Cha Cha Cohen, a group formed in 1994, originated from former members of The Wedding Present: Keith Gregory, Paul Dorrington, and Simon Smith, who recruited vocalist Jacqui Cohen. Their breakthrough came with the single "Sparky's Note" on Hemiola Records, followed by a debut release on Chemikal Underground Records in 1996. The band released the self-titled album Cha Cha Cohen in 1998 after keyboardist Alan Thomas joined. In 1999 Dorrington left and was replaced by Tanya Mellot. Their final album All Artists Are Criminals was issued in 2001, earning a four‑star review from The Guardian. After the 2001 release, Gregory and Cohen, who had married, emigrated to Australia, leading to the group's dissolution.