Music Makers Encyclopedia: A

Click on a letter to choose an act (“S” for Bruce Springsteen, “B” for Beatles, etc.). Shown with the act are its major awards, short bios for select acts (generally adapted from Joel Whitburn’s Pop Memories 1890-1954 and Top Pop Singles: Billboard books), and links to albums and songs reviewed by the DMDB.

Aaliyah

R&B singer born Aaliyah Dana Haughton on 1/16/1979 in Brooklyn, New York. Died 8/21/2001 in a plane crash. Moved to Detroit at age 5. Secretly married R. Kelly, producer of her first album, when she was 15. Her name means “highest, exalted one” in Swahili.

Abba

Pop group formed in Stockholm, Sweden, using their first names as an acronym. Active: 1970-82 Members: Anni-Frid "Frida" Lyngstad (v), Agnetha Faltskog (v), Björn Ulvaeus (g), Benny Andersson (k). Benny and Björn recorded together in 1966. Björn and Agnetha married in 1971; divorced in 1979. Benny and Frida married in 1978; divorced in 1981. Benny and Björn co-wrote musicals Chess (with Tim Rice) and Mamma Mia!.

Song(s):
Waterloo (1974)
Mamma Mia (1975)
Fernando (1976)
Dancing Queen (1976)
Knowing Me, Knowing You (1976)

Album(s):
Abba (1975)
Arrival (1976)
Greatest Hits (1976)
Super Trouper (1980)
Gold: Greatest Hits (compilation, 1974-1982)

Darrell “Dimebag” Abbott Rock guitarist with Pantera and Damageplan. Born in Ennis, Texas on 8/20/1966. Died 12/8/2004 when shot by a fan while performing on stage.

ABC

New wave band formed in Sheffield, England. 1980-1991 . Martin Fry (v: 80-91), Mark White (k/g: 80-91), Stephen Singleton (sax: 80-84), Mark Lickley (b: 81-82), David Robinson (d: 81), David Palmer (d: 82-83). #59 Alternative Rock Act.

Song(s):
The Look of Love (1982)

Album(s):
The Lexicon of Love (1982)

Paula Abdul

Dance-pop singer born 6/19/1962 in San Fernando, California. Brazilian and French-Canadian heritage. As a teen, she was a choreographer and cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers. Also choreographed Janet Jackson’s “Control” video and TV’s The Tracey Ullman Show. Was a judge on TV’s American Idol singing contest.

Song(s):
Rush Rush (1991)

Album(s):
Forever Your Girl (1988)

Herb Abramson

R&B executive, record producer, and co-founder of Atlantic Records. Born 11/16/1916 in Brooklyn, NY. Died 11/9/1999.

Maurice Abravanel

Classical music conductor for the Utah Symphony Orchestra for more than 30 years. Born 1/6/1903 in Thessaloniki, Rumelia in the Ottoman Empire. Died 9/22/1993.

Accept

Heavy metal band from Solingen, Germany. Active: 1976-.

Song(s):
Balls to the Wall (1983)

AC/DC

Hard-rock group from Australia. Active: 1973-. Members: Brothers Angus Young (g) and Malcolm Young (g: 73-14) with Dave Evans (v: 73-74), Bon Scott (v: 74-80), Phil Rudd (d: 74-82, 95-), Mark Evans (b: 74-77). Cliff Williams (b: 77-), Brian Johnson (v: 80-), Simon Wright (d – AC/DC: 82-89, Dio: 89-), Chris Slade (d: 89-95)

Song(s):
Highway to Hell (1979)
You Shook Me All Night Long (1980)
Back in Black (1980)
Hells Bells (1980)

Album(s):
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)
Highway to Hell (1979)
Back in Black (1980)
For Those about to Rock We Salute You (1981)
The Razor’s Edge (1990)

Ace of Base

Dance-pop group from Gothenburg, Sweden. Active: 1990-2015.

Song(s):
The Sign (1994)
Don’t Turn Around (1994)

Album(s):
Happy Nation (1992)
The Sign (1993)

Paul Ackerman

Music journalist born 2/18/1908 in New York, NY. Music editor of Billboard magazine from 1943-73. Died 12/31/1977.

Roy Acuff

Country singer born 9/15/1903 in Maynardsville, Tennessee. Died 11/23/1992. Debuted on Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry in 1938.

Song(s):
The Great Speckled Bird (1938)
Wabash Cannonball (1938)

Adam & the Ants/Adam Ant

Adam Ant led the new wave group Adam & the Ants. He was born Stuart Leslie Goddard on 11/3/1954 in Marylebone, London, England.

Album(s):
Kings of the Wild Frontier (1981)

Adama

Song(s):
Tombe Le Neige (1965)

Bryan Adams

Rock singer born 11/5/1959 in Kingston, Ontario. First served as lead singer of Sweeney Todd in 1976.

Song(s):
Summer of ’69 (1984)
Everything I Do (I Do It for You) (1991)
All for Love (with Rod Stewart & Sting, 1993)
Please Forgive Me (1993)
Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman? (1995)

Album(s):
Reckless (1984)
Waking Up the Neighbours (1991)
So Far So Good (compilation: 1983-93, released 1993)

Faye Adams

R&B/gospel singer (“Shake a Hand,” “I’ll Be True,” “It Hurts to Me to My Heart”) born Fanny Tuell on 5/22/1923 in Newark, NJ.

Johnny Adams

Blues, jazz, and gospel singer (“Reconsider Me”) known as “The Tan Canary.” Born Laten John Adams Jr. on 1/5/1932 in New Orleans, LA. Died 9/14/1998.

Lee Adams

Musical theater composer born 8/14/1924 in Mansfield, Ohio.

Album(s):
Bye Bye Birdie (cast: 1960) – see Charles Strouse
Applause (cast: 1970) – see Charles Strouse

Ryan Adams

Alternative rock singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (“New York, New York”) born David Ryan Adams on 11/5/1974 in Jacksonville, NC. With band Whiskeytown (94-00) and a solo artist.

Album(s):
Heartbreaker (2000)

Harold Adamson

Lyricist (I Love Lucy theme song) born 12/10/1906 in Greenville, NY. Died 8/17/1980.

Cannonball Adderley

Jazz saxophonist born Julian Edwin Adderley on 9/15/1928 in Tampa, Florida. Died 8/8/1975. Led a jazz combo with his brother Nat Adderley (comet) and Joe Zawinul (piano) and George Duke (piano). Nickname derived from “cannibal” in tribute to his love of eating.

Song(s):
Autumn Leaves (1958)
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (1966)

Album(s):
Live in San Francisco (1959)

King Sunny Ade

World music singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist born Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye on 9/22/1946 in Oshogbo, Nigeria.

Album(s):
Juju Music (1983)

Adele

British blue-eyed soul singer/songwriter born Adele Laurie Blue Adkins on 5/5/1988 in Tottenham, North London, England. Won The Brit Awards Critics Choice as the 2008 breakthrough act and then won The Grammy for Best New Artist in 2009. In February 2011, she became the first living artist since The Beatles in 1964 to have two top 5 albums and two top 5 singles on the charts simultaneously in the U.K.

Song(s):
Make You Feel My Love (2008)
Rolling in the Deep (2010)
Someone Like You (2011)
Skyfall (2012)
Hello (2015)

Album(s):
19 (2008)
21 (produced by Rick Rubin, 2011)
25 (2015)

The DMDB Blog:
Adele-ation is in full swing in the wake of the Grammys and a Brit Award (3/3/12)

Chris Adler

Thrash metal drummer from Lamb of God (94-19) born 11/23/1972 in Washington, D.C.

Lou Adler

Born 12/13/1933 in Chicago, Illinois. American record producer (Sam Cooke, Carole King, The Mamas & the Papas), manager (Jan & Dean), director, and an owner of the famous Roxy Theater. Founded Dunhill Records in 1964 and Ode Records in 1967. Helped produce the Monterey International Pop Festival and cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Richard Adler

Musical theater composer born 8/31/1921 in New York City, NY. Died 6/21/2012.

Song(s):
Hernando’s Hideaway (from The Pajama Game, 1954) – see Archie Bleyer

Album(s):
The Pajama Game (composed with Jerry Ross, cast: 1954)
Damn Yankees (composed with Jerry Ross, cast: 1955)

Steven Adler

Rock drummer from Guns N’ Roses (85-90) born Michael Coletti on 1/22/1965 in Cleveland, OH.

Aerosmith

Hard-rock group formed in New Hampshire. Active: 1970- Members: Steven Tyler (v: 70-), Joe Perry (g: 70-79, 84-), Brad Whitford (g: 70-81, 84-; Whitford/St.Holmes: 81), Tom Hamilton (b: 70-), Joey Kramer (d: 70-), Jimmy Crespo (g – The Flame, Aerosmith: 79-84), Rick Dufay (g: 81-84)

Song(s):
Dream On (1973)
Sweet Emotion (1975)
Toys in the Attic (1975)
Walk This Way (1975)
Walk This Way (1986) – see Run-D.M.C.
Janie’s Got a Gun (1990)
Cryin’ (1994)
I Don't Want to Miss a Thing (w. Diane Warren, 1998)

Album(s):
Toys in the Attic (1975)
Rocks (1976)
Greatest Hits (compilation: 1973-79, released 1980)
Permanent Vacation (1987)
Pump (1989)
Get a Grip (1993)

Afrojack

Music programmer, record producer and remixer born Nick van de Wall on 9/9/1987 in Spijkenisse, Netherlands.

Song(s):
Give Me Everything (2011) – see Pitbull

After the Fire

New wave band from London, England. Active: 1974-82

Song(s):
Der Kommissar (1982)

Against Me!

Punk-rock band from Gainesville, Floria. Active: 97-

Album(s):
New Wave (2007)

Milton Ager

Composer (“Ain’t She Sweet,” “Happy Days Are Here Again”) born 10/6/1893 in Chicago, IL. Died 5/6/1979.

Charles Agnew & His Stevens Hotel Orchestra

Bandleader born 6/22/1901. Raised in New Jersey. Died 10/25/1978.

Song(s):
Don’t Blame Me (with Stanley Jacobsen, 1933)

Pepe Aguilar

Singer/songwriter born José Antonio Aguilar Jiménez on 8/7/1968 in San Antonio, TX.

Christina Aguilera

Pop singer born 12/18/1980 in Staten Island, NY. Won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1999.

Song(s):
Reflection (from Mulan, 1998)
Genie in a Bottle (1999)
Lady Marmalade (with Lil’ Kim, Mya, & Pink; 2001)
Dirrty (with Redman, 2002)
Beautiful (2002)
Moves Like Jagger (2011) – see Maroon 5

Album(s):
Christina Aguilera (1999)

A-ha

Synth-pop band from Oslo, Norway. 1982-. Magne Furuholmen (k/g), Morten Harket (v), Pal Waaktaar-Savoy (g).

Song(s):
Take on Me (1984)

Album(s):
Hunting High and Low (1985)
Scoundrel Days (1986)
Stay on These Roads (1988)
East of the Sun, West of the Moon (1990)
Memorial Beach (1993)
Minor Earth, Major Sky (2000)

Fred Ahlert

Composer/lyricist/songwriter born on 9/19/1892 in New York City, NY. Died 10/20/1953.

Clay Aiken

Singer born Claytn Holmes Grissom on 11/30/1978 in Raleigh, NC. Came in second place on the second season of American Idol (2003).

Song(s):
This Is the Night (2003)
Bridge Over Troubled Water (2003)

Air

Electronica/dream pop band from Versailles, France. Active: 95-

Song(s):
Sexy Boy (1998)

Album(s):
Moon Safari (1998)

Air Supply

Adult contemporary/pop duo (“All Out of Love,” “The One That You Love,” “Making Love Out of Nothing at All”) formed in Australia in 1975. Consisted of singer/songwriter and guitarist Graham Russell (born 6/11/1950 in Nottingham, England) and singer Russell Hitchcock (born 6/15/1949 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Song(s):
Lost in Love (1980)

Album(s):
Lost in Love (1980)
The One That You Love (1981)
Now and Forever (1982)

Don Airey

Rock keyboardist born 6/21/1948 in Sunderland England. With Rainbow (79-83) and Deep Purple (03-05, 13).

Akon

R&B singer born Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam on 10/14/1981 in St. Louis, MO.

Song(s):
Sexy Bitch (aka “Sexy Chick”) (2009) – see David Guetta

Harry Akst

Songwriter (“Baby Face,” “Am I Blue?”) born 8/15/1894 in New York. Died 3/31/1963.

Alabama

Country group from Fort Payne, Alabama. Formed as Young Country (69-72), changed name to Wildcountry (72-77) and then Alabama. CMA Awards: 1981, 1982 & 1983 Vocal Group of the Year; 1982, 1983 & 1984 Entertainer of the Year. Active: 1969-2006 Members: Randy Owen (v/g: 69-06), Jeff Cook (k/fiddle: 69-06), Teddy Gentry (b/v: 69-06), Rick Scott (d: 69-79), Mark Herndon (d/v: 79-06)

Song(s):
My Home’s in Alabama (1980)

Album(s):
Feels So Right (1981)
Mountain Music (1982)
The Closer You Get (1983)

Alabama Shakes

Song(s):
Hold On (2012)
Don’t Wanna Fight (2015)

Licia Albanese

Italian operatic soprano singer born 7/22/1909. Died 8/15/2014.

Damon Albarn

Britpop singer/songwriter born 3/23/1968 in Whitechapel, London With Blur and Gorillaz, but also helmed The Good, the Bad & the Queen; Monkey: Journey to the West; and Mali Music.

Morris Albert

Song(s):
Feelings (1975)

Chris Albertson

Steve Albini

Jason Aldean

Album(s):
My Kinda Party (2010)

John Alderete

Tommy Aldridge

George Alexander

Song(s):
Mighty Like a Rose (aka "Mighty Lak a Rose") (1903)

Tim Alexander

Kenneth J. Alford (aka Frederick Joseph Ricketts)

Song(s) written by Alford:
Colonel Bogey March (1914)

Alice in Chains

One of the foremost bands of the grunge movement of the 1990s. Formed in Seattle, WA. Have sold over 35 million albums worldwide. Active: 1987- Members: Layne Staley (v: 87-96, 98: Mad Season: 95; died of a heroin and cocaine overdose in 2002), Jerry Cantrell (g: 87-96, 98, 05-), Mike Starr (b: 87-93; died of an apparent drug overdose in 2011), Sean Kinney (d: 87-96, 98, 05-), Mike Inez (b – Ozzy Osbourne: 89-93; Alice in Chains: 93-96, 98, 05-; Slash’s Snakepit: 95; with Jerry Cantrell: 98; Black Label Society: 01-04), William DuVall (v: 05-).

Song(s):
Man in the Box (1991)

Album(s):
Dirt (1992)

Alien Ant Farm

Song(s):
Smooth Criminal (2001)

Mose Alison

Jazz pianist.

All-4-One

Song(s):
I Swear (1994)

Gary Allan

Song(s):
Smoke Rings in the Dark (1999)

Bill “Hoss” Allen

Bob Allen

Song(s):
Where or When (from Babes in Arms, 1937) – see Hal Kemp

Fulton Allen

– see Blind Boy Fuller

Lily Allen

Song(s):
The Fear (2009)

Rick Allen

Robert Allen

Composer/pianist/arranger born Robert Allen Deitcher on 2/5/1927. Died 10/1/2000. Best known for songs “Chances Are” and “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays.”

Luther Allison

Blues guitarist born 8/17/1939 in Widener, AR. Worked with Howlin’ Wolf and James Cotton. Freddie King got him a record deal. Died 8/12/1997.

Gregg Allman

Rock keyboardist with the Allman Brothers Band.

The Allman Brothers Band

Southern-rock group formed in Macon, GA by brothers Duane and Gregg Allman. Active: 1969- Members: Duane Allman (g: 70-71), Gregg Allman (k/v: 69-76, 78-81, 89-) with Dickey Betts (g/v: 69-76, 78-81, 89-00), Berry Oakley (b: 69-72; died in a motorcycle accident on 11/11/72), Butch Trucks (d: 69-76, 89-17; died 1/24/2017), and Jai Johanny Johanson (d: 69-76, 89-); Lamar Williams (b: 69-76; died 1/25/83), Chuck Leavell (k: 72-76), Warren Haynes (g: 95-), Allen Woody (b: 89-95), Johnny Neel (k: 89-90), Mark Quinones (k: 90-). Derek Trucks (g: 00-). Members have formed various offshoot groups. Johanson, Williams, and Leavell formed the band Sea Level. Betts, Haynes, and Neel were all in the Dickey Betts Band together. Haynes and Woody were in Gov’t Mule together.

Song(s):
Whipping Post (1970)
Ramblin’ Man (1973)

Album(s):
At Fillmore East (live, 1971)
Eat a Peach (live/studio, 1972)

Duane Allman

Blues-rock guitarist born Howard Duane Allman in Nashville, TN on 11/20/1946. Did in a motorcycle accident on 10/29/1971. Worked with Allman Joys (66), Hour Glass (67-68), 31st of February (68), Gregg Allman (68), The Second Coming (69), Boz Scaggs (69), Allman Brothers Band (69-71), Delaney & Bonnie (70), Derek the Dominos (70-71).

All Saints

Song(s):
Never Ever (1997)
Pure Shores (2000)

Herb Alpert (& the Tijuana Brass)

Musician and executive born 3/31/1935 in Los Angeles, CA. Record executive, producer, composer (“Rise”), trumpeter, and bandleader. Played trumpet since age 8. Did A&R work for Keen Records. Produced Jan & Dean’s first session. Wrote Sam Cooke’s “Wonderful World.” Recorded as Dore Alpert in 1962. With Jerry Moss, he formed A&M Records that same year. They formed the Almo Sounds label in 1994. Several times during 1966, Alpert held down 5 of the top 20 positions on the Billboard album charts.

Song(s):
The Lonely Bull (1962)
A Taste of Honey (1965)

Album(s):
The Lonely Bull (1962)
South of the Border (1965)
Whipped Cream & Other Delights (1965)
Going Places (1965)
What Now My Love (1966)

ALT

Active: 1995 Members: Andy White, Liam O’Maonlai, Tim Finn

Album(s):
Altitude (1995)

Louis Alter

Alt-J

Album(s):
An Awesome Wave (2012)

Jeff Ament

Grunge-rock bassist with Deranged Diction, Green River (84-88), Mother Love Bone (88-90), Temple of the Dog (90), Mookie Blaylock (90), Pearl Jam (91-).

America

Song(s):
A Horse with No Name (1971)

Album (s):
America (1972)

American Quartet/Premier Quartet

Vocal group. Active: 1900, 1910-24. Members: William F. Hooley (bass: 1909-18), S.H. Dudley (baritone: 1900), Albert Campbell (tenor: 00, 20-25), and W.T. Leahy (1900-?), Billy Murray (tenor: 1910-24?), John Bieling (tenor: 1910-14), Steve Porter (baritone: 1910-14), John Young (tenor: 1914-20), Donald Chalmers (bass: 1918-20), John Meyer (bass: 1920-25), Frank Croxton. Also known as the Premier Quartet on their Edison recordings. Bieling, Dudley, Hooley, Murray, and Porter were all also members of the Haydn Quartet. Campbell, Croxton, Meyer, and Porter were also members of the Peerless Quartet.

Song(s):
Casey Jones (with Billy Murray, 1910)
Come, Josephine, in My Flying Machine (Billy Murray with Ada Jones & the American Quartet, 1911)
Oh, You Beautiful Doll (1911) – see Billy Murray
Moonlight Bay (1912)
Everybody Two-Step (1912)
It’s a Long, Long Way to Tipperary (1914)
When You Wore a Tulip and I Wore a Big Red Rose (1915)
Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh! (1917)
Over There (w. George M. Cohan, 1917)
Goodbye Broadway, Hello France (1917)

The Ames Brothers

Song(s):
You, You, You (1953)

Tori Amos

Alternative-rock singer/songwriter (“Silent All These Years”) and pianist born Myra Ellen Amos on 8/22/1963 in Newton, NC.

Song(s):
Me and a Gun (1991)

Album(s):
Little Earthquakes (1992)
Under the Pink (1994)
Strange Little Girls (2001) covers

Skunk Anansie

Album(s):
Paranoid & Sunburnt (1995)

The Andantes

Bill Anderson

Country singer born James William Anderson III on 11/1/1937 in Columbia, SC.

John Anderson

Country singer born John David Anderson on 12/13/1954 in Apopka, FL.

Leroy Anderson

American songwriter born 6/29/1908. Died 5/18/1975

Song(s):

Lynn Anderson

Country singer born Lynn Rene Anderson on 9/26/1947 in Grand Fork, ND. Died 7/30/2015. Raised in Sacramento, CA. Daughter of country singer Liz Anderson. An accomplished equestrian, Lynn was the California Horse Show Queen in 1966.

Song(s):
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1970)

Marian Anderson

Opera singer born 2/27/1897 in Philadelphia, PA. Died 4/8/1993.

Song(s):
He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands (1936)
Ave Maria (1936)
My Country ‘Tis of Thee (1939)

Maxwell Anderson

Album(s):
Lost in the Stars (cast, 1949) – see Kurt Weill

Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe

One-time project formed by members of the progressive rock group Yes. Although the four comprised the brunt of the classic Yes lineup from 1970-72, the rights to the name belonged to bassist Chris Squire. Active: 1988-92 Members: Jon Anderson (v: 68-79, 83-01), Bill Bruford (d: 68-72,91), Steve Howe (g: 70-81,91,96-01), Rick Wakeman (k: 71-74, 76-80,91,96-97).

Album(s):
Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe (ABWH, 1989)
Union (featured both of that eras incarnations of Yes, 1991)

Benny Andersson

Member of Abba.

Album(s):
Mamma Mia! (composed with Björn Ulvaeus, stage debut: 10/17/2000, cast: 2001, soundtrack: 2008)

Peter Andre

Song(s):
Mysterious Girl (1995)

Julie Andrews

Singer born Julia Elizabeth Wells on 10/1/1935 in Watton-on-Thames, England.

Song(s):
I Could Have Danced All Night (from My Fair Lady, w. Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe, 1956)
Wouldn’t It Be Loverly (from My Fair Lady, w. Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe, 1956)
The Sound of Music (from The Sound of Music, w. Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II, 1965)
My Favorite Things (from The Sound of Music, w. Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II, 1965)
Do-Re-Mi (from The Sound of Music, w. Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II, 1965)
Edelweiss (from The Sound of Music, 1965)
Supercalifragilisticexpalidocious (from Mary Poppins, with Dick Van Dyke, 1965)
Chim Chim Cher-ee (from Mary Poppins, with Dick Van Dyke et al, 1965)
A Spoonful of Sugar (from Mary Poppins, 1965)
Feed the Birds (Tuppence a Bag) (from Mary Poppins, 1965)

Michael Andrews

Song(s):
Mad World (with Gary Jules, 2003)

The Andrews Sisters

Emerged from Minneapolis to become the most popular female vocal group of the entire pre-1955 era. Led by Patty, the trio appeared in many ‘40s movies and their unmistakable sound helped define the wartime era. LaVerne died on 5/8/67 at age 52; the nostalgia wave led Patty and Maxene to star in a 1974 Broadway musical Over There.

b>Active: 1938-51 Members: sisters Patty, Maxene, and LaVerne Andrews.

Song(s):
Bei Mir Bist Du Schon (Means That You're Grand) (1938)
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (1941)
Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree with Anyone Else But Me (1942)
Jingle Bells (1943) – see Bing Crosby
Shoo-Shoo Baby (1943)
Don’t Fence Me In (1944) – see Bing Crosby
Rum and Coca-Cola (1945)
Christmas Island (with Guy Lombardo’s Orchestra, 1946)
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (1947) – see Bing Crosby
I Can Dream, Can't I? (with Gordon Jenkins’ Orchestra, 1949)
Quicksilver (1950) – see Bing Crosby

Animal Collective

Album(s):
Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)

The Animals

Song(s):
The House of the Rising Sun (1964)
We Gotta Get Out of This Place (1965)

Paul Anka

Pop singer/songwriter born Paul Albert Anka on 7/30/1941 in Ottawa, Ontario.

Song(s):
Diana (1957)

Adam Ant/Adam & the Ants

British new wave singer born Stuart Leslie Goodard on 11/3/1954. With Adam & the Ants before going solo.

Song(s):
Stand and Deliver (1981)

Anne-Marie

Song(s):
Rockabye (2016) – see Clean Bandit

Dee Anthony

Music manager for Tony Bennett and Peter Frampton.

Marc Anthony

Song(s):
Vivir Mi Vida (2013)

Michael Anthony

Rock bassist with Van Halen (74-04) and Chickenfoot (08-11).

Ray Anthony

American big band leader born Raymond Antonini on 1/20/1922.

Song(s):
Hokey Pokey (1953)

Anthrax

Song(s):
Caught in a Mosh (1987)

Album(s):
Among the Living (1987)

Clifford Antone

Antony & the Johnsons

Album(s):
I Am a Bird Now (2005)

Thelma Aoyama

Song(s):
Soba Ni Lur Ne (2009)

Aphex Twin

Song(s):
Windowlicker (1999)

Album(s):
Selected Ambient Works 85-92 (compilation: 1985-1992)

Dave Appell

Carmine Appice

April Wine

Aqua

Song(s):
Barbie Girl (1997)
Dr. Jones (1998)

Arcade Fire

Song(s):
Wake Up (2005)
Rebellion (Lies) (2005)

Album(s):
Funeral (2004)
Neon Bible (2007)
The Suburbs (2010)

The Archies

Song(s):
Sugar, Sugar (1969)

Arctic Monkeys

Rock band from High Green, Sheffield, England. Active: 2002- Members: Alex Turner (v/g), Jamie “Cookie” Cook (rhythm g), Andy Nicholson (b), Matthew “The Cat” Helders (d). Followed in the footsteps of garage-rock-revival bands like U.S. counterparts The Strokes and The White Stripes. First started gaining mainstream attention by making demos available to download in late 2004. Debut album sold 363,735 copies in its first week in the U.K., making it the fastest selling debut album in U.K. chart history.

Song(s):
I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor (2005)
Do I Wanna Know? (2013)

Album(s):
Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (2006)
Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007)
Humbug (2009)
Suck It and See (2011)
AM (2013)
Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (2018)

Don Arden

Music manager for Black Sabbath.

Toni Arden

Song(s):
Too Young (1951)

Rod Argent

Rock keyboardist with the Zombies and Argent (“Hold Your Head Up”).

Martha Aregrich

Classical pianist born 6/5/1941 in Buenos Aries, Argentina.

Harold Arlen

Songwriter born Hyman Arluck on 2/15/1905 in Buffalo, NY. Died 4/23/1986.

Songs written by Arlen:
I’ve Got the World on a String (E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, 1932) – see Cab Calloway
Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin' All the Time) (with Ted Koehler, 1933) – see Ethel Waters
Over the Rainbow (E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, 1939) – see Judy Garland
Blues in the Night (My Mama Done Tol’ Me) (Johnny Mercer, 1941) – see Woody Herman
That Old Black Magic (Johnny Mercer, 1943) – see Glenn Miller
Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin' All the Time) (with Ted Koehler, 1943) – Lena Horne
Ac-Cent-Tchu-ate the Positive (Johnny Mercer, 1945) – see Johnny Mercer
One for My Baby (and One More for the Road) (Johnny Mercer, 1958) – see Frank Sinatra

Album(s):
The Wizard of Oz (soundtrack: 1939, composed with Yip Harburg)
St. Louis Woman (composed with Johnny Mercer, cast, 1946)

Billie Joe Armstrong

Punk-rock singer and guitarist with Green Day. Born 2/17/1972.

Louis Armstrong

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Jazz singer and trumpet player born Daniel Louis Armstrong on 8/4/1901 in New Orleans, LA. Died of heart failure on 7/6/1971. By 1918, he was a protégé of King Oliver. He went to Chicago to join Oliver’s band four years later as a new jazz age was dawning. By 1926, “Satchmo” formed his own band and recorded songs which helped create a new international audience for jazz.

Song(s):
Louis Armstrong: Top 50 Songs
Heebie Jeebies (1925)
St. Louis Blues (1925) – see Bessie Smith
Potato Head Blues (1927)
Struttin’ with Some BBQ (1927)
Savoy Blues (1927)
West End Blues (1928)
Weather Bird (with Earl Hines, 1928)
Hotter Than That (1928)
What Did I Do to Be So Black and Blue? (1929)
Ain’t Misbehavin’ (1929)
When You’re Smiling (1929)
St. Louis Blues (1930)
Stardust (1931)
Lazy River (w. Hoagy Carmichael and Sidney Arodin, 1931)
All of Me (1932)
Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen (1938)
Basin Street Blues (with Earl Hines, 1938)
When the Saints Go Marching In (1939)
La Vie En Rose (1950)
Mack the Knife (1956)
Hello, Dolly! (from Hello, Dolly!, 1964)
What a Wonderful World (1967)
Cabaret (from Cabaret, 1968)

Album(s):
The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings (box: 1925-1928)
Plays W.C. Handy (1954)
Ella & Louis (1957) – see Ella Fitzgerald
Porgy and Bess (1958) – see Ella Fitzgerald
An American Icon (1998)

Gus Arnheim

Song(s):
Sweet and Lovely (with Donald Novis, 1931)

Billy Boy Arnold

Eddy Arnold

Country singer/songwriter and guitarist born Richard Edward Arnold on 5/15/1918 in Madisonville, TN. Died 5/8/2008. Own radio show on WMPS in Memphis from 1934-39. Lead singer of Pee Wee King’s Golden West Cowboys from 1940-43. Hosted own TV show from 1952-56. Hosted TV’s Out on the Farm in 1954. Hosted TV’s Today on the Farm in 1960. Once known as “The Tennessee Plowboy.” CMA Award: 1967 Entertainer of the Year.

Song(s):
Cattle Call (1945)
Make the World Go Away (1965)

Album(s):
My World (1965)

Kenny Aronoff

Claudio Arrau

Classical pianist born Claudio Arrau León on 2/6/1903 in Chillán, Chile. Died 6/9/1991.

Arrested Development

Song(s):
Tennessee (1992)

Album(s):
3 Years, 5 Months, & 2 Days in the Life of… (1992)

Martina Arroyo

Opera star.

James Arthur

Song(s):
Impossible (2012)
Say You Won’t Let Go (2016)

Artists United Against Apartheid

Song(s):
Sun City (1985)

Reggie “Fieldy” Arvizu

Ash

Album(s):
1977 (1996)

Ashanti

Song(s):
Foolish (with Ja Rule, 2002)

Album(s):
Ashanti (2002)

Richard Ashcroft

Britpop singer born 9/11/1971. With The Verve.

Nickolas Ashford

R&B singer/songwriter born on 5/4/1942 in Fairfield, SC. Died 8/22/2011. In singing and songwriting duo with wife Valerie Simpson (“Solid”). Also a producer with Motown.

Songs written by Ashford & Simpson:
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (1967) – see Marvin Gaye
Ain't No Mountain High Enough (1970) – see Diana Ross

The DMDB Blog:
Nickolas Ashford: 1942-2011 (8/23/11)

Clarence Ashley

Song(s):
The Coo Coo Bird (1929)

Album(s):
Old Time Music at Clarence Ashley’s (w/ various artists, 1962)

Asia

British rock supergroup formed by veterans of the progressive rock scene, but in an ‘80s arena rock mold (1981-). Members: Geoff Downes (k: 81-), John Wetton (v: 81-90, 07-17), Steve Howe (g: 81-84, 92, 2001, 07-10), Carl Palmer (d: 81-85, 90-92, 07-), Mandy Meyer (g: 85-90), Pat Thrall (g: 90, 01), John Payne (v: 91-04), Al Pitrelli (g: 92-), Michael Sturgis (d: 94-01), Elliott Randall (g: 96-01), Aziz Ibrahim (g: 96), Ian Crichton (g: 01), Guthrie Govan (g: 01-04), Chris Slade (d: 01-04), Jay Schellen (d: 05). Downes and Howe had worked together in Yes, Wetton in King Crimson and Palmer in Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Latter day members Govan, Payne, and Schellen formed GPS after the original lineup reformed in 2007.

Album(s):
Asia (1982)
Alpha (1983)
Astra (1985)
Aqua (1992)
Aria (1994)
Arena (1996)
Aura (2001)
Silent Nation (2004)
Phoenix (2008)
Omega (2010)

The DMDB Blog:
The Steve Howe Show (7/15/09)

Asian Dub Foundation

Song(s):
Real Great Britain (2000)

Associated Glee Clubs of America

Song(s):
O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles) (1925)

The Association

Song(s):
Cherish (1966)
Windy (1967)
Never My Love (1967)

Adele Astaire

Song(s):
Fascinating Rhythm (1926) – see Fred Astaire, 1926)

Fred Astaire

Tap dancer, actor (Easter Parade), and pop singer born Frederick Austerlitz on 5/10/1899 in Omaha, NB. Died 6/22/1987.

Song(s):
Fascinating Rhythm (with Adele Astaire, 1926)
Night and Day (with Leo Reisman’s Orchestra, 1932)
Cheek to Cheek (with Leo Reisman’s Orchestra, 1935)
Top Hat, White Tie, and Tails (with Johnny Green & His Orchestra, 1935)
The Way You Look Tonight (with Johnny Green & His Orchestra, 1936)
A Fine Romance (A Sarcastic Love Song) (with Johnny Green’s Orchestra, 1936)
They Can't Take That Away from Me (with Johnny Green & His Orchestra, 1937)

Album(s):
The Astaire Story (with the Oscar Peterson Quintet, 1952)

Rick Astley

British pop singer born 2/6/1966.

Song(s):
Never Gonna Give You Up (1987)

Chet Atkins

Country guitarist and producer born Chester Burton Atkins on 6/20/1924 in Luttrell, TN. Died 6/30/2001.

Atlantic Starr

John Yorke Atlee

Listen to the Mocking Bird (aka “The Mocking Bird”) (1891)

Atomic Kitten

Song(s):
Whole Again (2001)

Audioslave

Supergroup formed by members of Rage Against the Machine with Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell.

Audio Two

Song(s):
Top Billin’ (1988)

Dallas Austin

Gene Austin

Pop singer born Lemeul Eugene Lucas on 6/24/1900 in Gainsville, TX. Died 1/24/1972.

Song(s):
Yes Sir, That's My Baby (w. by Walter Donaldson & Gus Kahn; with Billy Carpenter, 1925)
Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue (with Nat Shilkret’s Orchestra, 1926)
Bye Bye, Blackbird (1926)
My Blue Heaven (1927)
My Melancholy Baby (1928)
Ramona (with Nat Shilkret’s Orchestra & Viola Klaiss, 1928)
Carolina Moon (with Nat Shilkret’s Orchestra, 1929)

Audio Two

Song(s):
Top Billin’ (1988)

Autograph

Song(s):
Turn Up the Radio (1984)

Gene Autry

Country singer/songwriter, guitarist, and actor born Orvon Gene Autry on 9/29/07 in Tioga, TX. Died 10/2/1998. Hollywood’s first “singing cowboy.” Worked as a cowboy and telegraph operator for the Frisco Railroad. Played saxophone and guitar with the Fields Brothers Marvelous Medicine Show. Sang on KVOO in Tulsa in 1929 as "The Oklahoma Yodeling Cowboy." Joined the WLS National Barn Dance in 1930. Hosted own Melody Dance radio series. Launched movie career in 1934; made more than 100 films. Starred in own TV western from 1950-56. Later owned several businesses, including baseball’s California Angels.

Song(s):
Back in the Saddle Again (1939)
Deep in the Heart of Texas (1942)
Here Comes Santa Claus (Down Santa Claus Lane) (1947)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (w. by Johnny Marks, 1949)
Frosty the Snowman (1950)

George Avakian

Frankie Avalon

Pop singer born Francis Thomas Avallone on 9/18/1939 in Philadelphia, PA.

Clarence Avant

Record executive (Venture, Sussex).

Avicii

Song(s):
Wake Me Up! (with Aloe Blacc, 2013)

Eva Avila

Song(s):
Meant to Fly (2006)

AWOL Nation

Song(s):
Sail (2011)

Estelle Axton

Iggy Azalea

Song(s):
Fancy (with Charli XCX, 2014)

Charles Aznavour

Singer/songwriter (“Yesterday When I Was Young”, “Mama”, “She”) and actor born Shahnour Varenagh Aznavourian on 5/22/1924 in Paris, France.

Song(s):
She (1974)

Irving Azoff

Record executive/music manager born 12/22/1947 in Chicago, IL. Worked with Christina Aguilera, Bon Jovi, Eagles, Dan Fogelberg, Journey, Maroon 5, No Doubt, Steely Dan, and Van Halen.

Don Azpiazu

Song(s):
The Peanut Vendor (El Manisero) (with Antonio Machin, 1930)

Aztec Camera

Album(s):
High Land, Hard Rain (1983)

Click on a letter to choose a recording act (“S” for Bruce Springsteen, “B” for Beatles, etc.). Shown with the act are its major awards, short bios for select acts (generally adapted from Joel Whitburn’s Pop Memories 1890-1954 and Top Pop Singles: Billboard books), and links to albums and songs reviewed by the DMDB.