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.

Song(s):
At Your Best (You Are Love) (1994)
Try Again (2000)
Rock the Boat (2001)

Album(s):
Aaliyah (aka "Blackground") (2001)

Irving Aaronson

Jazz pianist born in New York City, NY on 2/7/1895. Died 3/10/1963.

Song(s):
Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall in Love (with Jack Armstrong, 1929)
Love in Bloom (1934) – see Bing Crosby

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)
I Do I Do I Do I Do (1974)
Mamma Mia (1975)
S.O.S. (1975)
Dancing Queen (1976)
Fernando (1976)
Knowing Me, Knowing You (1976)
Money Money Money (1976)
Take a Chance on Me (1977)

Album(s):
Abba (1975)
Arrival (1976)
Greatest Hits (1976)
Super Trouper (1980)
Gold: Greatest Hits (compilation: 1974-1982, released 1992)

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.

Gregory Abbott

R&B singer born in Harlem, NY.

Song(s):
Shake You Down (1986)

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)
Poison Arrow (1982)
When Smokey Sings (1987)

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):
Straight Up (1988)
Forever Your Girl (1988)
Opposites Attract (with the Wild Pair, 1988)
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):
It’s a Long Way to the Top if You Wanna Rock N' Roll (1975)
The Jack (1975)
The Rocker (1975)
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)
Whole Lotta Rosie (1977)
Highway to Hell (1979)
You Shook Me All Night Long (1980)
Back in Black (1980)
Hells Bells (1980)
Thunderstruck (1990)

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

Song(s):
How Long (1974)

Johnny Ace

R&B singer born John Marshall Alexander, Jr. in Memphis, TN on 6/9/1929. Died 12/25/1954 from an accidental gunshot.

Song(s):
My Song (1952)
Pledging My Love (1955)

Ace of Base

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

Song(s):
All That She Wants (1992)
The Sign (1993)
Don’t Turn Around (1993)

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)

Adolphe Charles Adam

Composer born in Paris, France on 7/24/1803. Died 5/3/1856.

Song(s) written by Adam with John Sullivan Dwight:
O Holy Night (Minuit, Chrétiens) (1847)

Adam & the Ants

- see Adam Ant

Salvatore Adamo

Singer born 11/1/1943 in Comiso, Sicily, Italy.

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):
Heaven (1984)
Run to You (1984)
Summer of ‘69 (1984)
Everything I Do (I Do It for You) (1991)
Can’t Stop This Thing We Started (1991)
Thought I’d Died and Gone to Heaven (1991)
All for Love (with Rod Stewart & Sting, 1993)
Please Forgive Me (1993)
Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman? (1995)
The Only Thing That Looks Good on You (1996)
Let’s Make a Night to Remember (1996)
Back to You (1997)
On a Day Like Today (1998)

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.

Song(s):
Shake a Hand (1953)

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 (musical: 1960, soundtrack: 1963) – see Charles Strouse
Applause (musical: 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.

Song(s):
La Cienega Just Smiled (2001)

Album(s):
1989 (2015)

Yolanda Adams

Song(s):
Open My Heart (2000)

Adamski

Song(s):
Killer (1990)

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)

Album(s):
Live in San Francisco (live, 1959)
Mercy Mercy Mercy! Live at ‘The Club’ (live, 1967)

King Sunny Ade

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

Song(s):
The Message (1982)
365 Is My Number (1982)

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.

DMDB podcast: Adele’s 12 Biggest Hits

Song(s):
Adele: Top 20 Songs
Hometown Glory (2007)
Chasing Pavements (2008)
To Make You Feel My Love (2008)
Rolling in the Deep (2010)
Someone Like You (2011)
Set Fire to the Rain (2011)
Love Song (2011)
Skyfall (2012)
Hello (2015)
Send My Love to Your New Lover (2015)
When We Were Young (2015)
Easy on Me (2021)

Album(s):
19 (2008)
21 (2011)
25 (2015)
30 (2021)

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

Trace Adkins

Country singer ("This Ain’t No Thinkin’ Thing," "Ladies Love Country Boys," "You’re Gonna Miss This") born Tracy Darrell Adkins on 1/13/1962 in Sarepta, Louisiana.

Song(s):
This Ain’t No Thinkin’ Thing (1997)
Ladies Love Country Boys (2006)
You’re Gonna Miss This (2007)

Chris Adler

Thrash metal drummer born 11/23/1972 in Washington, D.C. With Lamb of God (1994-2019).

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, musical: 1954)
Damn Yankees (composed with Jerry Ross, musical: 1955, soundtrack: 1958)

Steven Adler

Rock drummer born Michael Coletti on 1/22/1965 in Cleveland, OH. With Guns N’ Roses (1985-90).

The Ad Libs

Song(s):
Boy from New York City (1965)

The Adverts

Song(s):
Bored Teenagers (1977)

Aerosmith

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

DMDB profile page

Song(s):
Aerosmith: Top 50 Songs
Dream On (1973)
Sweet Emotion (1975)
Walk This Way (1975)
Toys in the Attic (1975)
Back in the Saddle (1976)
Walk This Way (1986) – see Run-D.M.C.
Dude Looks Like a Lady (1987)
Angel (1987)
Janie’s Got a Gun (1989)
What It Takes (1989)
Livin’ on the Edge (1993)
Cryin’ (1993)
I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing (1998)

Album(s):
Toys in the Attic (1975)
Rocks (1976)
Greatest Hits (compilation: 1973-79, released 1980)
Gems (compilation: 1973-82, released 1988)
Pandora’s Box (box: 1966-82, released 1991)
Permanent Vacation (1987)
Pump (1989)
Get a Grip (1993)
Big Ones (compilation: 1987-94, released 1994)
Young Lust (compilation: 1973-97, released 2001)
O Yeah! (compilation: 1973-2002, released 2002)
Devil’s Got a New Disguise (compilation: 1973-2000, released 2006)
Greatest Hits (box set: 1972-2012, released 2023)

Afro-Celt Soundsystem

Song(s):
When You’re Falling (with Peter Gabriel, 2001)

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
Hey Mama (2015) – see David Guetta

Afroman

Rapper born Joseph Edgard Foreman on 7/28/1974 in Los Angeles, CA.

Song(s):
Because I Got High (2001)

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 born 10/6/1893 in Chicago, IL. Died 5/6/1979.

Songs Written by Ager:
Ain't She Sweet (1927) – see Ben Bernie
Happy Days Are Here Again (1930) – see Ben Selvin

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)
What a Girl Wants (1999)
Lady Marmalade (with Lil’ Kim, Mya, & Pink; 2001)
Dirrty (with Redman, 2002)
Beautiful (2002)
Ain’t No Other Man (2006)
Moves Like Jagger (2011) – see Maroon 5
Say Something (2013) – A Great Big World

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).

DMDB profile page.

Song(s):
A-ha: Top 50 Songs
Take on Me (1984)
Maybe Maybe (1986)
The Way We Talk (1990)
Barely Hanging On (2000)

Album(s):
Hunting High and Low (1985)
Scoundrel Days (1986)
Stay on These Roads (1988)
East of the Sun, West of the Moon (1990)
Headlines and Deadlines (compilation: 1985-91, released 1991)
Memorial Beach (1993)
Minor Earth, Major Sky (2000)
Lifelines (2002)
The Definitive Singles Collection (compilation: 1985-2002, released 2005)
Analogue (2005)
Foot of the Mountain (2009)
25 (compilation: 1985-2010, released 2010)
Cast in Steel (2015)
Time and Again (compilation: 1985-2015, released 2016)

Fred Ahlert

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

Clay Aiken

Singer born Clayton 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)
Solitaire (2004)
The Way (2004)

Air

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

Song(s):
Sexy Boy (1998)

Album(s):
Moon Safari (1998)

The Airborne Toxic Event

Song(s):
Sometime Around Midnight (2008)

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)
All Out of Love (1980)
American Hearts (1980)

Album(s):
Lost in Love (1980)
The One That You Love (1981)
Now and Forever (1982)
Greatest Hits (compilation: 1980-83, released 1983)

Don Airey

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

AJR

Song(s):
Birthday Party (2019)

Akon

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

Song(s):
Lonely (2005)
Smack That (with Eminem, 2006)
Don’t Matter (2007)
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.

Al B. Sure!

R&B singer/songwriter born Albert Joseph Brown III on 6/4/1968 in Boston, MA.

Song(s):
Nite and Day (1988)

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)
Tennessee River (1980)
Why Lady Why (1980)
Old Flame (1981)
Feels So Right (1981)
Love in the First Degree (1981)
Mountain Music (1982)
Take Me Down (1982)
Close Enough to Perfect (1982)
Dixieland Delight (1983)
The Closer You Get (1983)
Lady Down on Love (1983)
Roll on Eighteen Wheeler (1984)
When We Make Love (1984)
If You’re Gonna Play in Texas, You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band (1984)
There’s a Fire in the Night (1984)
There’s No Way (1985)
Forty Hour Week for a Livin’ (1985)
Can’t Keep a Good Man Down (1985)
She and I (1985)
Touch Me When We’re Dancing (1986)
You’ve Got the Touch (1986)
Face to Face (1987)
Fallin’ Again (1987)
Song of the South (1988)
If I Had You (1989)
High Cotton (1989)
Southern Star (1989)
Jukebox in My Mind (1990)
Forever’s As Far As I’ll Go (1990)
Down Home (1990)
I’m in a Hurry and Don’t Know Why (1992)
Reckless (1993)

Album(s):
Feels So Right (1981)
Mountain Music (1982)
The Closer You Get (1983)
Roll On (1984)
40 Hour Week (1985)
Greatest Hits (compilation: 1980-86, released 1986)
Greatest Hits Vol. II (compilation: 1982-91, released 1991)
Greatest Hits Vol. III (compilation: 1980-94, released 1994)
For the Record (compilation: 1980-98, released 1998)

Alabama 3

Song(s):
Woke Up This Morning (1997)

Alabama Shakes

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

Album(s):
Boys & Girls (2012)
Sound & Color (2015)

The Alarm

Album(s):
Standards (compilation, released 1990)

Licia Albanese

Operatic soprano singer born 7/22/1909 in Torre Pelosa, Italy. 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.

Song(s):
Damon Albarn: Top 50 Songs
There’s No Other Way (1991) – see Blur
Chemical World (1993) – see Blur
Girls and Boys (1994) – see Blur
Parklife (1994) – see Blur
Country House (1995) – see Blur
This Is a Low (1995) – see Blur
The Universal (1995) – see Blur
Song 2 (1997) – see Blur
Beetlebum (1997) – see Blur
Coffee TV (1999) – see Blur
Clint Eastwood (2001) – see Gorillaz
Out of Time (2003) – see Blur
Feel Good Inc. (2005) – see Gorillaz
Dare (2005) – see Gorillaz

Album(s):
Parklife (1994) – see Blur
Blur (1997) – see Blur
Demon Days (2005) – see Gorillaz

Morris Albert

Singer/songwriter born Mauricio Alberto Kaisermann on 9/7/1951 in São Paulo, Brazil.

Song(s):
Feelings (1975)

Chris Albertson

Steve Albini

Jason Aldean

Country singer born Jason Aldine Williams on 2/28/1977 in Macon, Georgia.

Song(s):
Why (2005)
She’s Country (2008)
Big Green Tractor (2009)
The Truth (2009)
Don’t You Wanna Stay (with Kelly Clarkson, 2010)
Dirt Road Anthem (with Ludacris, 2010)
Fly Over States (2010)
Take a Little Ride (2012)
The Only Way I Know (with Luke Bryan & Eric Church, 2012)
Night Train (2012)
When She Says Baby (2012)
Burnin’ It Down (2014)
Just Gettin’ Started (2014)
Tonight Looks Good on You (2014)
Lights Come On (2016)
A Little More Summertime (2016)
Any Ol’ Barstool (2017)
You Make It Easy (2018)
Drowns the Whiskey (with Miranda Lambert, 2018)
Girl Like You (2018)
Rearview Town (2018)
Got What I Got (2019)
Blame It on You (2019)
If I Didn’t Love You (2021)
Trouble with a Heartbreak (2022)
Try That in a Small Town (2023)

Album(s):
My Kinda Party (2010)
Old Boots, New Dirty (2014)

John Alderete

Tommy Aldridge

Rock drummer with Ozzy Osbourne.

Rauw Alejandro

Song(s):
Todo de Ti (2021)

Arthur Alexander

Song(s):
You Better Move On (1961)
Anna (Go to Him) (1962)
Soldiers of Love (1962)

Dave Alexander

Proto-punk rock bassist born David Michael Alexander in Whitmore Lake, Michigan. Died 2/10/1975. With The Stooges (1967-70).

George Alexander

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

Tim Alexander

Rock drummer with Primus.

Omar Alfanno

Latin salsa and merengue singer/songwriter born Omar Enrique Alfanno Velásquez on ¼/1957 in Santiago deVerguas, Panama.

Kenneth J. Alford (aka Frederick Joseph Ricketts)

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

Alias

Song(s):
More Than Words Can Say (1990)

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)
Would? (1992)
Them Bones (1992)
Rooster (1992)
Down in a Hole (1992)
No Excuses (1994)
Heaven Beside You (1995)
Check My Brain (2009)
Your Decision (2009)

Album(s):
Dirt (1992)

Alien Ant Farm

Song(s):
Smooth Criminal (2001)

All-4-One

Song(s):
I Swear (1994)

Gary Allan

Song(s):
Smoke Rings in the Dark (1999)
Man to Man (2002)
Tough Little Boys (2003)
Nothing on But the Radio (2004)
Life Ain’t Always Beautiful (2006)
Every Storm Runs Out of Rain (2012)

Bill "Hoss" Allen

Bob Allen

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

Debbie Allen

Actress, dancer, choreographer, singer/songwriter born 1/16/1950 in Houston, TX. Has won five Emmys, two Tonys, and a Golden Globe.

Euphemia Allen

Song(s) by Allen as Arthur de Lulli:
Chopsticks (1877)

Fulton Allen

– see Blind Boy Fuller

Johnny Allen

Song(s):
Promised Land (1979)

Lily Allen

Singer/songwriter born 5/2/1985 in Hammersmith, London, England.

Song(s):
Smile (2006)
The Fear (2009)

Peter Allen

Song(s):
I Go to Rio (1977)

Rick Allen

Rock drummer born Richard John Cyril Allen on 11/1/1963 in Dronfield, Derbyshire, England on 11/1/1963. He lost his left arm in an auto accident on 12/31/1984. With Def Leppard (1978-).

Robert Allen

Composer/pianist/arranger born Robert Allen Deitcher on 2/5/1927 in Troy, NY. Died 10/1/2000. Best known for songs "Chances Are" and "There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays."

Jerry Allison

Rock drummer born 8/31/1939 in Hillsboro, TX. Died 8/22/2022. With Buddy Holly & the Crickets (1967-70). Died 2/10/1975.

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.

Mose Allison Jazz pianist.

Song(s):
Parchman Farm (1957)
Everybody Cryin’ Mercy (1968)

Verne Allison

R&B tenor singer born 6/22/1936 in Chicago, IL. With The Dells.

The Allisons

Song(s):
Are You Sure (1961)

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), Butch Trucks (d: 69-76, 89-17), and Jaimoe 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)
Midnight Rider (1970)
Statesboro Blues (1971)
Blue Sky (1972)
Melissa (1972)
One Way Out (1972)
Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More (1972)
Ramblin’ Man (1973)
Jessica (1974)

Album(s):
At Fillmore East (live, 1971)
Eat a Peach (live/studio, 1972)
Dreams (box: 1966-88, released 1989)

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), the Allman Brothers Band (69-71), Delaney & Bonnie (70), Derek the Dominos (70-71).

Gregg Allman

Blues-rock singer/songwriter and keyboardist born 12/8/1947 in Nashville, Tennessee. Died 5/27/2017. With the Allman Brothers Band.

Song(s):
Midnight Rider (1970)
I’m No Angel (1987)

All Saints

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

All Time Low

Song(s):
Monsters (with Blackbear, 2020)

Santiago Almeida

Song(s):
La Chicharronera (1936) – see Narciso Martínez

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)
This Guy’s in Love with You (1968)
Rise (1979)
Route 101 (1982)

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

Alphaville

Song(s):
Forever Young (1984)

ALT

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

Album(s):
Altitude (1995)

Louis Alter

Alter Bridge

Rock band from Orlando, Florida. 2004-. Myles Kennedy (v/rhythm g), Mark Tremonti (g), Brian Marshall (b), Scott Phillips (d). Tremonti, Marshall, and Phillips were former members of Creed.

Song(s):
Metalingus (2004)
Isolation (2010)

Althia & Donna

Song(s):
Uptown Top Ranking (1977)

Alt-J

Album(s):
An Awesome Wave (2012)

Amazing Rhythm Aces

Song(s):
Third Rate Romance (1975)

The Amboy Dukes

Song(s):
Journey to the Center of the Mind (1968)

Ambrosia

Song(s):
How Much I Feel (1978)
Biggest Part of Me (1980)
You’re the Only Woman (1980)

Jeff Ament

Grunge-rock bassist born 3/10/1963 in Havre, Montana. With Deranged Diction, Green River (1984-88, 1993, 2008-09), Mother Love Bone (88-90), Temple of the Dog (90), Pearl Jam (90-).

America

Song(s):
A Horse with No Name (1971)
Ventura Highway (1972)
Sister Golden Hair (1975)
You Can Do Magic (1982)

Album (s):
America (1972)
History (compilation: 1971-75, released 1975)

The American Breed

Song(s):
Bend Me, Shape Me (1967)

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. Murray, Bieling, Porter, and Hooley were also members of the Heidelberg Quintet.

Song(s):
Casey Jones (The Brave Engineer) (with Billy Murray, 1910)
Call Me Up Some Rainy Afternoon (1910) – see Ada Jones
Come, Josephine, in My Flying Machine (1911) – see Ada Jones
Oh, You Beautiful Doll (featuring Billy Murray, 1911)
Moonlight Bay (1912)
Everybody Two-Step (1912)
On the Mississippi (1913)
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1914)
It's a Long, Long Way to Tipperary (1914)
When You Wore a Tulip and I Wore a Big Red Rose (1914)
Chinatown, My Chinatown (1915)
Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh! (1917)
Goodbye Broadway, Hello France (1917)
Over There (1917)

The Ames Brothers

Song(s):
Rag Mop (1950)
Sentimental Me (1950)
You, You, You (1953)
The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane (1954)

Ed Ames

Singer and actor born 7/9/1927 in Maiden, Massachusetts. In singing group the Ames Brothers with his siblings.

Amine

Song(s):
Caroline (2016)

Vanessa Amorosi

Song(s):
This Is Who I Am (2009)

Tori Amos

Alternative-rock singer/songwriter and pianist born Myra Ellen Amos on 8/22/1963 in Newton, NC.

DMDB podcast: Tori Amos’ Little Earthquakes: 30th Anniversary

Song(s):
Tori Amos: Top 100 Songs
Me and a Gun (1991)
Silent All These Years (1991)
Smells Like Teen Spirit (1992)
Crucify (1992)
Cornflake Girl (1994)
God (1994)
Home on the Range (1994)
Down by the Sea (with Robert Plant, 1995)
Over the Rainbow (1996)
'97 Bonnie and Clyde (2001)

Album(s):
Y Kant Tori Read (1988)
Little Earthquakes (1992)
Under the Pink (1994)
Boys for Pele (1995)
From the Choirgirl Hotel (1998)
To Venus and Back/Live: Still Orbiting (studio album/live album, 1999)
Strange Little Girls (covers, 2001)
Scarlet's Walk (2002)
Tales of a Librarian (compilation: 1991-2003, released 2003)
The Beekeeper (2005)
A Piano: The Collection (box set: 1990-2006, released 2006)
American Doll Posse (2007)
Abnormally Attracted to Sin (2009)
Midwinter Graces (Christmas, 2009)
Night of Hunters (2011)
Unrepentant Geraldines (2014)
Native Invader (2017)
Ocean to Ocean (2021)

Skunk Anansie

Album(s):
Paranoid & Sunburnt (1995)

Anastacia

Song(s):
I’m Outta Love (2000)
Left Outside Alone (2004)

The Andantes

Motown session group in the 1960s. Comprised of Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps. Sang backup on songs by the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, the Isley Brothers, the Marvelettes, Martha Reeves & the Martha & the Vandellas, Jimmy Ruffin, Edwin Starr, The Supremes, the Temptations, and Stevie Wonder.

Eric Andersen

Song(s):
Thirsty Boots (1966)

Bill Anderson

Country singer born James William Anderson III on 11/1/1937 in Columbia, SC.
Mama Sang a Song (1962)
Still (1963)
I Get the Fever (1966)
For Loving You (with Jan Howard, 1967)
My Life (Throw It Away if I Want To) (1969)
World of Make Believe (1973)
Sometimes (with Mary Lou Turner, 1975)

John Anderson

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

Song(s):
Wild and Blue (1982)
Swingin' (1983)
Black Sheep (1983)
Straight Tequila Night (1991)
Money in the Bank (1993)

Jon Anderson

Progressive-rock singer born 10/25/1944 in Accrington, Lancashire, England. With Yes (1968-79, 1983-2001).

Lale Anderson

Song(s):
Lili Marlene (My Lilli of the Lamplight) (1945)

Laurie Anderson

Song(s):
O Superman (For Massenet) (1981)

Leroy Anderson

Songwriter born 6/29/1908 in Cambridge, MA. Died 5/18/1975.

Song(s):
Sleigh Ride
Blue Tango (1951)

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)
You’re My Man (1971)
How Can I Unlove You (1971)
Keep Me in Mind (1973)
What a Man My Man Is (1974)

Marian Anderson

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

Song(s):
Deep River (1924)
Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen (1925)
He's Got the Whole World in His Hands (1936)
Ave Maria (1936)
My Country ‘Tis of Thee (1939)
We Wish You a Merry Christmas (1968)

Maxwell Anderson

Album(s):
Lost in the Stars (musical: 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

Singer/songwriter and musician born Göran Bror Benny Andersson on 12/16/1946 in Vasastan, Stockholm, Sweden. With Abba.

Album(s):
Mamma Mia! (composed with Björn Ulvaeus, musical: 2000, 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, 1956)
Wouldn't It Be Loverly (from My Fair Lady, 1956)
Supercalifragilisticexpalidocious (from Mary Poppins, with Dick Van Dyke, 1964)
Chim Chim Cher-ee (from Mary Poppins, with Dick Van Dyke et al, 1964)
A Spoonful of Sugar (from Mary Poppins, 1964)
Feed the Birds (Tuppence a Bag) (from Mary Poppins, 1964)
The Sound of Music (from The Sound of Music, 1965)
My Favorite Things (from The Sound of Music, 1965)
Do Re Mi (from The Sound of Music, 1965)
Edelweiss (from The Sound of Music, 1965)

Lee Andrews & the Hearts

Song(s):
Long Lonely Nights (1957)
Teardrops (1957)

Michael Andrews

Song(s):
Mad World (with Gary Jules, 2002)

Patty Andrews

Song(s):
The Pussy Cat Song (Nyow! Nyot! Nyow!) (with Bob Crosby, 1949)
Orange Colored Sky (1951) – see Danny Kaye

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

Song(s):
Bei Mir Bist Du Schon (Means That You're Grand) (1938)
Beer Barrell Polka (Roll Out the Barrell) (1939)
Ferry Boat Serenade (La Piccinina) (1940)
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (1941)
Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree with Anyone Else But Me (1942)
Daddy (1942)
Jingle Bells (1943) – see Bing Crosby
Shoo-Shoo Baby (1943)
Pistol Packin’ Mama (1943) – see Bing Crosby
Victory Polka (1943) – see Bing Crosby
There'll Be a Hot Time in the Town of Berlin When the Yanks Go Marching In (1944) – see Bing Crosby
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
There’s No Business Like Show Business (1947) – see Bing Crosby
Teresa (1948) – see Dick Haymes
I Can Dream, Can't I? (with Gordon Jenkins' Orchestra, 1949)
Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian Christmas Song) (1949) – see Bing Crosby
Put ‘Em in a Box, Tie It with a Ribbon (1949) – see Danny Kaye
Quicksilver (1950) – see Bing Crosby
I Wanna Be Loved by You (1950)

The Angels

Doo-wop girl group.

Song(s):
My Boyfriend's Back (1963)

The Angels

Australian rock group.

Song(s):
Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again (1977)

Animal Collective

Album(s):
Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)

Animal Logic

Song(s):
I’m Sorry Baby (I Want You in My Life) (1989)
What Looks Good on the Outside (1991)

Album(s):
Animal Logic (1989)
Animal Logic II (1991)

The Animals

Song(s):
The House of the Rising Sun (1964)
I’m Crying (1964)
We Gotta Get Out of This Place (1965)
It’s My Life (1965)
Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood (1965)
See See Rider (1966)
San Franciscan Nights (1967)
Sky Pilot (1968)

Animotion

Song(s):
Obsession (1985)

Paul Anka

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

Song(s):
Diana (1957)
Lonely Boy (1959)
Put Your Head on My Shoulder (1959)
Puppy Love (1960)
You’re Having My Baby (with Odia Coates, 1974)
I Don’t Like to Sleep Alone (with Odia Coates, 1975)
I Believe There’s Nothing Stronger Than Our Love (with Odia Coates, 1975)

Another Bad Creation

Song(s):
Iesha (1990)

Ernst Anschütz

Song(s) written by Anschutz:
O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum) (1824)

Adam Ant/Adam & the Ants

New wave singer born Stuart Leslie Goodard on 11/3/1954 in Marylebone, London, England. With Adam & the Ants before going solo.

Song(s):
Ant Music (1980)
Stand and Deliver (1981)
Prince Charming (1981)
Goody Two Shoes (1982)

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

Anne-Marie

Song(s):
Rockabye (2016) – see Clean Bandit
2002 (2018)

Dee Anthony

Music manager for Tony Bennett and Peter Frampton.

Marc Anthony

Latin pop singer/songwriter and producer born Marco Antonio Muñiz on 9/16/1968 in New York City, NY.

Song(s):
Vivir Mi Vida (2013)
La Gozadera (2015) – see Gente de Zona

Michael Anthony

Rock bassist born Michael Anthony Sobolewski on 6/20/1954 in Chicago, IL. With Van Halen (74-04) and Chickenfoot (08-11).

Oliver Anthony

Song(s):
Rich Men North of Richmond (2023)

Ray Anthony

Jazz bandleader born Raymond Antonini on 1/20/1922 in Bentleyville, PA.

Song(s):
Hokey Pokey (1953)
Peter Gunn (1958)

Anthrax

Album(s):
Among the Living (1987)

Clifford Antone

Antony & the Johnsons

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

Anuel AA

Song(s):
China (with Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Ozuna, & J. Balvin, 2019)

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)
Selected Ambient Works, Vol. 2 (1994)

Dave Appell

Carmine Appice

Rock drummer with Vanilla Fudge.

Fiona Apple

Alternative-rock singer/songwriter born Fiona Apple McAfee-Maggart on 9/13/1977 in New York City, NY.

Song(s):
Criminal (1996)
Shadowboxer (1996)
Sleep to Dream (1996)
Never Is a Promise (1996)
Fast As You Can (1999)
Pure Imagination (2013)

Album(s):
Tidal (1996)
The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (2012)
Fetch the Bolt Cutters (2020)

April Wine

Aqua

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

Arcade Fire

Indie rock band formed in Montreal, Canada, in 2000. Helmed by husband and wife Win Butler (vocals, guitar, piano, bass, mandolin) and Régine Chassagne (vocals, accordion, piano, keyboards, hurdy gurdy, etc.: 2001-). Other members: Will Butler (synthesizers, etc.: 2003-2021), Richard Reed Parry (guitar, etc.: 2003-), Tim Kingsbury (bass, etc.: 2003-), and Jeremy Gara (drums, percussion, etc.: 2004-). Touring members include Sarah Neufeld (violin, piano, etc.: 2003-), Tiwill Durprate (percussion: 2013-), Stuart Bogie (saxophone: 2014-), Paul Beaubrun (multi-instrumentalist: 2022-), Dan Boeckner (multi-instrumentalist: 2022-).

DMDB podcast: The Best of Arcade Fire

Song(s):
Top 25 Songs
Wake Up (2005)
Rebellion (Lies) (2005)
Intervention (2006)
Everything Now (2017)
I Give You Power (with Mavis Staples, 2017)

Album(s):
Funeral (2004)
Neon Bible (2007)
The Suburbs (2010)
Everything Now (2017)

Arcadia

New wave group, 1985-86. Formed by Duran Duran members Simon Le Bon (v), Nick Rhodes (k), and Roger Taylor (d).

Tasmin Archer

Song(s):
Sleeping Satellite (1992)

The Archies

Song(s):
Sugar, Sugar (1969)
Jingle Jangle (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 Dancefloor (2005)
When the Sun Goes Down (2006)
Brianstorm (2007)
Fluorescent Adolescent (2007)
505 (2007)
R U Mine? (2012)
Do I Wanna Know? (2013)
Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High? (2013)
I Wanna Be Yours (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)
The Car (2022)

Don Arden

Music manager for Black Sabbath.

Jann Arden

Song(s):
Insensitive (1995)

Toni Arden

Song(s):
Too Young (with Percy Faith’s Orchestra, 1951)

José Chepito Áreas

Percussionist born José Octavio Areas Dávila in León, Nicaragua. With Santana (1969-77, 1988-89).

Martha Aregrich

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

Argent

Song(s):
Hold Your Head Up (1972)
God Gave Rock ‘n’ Roll to You (1973)

Rod Argent

Rock keyboardist born Rodney Terrence Argent on 6/14/1945 in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England. With The Zombies (1961-68, 1989, 1997, 01-) and Argent ("Hold Your Head Up").

Harold Arlen

Songwriter born Hyman Arluck on 2/15/1905 in Buffalo, NY. Died 4/23/1986. Composed over 500 songs. Considered a highly regarded contributor to the Great American Songbook (i.e., the canon of popular songs from the early 20th century). Achieved success as a pianist and singer locally before moving to New York City in his early 20s and working as a vaudeville accompanist. In the 1930s, he and lyricist Ted Koehler wrote shows for the Cotton Club, Broadway musicals, and Hollywood films. Also worked as a vocalist with Leo Reisman. Also wrote songs with lyricist E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, lyricist Johnny Mercer.

Songs written by Arlen:
I've Got the World on a String (with 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 (with 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 (with Johnny Mercer, 1945) – see Johnny Mercer
One for My Baby (and One More for the Road) (with 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, musical: 1946)

Billie Joe Armstrong

Punk-rock singer and guitarist born 2/17/1972 in Oakland, CA. With Green Day.

Louis Armstrong

Links: official site - Facebook - Wikipedia

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)
Savoy Blues (1927)
West End Blues (1928)
Hotter Than That (1928)
Struttin’ with Some Barbeque (1928)
Weather Bird (with Earl Hines, 1928)
I Can't Give You Anything But Love (1929)
St. James Infirmary (1929)
What Did I Do to Be So Black and Blue? (1929)
Ain’t Misbehavin’ (1929)
When You're Smiling (1929)
St. Louis Blues (1930)
Memories of You (1930)
Stardust (1931)
Lazy River (1931)
Home (When Shadows Fall) (1932)
All of Me (1932)
I Got Rhythm (1932)
I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues (1933)
On the Sunny Side of the Street (1933)
I'm in the Mood for Love (1935)
Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen (1938)
Basin Street Blues (with Earl Hines, 1938)
When the Saints Go Marching In (1939)
A Kiss to Build a Dream On (with Sy Oliver’s Orchestra, 1951)
Takes Two to Tango (with Sy Oliver’s Orchestra, 1952)
Skokiaan (South African Song) (1954)
Sweet Georgia Brown (1955)
Mack the Knife (1956)
Cheek to Cheek (1956) – see Ella Fitzgerald
Hello, Dolly! (from , 1964)
What a Wonderful World (1967)
Cabaret (from Cabaret, 1968)

Album(s):
Hot Five and Hot Sevens (box: 1925-26, released 1999)
The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings (box: 1925-1928)
Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines (with Earl Hines, compilation: 1928-29, released 1989)
Plays W.C. Handy (1954)
Ella & Louis (1957) – see Ella Fitzgerald
Porgy and Bess (1958) – see Ella Fitzgerald
An American Icon (1998)

Gus Arnheim

Pianist and band leader born on 9/4/1897 in Philadelphia, PA. Died 1/19/1955.

Song(s):
I Surrender Dear (with Bing Crosby, 1931)
Sweet and Lovely (with Donald Novis, 1931)

Billy Boy Arnold

Song(s):
I Wish You Would (1955)

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 (1945/1955)
What Is Life without Love (1947)
It’s a Sin (1947)
I'll Hold You in My Heart Till I Can Hold You in My Arms (1947)
Anytime (1948)
Bouquet of Roses (1948)
Texarkana Baby (1948)
Just a Little Lovin’ Will Go a Long, Long Way (1948)
A Heart Full of Love for a Handful of Kisses (1948)
Don’t Rob Another Man’s Castle (1949)
One Kiss Too Many (1949)
I’m Throwing Rice at the Girl That I Love (1949)
Take Me in Your Arms and Hold Me (1949)
There’s Been a Change in Me (1951)
Kentucky Waltz (1951)
I Wanna Play House with You (1951)
Easy on the Eyes (1952)
A Full Time Job (1952)
Eddy’s Song (1953)
I Really Don’t Want to Know (1954)
That Do Make It Nice (1955)
You Don’t Know Me (1956)
What’s He Doing in My World (1965)
Make the World Go Away (1965)
I Want to Go with You (1966)
Somebody Like You (1966)
Lonely Again (1967)
Turn the World Around (1967)
Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye (1968)

Album(s):
My World (1965)

Jerome Arnold

Blues-rock bassist born Romeo Maurice Arnold on 11/12/1936 in Chicago, IL. With Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Howlin’ Wolf.

Kokomo Arnold

Song(s):
Milk Cow Blues (1934)

Kenny Aronoff

Rock drummer with John Mellencamp.

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)

The Arrows

Song(s):
I Love Rock and Roll (1975)

Martina Arroyo

Opera star.

James Arthur

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

Joseph Arthur

Song(s):
Saint of Impossible Causes (2013)

Artists of Then, Now & Forever

Song(s):
Forever Country (2016)

Artists United Against Apartheid

Song(s):
Sun City (1985)

Album(s):
Sun City (various artists, 1985)

Art of Noise

Song(s):
Close (To the Edit) (1984)
Kiss (with Tom Jones, 1988)

Artful Dodger

Song(s):
Re-Rewind the Crowd Say Bo Selecta (with Craig David, 1999)

Reggie "Fieldy" Arvizu

A$AP Rocky

Song(s):
Fuckin’ Problems (with Drake, 2 Chainz, & Kendrick Lamar, 2012)
No Limit (2017) – see G-Eazy
Praise the Lord (Da Shine) (2018)

Ash

Album(s):
1977 (1996)

Ron Asheton

Proto-punk rock guitarist born 7/17/1948 in Washington, DC. Died 1/6/2009. With Dirty Shames, Prime Movers Blues Band, Chosen Few, and The Stooges (1967-74, 2003-07).

Scott Asheton

Proto-punk rock drummer born 8/16/1949 in Washington, DC. Died 3/15/2014. With The Stooges (1967-74, 2003-07).

Ashanti

R&B singer/songwriter born Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas on 10/13/1980 in Glen Cove, NY.

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

Album(s):
Ashanti (2002)

Richard Ashcroft

Britpop singer born 9/11/1971 in Wigan, Lancashire, England. With The Verve ("Bittersweet Symphony").

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)

Rosalind Ashford-Holmes

R&B singer born 9/2/1943 in Detroit, MI. With Martha & the Vandellas.

Clarence Tom Ashley

Song(s):
The Coo Coo Bird (1929)
Little Sadie (1929)
The House Carpenter (1930)

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

Steve Ashley

Song(s):
The Spirit of Christmas (1974)

Howard Ashman

Album(s):
Beauty and the Beast (soundtrack: 1991, musical: 1994) – see see Alan Menken
Aladdin (1992) – see Alan Menken

Asia

DMDB profile page.

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.

Song(s):
Heat of the Moment (1982)
Only Time Will Tell (1982)
Don’t Cry (1983)

Album(s):
Asia (1982)
Alpha (1983)
Astra (1985)
Then & Now (compilation: 1982-90, released 1990)
The Very Best of: Heat of the Moment (1982-1990) (compilation: 1982-90, released 2000)
The Definitive Collection (compilation: 1982-90, released 2006)
Aqua (1992)
Aria (1994)
Arena (1996)
Anthology (compilation: 1982-96, released 1997)
Aura (2001)
Silent Nation (2004)
Phoenix (2008)
Omega (2010)
XXX (2012)
Gravitas (2014)

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 Greer's Orchestra, 1935)
Isn’t This a Lovely Day to Be Caught in the Rain? (1935)
I’m Putting All My Eggs in One Basket (with Johnny Greer's Orchestra, 1936)
A Fine Romance (A Sarcastic Love Song) (with Johnny Greer's Orchestra, 1936)
The Way You Look Tonight (with Johnny Greer's Orchestra, 1936)
Let’s Face the Music and Dance (with Johnny Greer’s Orchestra, 1936)
They Can't Take That Away from Me (with Johnny Greer's Orchestra, 1937)
Nice Work if You Can Get It (with Ray Noble's Orchestra, 1937)
Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off (with Ginger Rogers, 1937)
Change Partners (with Ray Noble’s Orchestra, 1938)
That’s Entertainment (with Fabray Nanette, Jack Buchanan, & Oscar Levent; 1953)

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

Rick Astley

Pop singer born 2/6/1966 in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire, England.

Song(s):
Never Gonna Give You Up (1987)
Together Forever (1987)
It Would Take a Strong Man (1987)
She Wants to Dance with Me (1988)

Chet Atkins

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

Paul Atkinson

Rock guitarist born 3/19/1946 in Cuffey, Hertfordshire, England. Died 4/1/2004. With Zombies (1961-67, 1989, 1997, 2004).

Atlanta Rhythm Section

Song(s):
So Into You (1977)
Homesick (1981)

The Atlantics

Song(s):
Bombora (1963)

Atlantic Starr

Song(s):
Secret Lovers (1985)
Always (1987)

John Yorke Atlee

Pioneering recording artist born 3/22/1853 in Washington, D.C. Died 11/24/1933.

Song(s):
Listen to the Mocking Bird (aka "The Mocking Bird") (1891)
Home Sweet Home (1891)
After the Ball (1893)

Atomic Kitten

Song(s):
Whole Again (2001)

Winifred Atwell

Song(s):
Lady of Spain (1953)

Audioslave

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

Song(s):
Like a Stone (2002)
Be Yourself (2005)

Audio Two

Song(s):
Top Billin' (1988)

Brian Auger & the Trinity

Song(s):
This Wheel’s on Fire (with Julie Driscoll, 1968)
Road to Cairo (with Julie Driscoll, 1968)

Dallas Austin

Frederic Austin

Song(s) written by Austin:
The Twelve Days of Christmas (1780)

Gene Austin

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

Song(s):
Yearning Just for You (1925)
Yes Sir, That’s My Baby (1925)
Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue (with Nat Shilkret's Orchestra, 1926)
Bye Bye Blackbird (1926)
Tonight You Belong to Me (with Nat Shilkret's Orchestra, 1927)
Forgive Me (1927)
My Blue Heaven (1927)
My Melancholy Baby (1928)
Ramona (with Nat Shilkret's Orchestra & Viola Klaiss, 1928)
Jeannine (I Dream of Lilac Time) (1928)
Carolina Moon (with Nat Shilkret’s Orchestra, 1929)
Weary River (1929)
When Your Lover Has Gone (with Leonard Joy’s Orchestra, 1931)

Australian Crawl

Song(s):
Reckless (Don’t Be) (1983)

Australian Idol Top 12

Song(s):
Rise Up (2003)

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):
Ole Faithful (1933)
Back in the Saddle Again (1939)
Deep in the Heart of Texas (1942)
At Mail Call Today (1945)
Here Comes Santa Claus (Down Santa Claus Lane) (1947)
Buttons and Bows (1948)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1949)
Frosty the Snowman (1950)

George Avakian

The Avalanches

Song(s):
Since I Left You (2000)

Album(s):
Since I Left You (2000)

Frankie Avalon

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

Song(s):
Dede Dinah (1958)
Venus (1959)
Bobby Sox to Stockings (1959)
Why (1959)