In 1990, the
Disney Channel formed a pop band composed of then-current cast members of
The Mickey Mouse Club. As part of the promotion for the band, a name-the-band contest was held. The result was "The Party," which is a
backronym for "Positive Attitude Reflects Today's Youth." The group was also the first signing to the Walt Disney Company's pop-music-oriented label
Hollywood Records, which, at the time, was distributed by
Elektra Records.
Success The band's self-titled debut album was released in August 1990 on
Hollywood Records. The first single, "Summer Vacation," was moderately successful, peaking at #72 on the
Billboard Hot 100. The following singles, "I Found Love" and "That's Why" (which brought the group into a much bigger audience, thanks in part to a remixed version and added rap vocals), peaked at #79 and #55, respectively. The album also charted at #116 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart. During this time, the
Disney Channel produced a special titled
"The Party: In Concert." The group's success landed it opening-act spots on major concert tours with the likes of
Taylor Dayne and
Vanilla Ice. The group also appeared on various shows, such as
Live with Regis and Kathie Lee,
Into the Night starring Rick Dees, and
The Party Machine with Nia Peeples. In the summer of the following year, "Summer Vacation" was re-released in remixed form. In 1991, the covers and remixes
EP In the Meantime, in Between Time was released, which was supposed to have kept fans occupied until the group finished its next album, but the EP took on a life of its own. The cover of the
Dokken song "In My Dreams" ended up being the band's biggest hit on the charts, peaking at #34 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #16 on R&R (Radio and Records Chart Top 100). The song would also score the group appearances on shows such as
Club MTV, a return to
MMC, a Disney Channel special titled
"Go Party!" and another concert tour — this time with the R&B band
Hi-Five. In 1992, with the release of the group's second studio album,
Free, the band had shown growth with its changing sound and more adult-oriented lyrics.
Teddy Riley wrote three songs for this album including the
new jack swing-tinged title song, "Free," which was also remixed by the likes of
house-music artists
E-Smoove,
Steve "Silk" Hurley, and Grammy Award-winning remixer
Maurice Joshua.
Dr. Dre produced the song "Let's Get Right Down to It," and the group itself also got involved in the writing and producing of the album, which would once again land it another concert tour—this time opening for
Color Me Badd. Promotion included its last special for the Disney Channel,
All About the Party, and an appearance on the
Blossom episode "The Best Laid Plans of Mice & Men" in which the group performed its song "All About Love." However, the album was not as successful on the charts as previous ones, which prompted Damon Pampolina to leave the group. In 1993, the group disbanded, and Hollywood/Elektra Records released ''The Party's Over...Thanks for Coming
with little advance notice. This farewell album consisted of outtakes from the Free'' recording sessions coupled with other songs recorded before the group's disbanding. In 1997, Hollywood/PolyGram Records released a greatest-hits album of The Party; it had little chart success and was not promoted by the band itself.
Reunion In 2013, the Party reunited without Tiffini Hale, and began working on a fourth album. In July 2013, the Party released its first single and video in two decades, titled "Salute to Summer" release on the group's website. In 2019 during the MMC's 30th anniversary, Hampton, Hall, and Pampolina performed I Want You, Summer Vacation, In My Life, (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding and In My Dreams. In September 2021, Hampton, Fields, Pampolina, and Hall reunited as The Party for their first concert in almost three decades at the House of Blues in Orlando, Florida. Tiffini Hale died on December 25, 2021, at the age of 46. The Party performed for the first time since Hale's death at the 90s Con After Party on March 12, 2022, in
Hartford, Connecticut. The Party announced that they would be releasing a docu-film of their House of Blues concert on their official website and on the Always In The Club website for streaming beginning July 1, 2023. The Party also set sail with fans on a VIP cruise from Tampa, Florida on September 15, 2023 after the 3rd 90s Con opening day. On December 10, 2023, Fields, Hampton, and Hall performed at the "Why? Because It's Christmas" concert in
Nashville, Tennessee, where they performed the song "I Wish You Peace" with other former Mouseketeers. On September 16, 2024, during 90s Con, The Party was inducted into the New England Music Hall Of Fame == Hiatus (1993–2013) ==