt, ending prospects of further releases through that label. Throup, now known as Andrew Grainger, moved to

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

in 2000, and became a lounge pianist and

recording studio A recording studio is a specialized facility for sound recording, mixing, and audio production of instrumental or vocal musical performances, spoken words, and other sounds. They range in size from a small in-home project studio large enoug ...

owner. In 2007, Grainger relocated to

Austin, Texas Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the county seat, seat and largest city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and Williamson County, Texas, Williamson co ...

, to continue lounge work. After spending some time in the late 1990s contributing vocals to the work of others, Bryant left the

music industry The music industry consists of the individuals and organizations that earn money by writing songs and musical compositions, creating and selling recorded music and sheet music, presenting concerts, as well as the organizations that aid, train, ...

, becoming a support worker for disabled adults in

South Gloucestershire South Gloucestershire is a unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire, South West England. Towns in the area include Yate, Chipping Sodbury, Thornbury, Filton, Patchway and Bradley Stoke, the latter three forming part ...

, England.

Discography

Singles

* "As Always" (1992) Cowboy * "Love So Strong" (1992) Cowboy * "Love So Strong" (1993) Cowboy * "I Want You" (1994) Pulse-8 * "Love So Strong" (1994) Pulse-8 * "She Holds The Key" (1994) Pulse-8 * "Love Love Love" (1996) Pulse-8 * "Vehicle" (1996) Pulse-8

Albums

*''Sole Purpose'' (1995) Pulse-8

Compilation inclusions

*''Sonic System'' (1992)

Telstar Telstar is the name of various communications satellites. The first two Telstar satellites were experimental and nearly identical. Telstar 1 launched on top of a Thor-Delta rocket on July 10, 1962. It successfully relayed through space the fir ...

; includes "As Always" * ''Remix Culture 12/92'' (1992) DMC; includes "As Always" (The Greed Remix), plus remixes of

Spandau Ballet Spandau Ballet () were an English new wave band formed in Islington, London, in 1979. Inspired by the capital's post-punk underground dance scene, they emerged at the start of the 1980s as the house band for the Blitz Kids, playing "European Da ...

Chic Chic (; ), meaning "stylish" or "smart", is an element of fashion. It was originally a French word. Pronounced Chick. Etymology ''Chic'' is a French word, established in English since at least the 1870s. Early references in English dictiona ...

and

Dina Carroll Geraldine Carroll (born 21 August 1968) is an English singer. She had a string of hits during the 1990s, including the UK top ten singles, " It's Too Late" (1991), " Don't Be a Stranger" (1993), "The Perfect Year", (1993), and "Escaping" (1996 ...

* ''DMC CD Collection 127'' (1993) DMC; includes "Love So Strong" (Play Boys Remix) * ''Energy Rush Factor 5'' (1993)

Dino Entertainment Dino Entertainment was a firm specializing in the compilation market of the late 1980s and early 1990s, releasing records such as the ''That Loving Feeling'' and ''Energy Rush'' range of CDs, in competition with Telstar Records, Arcade Recor ...

; includes "Love So Strong" (Radio Edit) * ''Energy Rush Level 3'' (1993) Dino Entertainment; includes "As Always" * ''Full-On Dance '93'' (1993) Cookie Jar 2 CD compilation; includes "Love So Strong" * ''Full-On Dance: 20 Kickin' Dance Hits'' (1993) Cookie Jar; includes "Love So Strong" * ''Hey Mr. DJ...The 4th Compilation'' (1993)

Epic Epic commonly refers to: * Epic poetry, a long narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation * Epic film, a genre of film with heroic elements Epic or EPIC may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and medi ...

; includes "Love So Strong" (Play Boys Arena Dream) * ''The Megamix Album 128'' (1993) DMC; includes "Love So Strong" * ''Underground Selection 8/93'' (1993) DMC; includes "Love So Strong" (Play Boys Fully Loaded Mix) * ''The Voice of Dance 3'' (1993) EVA Belgium 2 CD compilation, includes "As Always" (Gospel Radio Edit) * ''Club Together: The Club Sound of 1994'' (1994)

React REACT or React may refer to: Science and technology *REACT (telescope), a telescope at Fenton Hill Observatory, New Mexico, US Computing * React (JavaScript library) , a JavaScript library for building user interfaces, from Facebook ** React Nati ...

EMI EMI Group Limited (originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records Ltd. or simply EMI) was a British transnational conglomerate founded in March 1931 in London. At the time of its break-up in 201 ...

; includes "I Want You" * ''Pulsating Rhythms 5'' (1994) Pulse-8; includes "Love So Strong" (Play Boys Arena Dream) * '' Renaissance: The Mix Collection'' (1994)

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...

3 CD compilation; includes "She Holds The Key" (H.A.L.F. I'm A Believer Mix) * ''Club Together 2: The Club Sound of 1995'' (1995)

; includes "Love So Strong" * ''Cowboy Records - The Album Volume 1'' (1995)

RPM Revolutions per minute (abbreviated rpm, RPM, rev/min, r/min, or with the notation min−1) is a unit of rotational speed or rotational frequency for rotating machines. Standards ISO 80000-3:2019 defines a unit of rotation as the dimensionl ...

/Rodeo; includes "I Want You" (

Morales Morales is a Spanish surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Alfredo Morales (born 1990), American footballer * Alvaro Morales (disambiguation), several people * Amado Morales (born 1947), Puerto Rican javelin thrower * Bartolomé Mo ...

Def Classic 12") * ''Cowboy Records - The Album Volume 2'' (1995) Rodeo; includes "I Want You" (Morales Def Classic 12") * ''United DJs of America, Volume 4:

David Morales David Morales (; born August 21, 1962) is an American disc jockey (DJ) and record producer. In addition to his production and DJ work, Morales is also a remixer. David Morales has remixed and produced over 500 releases for artists including Ma ...

Frankie Knuckles Francis Warren Nicholls, Jr. (January 18, 1955 – March 31, 2014), better known as Frankie Knuckles, was an American DJ, record producer and remixer. He played an important role in developing and popularizing house music in Chicago during the 1 ...

'' (1995)

Moonshine Moonshine is high-proof liquor that is usually produced illegally. The name was derived from a tradition of creating the alcohol during the nighttime, thereby avoiding detection. In the first decades of the 21st century, commercial dist ...

2 CD compilation; includes "Love So Strong" * ''United DJs of The World Volume 1 - David Morales & Frankie Knuckles'' (1995) DMC; includes "Love So Strong" * ''United DJs of The World - Frankie Knuckles'' (1995) DMC; includes "Love So Strong" * ''Club Classics '95'' (1995) Recurrent; includes "Love So Strong" (Brothers in Rhythm Experience) * ''Dance 95'' (1995) Circa; includes "Love So Strong" (Brothers in Rhythm Mix) * ''Dance Mania 95 Volume 1'' (1995) Pure Music; includes "Love So Strong" (Brothers in Rhythm Mix) * ''DJs At Work Vol. 1''. A Mix by

David Seaman David Andrew Seaman (born 19 September 1963) is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. In a career lasting from 1981 to 2004, he is best known for his time playing for Arsenal. He won 75 caps for England, and is the country's ...

(1995) Pimp; includes "Love So Strong" (Brothers in Rhythm Experience) * ''Energy Rush K9'' (1995) Dino Entertainment; includes "Love So Strong" (Brothers in Rhythm Mix) * ''Hit Man 3'' (1995) EMI; includes "Love So Strong" * ''Para Para Non-Stop Vol. 4'' (1995)

Meldac is a Japanese music and video game company. They also had a subsidiary in America called Meldac of America before it became defunct in the 1990s. Meldac has produced albums for Jennifer Love Hewitt (''Love Songs''), Christopher Sluka, and J- ...

; includes "Can I Believe" * ''Pulsating Hits - The Best of Pulse-8 1990-1995'' (1995)

Quality Quality may refer to: Concepts *Quality (business), the ''non-inferiority'' or ''superiority'' of something *Quality (philosophy), an attribute or a property *Quality (physics), in response theory *Energy quality, used in various science discipli ...

/Indisc/Critique; includes "I Want You" * ''Avex Dance Vol 2'' (1996) Avex Trax; includes "Love So Strong" * ''Climax 2'' (1996) Edisom; includes "I Want You" (Play Boys Remix) * ''Housemeister'' (1996) Club Tools 2 CD compilation; includes "Love Love Love" (Frankie Knuckles Classic Radio Mix), included in Megamix by House-Crack Sandro. * ''National Anthems'' (1996) Firm Music 3 CD compilation; includes "Love So Strong" (Brothers in Rhythm Experience) as closing song to the compilation, with Megamix by Chris & James. * ''Taneční Liga Vol. 3'' (1996) Popron Music; includes "Love Love Love" (Frankie Knuckles Classic Radio Mix) * ''The Best of Dance Party Volume 2'' (1996) Quality; includes "As Always" * ''Circuit Party Spins'' by DJ Julian Marsh (1997)

Rhino A rhinoceros (; ; ), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. (It can also refer to a member of any of the extinct species o ...

; includes "Love Love Love" (Frankified Club Mix) * ''Remix Culture 170'' (1997) DMC; includes "She Holds The Key" (Remix by Bill Hamel, Neil Kolo & Michael Lacy) * ''Pride 1998'' by DJ Julian Marsh (1998) Centaur Music 2 CD compilation; includes "Love So Strong" * ''1000 Original Hits - 1992'' (2001) EMI; includes "As Always" * ''Cowboy Records - The Album'' (2002) Cowboy 2 CD compilation; includes "As Always" (Old School House Mix) * ''Oldskool Ibiza'' (2002) Decadance 3 CD compilation; includes "As Always" (Gospel Mix) * ''Rave Anthems 2: Old Skool Classics'' (2002) Decadance 3 CD compilation; includes "As Always" * ''Best Of The 90s'' (2003) Disky 2 CD compilation; includes "I Want You" * '' Renaissance: The Mix Collection'' (2004)

10th anniversary reissue; includes "She Holds The Key" (H.A.L.F. I'm A Believer Mix) * ''Back to Love 03.04'' (2004)

Hed Kandi Hedkandi is an English record label, events and music brand owned by Ministry of Sound. Its back catalogue includes both artist albums and dance music compilations. History A record Label founded in 1999 at Jazz FM Radio Station's Enterprise ...

2 CD compilation; includes "As Always" (Gospel Radio edit) * ''Renaissance: The Classics'' (2005)

2 CD compilation; includes "As Always" * ''Cowboy Records EP - Volume 1'' (2005) Simply Vinyl; includes "As Always" * ''Cowboy Records EP - Volume 2'' (2005) Simply Vinyl; includes "As Always" (Gospel Mix) * ''F.E.A. Version.Dosmilcuatro'' (2007) Sinnamon; includes "Self Delusion" Release year and label particulars from Cduniverse.com. Accessed 08-12-07. * ''The Ultimate 90s Album'' (2008) Decadance; 3 CD compilation; includes "Love Love Love"

References

{{Authority control British contemporary R&B musical groups British house music groups British pop music groups Musical groups established in 1991 Musical groups disestablished in 1996