R.I.O.

R.I.O. is a German dance music band established in mid-2007 by producers Yann Peifer (Yanou) and Manuel Reuter (DJ Manian). Initially an experimental project, their first release was a cover of “Samba de Janeiro Bellini” titled “R.I.O.”, which saw significant club play and charted within the top 10 in Spain. This early success solidified their direction, leading to a re-recorded version, “De Janeiro,” released on December 2, 2007, which became an international club anthem charting at number 8 in Spain and number 14 in the Netherlands.

In 2008, Tony T. (Neal Antone Dyer) joined R.I.O. as the lead singer, marking a significant turning point for the group. Their first single with Tony T., “Shine On,” released in June 2008, achieved widespread popularity across southern Europe and the Middle East, reaching Top 25 positions in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Spain. This was followed by the commercially successful track “When the Sun Comes Down” in December 2008, which entered the top 10 of the Dutch Top 40. The band continued to release notable singles like “After the Love” (2009) and “Hot Girl” (2010), demonstrating their shift from reggae to house music styles.

2011 saw R.I.O. release their second studio album, “Sunshine,” which included hit singles such as “Like I Love You” and “Miss Sunshine.” A major milestone occurred with the release of “Turn This Club Around,” a collaboration with American singer U-Jean, which topped the iTunes charts for three weeks and reached number one in Switzerland while also charting in the UK and Canada. This single earned R.I.O. gold records in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland for over 150,000 units sold. U-Jean continued to contribute after Tony T.’s departure in 2012, with tracks like “Party Shaker” (2012) and “Summer Jam” (2012) achieving high chart positions across Europe, solidifying R.I.O.’s position as a prominent dance music act.