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 (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.

P. Diddy

– see Puff Daddy

Anderson.Paak

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

Album(s):
Ventura (2019)

Augustus Pablo

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

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

Producer for 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)
Tennessee Waltz (1950)
All My Love (Bolero) (1950)
I Went to Your Wedding (1952)
The Doggie in the Window (1953)

Gabby Pahinui

Song(s):
Hula Medley (1947)

Ian Paice

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

Brad Paisley

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

Song(s):
Whiskey Lullaby (with Alison Krauss, 2004)
Find Yourself (from Cars, 2006)

Album(s):
Time Well Wasted (2005)

Pino Palladino

Palma Violets

Song(s):
Best of Friends (2012)

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

Author.

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):
Bad Case of Lovin’ You (1979)
Addicted to Love (1986)

Eddie Palmieri

Album(s):
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):
Mundian To Bach Ke (1998)

James Pankow

Pantera

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

Album(s):
Cowboys from Hell (1990)
Vulgar Display of Power (1992)

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):
Crushcrushcrush (2007)
Ain't It Fun (2014)

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):
Ko-Ko (Charlie Parker with Miles Davis & Dizzy Gillespie, 1945)
Billie's Bounce (1945)
Ornithology (1946)
Yardbird Suite (1946)
Parker's Mood (1948)

Album(s):
Ornithology (1946)
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)

Junior Parker

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

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):
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

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):
Maggot Brain (Funkadelic, 1971)
Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker) (Parliament, 1975)
Flashlight (Parliament, 1977)
One Nation Under a Groove (Funkadelic, 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)

John Parr

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

Alan Parsons/Alan Parsons Project

DMDB profile page: Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson
DMDB profile page: Alan Parsons Project
DMDB podcast: The Best of Alan Parsons, 1975-2022

Producer and keyboardist born on 12/20/1948 in London, England. Worked on 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 (guitar: 75-87), David Paton (bass: 75-86), and Stuart Elliott (drums: 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)
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)

Alan Parsons Album(s):
Try Anything Once (1993)
On Air (1996)
The Time Machine (1999)
A Valid Path (2004)
The Secret (2019)
From the New World (2022)

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, Flying Burrito Brothers, and a solo artist.

DMDB profile page

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
Coat of Many Colors (1971)
Jolene (1973)
I Will Always Love You (1974)
Here You Come Again (1977)
9 to 5 (1980)
Hard Candy Christmas (1982)
Islands in the Stream (1983) – see Kenny Rogers
I Will Always Love You (written by Parton, 1992) – see Whitney Houston

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

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)

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

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 with Brian Eno.

Album(s):
Original Soundtracks 1 (1995)

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)

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)

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
How High the Moon (with Mary Ford, 1951)
Mockin' Bird Hill (with Mary Ford, 1951)
Vaya Con Dios (May God Be with You) (with Mary Ford, 1953)

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

Sean Paul

Song(s):
Baby Boy (2003) – see Beyoncé
Cheap Thrills (2016) – see Sia
Rockabye (2016) – see Clean Bandit

Vinnie Paul

Rock drummer with Pantera.

Paul & Paula

Song(s):
Hey Paula (1962)

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):
Cut Your Hair (1994)

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

Tom Paxton

Johnny Paycheck

Country singer ("Take This Job and Shove It") born Donald Eugene Lytle on 5/31/1938 in Greenfield, OH. Died 2/19/2003.

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

Freda Payne

Song(s):
Band of Gold (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)

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

Links: DMDB profile page - official site - Facebook - Wikipedia Seattle-based grunge-rock group which formed in 1991. Guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament were previously in Green River (1984-1987) and Mother Love Bone (1987-90). When Andrew Wood, the latter's lead singer, died in 1990, Gossard and Ament united with Soundgarden's singer Chris Cornell and drummer Matt Cameron (later of Pearl Jam, 1998-) for the one-time Temple of the Dog tribute project.

That project also included singer Eddie Vedder, who would go on to front Pearl Jam. Other members in the band have included Mike McCready (guitarist: 1991-), Dave Krusen (drums: 91-92), Dave Abbruzzese (drums: 92-94), Jack Irons (drums: 94-98), and Boom Gaspar (keyboards: 02-).

Song(s):
Top 50 Songs
Jeremy (1991)
Alive (1991) a title="Dave’s Faves: 1990-1999" href="https://davesmusicdatabase.blogspot.com/1999/12/daves-faves-top-100-songs-1990-1999.html">
Black (1991)
Even Flow (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)
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)
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.

Neil Peart

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

Pebbles

Song(s):
Mercedes Boy (1988)
Giving You the Benefit (1990)

Ann Peebles

Song(s):
I Can't Stand the Rain (1973)

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)
Let Me Call You Sweetheart (1911)
I Want a Girl Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad (1911)
If I Had My Way I'd Live Among the Gypsies (1914)
I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier (1915)
Over There (1917)
Way Down Yonder in New Orleans (1922)

Donald Peers

Song(s):
Music! Music! Music! (1950)

Krzysztof Penderecki

Teddy Pendergrass

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

The Penguins

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

Pere Ubu

Album(s):
The Modern Dance (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)
Matchbox (1957)

Album(s):
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)

Pinetop 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.

Perpetuum Jazzile

Song(s):
Africa (live, 2009)

Christina Perri

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

Joe Perry

Rock guitarist born Anthony Joseph 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)
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)
Part of Me (2012)
Roar (2013)
Dark Horse (with Juicy J, 2013)

Album(s):
Teenage Dream (2010)

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)

Linda Perry

Richard Perry

Steve Perry

Rock singer with Journey (78-86, 96).

Song(s):
Oh Sherrie (1984)

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

Peter & Gordon

Song(s):
A World Without Love (1964)

Peter, Paul & Mary

Song(s):
If I Had a Hammer (1962)
Blowin' in the Wind (1963)
Puff, the Magic Dragon (1963)
500 Miles (1963)
Leaving on a Jet Plane (1969)

Album(s):
Peter, Paul & Mary (1962)

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)

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. Active: 1981- Members: Neil Tennant (v), Chris Lowe (k)

Song(s):
West End Girls (1985)
Being Boring (1990)

Album(s):
Discography: The Complete Singles Collection (compilation: 1985-91, released 1991)

Tom Petty (& The Heartbreakers)

Rock singer and guitarist born 10/20/53 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-).

Song(s):
Tom Petty: Top 30 Songs
American Girl (1976)
Breakdown (1977)
Refugee (1979)
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)
Learning to Fly (1991)
Christmas All Over Again (1992)

Album(s):
Damn the Torpedoes (with the Heartbreakers, 1979)
Full Moon Fever (solo, 1989)
Greatest Hits (with the Heartbreakers, compilation: 1977-93, released 1993)
Wildflowers (1994)
Playback (with the Heartbreakers, box: 1973-93, released 1995)
The Live Anthology (with the Heartbreakers, box: 1978-2007, released 2009)
The Best of Everything (compilation: 1976-2016, released 2019)

Robert Petway

Song(s):
Catfish Blues (1941)

Liz Phair

Song(s):
Fuck and Run (1993)

Album(s):
Exile in Guyville (1993)

Pharoahe Monch

Song(s):
Simon Says (1999)

Arthur Phelps

- see Blind Blake

Ricky Phillips

Rock bassist born 10/7/1953 in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Member: The Babys (b: 78-81), Bad English (87-91), Coverdale-Page (91-93), Styx (03-).

Sam Phillips

Producer born 1/5/1923 in Florence, AL. Died 7/30/2003. His Sun Records label launched the careers of Elvis Presley (1954's "That's All Right, Mama"), Johnny Cash (1955's "Folsom Prison Blues," 1956's "I Walk the Line"), Jerry Lee Lewis (1957's "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and "Great Balls of Fire"), Roy Orbison (1956's "Ooby Dooby"), Howlin' Wolf, and Carl Perkins (1956's "Blue Suede Shoes"). He also produced "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats (1951), which some consider the first rock and roll song.

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

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.

Phoenix

Album(s):
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009)

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)

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):
In the Midnight Hour (1965)
Mustang Sally (1966)
Land of 1000 Dances (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 (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):
There Stands the Glass (1953)
In the Jailhouse Now (1955)

James S. Pierpont

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

Pilot

Song(s):
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

Rock keyboardist with the Moody Blues.

Pink

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

Song(s):
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)
So What (2008)
Raise Your Glass (2010)
Fuckin' Perfect (2010)
Just Give Me a Reason (with Nate Ruess, 2012)
Blow Me One Last Kiss (2012)

Album(s):
M!ssundaztood (2001)
Funhouse (2008)
Greatest Hits…So Far!!! (compilation: 2000-10, released 2010)
The Truth About Love (2012)

Pink Floyd

DMDB profile page

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)
Wish You Were Here (1975)
Shine on You Crazy Diamond (1975)
Another Brick in the Wall Part II (1979)
Comfortably Numb (1979)
Mother (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)
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! Kids Songs

Song(s):
Baby Shark (2016)

Bill Pinkney

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
Give Me Everything (with Ne-Yo , Afrojack, & Nayer; 2011)
On the Floor (2011) – see Jennifer Lopez
Timber (with Ke$ha, 2013)

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.

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)

Album(s):
Surfer Rosa (1988)
Doolittle (1989)
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)

Robert Plant

DMDB profile page

DMDB podcast: The Best of 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).

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)

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)

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)

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)

P-Nut

Poco

Song(s):
Crazy Love (1978)

The Pogues

Song(s):
Fairytale of New York (with Kirsty MacColl, 1987)

Album(s):
Rum, Sodomy and the Lash (1985)

The Pointer Sisters

Song(s):
Fire (1978)
Slow Hand (1981)
I'm So Excited (1982)
Automatic (1984)

Poison

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

The Police

DMDB profile page: Sting & 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)

Song(s):
Police/Sting: Top 60 Songs
Roxanne (1978)
Message in a Bottle (1979)
Don’t Stand So Close to Me (1980)
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (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)

Lew Pollack

Polo G

Song(s):
Rapstar (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 Ponchielli

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)

Iggy Pop

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

Song(s):
Lust for Life (1977)

Album(s):
Lust for Life (1977)

The Pop Group

Album(s):
Y (1979)

Pop Smoke

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

Jeff Porcaro

Rock drummer with Toto.

Porcupine Tree

Album(s):
In Absentia (2002)

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

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

Began as a vaudeville comedian in 1890s. (baritone – solo: 98-10; Columbia Male Quartet: 04-07; Columbia Comedy Trio (1907), Peerless Quartet: 07-09; American Quartet: 1910-14, Haydn Quartet: 1914; Heidelberg 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 Bird in a Gilded Cage (1900)

Portishead

Song(s):
Sour Times (Nobody Loves Me) (1994)

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):
I Took a Pill in Ibiza (2015)

Post Malone

Song(s):
Congratulations (with Quavo, 2016)
Rockstar (with 21 Savage, 2017)
I Fall Apart (2017)
Psycho (with Ty Dolla $ign, 2018)
Better Now (2018)
Sunflower (with Swae Lee, 2018)
Wow. (2018)
Circles (2019)

Album(s):
Stoney (2016)
Beerbongs & Bentleys (2018)
Hollywood's Bleeding (2019)

Powderfinger

Song(s):
My Happiness (2001)

Billy Powell

Rock keyboardist with Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Bud Powell

Jazz pianist born Earl Rudolph Powell on 9/27/1924 in Harlem, NY. Died 7/31/1966.

Song(s):
Un Poco Loco (1951)

Album(s):
The Amazing Bud Powell (1952)
Jazz at Massey Hall (live, 1953) – see The Quintet

Cozy Powell

Rock drummer born Colin Trevor Powell on 12/29/1947 in Cirencester, England. Died 4/5/1998 in Bristol, England. With the Jeff Beck Group (70-72), Rainbow (75-80), Michael Schenker Group (81-82), Whitesnake (82-85), Emerson, Lake & Powell (85-86) and Black Sabbath (88-91,94-95), Brian May (91-94, 98), Yngwie Malsteen (97).

Dick Powell

Song(s):
The Gold Diggers' Song (We're in the Money) (1933)
Lullaby of Broadway (1935)

Maud Powell

The Power Station

A supergroup formed in 1984 with singer Robert Palmer (“Bad Case of Loving You,” “Addicted to Love”) drummer Tony Thompson (Chic, with bassist John Taylor and guitarist Andy Taylor, both of Duran Duran. Bernard Edwards (also of Chic) produced. They released an album in 1985 and reunited for a second album in 1996.

Song(s):
Get It On (Bang a Gong) (1985)

Powfu

Song(s):
Death Bed (Coffee for Your Head) (with beabadoobee, 2020)

Daniel Powter

Song(s):
Bad Day (2005)

Pérez "Prez" Prado

Jazz/big band leader and pianist born 12/11/1916 in Matanzas, Cuba. Known as "The King of Mambo." Died 9/14/1989.

Song(s):
Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White (1955)
Patricia (1958)

Pratt & McClain

Song(s):
Happy Days (1976)

Charles E. Pratt

Song(s) written by Pratt:
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (1881)
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean (as "Bring Back My Bonnie to Me," 1919) – see Orpheus Quartet

Prefab Sprout

Album(s):
Steve McQueen (aka "Two Wheels Good") (1985)

Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Jazz group.

Elvis Presley

Links: DMDB profile page - official site - Facebook

Singer Elvis Aron Presley was born 1/8/1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi. He died in Memphis on 8/16/77 of heart failure caused by prescription drug abuse. Often called "The King of Rock and Roll," his role as the pioneering artist of the genre made him the best-selling solo artist in the history of recorded music.

His family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, when he was 13. He began his recording career there in 1954 at Sun Records. On 11/22/55, he signed to RCA Victor in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who managed Elvis for more than two decades. In 1956, he starred in Love Me Tender, his first of 31 feature films. He served in the U.S. Army from 3/24/58 to 3/5/60. He married Priscilla Beaulieu on 5/1/67; divorced on 10/11/73. Their only child, Lisa Marie (born 2/1/68), married Michael Jackson on 5/26/94; divorced in 1996.

Song(s):
Elvis Presley: Top 100 Songs
That's All Right, Mama (1954)
Blue Moon of Kentucky (1954)
Good Rockin' Tonight (1954)
Mystery Train (1955)
Baby Let's Play House (1955)
Heartbreak Hotel (1956)
I Was the One (1956)
Don't Be Cruel (1956)
Hound Dog (1956)
Love Me Tender (1956)
Any Way You Want Me (1956)
Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
All Shook Up (1957)
Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear (1957)
Jailhouse Rock (1957)
Blue Christmas (1957)
Don't (1958)
One Night (1958)
It's Now or Never (1960)
Are You Lonesome Tonight? (1960)
Stuck on You (1960)
Can't Help Falling in Love (1961)
Surrender (1961)
Lonely Man (1961)
Wooden Heart (1961)
Good Luck Charm (1962)
Return to Sender (1962)
In the Ghetto (1969)
Suspicious Minds (1969)
The Wonder of You (1970)
A Little Less Conversation (JXL remix, 2002)

Album(s):
The Sun Sessions (aka 'Sunrise,' 'The Sun Years,' or 'The Sun Collection') (archives: 1954-56)
The Complete Million Dollar Session (Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins & Elvis Presley; recorded 1956, released 1987) – see Johnny Cash
Elvis Presley (aka "Rock 'N' Roll" in the UK) (1956)
Elvis (1956)
Loving You (1957)
Elvis' Christmas Album (Christmas, 1957)
Golden Records (compilation: 1954-57, released 1958)
King Creole (soundtrack: 1958)
50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong: Golden Records Vol. 2 (compilation: 1956-59)
The King of Rock 'N' Roll: The '50s Masters (box: 1953-59, released 1992)
Elvis Is Back! (1960)
G.I. Blues (soundtrack: 1960)
His Hand in Mine (gospel, 1960)
Something for Everybody (1961)
Blue Hawaii (soundtrack: 1961)
Flaming Star/Wild in the Country/Follow That Dream (3 soundtrack Eps: 4/61-5/62)
Pot Luck (1962)
Girls! Girls! Girls! (soundtrack: 1962)
Golden Records Vol. 3 (compilation: 1960-62)
It Happened at the World's Fair (soundtrack: 1963)
Fun in Acapulco (soundtrack: 1963)
Kissin' Cousins (soundtrack: 1964)
Roustabout (soundtrack: 1964)
Girl Happy (soundtrack: 1965)
Harum Scarum (soundtrack: 1965)
Frankie and Johnny (soundtrack: 1966)
Paradise, Hawaiian Style (soundtrack: 1966)
Spinout (soundtrack: 1966)
How Great Thou Art (gospel, 1967)
Double Trouble (soundtrack: 1967)
Clambake (soundtrack: 1967)
Golden Records Vol. 4 (compilation: 1958-67)
Speedway (soundtrack: 1968)
Elvis – NBC TV Special (live, 1968)
Tiger Man (live, 1968)
The Complete Burbank Sessions, Vol. 1 (live bootleg, recorded 1968, released 1978)
From Elvis in Memphis (1969)
In Person at the International Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada (live, 1969)
Back in Memphis (1969)
From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters (box: 1960-69, released 1993)
Live a Little, Love a Little/Charro!/The Trouble with Girls/Change of Habit (4 soundtrack Eps: 1968-69)
On Stage February 1970 (live, 1970)
That's the Way It Is (live, 1970)
Elvis Country: I'm 10,000 Years Old (1971)
The Wonderful World of Christmas (Christmas, 1971)
If Every Day Was Like Christmas (Christmas compilation: 1957-71)
Elvis Now (1972)
He Touched Me (gospel, 1972)
Amazing Grace (gospel compilation: 1960-72)
Recorded Live at Madison Square Garden (live, 1972)
Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite (live, 1973)
Elvis (1973)
Raised on Rock/For Ol' Times Sake (1973)
Live on Stage in Memphis (live, 1974)
Good Times (1974)
Promised Land (1975)
Elvis Today (1975)
From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee (1976)
In Concert (live, 1977)
Moody Blue (1977)
Golden Records Vol. 5 (compilation: 1968-77)
The Top Ten Hits (compilation: 1956-72)
Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters (box: 1970-77, released 1995)
Artist of the Century (box: 1954-76, released 1999)
30 #1 Hits (compilation: 1956-77 a 2002 remix)
2nd to None (compilation: 1954-77 a 2003 remix)

The DMDB Blog/Facebook Note(s):
Elvis made legendary recordings at Sun Studios: July 5-6, 1954 (7/5/12)
Elvis Presley's comeback special aired on NBC: December 3, 1968 (12/3/11)

The Presser Foundation

Music patron.

Rocco Prestia

Billy Preston

R&B singer ("Will It Go Round in Circles") and keyboardist born William Everett Preston on 9/2/1946 in Houston, TX. Died 6/6/2006. Only artist to be credited on a song with The Beatles. With The Rolling Stones (k: 71-81).

Song(s):
Get Back (1969) – see The Beatles

Frances Preston

Jimmy Preston & His Prestonians

Song(s):
Rock the Joint (1949)

Johnny Preston

Song(s):
Running Bear (1959)

Pretenders

Influential new wave rock group. Numerous personnel changes over the years with only Hynde being a constant.

Active: 1978- Members: Chrissie Hynde (v/g), James Honeyman-Scott (g: 78-82), Pete Farndon (b: 78-83), Martin Chambers (d), Robbie Mac Intosh (g: 82-), Malcolm Foster (b: 83-).

Song(s):
Stop Your Sobbing (1979)
Brass in Pocket (I’m Special) (1979)
Talk of the Town (1980)
Message of Love (1981)
Back on the Chain Gang (1982)
My City Was Gone (1982)
Middle of the Road (1983)
2000 Miles (1983)
Don’t Get Me Wrong (1986)
I'll Stand by You (1994)
Night in My Veins (1994)

Album(s):
Pretenders (1979)

The Pretty Things

Album(s):
S.F. Sorrow (1968)

Andre Previn

Film score composer, conductor, and jazz pianist born Andreas Ludwig Priwin on 4/6/1929 in Berlin, Germany.

Leontyne Price

Opera soprano singer born Mary Violet Leontyne Price on 2/10/1927 in Laurel, Mississippi.

Album(s):
A Program of Song (1959)

Lloyd Price

R&B singer born 3/9/1933 in Kenner, LA.

Song(s):
Lawdy Miss Clawdy (1952)
Just Because (1956)
Stagger Lee (1958)

Ray Price

Country singer born Noble Ray Price on 1/12/1926 in Perryville, TX. Died 12/16/2013.

Song(s):
Crazy Arms (1956)
City Lights (1958)
Heartaches by the Number (1959)
For the Good Times (1970)

Song(s):
For the Good Times (1970)
I Won't Mention It Again (1971)

Charley Pride

Country singer born 3/18/1934 (or 1938, depending on source) in Sledge, Mississippi.

Song(s):
Kiss an Angel Good Mornin' (1971)

Album(s):
A Sunshiny Day with Charley Pride (1972)

Steve Priest

Louis Prima

Song(s):
That Old Black Magic (with Keely Smith, 1958)
I Wanna Be Like You (from The Jungle Book, 1967) – see Phil Harris

Album(s):
The Wildest (with Keely Smith, 1957)

Primal Scream

Song(s):
Loaded (1990)
Higher Than the Sun (1991)

Album(s):
Screamadelica (1991)

Primitive Radio Gods

Song(s):
Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand (1996)

William Primrose

Prince

DMDB profile page

DMDB podcast: The Best of Prince, 1996-2016

Singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer born Prince Roger Nelson on 6/7/1958 in Minneapolis, MN. Died 4/21/2016. Self-taught musician. Named for the Prince Roger Trio, led by his father. Changed his name on 6/7/93 to the symbol that was the title of his Androgyny album. Own group, Grand Central, in junior high school. Self-produced first album in 1978. Founded own label, Paisley Park, in 1985. Starred in the movies Purple Rain, Under the Cherry Moon, Sign 'O' the Times, and Graffiti Bridge. Married Mayte on 2/14/96. Formed back-up group The Revolution in 1984: Lisa Coleman (k: 78-86; Wendy & Lisa: 87-), Wendy Mevoin (g – 78-86; Wendy and Lisa; 87-), Bobby Z (percussion), Matt "Dr." Fink (k), Eric Leeds (saxophone), Andre Cymone (b: 78-81), Brownmark (b: 81-), Sheila E (d: 86-89). Formed New Power Generation in 1990: Levin Seacer, Jr. (g: 90-), Sonny T. (b: 90-), Tommy Barbarella (keyboard: 90-), Kirk Johnson (dancer/ percussionist: 90-), Damon Dickson (dancer/percussionist: 90-), Michael Bland (d: 90-), Tony M. (rapper: 90-), Rosie Gaines (k, v: 90-92), Mayte (k, v: 92).

Song(s):
Prince: Top 100 Songs
When You Were Mine (1980)
Controversy (1981)
1999 (1982)
Little Red Corvette (1983)
When Doves Cry (1984)
Purple Rain (1984)
Let's Go Crazy (1984)
Darling Nikki (1984)
4 the Tears in Your Eyes (1985)
Kiss (1986)
Sign 'O' the Times (1987)
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man (1987)
Nothing Compares 2 U (1993)
Rock and Roll Love Affair (2012)

Album(s):
Dirty Mind (1980)
Controversy (1981)
1999 (1982)
Purple Rain (soundtrack with the Revolution, 1984)
Around the World in a Day (with the Revolution, 1985)
Parade/ Under the Cherry Moon (soundtrack with the Revolution, 1986)
Dream Factory (with the Revolution, 1986)
Camille (1986)
Crystal Ball (1986)
Sign 'O' the Times (1987)
Sign 'O' the Times: Super Deluxe Edition (box: 1981-87, released 2020)
Batman (soundtrack: 1989)
The Originals (archives: 1981-91, released 2019)
Very Best of (compilation: 1979-92, released 2001)
The Hits/The B-Sides (box: 1978-93, released 1993)
Ultimate (compilation: 1978-93, released 2006)
4Ever (compilation: 1978-93, released 2016)
Anthology (compilation: 1995-2010, released 2018)

Charles Adams Prince/Prince's Orchestra

Band leader, pianist and celesta player born 1/1/1869 in San Francisco, CA. Died 10/10/1937. Said to be a distant relative of President John Adams. Musical director of Columbia Records from the turn of the century to the early 1920s. During that period, his band accompanied virtually every singer recording for Columbia.

Song(s):
Temptation Rag (1910)
Alexander's Ragtime Band (1912)
Ballin' the Jack (1914)
The Memphis Blues (1914)
The Star-Spangled Banner (1916)
Joe Turner Blues (1916)
Hello Central, Give Me No Man's Land (1918) – see Al Jolson
I'll Say She Does (1919) – see Al Jolson
Avalon (1920) – see Al Jolson
Angel Child (1922) – see Al Jolson

Prince Royce

Song(s):
Darte Un Beso (2013)

John Prine

Folk singer/songwriter born 10/10/1946.

Song(s):
Angel from Montgomery (1971)

Album(s):
John Prine (1971)

Procol Harum

Song(s):
A Whiter Shade of Pale (1967)

The Prodigy

Song(s):
Firestarter (1996)
Smack My Bitch Up (1997)

Album(s):
Music for the Jilted Generation (1994)
Fat of the Land (1997)

The Producers Ensemble

Song(s):
Springtime for Hitler (1968)

The Product G & B

Song(s):
Maria Maria (1999) – see Santana

Professor Longhair

Blues musician born Henry Roeland Byrd on 12/19/1918 in Bogalusa, LA. Died 1/30/1980.

Song(s):
Tipitina (Roy "Professor Longhair" Byrd & His Blue Scholars, 1953)

Frank Profitt

Song(s):
Tom Dooley (1940)

Sergei Prokofiev

Classical composer born Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev on 4/27/1891 in Sontsovka, Russia. Died 3/5/1953.

Album(s):
Piano Concerto No. 3 (1921)
Peter and the Wolf (1936)

Arthur Pryor

Song(s):
You're a Grand Old Flag (aka "The Grand Old Rag")
1812 Overture (1909)
Dill Pickles Rag (1910)

Richard Pryor

Album(s):
That N****'s Crazy (1974)
Wanted: Live in Concert (comedy, 1978)

Arthur Prysock

Pseudo Echo

Song(s):
Funky Town (1986)

Psy

Song(s):
Gangnam Style (2012)
Gentleman (2013)

Psychedelic Furs

Song(s):
Pretty in Pink (1981)
Love My Way (1982)

Public Annoucement

Song(s):
She's Got That Vibe (1992)

Public Enemy

About: Hugely influential rap group.

Active: 1987-2005 Members: Carlton Ridenhour (aka Chuck D), William Drayton (aka Flavor Flav), Norman Lee Rogers (aka Terminator X), Richard Griffin (aka Professor Griff)

Song(s):
Rebel without a Pause (1987)
Bring the Noise (1988)
Don't Believe the Hype (1988)
Fight the Power (1989)

Album(s):
Yo! Bum Rush the Show (1987)
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)
Fear of a Black Planet (1990)
Apocalypse ’91…The Empire Strikes Black (1991)

Public Image Limited

Song(s):
This Is Not a Love Song (1983)

Album(s):
Metal Box (aka "Second Edition") (1979)

Giacomo Puccini

Classical composer born Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini on 12/22/1858 in Lucca, Italy. Died 11/29/1924.

Album(s):
La Bohème (The Bohemian Life) (opera, 1896)
Tosca (opera, 1900)
Madame Butterfly (Madama Butterfly) (opera, 1904)
Turandot (opera, 1926)

Gary Puckett & the Union Gap

Puddle of Mudd

Song(s):
Blurry (2001)
She Hates Me (2002)
Drift and Die (2002)
Psycho (2007)

Tito Puente

Latin jazz/salsa percussionist born Ernesto Antonio Puente, Jr. on 4/20/1923 in Manhattan, NY. Died 6/1/2000.

Song(s):
Oye Como Va (1953)

Album(s):
Dance Mania (1958)

Puff Daddy (aka "P. Diddy" and "Diddy")

American rap singer and record executive (Bad Boy Entertainment). Born Sean John Combs on 11/4/1969 in Harlem, NY.

Song(s):
I'll Be Missing You (with Faith Evans & 112, 1997)
Can't Nobody Hold Me Down (with Mase, 1997)
Mo Money, Mo Problems (1997) – see the Notorious B.I.G.
Bump Bump Bump (2002) – see B2K

Album(s):
No Way Out (with the Family, 1997)

Alla Pugacheva

Mezzo soprano singer born on 4/15/1949 in Moscow, Russia. Most successful Soviet performer in terms of record sales.

Pulcinopiotv

Song(s):
El Pollito Pio (2012)

Pulp

Song(s):
Babies (1992)
Common People (1995)

Album(s):
His 'N' Hers (1994)
Different Class (1995)

Henry Purcell

Classical composer born 1659 in Westminster, London, England. Died 11/21/1695.

Album(s):
Dido and Aeneas (opera: 1689)

Bernard Purdie

Rock session drummer.

Katharine E. Purvis

Song(s) written by Purvis:
When the Saints Go Marching In (1986) – see James M. Black

Pussycat

Song(s):
Mississippi (1976)

Pussycat Dolls

Song(s):
Don't Cha (with Busta Rhymes, 2005)

Pussyfoot

Song(s):
The Way You Do It (1977)

Charlie Puth

Song(s):
See You Again (2015) – see Wiz Khalifa
We Don't Talk Anymore (with Selena Gomez, 2016)
Attention (2017)
I Hope (2019) – see Gabby Barrett

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.