Next spring will bring the debut solo album from Roland Gift, former frontman of 1980s U.K. pop act Fine Young Cannibals. The self-titled album, due out via MCA, was produced by David Z (FYC, Jody Watley, a-Ha) and Ben Barson (Xmal Deutschland).
A blend of pop and soul, "Roland Gift" features two songs -- "It's Only Money" and "Looking For a Friend" -- that were written with the songwriting team of Carl Struken and Evan Rogers. The duo has penned tracks for a stable of pop acts that includes Christina Aguilera, 'N Sync, and the Brand New Heavies, as well as smooth jazz acts Dave Koz and Jeff Lorber.
Gift plans to tour behind the set, and says he won't shirk away from FYC songs in concert. "There are a lot of people who like the Cannibals who never saw songs like 'She Drive Me Crazy' in concert," he says, "and since I wrote them as well, I'll definitely do some Fine Young Cannibals songs."
At the height of their popularity, the Fine Young Cannibals topped Billboard's album and singles charts. The band's sophomore album, "The Raw & The Cooked" held the No. 1 position on The Billboard 200 for seven weeks in 1989, and spawned the singles "She Drives Me Crazy" and "Good Thing," each of which reached No. 1 on The Billboard Hot 100. The band's debut album peaked at No. 29 on the album chart, and included the single "Don't Look Back," a No. 11 hit on the Hot 100.
"The Cannibals sort of officially dissolved in 1996," Gift says, the same year the band's best of set, "Fine Young Cannibals Finest," was released by MCA. Prior to and since the band's split, Gift has pursued his interest in acting, which has found him in such films as "Tin Men," "Scandal," and last year's "The Island of the Mapmaker's Wife," as well as the "Highlander" television series.
A blend of pop and soul, "Roland Gift" features two songs -- "It's Only Money" and "Looking For a Friend" -- that were written with the songwriting team of Carl Struken and Evan Rogers. The duo has penned tracks for a stable of pop acts that includes Christina Aguilera, 'N Sync, and the Brand New Heavies, as well as smooth jazz acts Dave Koz and Jeff Lorber.
Gift plans to tour behind the set, and says he won't shirk away from FYC songs in concert. "There are a lot of people who like the Cannibals who never saw songs like 'She Drive Me Crazy' in concert," he says, "and since I wrote them as well, I'll definitely do some Fine Young Cannibals songs."
At the height of their popularity, the Fine Young Cannibals topped Billboard's album and singles charts. The band's sophomore album, "The Raw & The Cooked" held the No. 1 position on The Billboard 200 for seven weeks in 1989, and spawned the singles "She Drives Me Crazy" and "Good Thing," each of which reached No. 1 on The Billboard Hot 100. The band's debut album peaked at No. 29 on the album chart, and included the single "Don't Look Back," a No. 11 hit on the Hot 100.
"The Cannibals sort of officially dissolved in 1996," Gift says, the same year the band's best of set, "Fine Young Cannibals Finest," was released by MCA. Prior to and since the band's split, Gift has pursued his interest in acting, which has found him in such films as "Tin Men," "Scandal," and last year's "The Island of the Mapmaker's Wife," as well as the "Highlander" television series.
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