Record producer, DJ, musician, singer, songwriter, remixer
Instrument(s)
Keyboards, guitar, bass, vocals
Years active
1988–present
Musical artist
Barry Harris is a Canadian record producer, DJ, remixer, singer and songwriter. He created the recording act he named Kon Kan in early 1988[1] which had worldwide success with "I Beg Your Pardon".[2] The song, initially issued on the now defunct Toronto-based indie label Revolving Records, was quickly discovered and signed by Atlantic Records' A&R rep, Marc Nathan.
Throughout his career, Harris has been involved in numerous projects and enjoyed chart success, most notably as Kon Kan and as one half of the duo Thunderpuss. Other involvements include work with Terry Kelly in the house project Top Kat, and with Rachid Wehbi and vocalist Kimberley Wetmore in the house/Eurodance project Outta Control which later became known as Killer Bunnies, with Simone Denny on vocals.[4] Harris has also released several solo singles.
After a four-year break from the music industry from 2005–2009, Harris returned to the dance music scene in the fall of 2009 producing, songwriting and remixing, being the first producer/remixer in 2010 to obtain a Top 5 Billboard chart hit in each of the four decades - 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.[citation needed]
Harris' discography includes additional co-written hits such as "Dive in the Pool" from Queer as Folk[1] with the catchy line "Let's get soaking wet", the song "Head" which appeared in NBC's Will & Grace,[5] and "I Got My Pride" which appeared in HBO's Sex and the City.[6]
Returning to his teen roots, he experimented with the rock genre and co-founded the alt rock band Sick Seconds. (2011-2013). They recorded one self-titled LP, Sick Seconds. Harris wrote/co wrote & produced all songs recorded at The Orange Room in Toronto, Canada January 2013
In 2014, Harris returned to produce and rerecord a new recording of "I Beg Your Pardon" as 'Barry Harris Presents Kon Kan' with the intent to tour again with Kevin Wynne. However lack of interest at the time produced no working touring income and the two once again went their separate ways.
2016 Barry Harris signed on as sole administrator of Spotify Artists page for himself & Kon Kan
2018 Harris sign on as sole administrator of Apple Music's Artist page for himself Barry Harris & Kon Kan
2020 Harris re released Kon Kan's "VIDA!" L.P. digitally, previously only released in Canada 1993
From 2014–2021, Harris returned to DJing part-time & produced dance remixes of tracks by P!nk, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Chainsmokers, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Adele, Calvin Harris, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Ellie Goulding, Meghan Trainor and Sia, among others.[citation needed]
In November 2022, Harris reunited with Chris Cox as Thunderpuss producing "Don't Cry for Me" by Whitney Houston.[citation needed]
In 2023 Harris released two new Kon Kan songs. "Stars" in July and "Sinful Wishes (Moonlight Mix) ft. Kimberley Wetmore. [citation needed]
2000: ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Award (writer & publisher SOCAN) for "Dive in the Pool"
2000: WMC - International Music Award - Best Underground 12" Dance Record
2000: WMC Best Remixer - Thunderpuss
Related Research Articles
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Armand van Helden is an American DJ, record producer, remixer and songwriter from Boston. He is considered one of house music's most revered figures, with a career spanning three decades.
Marie-Claire Cremers known professionally as Amber is a Dutch-born singer, songwriter, label owner, and executive producer. She is best known for her hits "This Is Your Night", "If You Could Read My Mind", and "Sexual ". In December 2016, Billboard ranked her as the 34th-most successful dance artist of all time. The magazine later declared her the #7 Dance Singles Sales Artist of the 2000s.
"Stuck" is a song by American singer-songwriter Stacie Orrico, released in February 2003. It can be found on her self-titled second album. It was used in the Disney Channel Original Movie Stuck in the Suburbs. The song was released in the United States on February 3, 2003.
Kon Kan is a Canadian synth-pop project conceived and formed in 1988 by Barry Harris in Toronto, Ontario. Kon Kan were awarded a 1990 Juno for the song "I Beg Your Pardon" and nominated for a 1991 Juno Award for the single "Puss N' Boots/These Boots Are Made for Walkin'".
Christopher Niles Cox is an American dance music record producer, remixer, and DJ who has worked on over 600 records throughout his career. His album 12 Inches of Cox was released in 2002.
Marc Kinchen, known by his initials MK, is an American DJ, record producer and remixer. He hit number-one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1993 and 1994 with the songs "Always" and "Love Changes". Lead vocals on both of those tracks were performed by Alana Simon. The combo also recorded the underground house music classic anthem "Burning". "Always" peaked at number 69 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1995. MK also hit the dance chart with "4 You", using the pseudonym 4th Measure Men.
Sandra Barber is a house music singer from New York City who uses the stage name Sandy B.
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The Killer Bunnies, formerly Outta Control, was a Canadian house/Eurodance project based out of Toronto, Ontario.
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Thunderpuss is a compilation album mixed by DJs and producers Barry Harris and Chris Cox, better known under the moniker Thunderpuss. Released in 2002, it comprises their remixes of other artists' work as well as their own music.
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Move to Move is the debut album by Kon Kan, released in 1989 on Atlantic Records. It spawned the singles "I Beg Your Pardon", "Harry Houdini", "Puss N' Boots" and "Move to Move". The album reached number 69 in Canada. "I Beg Your Pardon" was a top 20 hit in at least six countries, going top 5 in the UK and the Netherlands.
MTV Party To Go is a series of dance music compilation albums released by Tommy Boy Records from 1991 to 2001. The first album in the series was titled Club MTV Party To Go Volume One and the only release to have 'Club' in its title. The albums were numbered up to Volume 10. After Volume 10, MTV Party to Go Platinum Mix was released containing past songs from the series. The next several releases in the series used the years in the title instead of volume numbers. MTV Party to Go Remixed was the last release of the series in 2001. A portion of the proceeds from the Party To Go series was donated to the AMC Cancer Research Center.
"I Beg Your Pardon" is the debut single by Canadian Barry Harris' act he created and named Kon Kan, from the 1989 debut album Move to Move. It was written and produced by Barry Harris. American musician Joe South also received a songwriting credit, due to the song's sampling of Lynn Anderson's 1970 hit "Rose Garden", which he wrote.
"Harry Houdini" is a song written by Canadian Musician/Producer/Artist Barry Harris & recorded by the act he named Kon Kan, released as the second single from the 1989 debut album Move to Move. The song did not match the success of their previous single "I Beg Your Pardon", managing to just scrape into the top forty in their native Canada at No. 39 and peaking at No. 88 in the UK, although it was a bigger hit in New Zealand, where it reached No. 14 in September 1989.
Syntonic is the second album by Kon Kan, released in 1990 by Atlantic Records. Syntonic was the first Kon Kan album to solely feature Barry Harris; Kevin Wynne had departed the previous year.
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