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 (see more here), short bios for select acts (generally taken or adapted from Joel Whitburn’s Pop Memories 1890-1954 and Top Pop Singles: Billboard books), and links to all albums reviewed here at the DMDB.
A B C D E
F G H I J
K L M N O
P Q R S T
U V W X Y
Z VARIOUS ARTISTS
You can also check the search engine for names, albums, songs, and other content on this site:
Ish Kabibble
Song(s):
Three Little Fishies (Itty Bitty Poo) (Kay Kyser with Ginny Simms, Harry Babbitt, Sully Mason, & Ish Kabibble; 1939)
Bert Kaempfert
Irving Kahal
Gus Kahn
Roger Wolfe Kahn
Song(s):
Sometimes I’m Happy (1927)
Kaiser Chiefs
Song(s):
I Predict a Riot (2004)
Born: 5/25/1922 Died:
American traditional pop singer.
Song(s):
Besame Mucho (Kiss Me Much) (Jimmy Dorsey with Bob Eberly & Kitty Kallen, 1944)
Little Things Mean a Lot (1954)
Bert Kalmar
Born: 3/18/1927 in Kansas City, MO Died:
Musical theater songwriter.
Album(s):
with Fred Ebb (composers) – Cabaret (1972) ST
Helen Kane
Song(s):
I Wanna Be Loved by You (with Leonard Joy, 1928)
Kansas
Song(s):
Carry on Wayward Son (1976)
Dust in the Wind (1978)
Album(s):
Leftoverture (1976)
Point of Know Return (1977)
Anton Karas
Song(s):
The Third Man Theme (1950)
Kasabian
Song(s):
Fire (2009)
Album(s):
West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (2009)
Irving Kaufman
Song(s):
Hail! Hail! The Gang's All Here (with the Columbia Quartet, 1918)
Kaviar – see Kevin Gilbert
Carol Kaye
Danny Kaye
Album(s):
Hans Christan Andersen (soundtrack, 1953)
Born: 3/13/1910 Died: 6/2/1987
Durable leader of popular “sweet” dance band with the slogan “Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye.” Also clarinet and alto saxman, as well as a composer (“Remember Pearl Harbor”).
Born: Harry Wayne Casey on 1/31/1951 Died: --
Pop/disco singer (“Boogie Shoes”, “Please Don’t Go”).
Song(s):
That’s the Way I Like It (1975)
Ernie K-Doe
Phil Keaggy
Keane
Song(s):
Somewhere Only We Know (2004)
Album(s):
Hopes and Fears (2004)
Keb’ Mo’
Album(s):
Peace…Back by Popular Demand (2004)
Born: 7/8/1961 Died:
Country singer.
About: Dancer, actor, and singer best known for performances in Singin’ in the Rain and An American in Paris.
Born: Eugene Curran Kelly on 8/23/1912 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Died: 2/2/1996
Song(s):
For Me and My Gal (with Judy Garland, 1942)
Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
The DMDB Blog:
“For Me and My Gal” charts for the first time: May 26, 1917 (5/26/12)
Paula Kelly
Song(s):
Jeepers Creepers (with Al Donahue, 1938)
Born: 1/8/1967 Died: --
R&B singer.
Song(s):
I Believe I Can Fly (1996)
Ignition (remix) (2002)
Trapped in the Closet (2005)
Album(s):
12 Play (1993)
R. (1998)
Tom Kelly
Born: 12/2/1931 Died: 4/12/1971
Jamaican jazz pianist.
Born: 3/27/1904 Died: 12/21/1940
American bandleader, saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer.
Song(s):
Where or When (with Bob Allen, 1937)
Jimmy Kennedy
Kenny G – see G, Kenny
Born: 12/15/1911 Died: 8/25/1979
American jazz/big band leader.
Song(s):
Artistry in Rhythm (1944)
Born: 1/27/1885 in New York City, NY Died: 11/11/1945
Musical theater composer of more than 700 songs used in more than 100 stage works. Collaborated with many of his era’s greatest lyricists, including Ira Gershwin, Oscar Hammerstein II, Otto Harbach, Yip Harburg, and Johnny Mercer. Created dozens of Broadway musicals and Hollywood films over a career lasting more than four decades.
Songs Composed by Kern:
They Didn't Believe Me (written with Herbert Reynolds; performed by Harry MacDonough with Olive Kline; 1915)
Look for the Silver Lining (written with Buddy DeSylva; performed by Marion Harris; 1921)
Who? (written with Otto Harbach; performed by George Olsen; 1926)
Bill (written with P.G. Wodehouse; performed by Helen Morgan; 1928)
Ol’ Man River (written with Oscar Hammerstein II; performed by Paul Robeson; 1932)
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (written with Otto Harbach, performed by Paul Whiteman with Bob Lawrence, 1933)
Yesterdays (written with Otto Harbach; performed by Leo Reisman; 1933)
The Way You Look Tonight (written with Dorothy Fields; performed by Fred Astaire with Johnny Green & His Orchestra; 1936)
All the Things You Are (written with Oscar Hammerstein II; performed by Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra with Jack Leonard; 1939)
The Last Time I Saw Paris (written with Oscar Hammerstein II; performed by Kate Smith; 1940)
Long Ago and Far Away (written with Ira Gershwin; performed by Helen Forrest with Dick Haymes; 1944)
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (written with Otto Harbach; performed by The Platters; 1958)
Album(s):
Show Boat (composed with Oscar Hammerstein II, 1927/1951) cast/ST
Song(s):
Tik Tok (2009)
The DMDB Blog:
Ke$ha hit #1 with “Tik Tok”: January 2, 2010 (1/2/12)
Francis Scott Key
Born: 1/25/1981 Died: --
R&B singer/pianist.
Song(s):
Fallin’ (2001)
You Don’t Know My Name (2003)
No One (2007)
Empire State of Mind (with Jay-Z, 2009)
Album(s):
Songs in A Minor (2001)
The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003)
As I Am (2007)
The DMDB Blog:
Alicia Keys charted with “Fallin’”: May 5, 2001 (5/5/12)
Aram Khachaturian
Classical composer.
Album(s):
Concerto for Piano & Orchestra (1936)
Born: 3/23/1953 Died:
R&B singer (“I Feel for You”).
Song(s):
Sweet Thing (w/ Rufus, 1975)
I Feel for You (1984)
Album(s):
Ask Rufus (1977)
Born: 10/13/1948 in Pakistan Died: 8/16/1997
Qawwali singer.
Kid Rock
Album(s):
Devil without a Cause (1998)
Kids from Fame
Album(s):
Kids from Fame (1982)
Anthony Kiedis
Song(s):
Mr. Brightside (2004)
All These Things That I’ve Done (2004)
Album(s):
Hot Fuss (2004)
Sam’s Town (2006)
The DMDB Blog:
The Killers charted with “Mr. Brightside”: June 26, 2004 (6/26/12)
Killing Joke
Album(s):
Killing Joke (1980)
Lemmy Kilmister
Kimbra
Song(s):
Somebody That I Used to Know (Gotye with Kimbra, 2012)
Born: 4/25/1923 Died: 12/21/1992
American blues guitarist and singer.
Song(s):
Born Under a Bad Sign (1967)
Album(s):
Born Under a Bad Sign (1967)
I’ll Play the Blues for You (year?)
Live Wire/Blues Power (year?)
Born: Riley B. King on 9/16/1925 in Itta Bena, Mississippi
The most famous blues singer/guitarist in the world today. Moved to Memphis in 1946. Own radio show on WDIA-Memphis, 1949-50, when he was dubbed "The Beale Street Blues Boy," later shortened to "Blues Boy," then simply "B.B." First blues singer to tour the USSR (1979).
Song(s):
Everyday I Have the Blues (1955)
Sweet Little Angel (1956)
The Thrill Is Gone (1969)
Album(s):
Live at the Regal (1964) live
Live in Cook County Jail (1971)
Riding with the King (with Eric Clapton, 2000)
Born: Benjamin Earl Nelson on 9/28/38 in Henderson, NC
R&B singer. Moved to New York in 1947. Worked with the Moonglows for six months while still in high school. Joined the Five Crowns in 1957, which became the new Drifters in 1959. Went solo in 1960.
Song(s):
Spanish Harlem (written by Jerry Leiber and Phil Spector, 1960)
Stand by Me (written by King with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, 1961)
Born: Carole Klein on 2/9/42 in Brookly, NY Died: --
Singer/songwriter/pianist. Married lyricist Gerry Goffin in 1958; they wrote a number of hits together as part of the famous Brill Building team. Divorced in 1968. She recorded her first solo album in 1970 and became a Grammy darling the next year with four awards.
Songs Written by Carole King:
Will You Love Me Tomorrow (written with Gerry Goffin, performed by the Shirelles, 1960)
Up on the Roof (written with Gerry Goffin, performed by the Drifters, 1962)
The Loco-Motion (written with Gerry Goffin, performed by Little Eva, 1962)
You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman (written with Gerry Goffin & Jerry Wexler, performed by Aretha Franklin, 1967)
You've Got a Friend (1971)
Songs Written and Performed by King:
It's Too Late (1971)
You’ve Got a Friend (1971)
I Feel the Earth Move (1971)
Album(s):
Tapestry (1971)
Born: 9/3/1934 in Gilmer, Texas Died: 12/28/1976
About: American blues guitarist and singer nicknamed “The Texas Cannonball”. Acknowledged as an important influence by the likes of Eric Clapton, Mike Bloomfield, Peter Green, Jeff Beck, and Carlos Santana. After his family moved to Chicago in 1950, he learned from blues masters like Muddy Waters, Little Walter, and Jimmie Rodgers.
Song(s):
Hide Away (1961)
Album(s):
Freddy King Sings (1961)
Hide Away (1969)
Mark King
Born: Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski on 2/18/1914 Died: 3/7/2000
American country singer.
Song(s):
Tennessee Waltz (1948)
Slow Poke (Pee Wee King & His Golden West Cowboys with Redd Stewart, 1951)
Born: 2/16/1901 Died: 7/16/1985
Jazz/big band leader.
Song(s):
Dream a Little Dream of Me (with Ernie Birchill, 1931)
Goodnight Sweetheart (with Ernie Birchill, 1931)
English progressive rock group.
Active: 1969- Members: Robert Fripp (g/k/mellotron: 69-75,81-84,94-96), Greg Lake (v/b: 69-70), Ian McDonald (k/woodwinds/mellotron: 69, 74-75; g, k – Foreigner: 76-80), Michael Giles (d: 69-70), Gordon Haskell (v: 70-71), Keith Tippet (piano; 70-72), Mel Collins (sax, flute: 70-72, 75), Peter Giles (b: 70), Raymond "Boz" Burrell (b – King Crimson: 71-72; Bad Company: 73-87,99), Ian Wallace (d: 71), David Cross (violin, viola, mellotron, k: 73-75), John Wetton (b/v: 73-75), Bill Bruford (d: 73-75,81-84,94-96), Jamie Muir (percussion: 73-74), Robin Miller (woodwinds: 74), Tony Levin (b, Chapman Stick: 81-84,94-96), Adrian Belew (v/g/k: 81-84,94-96), Trey Gunn (Chapman Stick: 94-96), Pat Mastelotto (d: 94-96)
Album(s):
In the Court of the Crimson King (1969)
Larks’ Tongue in Aspic (1973)
Red (1974)
Phil Kingsbury
King’s College Choir
Album(s):
Festival of Lessons and Carols as Sung on Christmas Eve in King’s College Chapel, Cambridge (1954)
Song(s):
Louie Louie (1963)
Song(s):
Use Somebody (2008)
Album(s):
Only by the Night (2008)
The Kingston Trio
Song(s):
Tom Dooley (1958)
Album(s):
At Large (1959)
Sold Out (1960)
String Along (1960)
Rock group formed in London.
Active: 1963-1994 Members: Ray Davies (v/g), Dave Davies (g/v), Peter Quaife (b), Mike Avory (d). Numerous personnel changes during the ‘70s. Ian Gibbons (k: 81-89), Bob Henrit (d – Argent: 81-95), Jim Rodford (b – Argent; Kinks: 81-95)
Song(s):
You Really Got Me (1964)
A Well Respected Man (1965)
Waterloo Sunset (1967)
Lola (1970)
Album(s):
Something Else (1967)
Village Green Preservation Society (1968)
The DMDB Blog:
The Kinks released Village Green Preservation Society: November 22, 1968 (11/22/11)
Born: 5/28/1898 Died: 1992
American jazz/big band leader.
Born: 4/17/1934 in Bronx, New York Died: 1/17/2011
About: Known as “The Man with the Golden Ear”. Worked as a songwriter at New York’s famous Brill Building. Was pivotal in creating The Monkees and The Archies. Hosted live TV music show Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert from 1973-1982.
Dorothy Kirsten
Kiseki
Song(s):
Greeeen (2009)
About: Hard rock group formed in New York City. Noted for elaborate makeup and highly theatrical stage shows. Group appeared without makeup for the first time in 1983 on album cover Lick It Up, but returned to performing in their elaborate makeup and costumes.
Active: 1973- Members: Gene Simmons (b/v), Paul Stanley (rhythm g/v), Paul “Ace” Frehley (g/v: 73-82, 96-), Peter Criss (d/v: 73-81, 96-), Eric Carr (d/v: 81-91; died of cancer on 11/25/91), Vinnie Vincent (g: 82-84), Mark St. John (g: 84-85), Bruce Kulick (g: 85-96), Eric Singer (d: 91-96)
Song(s):
Rock and Roll All Nite (1975)
Album(s):
Alive! (1975) live
Destroyer (1976)
The DMDB Blog:
Why Kiss Belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2/12/2011), also on Facebook.
Born: 1/17/1927 Died: 12/25/2008
American singer.
Viola Klaiss
Song(s):
Ramona (Gene Austin with Nat Shilkret & Viola Klaiss, 1928)
Klaxons
Song(s):
Golden Skans (2007)
Album(s):
Myths of the Near Future (2007)
The KLF
Album(s):
Chill Out (1990)
Olive Kline
Song(s):
They Didn't Believe Me (with Harry MacDonough; written by Jerome Kern and Herbert Reynolds, 1915)
Kiss Me Again (1916)
The Knack
Song(s):
My Sharona (1979)
The Knickerbocker Quartet
Song(s):
Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile (1932)
Evelyn Knight
Born: 5/28/1944 Died: --
Knight is a R&B singer who fronted an R&B family group from Atlanta, GA: Gladys Knight, her brother Merald “Bubba” Knight and sister Brenda (58-59) with cousins William and Eleanor Guest (58-59). Named “Pips” for their manager, cousin James “Pips” Woods. First recorded for Brunswick in 1958. Later members: cousins Edward Patten (59-; died of a stroke on 2/25/2005 at age 65) and Langston George (59-62). Due to legal problems, Gladys couldn’t record with the Pips from 1977-80.
Song(s):
Midnight Train to Georgia (1973)
That's What Friends Are For (Dionne Warwick & Friends: Elton John, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder; written by written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager, 1985)
Born: 8/12/1949 Died: --
British rock singer/songwriter and guitarist with Dire Straits.
Beyonce Knowles – see Beyoncé
Buddy Knox
Song(s):
Party Doll (1957)
Ted Koehler
Bob Koester
Kool & The Gang
Song(s):
Celebration (1980)
Born: 2/5/1944 Died: --
Rock keyboardist with Blood, Sweat & Tears who also worked with Bob Dylan.
Korn
Song(s):
Freak on a Leash (1999)
Album(s):
Korn (1994)
Follow the Leader (1998)
Classical composer.
Album(s):
Violin Concerto (1945)
Born: 12/22/1901 Died: 1/13/1980
Russian classical conductor and arranger.
Leo Kottke
Dave Koz
Kraftwerk
Song(s):
Autobahn (1974)
Album(s):
Autobahn (1974)
Trans Europa Express (1977)
Die Mensch Maschine (The Man Machine) (1978)
Computer World (1981)
Born: 1942 in Cape Town, South Africa Died:
Producer for Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Kiss, and Peter Frampton.
Born: 7/23/1971 Died:
American country/bluegrass singer.
Song(s):
The Lucky One (& Union Station, 2001)
Please Read the Letter (with Robert Plant, 2007)
Album(s):
Raising Sand (with Robert Plant, produced by T-Bone Burnett, 2007)
Born: 5/26/1964 Died:
Rock singer/songwriter.
Song(s):
Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993)
Fritz Kreisler
Herbert Kretzmer
Album(s):
with Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil (composers) Les Misérables (1985) cast
Kris Kross
Song(s):
Jump (1992)
Born: 6/22/1936 Died:
Country singer/songwriter.
Songs written by Kristofferson:
Me and Bobby McGee (performed by Janis Joplin, 1971)
Help Me Make It Through the Night (performed by Sammi Smith, 1971)
Songs performed by Kristofferson:
Highwayman (Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, & Kris Kristofferson as The Highwaymen; 1985)
Born: 1/15/1909 Died: 10/16/1973
jazz/big band drummer and bandleader.
Born: 10/15/1938 Died: 8/2/1997
Nigerian afrobeat musician and composer.
Song(s):
Zombie (1977)
Album(s):
Zombie (1977)
Born: 6/18/1905 Died: 7/23/1985
Among the most popular of “sweet” dance bands, best known for his radio “Kollege of Musical Knowledge”, singers Harry Babbitt & Ginny Simms, and trumpet personality Ish Kabibble.
Song(s):
Three Little Fishies (Itty Bitty Poo) (Kay Kyser with Ginny Simms, Harry Babbitt, Sully Mason, & Ish Kabibble; 1939)
Jingle, Jangle, Jingle (with Harry Babbitt & Julie Conway, 1942)
Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition (with Glee Club, 1942)
Ole Buttermilk Sky (with Michael Douglas, 1946)
Kyuss
Album(s):
Welcome to Sky Valley (1994)
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 (see more here), short bios for select acts (generally taken or adapted from Joel Whitburn’s Pop Memories 1890-1954 and Top Pop Singles: Billboard books), and links to all albums reviewed here at the DMDB.
A B C D E
F G H I J
K L M N O
P Q R S T
U V W X Y
Z VARIOUS ARTISTS
You can also check the search engine for names, albums, songs, and other content on this site:
Last updated January 31, 2013. 
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