Jamiroquai is a popular English funk and acid jazz band. The band currently comprises of Jay Kay, Derrick McKenzie, Sola Akingbola, Rob Harris, Matt Johnson, and Paul Turner. They are most well-known for their hit albums, “Emergency on Planet Earth” (1993), “Synkronized” (1999), “A Funk Odyssey” (2001).
They have sold upwards of 26 million albums worldwide, and their album, “Travelling Without Moving” (1996), even holds the Guinness World Record for the best-selling funk album in history. The album has won a Grammy Award, two MTV Video Music Awards, and two Billboard Music Awards.
Inception
The band was formed in 1992 by Jason Kay, and it included the members, Wallis Buchanan and Toby Smith. In the same year, they released their first single, “When You Gonna Learn,” which was a success. In 1993, they released their debut album, “Emergency on Planet Earth,” which captured the Number 1 position on the UK albums chart and sold upwards of 1.3 million copies worldwide. In 1994, the band released the single “Space Cowboy,” which captured the number 1 position on the US Dance Club Songs Chart.
Evolution
In 1996, the band released their album, “Travelling Without Moving” which reached the 24th position on the U.S. Billboard 200 and sold 8 million copies worldwide. The music video for the album’s lead single, “Virtual Insanity” was greatly popular on MTV and ended up winning two video music awards. In 1999, they released the album “Synkronized,” which sold 3 million copies and captured the top position on the UK albums chart and the 28th position in the US Billboard 200.
The album’s single, “Canned Heat” captured the number 1 position on the US Dance Club Songs Chart, and “Deeper Underground” was used as a soundtrack for the popular 1998 monster film, “Godzilla.” In 2001, they released their fifth album, “A Funk Odyssey” which reached the top of the charts in the UK, Australia, Germany, Austria, and Finland. The album captured the 44th position of the U.S. Billboard 200 and reached the number 1 position on the Dance/Electronic Albums Chart.
In 2006, their greatest hits collection album, “High Times: Singles 1992–2006” was released reached the top position on the UK album chart. In 2007, they performed a concert on a private Boeing 757 titled “Gig in the Sky,” which currently holds the Guinness World Record for “fastest concert,” as it was performed on the aircraft while traveling at 1017 km/h (632 mph).
In 2017, they released the album, “Automaton” which captured the number 1 position on the US Dance/Electronic Albums chart. In 2018, they released the track, “Now We Are Alone,” on their official YouTube page and also performed at the Coachella Music Festival.
Awards and Achievements
Here is a list of Awards and Achievements earned by Jamiroquai:
- In 1997, they won the Billboard Music Awards in the category of “Alternative/Modern Rock Clip of the Year” and the “Maximum Vision Award” for “Virtual Insanity.”
- In 1997, they won a Grammy Award for “Virtual Insanity” in the category of “Best Performance By A Duo Or Group.”
- In 2000, they won the Rock Album of the Year Award for “Synkronized” at the Japan Gold Disc Awards.
- In 1997, they won the MTV Video Music Awards in the category of “Video of the Year” and “Breakthrough Video” for “Virtual Insanity.”
Net Worth of Jamiroquai in 2024
As of November 2024, Jay Kay, who is the founding member of the brand, has garnered a net worth of $80 Million. Sola Akingbola has acquired a net worth of $1 Million while Paul Turner has a net worth of $500 thousand. Also, other band members are expected to be doing well too.
Jamiroquai has been a legendary band, and the list of awards and achievements earned by them proves so. With that being said, we wish them the best of luck for all their future endeavors and hope they keep entertaining us like they always have.