Manchester based AORster Gary Hughes previously fronted BIG BAD MOON, but has emerged over the years as one of the leading players in British Melodic Rock. Hughes' 1991 debut album was, strangely, initially only released in Norway, although it did score spectacular success there, where two singles both achieved high chart placings. This led to a German release via the Chrysalis label.

Hughes' second solo release two years later, co-produced by Hughes, Simon Humphrey and David Hewson on a tight budget of just 3000 pounds, was an eponymous affair and issued through the newly established Wigan based Now And Then Records as the company's first ever release. Former RENDEZVOUS members guitarist Lee Revill, bassist Gary Frankland and drummer Steve Frankland all sessioned, as did the ASIA and TEN credited guitar player Aziz Abraham.

In 1994 Hughes, opting to move toward a more grandiose direction, teamed up with ex-DARE and ASIA guitarist VINNY BURNS in a new band project titled TEN. With this group the man has so far released three albums through the Now And Then label and achieved strong sales in Japan, where TEN have toured on a couple of occasions.

Proving to be something of a jack of all trades, Gary turned in a superb effort in 1997, although this time behind the desk, producing the debut solo album by erstwhile VALENTINE and OPEN SKYZ frontman HUGO. A further solo effort, 'Precious Ones' recorded at Startracks Studios in Manchester, emerged in 1998 on the Frontiers label. His colleagues Vinny Burns and Greg Morgan aided in the studio.

To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Now And Then label, Hughes' self-titled second album was re-packaged and re-issued in late '97 / early '98 with the addition of the bonus track 'Look At The Rain' with the new catalogue number of NTHEN 40. Hughes also involved himself in the production of MAGNUM singer BOB CATLEY.

The singer spent the bulk of 2002 working up a grandiose Rock Opera double album venture entitled 'Once And Future King', based upon the myths of King Arthur. When it emerged the whole concept was spread over two albums, with part one being released in August of 2003 and part two in October. Guest participants included HARRY HESS of HAREM SCAREM and THRESHOLD's Damian Wilson as the narrators, LANA LANE portraying Guinevere, Sean Harris of DIAMOND HEAD as Sir Galahad, TYKETTO's Danny Vaugn as Sir Lancelot, KARMA's Irene Jansen as Morgana and BOB CATLEY of MAGNUM playing the wizard Merlin. The king of latter day concept albums Arjen Lucasson of AYREON also got involved. Sabine Edelsbacher of Austrian act EDENBRIDGE donated vocals to the tracks 'To Believe Enough To Fight' and 'The Pagan Dream' to the second album, which also counted ex-RAINBOW singer Dougie White playing Mordred and SYMPHORCE's DC COOPER as King Aelle . Naturally Hughes himself took the role of King Arthur.