Music Makers Encyclopedia: P

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, and links to albums and songs reviewed by the DMDB.

P. Diddy

– see Puff Daddy

Anderson.Paak

Songs(s):
Bubblin’ (2019)
Leave the Door Open (2021) – see Bruno Mars

Album(s):
Ventura (2019)

Augustus Pablo

Album(s):
King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown (1976)

Pablo Cruise

Song(s):
Whatcha Gonna Do? (1977)
Love Will Find a Way (1978)

Johann Pachelbel

Classical composer.

Classical Work(s):
Canon in D major (1694). Note: not long enough to qualify as an album.

Ignacy Jan Paderewski

Classical pianist born 11/6/1860 in Kurylowka, Ukraine. Died 6/29/1941.

Hugh Padgham

Rock producer and audio engineer born 2/15/1955 in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England. Worked with Genesis, The Police, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, and Sting.

Jimmy Page

Rock guitarist born 1/9/1944 in Heston, Middlesex, England. With the Yardbirds (66-68), Led Zeppelin (69-80), The Honeydrippers (84), The Firm (84-86), Coverdale/Page (91-93), with Robert Plant (94-98).

Song(s):
Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page, & Robert Plant: Top 100 Songs

Album(s):
Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page, & Robert Plant: Studio Albums Ranked
Volume One (1984) – see The Honeydrippers
No Quarter (live, 1994) – see Robert Plant
Walking into Clarksdale (1998) – see Robert Plant

Oran "Hot Lips" Page

Song(s):
Uncle Sam Blues (1944)

Patti Page

Pop singer born Clara Ann Fowler on 11/8/1927 in Claremore, OK. Died 1/1/2013. Sold more records than any other female singer in the ‘50s. After singing briefly with Benny Goodman in early 1948, her first major hits created a great stir since they were among the first widely-heard multi-track vocal recordings, in which she seemed to be singing duets with herself. Patti also hosted a late-‘50s TV series.

Song(s):
So in Love (from Kiss Me, Kate, 1949)
All My Love (Bolero) (1950)
Tennessee Waltz (1950)
I Went to Your Wedding (1952)
The Doggie in the Window (1953)

Martin Page

Song(s):
In the House of Stone and Light (1994)

Gabby Pahinui

Song(s):
Hula Medley (1947)

Album(s):
Best of the Gabby Band (compilation: 1972-77, released 1990)

Ian Paice

Rock drummer with Deep Purple (68-76, 84-98, 03-05, 13) and Whitesnake (79-81).

Jennifer Paige

Song(s):
Crush (1998)

Robert Treat Paine

Song(s) written by Paine:
Adam and Liberty (The Bostn Patriotic Song) (1798)

Brad Paisley

Country singer born 10/28/1972 in Glen Dale, WV.

Song(s):
He Didn’t Have to Be (1999)
We Danced (1999)
I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song) (2001)
Mud on the Tires (2003)
Whiskey Lullaby (with Alison Krauss, 2004)
When I Get Where I’m Going (with Dolly Parton, 2005)
The World (2005)
She’s Everything (2005)
Find Yourself (from Cars, 2006)
Ticks (2007)
Online (2007)
Letter to Me (2007)
I’m Still a Guy (2007)
Waitin’ on a Woman (with Andy Griffith, 2007)
Start a Band (with Keith Urban, 2008)
Then (2009)
Water (2009)
Anything Like Me (2009)
Old Alabama (with Alabama, 2011)
Remind Me (with Carrie Underwood, 2011)
Perfect Storm (2014)

Album(s):
Time Well Wasted (2005)

Pino Palladino

Rock bassist born Giuseppe Henry Palladino in Cardiff, Wales, on 10/17/1957. Worked with Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Melissa Etheridge, Don Henley, Elton John, The Law, and the Who.

Palma Violets

Song(s):
Best of Friends (2012)

Bruce Palmer

Rock bassist born 9/9/1946 in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada. Died 10/1/2004. With Buffalo Springfield (1966-68).

Carl Palmer

Progressive rock drummer born 3/20/1951 in Birmingham, England. With The King Bees, aka "Craig"; Chris Farlowe’s Thunderbirds; with Albert Lee; Crazy World of Arthur Brown (68); Atomic Rooster (68-69); Emerson, Lake & Palmer (69-79, 92) PM (80); Asia (81-85,90-92, 07-14); 3 (87-88); Qango (00).

Earl Palmer

R&B session drummer born 10/25/1924 in New Orleans, LA. Died 9/19/2008.

Robert Palmer

Writer, musicologist, clarinetist, saxophonist, and blues producer born Robert Franklin Palmer Jr. in Little Rock, AR on 6/19/1945. Died 11/20/1997. Wrote for The New York Times and Rolling Stone/i>. Author of Deep Blues; also produced the soundtrack for the film of the same name.

Robert Palmer

Pop singer born 1/19/1949 in Batley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. Died 9/26/2003. Worked mostly as a solo artist but also worked with side project The Power Station ("Some Like It Hot").

Song(s):
Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley (1974)
Bad Case of Lovin’ You (1979)
Addicted to Love (1986)
Simply Irresistible (1988)

Album(s):
Riptide (1985)

Eddie Palmieri

Album(s):
Eddie Palmieri (1962)
La Perfecta (1962)
Azucar Pa Ti (1965)

Panic! At the Disco

Song(s):
I Write Sins Not Tragedies (2006)
High Hopes (2018)

Album(s):
Death of a Bachelor (2016)
Pray for the Wicked (2018)

Panjabi MC

Song(s):
Beware of the Boys (Mundian To Bach Ke) (with Jay-Z, 1998)

James Pankow

Jazz-rock songwriter and trombonist born 10/21/1946 in Elmwood Palms, IL. With Chicago (1967-).

Pantera

Song(s):
Cowboys from Hell (1990)
Walk (1992)

Album(s):
Cowboys from Hell (1990)
Vulgar Display of Power (1992)
Far Beyond Driven (1994)

Marika Papagika

Song(s):
Smyrneikos Balos (1928)

Papa Roach

Song(s):
Last Resort (2000)
Lifeline (2009)
Help (2017)

Paper Lace

Song(s):
Billy Don’t Be a Hero (1974)
The Night Chicago Died (1974)

Paramore

Song(s):
Misery Business (2007)
Crushcrushcrush (2007)
Ain’t It Fun (2014)

Album(s):
Paramore (2013)
This Is Why (2023)

Walt Parazaider

Jazz-rock saxophonist born in Maywood, IL. With Chicago (1967-2017).

Jon Pardi

Song(s):
Beer Can’t Fix (2019) – see Thomas Rhett

Album(s):
California Sunrise (2016)

Twila Paris

Contemporary Christian singer/songwriter and pianist born 12/28/1959 in Forth Worth, TX. Has had 33 #1 Christian radio singles and was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2015.

Mitchell Parish

Paris Sisters

Song(s):
I Love How You Love Me (1961)

Simon Park Orchestra

Song(s):
Eye Level (1972)

Charlie Parker

Jazz saxophonist born 8/29/1920 in Kansas City, KS. Died 3/12/1955.

Song(s):
Billie’s Bounce (1945)
Ko-Ko (with Miles Davis & Dizzy Gillespie, 1945)
Now’s the Time (1945)
Shaw ‘Nuff (1945) – see Dizzy Gillespie
Ornithology (1946)
Yardbird Suite (1946)
Parker’s Mood (1948)
Tanga (with Machito, 1949)
Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite (with Machito, 1951)

Album(s):
Ornithology (1946)
A Studio Chronicle (compilation: 1940-48, released 2003)
Bird with Strings (1950)
Jazz at Massey Hall (live, 1953) – see The Quintet
Bird: The Complete Charlie Parker on Verve (1988)
The Complete Savoy & Dial Studio Recordings (box: 1944-48, released 2000)

Graham Parker

Song(s):
White Honey (1976)
Hey Lord, Don’t Ask Me Questions (1978)
Protection (1979)

Album(s):
Squeezing Out Sparks (1979)

Junior Parker

Blues singer born Herman Parker, Jr. on 3/27/1932 in West Memphis, AR. Died 11/18/1971.

Song(s):
Feelin’ Good (Little Junior’s Blue Flames, 1953)
Mystery Train (Little Junior’s Blue Flames, 1953)
Love My Baby (Little Junior’s Blue Flames, 1953)

Album(s):
Driving Wheel (1962)

Maceo Parker

Ray Parker Jr.

R&B singer/songwriter born 5/1/1954 in Detroit, Michigan. Worked as a solo artist and with Raydio and Barry White.

Song(s):
Jack and Jill (with Raydio, 1978)
A Woman Needs Love Just Like You Do (with Raydio, 1981)
The Other Woman (1982)
Ghostbusters (1984)

Colonel Tom Parker

Oversaw deal for Elvis Presley to sign with RCA Records in 1955. Served as his manager for more than two decades. Died 1/21/1997.

Trey Parker

Album(s):
The Book of Mormon (musical: 2011) – see Robert Lopez

Arlo Parks

Album(s):
Collapsed in Sunbeams (2021)

Parliament/Funkadelic

Highly influential and prolific funk aggregation of nearly 40 musicians spearheaded by George Clinton. He founded doo-wop group The Parliaments in 1955 in Newark, NJ. By 1967, evolved into a Detroit-based soul group with lineup of vocalists. In 1968, Clinton formed Funkadelic with rhythm section of the Parliaments and changed the Parliaments name to Parliament. Although on different labels, Parliament and Funkadelic shared the same personnel which included several members of The JBs. Known as "A Parliafunkadelicament Thang," this funk corporation hosted various offshoots, including The Brides of Funkenstein, among others. Concert tours featured elaborate staging and characters. Simon, Haskins, and Thomas split from Clinton in 1977 and recorded as Funkadelic in 1981. The corporation disassembled in the early ‘80s. Clinton signed his first solo recording contract in 1982. Clinton regrouped with the P-Funk Allstars in 1996.

Active: 1955-1981 Members: George Clinton (producer/songwriter/lead singer), Eddie Hazel (67-74), Raymond Davis (67), Calvin Simon (67-77,81), Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins (67-77,81), and Grady Thomas (67-77,81), Phelps "Catfish" (g: 68-) and William "Bootsy" Collins (b: 68-), Frank "Kash" Waddy (d: 68-), and horn players Maceo Parker (68-) and Fred Wesley (68-).

Song(s):
I Wanna Testify (The Parliaments, 1967)
Maggot Brain (Funkadelic, 1971)
You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks (Funkadelic, 1971)
Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker) (Parliament, 1975)
Flashlight (Parliament, 1977)
One Nation Under a Groove (Funkadelic, 1978)
Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop) (Parliament, 1978)
Not Just Knee Deep (Funkadelic, 1979)

Album(s):
Maggot Brain (Funkadelic, 1971)
Mothership Connection (Parliament, 1976)
The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein (Parliament, 1976)
One Nation Under a Groove (Funkadelic, 1978)
Tear the Roof Off (compilation: 1974-80)

Parmalee

Song(s):
Carolina (2013)
Just the Way (with Blanco Brown, 2019)
Take My Name (2021)

John Parr

Song(s):
St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion) (1985)

Alan Parsons/Alan Parsons Project

DMDB Profile page: Alan Parsons/Eric Woolfson
DMDB podcast: The Best of Alan Parsons, 1975-2022

Producer and keyboardist born on 12/20/1948 in London, England. Worked as an engineer on classic albums such as the Beatles’ Abbey Road and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon before helming the Alan Parsons Project (76-87).

The Alan Parsons Project featured more than 40 musicians in its decade career, but most prominently featured Eric Woolfson (vocals: 1975-87), Andrew Powell (conductor for the Philharmonia Orchestra), Ian Bairnson (g: 75-87), David Paton (b: 75-86), and Stuart Elliott (d: 77-87). Some of the most prominent vocalists included John Miles (75,78,86-87), Lenny Zakatek (76-85,87), Colin Blunstone (78,82-85), and Chris Rainbow (79-87). Bairnson, Paton, Elliott, and Blunstone also formed the one-off project Keats, produced by Parsons, in 1984.

Alan Parsons Project Song(s):
Alan Parsons Project: Top 25 Songs
Breakdown (1977)
What Goes Up… (1978)
Damned if I Do (1979)
Games People Play (1980)
Time (1980)
Turn of a Friendly Card Part II (1980)
Sirius (1982)
Eye in the Sky (1982)
Old and Wise (1982)
Don’t Answer Me (1984)
Let’s Talk About Me (1985)
Stereotomy (1986)
Standing on Higher Ground (1987)

Alan Parsons Song(s):
As Lights Fall (2019)

Alan Parsons Project Album(s):
Tales of Mystery and Imagination (1976)
I Robot (1977)
Pyramid (1978)
Eve (1979)
The Sicilian Defence (recorded 1979, released 2014)
Turn of a Friendly Card (1980)
Eye in the Sky (1982)
Best of (compilation: 1977-83, released 1983)
Ammonia Avenue (1984)
Vulture Culture (1985)
Stereotomy (1986)
Gaudi (1987)
Best of, Vol. 2 (compilation: 1977-87, released 1988)
The Essential (compilation: 1976-87, released 2007)

Alan Parsons Album(s):
Try Anything Once (1993)
The Definitive Collection (compilation: 1976-93, released 1997)
The Very Best Live (live – recorded 1994, released 1995)
On Air (1996)
The Time Machine (1999)
A Valid Path (2004)
The Secret (2019)
The Never Ending Show (live – recorded 2019, released 2021)
From the New World (2022)

Bill Parsons

Song(s):
All-American Boy (1958)

Gram Parsons

Country-rock singer and guitarist born Cecil Ingram Connor on 11/5/1946 in Winter Haven, FL. Died 9/19/1973. With the International Submarine Band, the Byrds (v/g/k: 12/67-8/68), Flying Burrito Brothers (v/g/piano: 68-70), and a solo artist.

DMDB profile page

Song(s):
Return of the Grievous Angel (1974)

Album(s):
Safe at Home (International Submarine Band, 1968)
Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968) – see the Byrds
The Gilded Palace of Sin (1969) – see Flying Burrito Brothers
Burrito Deluxe (1970) – see Flying Burrito Brothers
G.P. (1973)
Grievous Angel (1974)

The DMDB Blog:
Country-rock pioneer Gram Parsons died: September 19, 1973 (9/19/11)

Dolly Parton

Country singer/songwriter born on 1/19/1946 in Sevier County, Tennessee. She has charted more than 100 times on the country chart, making her the top female country artist of all time. One of the few people to receive Oscar, Grammy Tony, and Emmy nominations. By age 10, she was performing on local radio and television programs. She recorded her first single at age 13. Moved to Nashville the day after her high school graduation in 1964. Started out co-writing songs with her uncle, Bill Owens. Signed with Monument Records in 1965. Replaced Norma Jean on The Porter Wagoner Show in 1967; she and Wagoner regularly worked as a duo from 1967-76 while also working solo. Joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1969. Starred in the movies 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias, Rhinestone, and Straight Talk.

Song(s):
Dolly Parton: Top 100 Songs
Puppy Love (1959)
Joshua (1970)
Coat of Many Colors (1971)
Jolene (1973)
I Will Always Love You (1974/1982)
Please Don’t Stop Loving Me (1974) – see Porter Wagoner
Love Is Like a Butterfly (1974)
The Bargain Store(1975)
Here You Come Again (1977)
It’s All Wrong, But It’s All Right (1977)
Heartbreaker (1978)
I Really Got the Feeling (1978)
You’re the Only One (1979)
Starting Over Again (1980)
Old Flames Can’t Hold a Candle to You (1980)
9 to 5 (1980)
But You Know I Love You (1980)
Hard Candy Christmas (1982)
Islands in the Stream (1983) – see Kenny Rogers
Tennessee Homesick Blues (1984)
Real Love (with Kenny Rogers, 1985)
Think About Love (1985)
To Know Him Is to Love Him (with Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris, 1987)
Why’d You Come in Here Looking Like That (1989)
Yellow Roses (1989)
Rockin’ Years (with Ricky Van Shelton, 1991)
I Will Always Love You (written by Parton, 1992) – see Whitney Houston
When I Get Where I’m Going (2005) – see Brad Paisley

Album(s):
Coat of Many Colors (1971)
Jolene (1974)
New Harvest…First Gathering (1977)
Trio (with Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris, 1987)
White Limozeen (1989)

Harry Partch

Classical composer.

Album(s):
U.S. Highball (A Musical Account of a Transcontinental Hobo Trip) (1946)

The Partridge Family

Song(s):
I Think I Love You (1970)
Doesn’t Somebody Want to Be Wanted (1971)

The DMDB Blog:
The Partridge Family debuted on TV: September 25, 1970 (9/25/11)

Party Boys

Song(s):
He’s Gonna Step on You Again (1987)

Benj Pasek

Album(s):
Dear Evan Hansen (musical: 2015) – see Steven Levenson

Passenger

Song(s):
Let Her Go (2012)

Passengers

One-time collaboration between U2 and Brian Eno.

Album(s):
Original Soundtracks 1 (1995)

The Passengers

Song(s):
Girlfriend’s Boyfriend (1983)

The Passions

Song(s):
Just to Be with You (1959)
I’m in Love with a German Filmstar (1981)

The Pastels

Song(s):
So Far Away (1958)

Tony Pastor

Song(s):
Rambling Rose (1949)
A – You’re Adorable (The Alphabet Song) (with the Clooney Sisters, 1949)

Jaco Pastorius

Jazz bassist born John Francis Anthony Pastorius III on 12/1/1951 in Norristown, PA. Died 9/21/1987.

Album(s):
Jaco Pastorius (1976)

David Paton

Rock bassist born 10/29/1949 in Edinburgh, Scotland. With Pilot, the Alan Parsons Project (1975-86), and Keats (1984).

Edward Patten

R&B singer/songwriter and producer born 8/27/1939 in Atlanta, GA. Died 2/25/2005. With Gladys Knight & the Pips.

Charlie Patton (aka "Charley Patton")

Blues singer and guitarist born in April 1891 in Edwards, MI. Died 4/28/1934.

Song(s):
Pony Blues (1929)
High Water Everywhere (1930)

Album(s):
Founder of the Delta Blues (compilation: 1929-34)
Screamin’ and Hollerin’ the Blues: The Worlds of… (Charlie Patton et al, 1934)

Mike Patton

Billy Paul

Song(s):
Me and Mrs. Jones (1972)

Justin Paul

Album(s):
Dear Evan Hansen (musical: 2015) – see Steven Levenson

Les Paul

Jazz guitarist and inventor born Lester William Polsfuss on 6/19/1915 in Waukesha, WI. Died 8/13/2009.

Song(s):
It’s Been a Long, Long Time (1945) – see Bing Crosby
Mockin’ Bird Hill (with Mary Ford, 1951)
How High the Moon (with Mary Ford, 1951)
Vaya Con Dios (May God Be with You) (with Mary Ford, 1953)
Hummingbird (with Mary Ford, 1955)

Album(s):
Best of the Capitol Masters: 90th Birthday Edition (2005)

The DMDB Blog:
Les Is More (8/14/09)

Sean Paul

Song(s):
Gimme the Light (2002)
Get Busy (2003)
Baby Boy (2003) – see Beyoncé
Temperature (2005)
Cheap Thrills (2016) – see Sia
Rockabye (2016) – see Clean Bandit
No Lie (with Dua Lipa, 2018)

Vinnie Paul

Rock drummer with Pantera.

Paul & Paula

Song(s):
Hey Paula (1962)

Lowman Pauling

R&B guitarist and songwriter born 7/14/1926 in Winston-Salem, NC. Died 12/26/1973. With The Five Royales.

Paulini

Song(s):
Angel Eyes (2004)

Luciano Pavarotti

Opera singer born 10/12/1935 in Modena, Italy. Died 9/6/2007.

Album(s):
The Three Tenors in Concert/Mehta (Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, & Jose Carreras; 1990)

Pavement

Song(s):
Summer Babe (Winter Version) (1992)
Cut Your Hair (1994)
Gold Soundz (1994)

Album(s):
Slanted and Enchanted (1992)
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)
Wowee Zowee (1995)

Tom Paxton

Song(s):
Last Thing on My Mind (1964)
Ramblin’ Boy (1964)

Payable on Death (P.O.D.)

Song(s):
Alive (2001)
Youth of the Nation (2001)

Johnny Paycheck

Country singer born Donald Eugene Lytle on 5/31/1938 in Greenfield, OH. Died 2/19/2003.

Song(s):
Take This Job and Shove It (1977)
Old Violin (1986)

Album(s):
On His Way: Little Darlin' Sound of… (1994)

Freda Payne

Song(s):
Band of Gold (1970)
Bring the Boys Back Home (1970)

John Howard Payne

Song(s) written by Payne with Henry Rowley Bishop:
Home Sweet Home (1823)

Sonny Payne

Payola$

Song(s):
Eyes of a Stranger (1982)

Denis Payton

Rock saxophonist, guitarist, and harmonica player born 8/11/1943 in Walthamstow, UK. With Dave Clark Five.

Peaches & Herb

R&B vocal duo formed in Washington D.C. in 1966. Comprised of Herb Fame (born 10/1/1942) and Francine Edna "Peaches" Hurd Barker (born 4/28/1947, died 8/13/2005). Barker was replaced by Linda Greene Tavani.

Song(s):
Shake Your Groove Thing (1978)
Reunited (1979)

Minnie Pearl

Country singer born Sarah Ophelia Colley on 10/25/1912 in Centerville, TN. Died ¾/1996.

Pearl Jam

Grunge-rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1990. Members: Dave Abbruzzese (d: 92-94), Jeff Ament (b: 90-), Stone Gossard (g: 90-), Jack Irons (d: 94-98), Boom Gaspar (k: 02-), Dave Krusen (d: 90-92), Mike McCready (g: 90-), Eddie Vedder (v: 90-).

Gossard and Ament were previously in Green River and Mother Love Bone. When Andrew Wood, the latter's lead singer, died in 1990, Gossard and Ament united with Vedder, McCready, and Soundgarden’s singer Chris Cornell and drummer Matt Cameron (later of Pearl Jam, 1998-) for the one-time Temple of the Dog tribute project.

DMDB profile page

Song(s):
Top 50 Songs
Alive (1991)
Even Flow (1991)
Jeremy (1991)
Black (1991)
Yellow Ledbetter (1992)
Masters of War (live, 1992) – see Eddie Vedder
Rockin’ in the Free World (live, 1992)
Saying No (live, 1992)
Crazy Mary (with Victoria Williams, 1993)
Daughter (1993)
Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town (1993)
Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay (live, 1994)
Better Man (1994)
Spin the Black Circle (1994)
Corduroy (1994)
Given to Fly (1997)
Wishlist (1998)
Last Kiss (1998)
Man of the Hour (2003)
Gone (2006)
Love Reign O’er Me (2006)
Just Breathe (2009)
Mother (live, 2011)
Sirens (2013)

Album(s):
Ten (1991)
Vs. (1993)
Vitalogy (1994)
No Code (1996)
Yield (1998)
Binaural (2000)
Riot Act (2002)
Lost Dogs: Rarities and B Sides (archives: 1991-2003, released 2003)
Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits (compilation: 1991-2003, released 2004)
Pearl Jam (2006)
Ten: Deluxe Edition (2009)
Backspacer (2009)
PJ20 (soundtrack/archives: 1990-2010, released 2011)
Lightning Bolt (2013)
Gigaton (2020)

Lou Pearlman

Record executive (Trans Continental) and music manager for Backstreet Boys and N’ Sync. Born 6/19/1954 in Flushing, NY. Died 8/19/2016.

Pearls Before Swine

Song(s):
Translucent Carriages (1968)

Neil Peart

Rock drummer and songwriter born 9/12/1952 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Died 1/7/2020. With Rush (1974-2015).

Pebbles

Song(s):
Girlfriend (1987)
Mercedes Boy (1988)
Giving You the Benefit (1990)
Love Makes Things Happen (with Babyface, 1990)

Ann Peebles

Song(s):
Part Time Love (1970)
I Can’t Stand the Rain (1973)

David Peel

Song(s):
Hey Mr. Draftboard (1970)
I Want to Kill You (1970)

Ralph Peer

Jan Peerce

Peerless Quartet/Columbia Male Quartet

All-time great vocal group which began as the Columbia Male Quartet.

Active: 1907-1928 Members: Henry Burr (tenor – lead vocal on most of the records after 1910), Albert Campbell (tenor), Steve Porter (baritone: 07-09), Frank Stanley (bass: 07-10), Arthur Collins (baritone: 09-18), John Meyer (bass: 10-25), Frank Croxton (baritone: 18-25). Campbell, Croxton, Meyer, and Porter were also members of the American Quartet. Burr, Campbell, and Meyer also recorded as the Sterling Trio.

Song(s):
Sweet Adeline (You’re the Flower of My Heart) (Columbia Male Quartet, 1904)
I Want a Girl Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad (1911)
Let Me Call You Sweetheart (1911)
The Ghost of the Violin (1913)
If I Had My Way I’d Live Among the Gypsies (1914)
This Is the Life (1914)
I Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier (1915)
My Bird of Paradise (1915)
I’m on My Way to Dublin Bay (1915)
The Lights of My Home Town (1916)
Over There (1917)
I Don’t Know Where I’m Going But I’m on My Way (1918)
My Mammy (1921)
Way Down Yonder in New Orleans (1922)

Donald Peers

Song(s):
My Truly, Truly Fair (1941)
I Told Them All About You (1950)
Music! Music! Music! (1950)
Mockin’ Bird Hill (1951)

Krzysztof Penderecki

Teddy Pendergrass

R&B singer born 3/26/1950 in Philadelphia, PA. Died 1/13/2009.

Song(s):
I Don’t Love You Anymore (1977)
Close the Door (1978)
Love T.K.O. (1980)
Joy (1988)
It Should’ve Been You (1991)

The Penguins

Song(s):
Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) (1954)

CeCe Peniston

Song(s):
Finally (1991)

Pentangle

Song(s):
Light Flight (1969)

Album(s):
Basket of Life (1969)

Peppermint Trolley Company

Song(s):
The Brady Bunch Theme (1969)

Pere Ubu

Song(s):
Final Solution (1976)
Caligari’s Mirror (1978)

Album(s):
The Modern Dance (1978)
Dub Housing (1978)

Valeriya Yurievna Perfilova

Carl Perkins

Rockabilly singer born 4/9/1932 in Tiptonville, TN. Died 1/19/1998.

Song(s):
Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Honey Don’t (1956)
Boppin’ the Blues (1956)
Dixie Fried (1956)
Matchbox (1957)

Album(s):
Dance Album of… (1958)
The Complete Million Dollar Session (Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins & Elvis Presley; recorded 1956, released 1987) – see Johnny Cash
The Classic Carl Perkins (box set: 1954-65, released 1990)

"Pine Top" Perkins

Blues musician born Joseph William Perkins on 7/7/1913 in Belzoni, MS. Died 3/21/2011. Started on guitar, but switched to piano after an injury. Worked with blues notables like Robert Nighthawk, Sonny Boy Williamson II, and Muddy Waters. Nicknamed "Pinetop" because of his recording of his recording of Pinetop Smith's "Pinetop's Boogie Woogie." Didn't release an album of his own until 1988. At age 97, he won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album (Joined at the Hip), making him the oldest person to ever receive a Grammy.

Itzhak Perlman

Violinist born 8/31/1945 in Tel Aviv, Mandate of Palestine, Israel.

Album(s):
Live in the Fiddler’s House (1996)

Perpetuum Jazzile

Song(s):
Africa (live, 2009)

Christina Perri

Song(s):
Jar of Hearts (2010)
A Thousand Years (2011)

Joe Perry

Rock guitarist born Joseph Anthony Perieira on 9/19/1950 in Lawrence, Massachusetts. With Aerosmith (70-).

Katy Perry

Pop singer born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson on 10/25/1984 in Santa Barbara, CA. Collaborated with Dr. Luke and Max Martin as co-writers for many of her hit singles.

Song(s):
I Kissed a Girl (2008)
Hot N Cold (2008)
Waking Up in Vegas (2008)
California Gurls (with Snoop Dogg, 2010)
Teenage Dream (2010)
Firework (2010)
E.T. (with Kanye West, 2010)
Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) (2010)
The One That Got Away (2010)
Part of Me (2012)
Wide Awake (2012)
Roar (2013)
Dark Horse (with Juicy J, 2013)
Rise (2016)
Feels (2017) – see Calvin Harris
Bon Appétit (with Migos, 2017)

Album(s):
Teenage Dream (2010)
Prism (2013)
Witness (2017)

Lee "Scratch" Perry

Reggae/dub producer born Rainford Hugh Perry on 3/20/1936 in Kendal, Jamaica. Worked with Bob Marley. Died 8/29/2021.

Album(s):
Blackboard Jungle Dub (1973)
Super Ape (& the Upsetters, 1976)
Arkology (1979)

Linda Perry

Richard Perry

Steve Perry

Rock singer born on 1/22/1949 in Hanford, CA. With Journey (1977-87, 1996). Also worked as a solo singer.

Song(s):
Oh Sherrie (1984)
You Better Wait (1994)

Album(s):
Street Talk (1984)
Greatest Hits Five Unreleased (compilation: 1977-98, released 1998)
Traces (2018)

The Persuaders

Song(s):
Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1971)

Peter & Gordon

Song(s):
A World Without Love (1964)
Lady Godiva (1966)
Woman (1966)

Peter, Paul & Mary

Song(s):
If I Had a Hammer (The Hammer Song) (1962)
Blowin’ in the Wind (1963)
500 Miles (1963)
Puff, the Magic Dragon (1963)
Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright (1963)
Go Tell It on the Mountain (1964)
Leaving on a Jet Plane (1969)

Album(s):
Peter, Paul & Mary (1962)
In the Wind (1963)

Roberta Peters

Opera singer.

Hjalmar Peterson

Song(s):
Nikolina (1917)

Oscar Peterson

Jazz pianist born 8/15/1925 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Died 12/23/2007.

Album(s):
The Astaire Story (Fred Astaire with the Oscar Peterson Quintet, 1952)
Night Train (1962)

Tom Petersson

Rock bassist born 5/9/1950 in Rockford, IL. With Cheap Trick (1973-1980, 1987-).

John Petrucci

Progressive metal guitarist born 7/12/1967 in Kings Park, Long Island, NY. With Dream Theater (1989-) and Liquid Tension Experiment.

Michael Petrucciani

Jazz pianist.

Pet Shop Boys

British dance-pop duo consisting of Neil Tennant (v) and Chris Lowe (k). Formed in London in 1981.

Song(s):
West End Girls (1985)
Always on My Mind (1987)
What Have I Done to Deserve This? (with Dusty Springfield, 1987)
Being Boring (1990)

Album(s):
Actually (1987)
Behaviour (1990)
Discography: The Complete Singles Collection (compilation: 1985-91, released 1991)
Very (1993)

Tom Petty (& The Heartbreakers)

Rock singer and guitarist born 10/20/1950 in Gainsville, FL. Died 10/2/2017. With Mudcrutch and then Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (77-87, 91-93, 95-17). Also part of the supergroup the Traveling Wilburys (88,90) and recorded solo (89,94,06). The group backed Stevie Nicks on her Bella Donna album. Toured with Bob Dylan in 1986. Heartbreakers included Mike Campbell (g – Mudcrutch, Heartbreakers), Benmont Tench (k – Mudcrutch, Heartbreakers), Ron Blair (b: ?-82), Stan Lynch (d), and Howard Epstein (b: 82-).

DMDB actpage: Tom Petty: A Retrospective (1976-2016)
DMDB podcast: The Best of Tom Petty (1976-2016)

Song(s):
Tom Petty: Top 100 Songs
American Girl (1976)
Breakdown (1977)
Refugee (1979)
Here Comes My Girl (1980)
Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around (1981) – see Stevie Nicks
The Waiting (1981)
Don’t Come Around Here No More (1985)
Free Fallin’ (solo, 1989)
Alright for Now (1989)
Runnin’ Down a Dream (1989)
Learning to Fly (1991)
Christmas All Over Again (1992)
Mary Jane’s Last Dance (1993)
Wildflowers (1994)

Album(s):
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976)
Damn the Torpedoes (with the Heartbreakers, 1979)
Southern Accents (1985)
Traveling Wilburys Volume 1 (1988) – see Traveling Wilburys
Full Moon Fever (solo, 1989)
Traveling Wilburys Volume 3 (1990) – see Traveling Wilburys
Into the Great Wide Open (with the Heartbreakers, 1991)
Greatest Hits (with the Heartbreakers, compilation: 1977-93, released 1993)
Anthology: Through the Years (with the Heartbreakers, compilation: 1977-93, released 2000)
Wildflowers (1994)
Playback (with the Heartbreakers, box: 1973-93, released 1995)
The Live Anthology (with the Heartbreakers, box: 1978-2007, released 2009)
Hypnotic Eye (2014)
The Best of Everything (compilation: 1976-2016, released 2019)

Robert Petway

Song(s):
Catfish Blues (1941)

Liz Phair

Song(s):
Fuck and Run (1993)
Divorce Song (1993)
Polyester Bride (1998)

Album(s):
Exile in Guyville (1993)

Pharoahe Monch

Song(s):
Simon Says (1999)

Arthur Phelps

- see Blind Blake

Philip Phile

Music written by Phile, lyrics by Joseph Hopkinson:
Hail Columbia (The President’s March) (1789)

Gregory Philips

Song(s):
Down in the Boondocks (1965)

Little Esther Phillips

Song(s):
Double Crossing Blues (1950) – see Johnny Otis
Cupid Boogie (1950) – see Johnny Otis
Mistrustin’ Blues (as Little Esther, with Mel Walker & Johnny Otis’s Orchestra, 1950)
Release Me (as “Little Esther” Phillips, 1962)

John Phillips

Folk-rock singer/songwriter and guitarist born 8/30/1935 in Parris Island, SC. Died 3/18/2001. With The Mamas & the Papas.

Michelle Phillips

Folk-rock singer/songwriter born Holly Michelle Gilliam on 6/4/1944 in Long Beach, CA. With The Mamas & the Papas.

Ricky Phillips

Rock bassist born 10/7/1953 in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. With The Babys (1978-81), Bad English (1987-91), Coverdale/Page (1991-93), Styx (2003-).

Sam Phillips

Producer born 1/5/1923 in Florence, AL. Died 7/30/2003. His Sun Records label launched the careers of B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, Elvis Presley,Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Charlie Rich.

DMDB Blog:
Sun Records opened: January 3, 1950 (1/3/12)

Songs Produced at Sun:
Sun Records: Top 50 Songs
Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats "Rocket 88" (1951)
Elvis Presley "That’s All Right, Mama" (1954)
Elvis Presley "Blue Moon of Kentucky" (1954)
Johnny Cash "Folsom Prison Blues" (1955)
Johnny Cash "I Walk the Line" (1956)
Carl Perkins "Blue Suede Shoes" (1956)
Jerry Lee Lewis "Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On" (1957)
Jerry Lee Lewis "Great Balls of Fire" (1957)

Phil Phillips & the Twilights

Song(s):
Sea of Love (1959)

Phillip Phillips

Song(s):
Home (2012)

Simon Phillips

Rock drummer with Jon Anderson (80-82), Asia (92, 01), Jeff Beck (80), Jack Bruce, Judas Priest (77), Gary Moore (78, 89), Mike Oldfield (83-91), Joe Satriani (89, 92, 93, 06), Michael Schenker (80, 08-11), Tears for Fears, Toto (1992-), Pete Towshend (80-89), The Who (1989), and others.

Phish

Song(s):
Chalk Dust Torture (1992)

Album(s):
A Live One (1995)

Phoenix

Song(s):
1901 (2009)

Album(s):
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009)

Phosphorescent

Song(s):
Song for Zulu (2013)

Phuture

Song(s):
Acid Tracks (1987)

Edith Piaf

Singer born Edith Giovanna Gassion on 12/19/1915 in Paris, France. Died 10/11/1963

Song(s):
La Vie En Rose (1950)

Album(s):
The Voice of the Sparrow: The Very Best of (compilation: 1991)

Astor Piazolla

Album(s):
Tango: Zero Hour (1986)
The New Tango (1987)

Bobby "Boris" Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers

Song(s):
Monster Mash (1962)

Wilson Pickett

R&B singer born 3/18/1941 in Prattville, AL. Died 1/19/2006.

Song(s):
If You Need Me (1963)
In the Midnight Hour (1965)
Mustang Sally (1966)
634-5789 (1966)
Land of 1000 Dances (1966)
Nine-Nine and a Half Won’t Do (1966)
Funky Broadway (1967)
Don’t Knock My Love (Part 1) (1971)

Album(s):
The Exciting… (1966)

The Pied Pipers

Song(s):
I'll Never Smile Again (1940) – see Tommy Dorsey
Let's Get Away from It All (1941) – see Tommy Dorsey
Oh, Look at Me Now (1941) – see Tommy Dorsey
There Are Such Things (1942) – see Tommy Dorsey
The Trolley Song (1944)
Ac-Cent-Tchu-ate the Positive (1945) – see Johnny Mercer
On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe (1945) – see Johnny Mercer
Candy (1945) – see Johnny Mercer
Dream (When You’re Feeling Blue) (with Paul Weston & His Orchestra, 1945)

Webb Pierce

Country singer born Michael Webb Pierce on 8/8/1921 in West Monroe, LA. Died 2/24/1991.

Song(s):
Wondering (1952)
That Heart Belongs to Me (1952)
Back Street Affair (1952)
It’s Been So Long (1953)
There Stands the Glass (1953)
Slowly (1954)
Even Tho (1954)
More and More (1954)
In the Jailhouse Now (1955)
I Don’t Care (1955)
Love Love Love (1955)
Honky Tonk Song (1957)

James S. Pierpont

Music teacher, church organist, and songwriter born in Boston in 1822. Worked on a whaling ship as a teenager, went to California in 1849 during the California Gold Rush, and fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War. Died in 1893.

Song(s) written by Pierpont:
Jingle Bells (1857)
Jingle Bells (1943) – also see Bing Crosby

Piko-Taro

Song(s):
PPAP (Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen) (2016)

Pilot

Song(s):
Magic (1974)
January (1975)

Album(s):
Pilot Project: Return to Alan Parsons Project (covers: 2014)

Jorge Luis Piloto

Composer born Jorge Luis Piloto Alsar on 1/15/1955 in Cárdenas, Matanzas, Cuba. Has recorded more than 500 songs for multiple artists.

Mike Pinder

Progressive rock keyboardist born 12/27/1941 in Erdington, Birmingham, England. With The Moody Blues (1964-1978).

Pink

Pop singer/songwriter born Alecia Beth Moore on 9/8/1979 in Doylestown, PA.

Song(s):
Most Girls (2000)
Get the Party Started (2001)
Don't Let Me Get Me (2001)
Family Portrait (2001)
Lady Marmalade (2001) – see Christina Aguilera
Dear Mr. President (with the Indigo Girls, 2006)
U Ur Hand (2006)
Who Knew (2006)
So What (2008)
Raise Your Glass (2010)
Fuckin’ Perfect (2010)
Blow Me One Last Kiss (2012)
Just Give Me a Reason (with Nate Ruess, 2012)
Just Like Fire (2016)
Setting the World on Fire (2016) – see Kenny Chesney
What About Us (2017)

Album(s):
M!ssundaztood (2001)
Funhouse (2008)
Greatest Hits…So Far!!! (compilation: 2000-10, released 2010)
The Truth About Love (2012)
Beautiful Trauma (2017)
Hurts 2 B Human (2019)

Pink Floyd

DMDB profile page
DMDB podcast: Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon: 50th Anniversary

English progressive-rock group. Group name taken from Georgia bluesmen Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Their album Dark Side of the Moon holds the record for most weeks on the Billboard albums chart (700 and counting). Active: 1965-87, 1994 Members: Syd Barrett (g/v: 65-68), Roger Waters (b/v: 65-83), Nick Mason (d: 65-87,94), Richard Wright (k: 65-87,94), David Gilmour (g/v: 68-87,94)

Song(s):
Pink Floyd et al: Top 100 Songs
See Emily Play (1967)
Arnold Layne (1967)
Interstellar Overdrive (1967)
Astronomy Domine (1967)
Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun (1968)
Echoes (1971)
Money (1973)
Time (1973)
Brain Damage/Eclipse (1973)
Us and Them (1973)
Wish You Were Here (1975)
Shine on You Crazy Diamond (1975)
Sheep (1977)
Another Brick in the Wall Part II (1979)
Comfortably Numb (1979)
Mother (1979)
Hey You (1979)
Learning to Fly (1987)
One Slip (1987)
Keep Talking (1994)
Louder Than Words (2014)

Album(s):
Pink Floyd et al: Studio Albums Ranked
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)
A Saucerful of Secrets (1968)
More (soundtrack: 1969)
Relics (compilation: 1967-69, released 1971)
Ummagumma (live/studio, 1969)
Atom Heart Mother (1970)
Meddle (1971)
Obscured by Clouds (1972)
Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Works (compilation: 1967-73, released 1983)
Wish You Were Here (1975)
Animals (1977)
The Wall (1979)
A Collection of Great Dance Songs (compilation: 1971-79, released 1981)
Is There Anybody Out There? (recorded live 1981, released 2000)
The Final Cut (1983)
A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987)
The Division Bell (1994)
Pulse (live, 1995)
Echoes: The Best of (compilation: 1967-94, released 2001)
A Foot in the Door: The Best of (compilation: 1967-94, released 2011)

The DMDB Blog:
Syd Barrett showed up while Pink Floyd recorded a tribute to him: June 5, 1975 (6/5/12)

Maceo Pinkard

Pinkfong!

Song(s):
Baby Shark (2016)

Bill Pinkney

R&B singer born Willie Pinkney on 8/15/1925 in Dalzell, SC. Died 7/4/2007. With The Drifters (1953-58).

Pink Pantheress

Song(s):
Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2 (with Ice Spice, 2023)

Ezio Pinza

Song(s):
Some Enchanted Evening (1949)

Piso 21

Song(s):
Déjala Que Vuelva (with Manuel Turizo, 2017)

Pitbull

Song(s):
DJ Got Us Falling in Love (2010) – see Usher
I Like It (2010) – see Enrique Iglesias
Give Me Everything (with Ne-Yo , Afrojack, & Nayer; 2011)
Rain Over Me (with Marc Anthony, 2011)
On the Floor (2011) – see Jennifer Lopez
Timber (with Ke$ha, 2013)
Time of Our Lives (with Ne-Yo, 2014)

Album(s):
Greatest Hits (compilation: 2009-14, released 2017)

Dean Pitchford

Songwriter born on 7/29/1951 in Honolulu, HA. Co-wrote the screenplay for the 1984 movie Footloose. He co-wrote all of the songs on the soundtrack.

Song(s) written by Pitchford:
Fame (1980) – see Irene Cara
Footloose (1984) – see Kenny Loggins

Album(s):
Footloose (soundtrack: 1984)

Gene Pitney

Pop singer/songwriter born 2/17/1940 in Hartford, CT. Died 4/5/2006.
Every Breath I Take (1961)
I Wanna Love My Life Away (1961)
Town Without Pity (1961)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa (1963)
It Hurts to Be in Love (1964)

Pixies

Alternative rock group formed in Boston, MA. One of the most influential bands on the alternative rock of the '90s, most notably cited by Nirvana's Kurt Cobain as a major influence. Active: 1986-93, 2004 Members: Black Francis (v/g; recorded solo as Frank Black), Joey Santiago (g; Martinis: 95-), Kim "Mrs. John Murphy" Deal (b/v; v/g – Breeders: 89-94; The Amps: 95), David Loverling (d; Martinis: 95).

Song(s):
Gigantic (1988)
Where Is My Mind? (1988)
Monkey Gone to Heaven (1989)
Here Comes Your Man (1989)
Debaser (1989)
Waves of Mutilation (1989)
Hey (1989)
Motorway to Roswell (1991)

Album(s):
Surfer Rosa (1988)
Doolittle (1989)
Bossanova (1990)
Trompe le Monde (1991)

PJ Harvey

- see Harvey, PJ

Placebo

Song(s):
Nancy Boy (1997)

Plain White T’s

Song(s):
Hey There Delilah (2007)

Plan B

Song(s):
Stay Too Long (2010)
Ill Manors (2012)

Planet Patrol

Song(s):
I Didn’t Know I Loved You Til I Saw You Rock and Roll (1983)

Robert Plant

Rock singer born 8/20/1948 in West Bromwich, England. With Band of Joy and, most famously, Led Zeppelin (68-80) before going solo (82-93, 99-). He also did a one-off collaboration with others as The Honeydrippers (84) and reteamed with his Led Zeppelin bandmate Jimmy Page (94-98).

DMDB profile page
DMDB podcast: The Best of Robert Plant

Song(s):
Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page, & Robert Plant: Top 100 Songs
Heaven Knows (1988)
Hurting Kind (1990)
If I Were a Carpenter (1993)
Down by the Sea (1995) – see Tori Amos
One More Cup of Coffee (2002)
Please Read the Letter (with Alison Krauss, 2007)
Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On) (with Alison Krauss, 2007)
Can’t Let Go (with Alison Krauss, 2021)

Album(s):
Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page, & Robert Plant: Studio Albums Ranked
Pictures at Eleven (1982)
The Principle of Moments (1983)
Volume One (1984) – see The Honeydrippers
Shaken ‘N’ Stirred (1985)
Now and Zen (1988)
Manic Nirvana (1990)
Fate of Nations (1993)
No Quarter (live with Jimmy Page: 1994)
Walking into Clarksdale (with Jimmy Page: 1998)
Dreamland (2002)
Sixty Six to Timbuktu (compilation: 1966-2003)
Mighty Rearranger (2005)
Raising Sand (with Alison Krauss, 2007)
Band of Joy (2010)
Lullaby…and the Ceaseless Roar (2014)
Carry Fire (2017)
Digging Deep: Subterranea (compilation: 1982-2020)
Raise the Roof (with Alison Krauss, 2021)

Plastic Bertrand

Song(s):
Ca Plane Pour Moi (1978)

Rachel Platten

Song(s):
Fight Song (2015)

The Platters

R&B group formed in Los Angeles, CA. First recorded for Federal in 1954. "Only You" was written by manager Buck Ram (died on 1/1/91 at age 83) and first recorded for Federal. To Mercury in 1955; re-recorded "Only You." Although trademarked group continued to tour through the decades, several unrelated groups use The Platters’ famous name today.

Active: 1953- Members: Tony Williams (lead: 54-61; died of diabetes and emphysema on 8/14/92), David Lynch (tenor: 54-89; died of cancer at age 61 on ½/81), Paul Robi (baritone: 54-66; died of cancer on 2/1/89), Alex Hodge (bass: 54), Herb Reed (bass: 55-), Zola Taylor (55-66), Sonny Turner (lead: 61-76), Sandra Dawn (66-). Nate Nelson (baritone – Flamingos; Platters: 66-84; died of heart disease at age 52 on 6/1/84). Monroe Powell (lead: 76-).

Song(s):
Only You (And You Alone) (1955)
The Great Pretender (1955)
My Prayer (Avant de Mourir) (1956)
Twilight Time (1958)
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (1958)

Album(s):
The Platters (1956)

Playboi Carti

Album(s):
Die Lit (2018)

Player

Song(s):
Baby Come Back (1977)

Playing for Change

Song(s):
Stand by Me (2008)
Biko (2010)

The Plimsouls

Song(s):
A Million Miles Away (1982)

PM Dawn

Song(s):
Set Adrift on Memory Bliss (1991)
I’d Die Without You (1992)
Looking Through Patient Eyes (1993)

P-Nut

Poco

Country-rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1968. Members: Lex Browning (g/various instruments: 18-20), Kim Bullard (k: 78-84), Steve Chapman (d: 78-87), Paul Cotton (g/v: 70-87, 91-10, 15), Richie Furay (g/v: 68-73, 88-90, 15), George Grantham (d/v: 68-78, 85-91, 00-04), Tom Hampton (g/v: 20-), Charlie Harrison (b: 78-84), George Lawrence (d: 04-16), Rick Lonow (d: 16-), Gary Mallaber (d: 91), Randy Meisner (b/v: 68-69, 88-91), Jim Messina (g/v: 68-70, 88-91), Richard Neville (b: 91-00), Timothy B. Schmit (b/v: 69-77, 15), Rick Seratte (k: 84-85), Tim Smith (d: 91-00), Jeff Steele (b: 84-85), Jack Sundrud (b/g/v: 85-87, 90-91, 00-), David Vanacore (k: 90-91), Michael Webb (k/g/b/v: 10-18), Rusty Young (g/v/various instruments: 1968-2021). Furay and Messina were previously in Buffalo Springfield. Meisner and Schmit later became members of the Eagles.

Song(s):
Pickin’ up the Pieces (1969)
A Good Feelin’ to Know (1972)
Rose of Cimarron (1976)
Crazy Love (1978)

P.O.D.

– see Payable on Death

The Pogues

Song(s):
Dirty Old Town (1985)
Sally MacLennane (1985)
Fairytale of New York (with Kirsty MacColl, 1987)

Album(s):
Rum, Sodomy and the Lash (1985)
If I Should Fall from Grace (1988)

The Pointer Sisters

Song(s):
How Long (Betcha Got a Chick on the Side) (1975)
Fire (1978)
Slow Hand (1981)
I’m So Excited (1982)
Automatic (1983)
Neutron Dance (1983)

Poison

Song(s):
Talk Dirty to Me (1986)
Nothin' But a Good Time (1988)
Fallen Angel (1988)
Every Rose Has Its Thorn (1988)
Something to Believe In (1990)

The Police

New wave rock group from Newcastle, England. Active: 1977-86 Members: Sting (v/b), Stewart Copeland (d – Police: 77-86; Animal Logic), Henri Padovani (g: 77), Andy Summers (g: 77-86).

DMDB profile page: Sting & The Police
DMDB podcast: The Best of the Police, 1977-1986 (In Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Synchronicity)

Song(s):
Police/Sting: Top 60 Songs
Roxanne (1978)
Message in a Bottle (1979)
Don’t Stand So Close to Me (1980)
De Do Do Do De Da Da Da (1980)
Driven to Tears (1980)
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (1981)
Spirits in the Material World (1981)
Invisible Sun (1981)
I Burn for You (1982)
Every Breath You Take (1983)
King of Pain (1983)
Wrapped Around Your Finger (1983)
Don’t Stand So Close to Me ‘86 (1986)

Album(s):
Outlandos D’Amour (1978)
Reggatta De Blanc (1979)
Zenyatta Mondatta (1980)
Ghost in the Machine (1981)
Synchronicity (1983)
Every Breath You Take – The Singles (compilation: 1978-86, released 1986)
Greatest Hits (compilation: 1978-83, released 1992)
Flexible Strategies (archives: 1978-1983, released 2018)
Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings (box: 1978-86, released 1993)
Every Breath You Take – The Classics (compilation: 1978-86, released 1995)
Certifiable (live, 2007)

Ben Pollack

Song(s):
Sweet Sue, Just You (with Franklyn Baur, 1928)
The Beat of My Heart (with Doris Robbins, 1934)

Lew Pollack

Polo G

Song(s):
Pop Out (with Lil Tjay, 2019)
Rapstar (2021)

Album(s):
The Goat (2020)
Hall of Fame (2021)

Doc Pomus

R&B/pop songwriter born Jerome Solon Felder on 6/27/1925 in Brooklyn, NY. Worked in the legendary Brill Building, known for housing some of pop music history's most famous songwriters and publishers. Died 3/14/1991.

Amilcare Ponchilelli

Album(s):
La Gioconda (1876)

The Poni-Tails

Song(s):
Born Too Late (1958)

Lily Pons

French opera singer born 4/12/1898. Died 2/13/1976.

Rosa Ponselle

Charlie Poole

Song(s):
Don't Let Your Deal Go Down Blues (1925)
White House Blues (1926)
Old and Only in the Way (1928)

Album(s):
You Ain’t Talkin’ to Me: Charlie Poole & the Roots of Country Music (2005)

Iggy Pop

Proto-punk singer born James Newell Osterberg, Jr. on 4/21/1947 in Muskegon, Michigan. With The Stooges and a solo artist.

Song(s):
Lust for Life (1977)
The Passenger (1977)
China Girl (1977)

Album(s):
Lust for Life (1977)
The Idiot (1977)

The Pop Group

Album(s):
Y (1979)

Pop Smoke

Song(s):
Dior (2019)
For the Night (with Lil Baby & DaBaby, 2020)
What You Know ‘Bout Love (2020)

Album(s):
Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon (2020)
Faith (2021)

Jeff Porcaro

Rock drummer with Toto.

Porcupine Tree

Album(s):
In Absentia (2002)
Fear of a Blank Planet (2007)

Bob Porter

Cole Porter

Musical theater composer born 6/9/1891 in Peru, IN. Died 10/15/1964.

Song(s) written by Cole Porter:
What Is This Thing Called Love? (1930) – see Leo Reisman
Love for Sale (1931) – see Libby Holman
Night and Day (1932) – see Fred Astaire
You're the Top (1934) – see Paul Whiteman
You're the Top (1934) – see Ethel Merman
Anything Goes (1934) – see Paul Whiteman
I Get a Kick Out of You (1935) – see Ethel Merman
Just One of Those Things (1935) – see Richard Himber
I’ve Got You Under My Skin (1936) – see Ray Noble
Begin the Beguine (1938) – see Artie Shaw
Don't Fence Me In (1944) – see Bing Crosby
So in Love (from Kiss Me, Kate, 1949) – see Patti Page
I Get a Kick Out of You (1953) – see Frank Sinatra
I Love Paris (from Can-Can, 1954) – see Les Baxter
I’ve Got You Under My Skin (1956) – see Frank Sinatra

Album(s):
Anything Goes (musical: 1934)
Kiss Me, Kate (musical: 1948, soundtrack: 1954)

David Porter

R&B songwriter born 11/21/1941 in Memphis, TN.

George Porter, Jr.

Kalan Porter

Song(s):
Awake in a Dream (2004)

Steve Porter

Baritone singer who began as a vaudeville comedian in the 1890s. He worked as a solo artist (1898-1910) as well as a performer with Columbia Male Quartet (1904-07), Columbia Comedy Trio (1907), Peerless Quartet (1907-09), American Quartet (1910-14), Haydn Quartet (1914), and theHeidelberg Quintet (1911-15). Died 1/13/1946 at age 81.

Song(s):
On the Banks of the Wabash (1898)
She’s More to Be Pitied Than Censured (1898)
A Picture No Artist Can Paint (1899)
A Bird in a Gilded Cage (1900) digg

Tiran Porter

Rock bassist born 9/26/1948 in Los Angeles, CA. With Doobie Brothers (1972-80, 1987-92-).

Portishead

Song(s):
Sour Times (Nobody Loves Me) (1994)
Glory Box (1995)

Album(s):
Dummy (1994)
Third (2008)

Gary Portnoy

Song(s):
Where Everybody Knows Your Name (Theme from Cheers) (1983)

Mike Portnoy

Rock drummer with Dream Theater.

Portrait

Song(s):
Here We Go Again (1992)

Portugal. The Man

Song(s):
Feel It Still (2017)

Mike Posner

Song(s):
Cooler Than Me (with Big Sean, 2010)
I Took a Pill in Ibiza (2015)