Music Makers Encyclopedia: I

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.

Janis Ian

Song(s):
Society's Child (Baby, I've Been Thinking) (1967)
At Seventeen (1975)

Ian & Sylvia

Song(s):
Four Strong Winds (1963)

Ice Cube

Rap singer born O’Shea Jackson in Los Angeles, CA on 6/15/1969. With N.W.A. (1987-89, 1999-2002, 2015-16) and a solo act. Has also become a writer, director, actor, and producer in cinema.

Song(s):
Steady Mobbin (1991)
It Was a Good Day (1993)

Album(s):
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (1990)
Death Certificate (1991)

Icehouse

Song(s):
Great Southern Land (1982)
Crazy (1987)
Electric Blue (1987)

Album(s):
Man of Colours (1987)

Ice-T

Song(s):
My Homies (1990)
New Jack Hustler (Nino’s Theme) (1991)

Icicle Works

Song(s):
Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream) (1984)

Eric Idle

Song(s):
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life (1979)

Album(s):
Spamalot (composed with John Du Prez, musical: 2004)

Billy Idol

Rock singer born William Michael Albert Broad on 11/30/1955 in Middlesex, England.

Song(s):
Dancing wth Myself (1981)
White Wedding (1982)
Rebel Yell (1983)
Eyes Without a Face (1984)
Mony Mony (live) (1987)

Frank Ifield

Song(s):
I Remember You (1962)

Bruce Iglauer

Enrique Iglesias

Latin-pop singer/songwriter born Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler on 5/8/1975 in Madrid, Spain. Sings in Spanish ("Por Amarte", "Trapecista") and English ("Bailomos", "Be with You", "Hero"). Son of singer Julio Iglesias.

Song(s):
Hero (2001)
I Like It (with Pitbull, 2010)
Bailando (with Descemer Bueno & Gente De Zona, 2014)
El Perdon (Forgiveness) (2015) – see Nicky Jam

Julio Iglesias

Latin singer born Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva on 9/23/1943 in Madrid, Spain. Father of singer Enrique Iglesias.

Song(s):
To All the Girls I've Loved Before (with Willie Nelson, 1984)

Illayaraja

Illegal

Song(s):
We Getz Busy (1993)

John Illsley

Rock bassist born 6/24/1949 in Leicester, England. With Dire Straits (1977-95).

Dami Im

Song(s):
Alive (2013)

Imagine Dragons

Lead singer Dan Reynolds was born 7/14/1987 in Las Vegas, NV.

Song(s):
It’s Time (2011)
Radioactive (2012)
Demons (2012)
Sucker for Pain (2016) – see Lil Wayne
Believer (2017)
Thunder (2017)
Whatever It Takes (2017)
Natural (2018)
Enemy (with JID, 2021)

Album(s):
Night Visions (2012)
Smoke Mirrors (2015)
Evolve (2017)
Origins (2018)

Natalie Imbruglia

Song(s):
Torn (1997)

The Impalas

Song(s):
Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home) (1959)

The Impressions

R&B group formed in Chicago in 1957; originally known as the Roosters. Active: 1957-87 Members: Jerry Butler (Impressions: 57-58; solo: 58-), Curtis Mayfield (57-70), Sam Gooden, Arthur Brooks (57-62), Richard Brooks (57-62), Fred Cash (58-), Leroy Hutson (70-73), Reggie Torian (73-), Ralph Johnson (Impressions: 73-76; Mystique: 76-)

Song(s):
For Your Precious Love (1958)
Gypsy Woman (1961)
It’s All Right (1963)
People Get Ready (1965)
This Is My Country (1968)
Choice of Colors (1969)

The Incredible Bongo Band

Song(s):
Apache (1973)

Incredible String Band

Song(s):
A Very Cellular Song (1968)

Album(s):
5000 Spirits Or the Layers of the Onion (1967)
The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter (1968)

Incubus

Song(s):
Drive (1999)
Pardon Me (1999)
Wish You Were Here (2001)
Megalomaniac (2003)

India.Arie

Song(s):
Peaceful World (2001) – see John Mellencamp

Album(s):
Voyage to India (2002)

Indigo Girls

Folk-rock duo of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 1985.

Song(s):
Hey Jesus (1987)
Get Together (1987)
Closer to Fine (1989)
Prince of Darkness (1989)
Hammer and a Nail (1990)
Galileo (1992)
Power of Two (1994)
Rockin’ in the Free World (live with K's Choice, 1994)
Leeds (1997)
Bitterroot (2002)
Tether (2004)
Dear Mr. President (2006) – see Pink

Album(s):
Strange Fire (1987)
Indigo Girls (1989)
Nomads Indians Saints (1990)
Rites of Passage (1992)
Swamp Ophelia (1994)
The Shaming of the Sun (1997)
Become You (2002)
All That We Let In (2004)
Poseidon and the Bitter Bug (2009)
Holly Happy Days (Christmas, 2010)
Beauty Queen Sister (2011)
One Lost Day (2015)
Look Long (2020)

The DMDB Blog:
Indigo Girls Live in Kansas City at Harrahs' Voodoo Lounge: July 19, 2012 (7/20/12)

Frank Infante

New wave guitarist born on 11/15/1951 in Jersey City, NY. With Blondie and New York Dolls.

Pedro Infante

Information Society

Song(s):
What’s on Your Mind (Pure Energy) (1988)

Red Ingle

Song(s):
Temptation (Tim-Tayshun) (1947)

Roy Ingraham

Song(s):
Chant of the Jungle (1929)

James Ingram

Song(s):
Yah Mo Be There (with Michael McDonald, 1983)
Somewhere Out There (1986) – see Linda Ronstadt

The Ink Spots

One of the most popular vocal groups of the 1940s. Active: 1939-48 Members: Bill Kenny (lead tenor), Orville "Hoppy" Jones (bass, died 11/44), Herb Kenny (bass, 44-), Charlie Fuqua, Ivory "Deek" Watson, and Billy Bowen (replaced Watson).

Song(s):
Address Unknown (1939)
If I Didn’t Care (1939)
Whispering Grass (Don’t Tell the Trees) (1940)
Maybe (1940)
We Three (My Echo, My Shadow, and Me) (1940)
I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire (1941)
That’s When Your Heartaches Begin (1941)
Don't Get Around Much Anymore (1943)
Ev’ry Night About This Time (1943)
I’m Making Believe (with Ella Fitzgerald, 1944)
A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening (1944)
Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall (with Ella Fitzgerald, 1944)
I’m Beginning to See the Light (1945) – see Ella Fitzgerald
The Gypsy (1946)
Prisoner of Love (1946)
To Each His Own (1946)
Bless You for Being an Angel (1947)
Say Something Sweet to Your Sweetheart (1948)

Instant Funk

Song(s):
I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl) (1978)

International Novelty Orchestra

Song(s):
Charley, My Boy (with Billy Murray, 1924)

International Submarine Band

Country-rock band featuring Gram Parsons.

Album(s):
Safe at Home (1968)

Internet Money

Song(s):
Lemonade (with Don Toliver & Nav, 2020)

The Intruders

Song(s):
Cowboys to Girls (1968)

INXS

Australian rock band with elements of new wave, ska, pop, and alternative. One of the groups at the forefront of the college-rock movement of the early 1980s.

Active: 1977-2012 Members: Michael Hutchence (v: 77-97), Tim Farriss (g: 77-12), Andrew Farriss (k/g: 77-12), Jon Farriss (d: 77-12), Garry Gary Beers (b: 77-12), Kirk Pengilly (g/sax: 77-12), Jon Stevens (v: 00-03), J.D. Fortune (v: 05-11), Ciaran Gribbin (v: 11-12).

Song(s):
Don't Change (1982)
The One Thing (1982)
Original Sin (1983)
What You Need (1985)
Good Times (with Jimmy Barnes, 1987)
Need You Tonight (1987)
Mediate (1987)
New Sensation (1987)
Never Tear Us Apart (1987)
Suicide Blonde (1990)
Disappear (1990)
Elegantly Wasted (1997)

Album(s):
Kick (1987)
Very Best of (compilation, 2014)

Interpol

Post-punk revival rock band formed in 1997 in Manhattan, New York. Paul Banks (vocals, rhythm guitar, bass), Daniel Kessler (guitar, backing vocals), Carlos Dengler (bass, keyboards: 1997-2010), Greg Drudy (drums: 1997-2000), Sam Fogarino (drums: 2000-).

Song(s):
Evil (2004)

Album(s):
Turn on the Bright Lights (2002)
Antics (2004)

Tony Iommi

Heavy metal guitarist born 2/19/1948 in Birmingham, England. With Black Sabbath (68-99, 06-10).

Jimmy Iovine

Record executive with Interscope born 3/11/1953 in Brooklyn, NY. Worked with Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, and U2.

Marketa Irglova

Album(s):
Once (musical: 2011) – see Glen Hansard

The Irish Rovers

Song(s):
The Unicorn (1968)
The Orange and the Green (1968)

Iron & Wine

Song(s):
Naked As We Came (2005)

Iron Butterfly

Song(s):
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (1968)
Termination (1968)

Album(s):
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (1968)

Iron Maiden

Heavy metal group formed in London, England. 1975-. Clive Burr (d: 77-83), Paul Di'anno (v: 77-82), Bruce Dickinson (v: 81-93), Steve Harris (b/songwriter), Nicko McBrain (d: 83-), Dave Murray (g: 76-), Doug Sampson (d: 77-79), Adrian Smith (g: 80-), Dennis Stratton (g: 79-80).

Song(s):
Run to the Hills (1982)
The Number of the Beast (1982)
Hallowed Be Thy Name (1982)
The Trooper (1983)
Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1984)
Fear of the Dark (1992)

Album(s):
Iron Maiden (1980)
Killers (1981)
The Number of the Beast (1982)
Piece of Mind (1983)
Powerslave (1984)

Jack Irons

Rock drummer born 7/18/1962 in Los Angeles, California. With the Red Hot Chili Peppers (1984-89) and Pearl Jam (1994-98).

Chris Isaak

Song(s):
Wicked Game (1991) Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing (1995)

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit

Song(s):
Alabama Pines (2011)
24 Frames (2015)
If We Were Vampires (2017)
Last of My Kind (2017)
Dreamsicle (2020)

Album(s):
Reunions (2020)

The Islanders

Song(s):
The Enchanted Sea (1959)

The Isley Brothers

Highly influential R&B/rock/funk trio of brothers from Cincinnati, OH: Formed own T-Neck label in 1969. Ernie, Marvin, and Chris began recording as the trio Isley, Jasper, Isley in 1984. Ronald married Angela Winbush on 6/26/1993. Active: 1957- Members: O'Kelly (died of a heart attack on 3/31/1986), Rudolph (57-90) and Ronald (aka "Mr. Biggs") Isley. Moved to New York in 1957 and first recorded for Teenage Records. Trio added their younger brothers Ernie (g/d: 69-84, 91-) and Marvin (b/percussion: 69-84, 91-) Isley and brother-in-law Chris Jasper (k: 69-84)

Song(s):
Shout (1959)
Twist and Shout (1962)
This Old Heart of Mine (1966)
It’s Your Thing (1969)
That Lady (1973)
Fight the Power (1975)
Harvest for the World (1976)
Contagious (with Chante Moore, 2001)

Album(s):
3 3 (1973)

Ernie Isley

R&B singer/songwriter and guitarist born on 3/7/1952 in Cincinnati, OH. Member of the Isley Brothers.

Marvin Isley

R&B singer/songwriter born on 8/18/1953 in Cincinnati, OH. Member of the Isley Brothers.

O'Kelly Isley

R&B singer/songwriter born 12/25/1937 in Cincinnati, OH. Died 3/31/1986. Member of the Isley Brothers.

Ronald Isley

R&B singer/songwriter born 5/21/1941 in Cincinnati, OH. Member of the Isley Brothers.

Rudolph Isley

R&B singer/songwriter born 4/1/1939 in Cincinnati, OH. Member of the Isley Brothers.

Vernon Isley

R&B singer born in 1942 in Cincinnati, OH. Died in 1955. With the Isley Brothers.

Issler’s Orchestra

Song(s):
Electric Light Quadrille (1889)

It's a Beautiful Day

Song(s):
White Bird (1969)

Album(s):
It's a Beautiful Day (1968)

Jose Iturbi

Burl Ives

Song(s):
Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly) (1948)
Funny Way of Laughin' (1962)
A Holly Jolly Christmas (1964)

Charles Ives

Classical composer born 10/20/1874 in Danbury, CT. Died 5/19/1954.

Album(s):
Piano Sonata No. 2 "Concord" (1948)

Iyaz

Song(s):
Replay (2009)

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.