The visionary behind the hit-making British house team M People is Mike Pickering (b. March 1958 Manchester), a respected DJ who played in Quando Quango, booked several early shows by the Smiths, and signed Happy Mondays and James to Factory Records while working A&R during the mid-80s. Pickering later moved from Factory to the dance label Deconstruction, where he signed acts in addition to recording material with his own band, T-Coy. He formed M People in 1990 with Heather Small (b. Jan. 20, 1965 London) and former Orange Juice member Paul Heard (b. Oct. 5, 1960 London).The group signed to DeConstruction in 1991, and released the single Colour My Life that May. Second single How Can I Love You More, propelled by Smalls deep soul vocals, became a U.K. hit and spawned the 1992 album Northern Soul. Later that year M People issued the remix work Northern Soul Extended, and then began a blockbuster 1993 with Movin on Up. The album Elegant Slumming was also a hit, earning the group a BRIT award as Best UK Dance Act. The following year, Bizarre Fruit continued M Peoples success, and was followed in 1997 by Fresco. During the next two years, a pair of collections appeared: Classic M People and Testify.