Editing Hanson (band) (section)

===1992–1996: Early years===
In the early to mid- 1990s, Isaac, [[Taylor Hanson|Taylor]], and Zac sang [[a cappella]] and recorded such classic songs as "[[Rockin' Robin (song)|Rockin' Robin]]", "[[Splish Splash (song)|Splish Splash]]", and "[[Johnny B. Goode]]", as well as their own material. Their first performance as a professional group took place in 1992 at the Mayfest Arts Festival in [[Tulsa, Oklahoma|Tulsa]].<ref name="official">{{cite book| last =Gollihare| first =Jarrod| author2 =Jill Matthews| title =Hanson: The Official Book| publisher =Billboard Books| year =1997| isbn =0-8230-8323-3| url-access =registration| url =https://archive.org/details/hansonofficialbo00goll}}</ref> They were known as the Hanson Brothers, before shortening the name to Hanson in 1993.<ref>{{LoC catalog record|n97100326|Hanson Brothers|long=yes}}</ref>

Hanson also appeared on [[Carman (singer)|Carman]]'s ''Yo! Kidz: The Vidz'', which cast Taylor as a young Biblical [[David]] facing [[Goliath]], Isaac as an event announcer, and Zac and other members of the family in the stands cheering on this "sporting event".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Carman-Yo-Kidz-Vidz/dp/B000A2R8XK|title=Amazon.com – Carman: Yo Kidz! The Vidz|access-date=May 5, 2011|website=Amazon.com}}</ref>

All three boys started their musical careers as pianists, but Isaac eventually started playing guitar and Zac started playing drums, while Taylor continued as the keyboard player. The band recorded two independent albums in their hometown of Tulsa, ''[[Boomerang (Hanson album)|Boomerang]]'' (recorded in autumn 1994, released in 1995) and ''[[MMMBop (album)|MMMBop]]'' (released in 1996). The latter featured the original version of the song "MMMBop", which later became the runaway single on their debut commercial record ''[[Middle of Nowhere (Hanson album)|Middle of Nowhere]]''. The band played in Austin during the [[South By Southwest]] music festival in [[Austin, Texas]], which led to them being signed by manager [[Christopher Sabec]].<ref name="official"/> He shopped them to several record companies, most of which dismissed the band as a novelty before [[Steve Greenberg (record producer)|Steve Greenberg]], an A&R representative for [[Mercury Records]], heard them play a set at the [[Wisconsin State Fair]]. After this performance, they were signed almost immediately by Mercury. They soon became a worldwide sensation with the release of their first major-label album, ''[[Middle of Nowhere (Hanson album)|Middle of Nowhere]]'', which was produced by Stephen Lironi and the [[Dust Brothers]].