-
Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin (1936 – 1973) was an American singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer who performed a variety of music genres, including pop, rock and roll, jazz, folk, swing, and country. He was a popular teen idol in the late 1950s and was a ubiquitous presence in pop entertainment in the 1950s and 1960s. Darin…
-
Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison (1936 – 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He recorded 23 studio and 4 live albums. His music is mostly rock, and he was known for his powerful voice, complex song structures, and dark ballads. His most successful periods were in the early 1960s and late 1980s. Tragically, Orbison died of…
-
Ozzy Osbourne / Black Sabbath
Ozzy is know both for being lead singer of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath from 1968 to 1978 and for his very successful solo career.
-
George Clinton / Parliament / Funkadelic
George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and bandleader who is considered a pioneer of funk music.
-
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
The Four Seasons were one of the best-selling recording artists of the early and mid-1960s, with over 25 hits in five years, including “Sherry” (1962), “Big Girls Don’t Cry” (1962), “Walk Like a Man” (1963), “Rag Doll” (1964), and “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)” (1975). Valli is known for his powerful lead falsetto voice.
-
Four Tops
The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet from Detroit, Michigan who were one of Motown’s most popular acts in the 1960s. The original members of the group were Levi Stubbs, Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, and Lawrence Payton, who started their musical career in 1954 as the Four Aims. The group’s name was…
-
Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions
Mayfield is known for writing “People Get Ready” for The Impressions in 1965, which was ranked at number 24 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
-
-
Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty was part of the 1950s rockabilly scene and had 50 number one songs, was a major songwriting talent, writing 11 of his number one hits himself.
-
Neil Young
Neil Young is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and guitarist known for his distinctive guitar sound, personal lyrics, and high-tenor voice. Along with being a solo artist Young has been a member of several musical groups, including Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and Crazy Horse.
-
Sly and the Family Stone
Sly and the Family Stone was the first fully integrated group in rock history, with members of men and women, and Black and white people. Their music broke down boundaries and influenced generations. The band’s music is the template for urban soul, funk, and hip-hop. Some of their albums include Life, Anthology, and Small Talk.
-
Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte (1927-2023) was an American singer, actor, producer, and civil rights activist who recorded and performed in many genres, including blues, folk, gospel, show tunes, and American standards. He was best known for his recordings of “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)”, “Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora)”, “Jamaica Farewell”, and “Mary’s Boy Child”.
-
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi’s self-titled debut album was released in 1984 and went gold. Their third album, Slippery When Wet, went gold and platinum within six weeks of its release and sold more than 14 million copies. The band defined the rock anthem of the 1980s with their 1984 hit “Runaway”, which was their first top 40…
-
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift is an American singer-songwriter and global superstar. She is known for her distinctive songwriting, ability to write songs that are both accessible and familiar, and her ability to switch genres throughout her career. In 2024, Swift became the first artist to win the Grammy Award for album of the year four times, for…
-
Dickey Betts
Dickey Betts, who died April 19 2024, at age 80, really was born a ramblin’ man. He left home at 16 to join the circus and became a renowned guitarist touring the world with the Allman Brothers Band. He wrote the group’s biggest hit, “Ramblin’ Man,” and remained on the road until he reached the…