Click on a letter to choose a recording act (“S” for Bruce Springsteen, “B” for Beatles, etc.). Shown with the act are its major awards (see more here), short bios for select acts (generally taken or adapted from Joel Whitburn’s Pop Memories 1890-1954 and Top Pop Singles: Billboard books), and links to all albums reviewed here at the DMDB.
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P. Diddy – see Puff Daddy
Augustus Pablo
Album(s):
King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown (1976)
Born: 11/6/1860 in Kurylowka, Ukraine Died: 6/29/1941
Russian classical pianist.
About: Producer for Genesis, The Police, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, and Sting.
Born: 1/9/1944 Died: --
Rock guitarist with the Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin.
Album(s):
Volume One (The Honeydrippers: 1984)
No Quarter (live with Robert Plant: 1994)
Walking into Clarksdale (with Robert Plant: 1998)
Oran “Hot Lips” Page
Song(s):
Uncle Sam Blues (1944)
Born: Clara Ann Fowler on 11/8/1927 in Oklahoma
Pop singer who 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):
Tennessee Waltz (1950)
I Went to Your Wedding (1952)
The Doggie in the Window (1953)
The DMDB Blog:
Patti Page charted with “Tennessee Waltz”: November 18, 1950 (11/18/11)
Gabby Pahinui
Song(s):
Hula Medley (1947)
Ian Paice
Pino Palladino
Palma Violets
Song(s):
Best of Friends (2012)
Born: 3/20/1951 in Birmingham, England Died: --
Progressive rock drummer 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, 07-10); 3 (87-88); Qango (00).
Born: 10/25/1924 Died:
American R&B session drummer.
Robert Palmer
Author.
Born: 1/19/1949 Died: 9/26/2003
UK pop singer who worked mostly as a solo artist (“Bad Case of Loving You”) but also worked with side project The Power Station (“Some Like It Hot”).
Song(s):
Addicted to Love (1986)
Eddie Palmieri
Song(s):
Azucar Pa Ti (1965)
Panjabi MC
Song(s):
Mundian To Bach Ke (1998)
Pantera
Album(s):
Cowboys from Hell (1990)
Vulgar Display of Power (1992)
Paramore
Song(s):
Crushcrushcrush (2007)
Mitchell Parish
Born: 8/29/1920 Died: 3/12/1955
Jazz saxophonist.
Song(s):
Ko Ko (Charlie Parker with Miles Davis & Dizzy Gillespie, 1945)
Billie’s Bounce (1945)
Ornithology (1946)
Parker’s Mood (1948)
Album(s):
Ornithology (1946)
Bird with Strings (1950)
The Quintet (Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, & Max Roach) – Jazz at Massey Hall (live, 1953)
Bird: The Complete Charlie Parker on Verve (1988)
Born: Herman Parker, Jr. on 5/27/1932 Died: 11/18/1971
American blues singer and musician.
Album(s):
Driving Wheel (1962)
Maceo Parker
About: Highly influential and prolific funk aggregation of nearly 40 musicians spearheaded by 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):
Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker) (Parliament, 1976)
One Nation Under a Groove (Funkadelic, 1978)
Album(s):
Maggot Brain (Funkadelic, 1971)
Mothership Connection (Parliament, 1976)
One Nation Under a Groove (Funkadelic, 1978)
Song(s):
Old and Wise (1982)
Album(s):
Tales of Mystery and Imagination (1976)
I Robot (1977)
Pyramid (1978)
Eve (1979)
Turn of a Friendly Card (1980)
Eye in the Sky (1982)
Ammonia Avenue (1984)
Vulture Culture (1985)
Stereotomy (1986)
Gaudi (1987)
Try Anything Once (1993)
On Air (1996)
The Time Machine (1999)
A Valid Path (2004)
Born: Cecil Ingram Connor on 11/5/1946 Died: 9/19/1973
American country-rock musician with the International Submarine Band, Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, and a solo artist.
Album(s):
Safe at Home (International Submarine Band, 1968)
Sweetheart of the Rodeo (The Byrds, 1968)
The Gilded Palace of Sin (Flying Burrito Brothers, 1969)
Burrito Deuxe (Flying Burrito Brothers, 1970)
G.P. (1973)
Grievous Angel (1974)
The DMDB Blog:
Country-rock pioneer Gram Parsons died: September 19, 1973 (9/19/11)
Born: on 1/19/1946 in Sevier County, TN
Leading female artist of the Country charts (charted 99 hits from 1967-1993). Worked on Knoxville radio show at age 11. First recorded for Gold Band in 1957. To Nashville in 1964. Replaced Norma Jean on the Porter Wagoner TV show, 1967-74. 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. Hosted own TV variety show in 1987.
Song(s):
Coat of Many Colors (1971)
Jolene (1973)
I Will Always Love You (1974)
9 to 5 (1980)
Islands in the Stream (with Kenny Rogers, 1983)
I Will Always Love You (written by Parton; performed by Whitney Houston, 1992)
Album(s):
Coat of Many Colors (1971)
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)
Passengers
About: One-time collaboration between U2 with Brian Eno.
Album(s):
Original Soundtracks 1 (1995)
Born: John Francis Anthony Pastorius III on 12/1/1951 Died: 9/21/1987
American jazz bassist.
Born: Charlie Patton on 5/1/1891 Died: 4/28/1934
American blues singer and guitarist.
Song(s):
Pony Blues (1929)
Album(s):
Founder of the Delta Blues (1929-34) G
Screamin’ and Hollerin’ the Blues: The Worlds of... (Charley Patton et al, 1934)
Mike Patton
Born: 6/19/1915 Died: 8/13/2009
Jazz guitarist and inventor.
Song(s):
How High the Moon (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), also on Facebook.
Vinnie Paul
Born: 10/12/1935 Died: 9/6/2007
Opera singer.
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
Born: Donald Eugene Lytle on 5/31/1938 Died: 2/19/2003
American country singer (“Take This Job and Shove It”).
John Howard Payne
Born: Sarah Ophelia Colley on 10/25/1912 Died: 3/4/1996
American country singer.
Links:
DMDB page
- official site
- Facebook
- Wikipedia
About: Seattle-based grunge-rock group. Gossard and Ament were previously in Green River and Mother Love Bone; McCready and Vedder joined them for the one-time project Temple of the Dog along with future drummer Matt Cameron before forming Pearl Jam.
Active: 1991- Members: Eddie Vedder (v: 91-), Mike McCready (g: 91-), Stone Gossard (g: 91-), Jeff Ament (b: 91-), Dave Krusen (d: 91-92), Dave Abbruzzese (d: 92-94), Jack Irons (d: 94-98), Matt Cameron (d: 98-), Boom Gaspar (organ: 02-).
Song(s):
Alive (1991)
Even Flow (1992)
Jeremy (1992)
Black (1992)
Daughter (1993)
Album(s):
Ten (1991)
Vs. (1993)
Vitalogy (1994)
No Code (1996)
Yield (1998)
Binaural (2000)
Riot Act (2002)
Pearl Jam (2006)
Backspacer (2009)
The DMDB Blog:
Pearl Jam released Ten: August 27, 1991 (8/27/11)
Best-of List: The Top 30 Songs of Pearl Jam (9/20/11)
Pearls Before Swine
Album(s):
Balaklava (1968)
Born: 9/12/1952 Died:
Canadian rock drummer and songwriter with Rush.
Ralph Peer
Jan Peerce
About: All-time great vocal group which began as the Columbia Male Quartet. Campbell, Croxton, Meyer, and Porter were also members of the American Quartet. Burr, Campbell, and Meyer also recorded as the Sterling Trio.
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)
Song(s):
Honey Boy (Columbia Male Quartet, 1907)
Silver Bell (1910)
I Want a Girl Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad (1911)
Let Me Call You Sweetheart (1911)
I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier (1915)
Way Down Yonder in New Orleans (1922)
The Penguins
Song(s):
Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) (1954)
Pere Ubu
Album(s):
The Modern Dance (1978)
Born: 4/9/1932 Died: 1/19/1998
American rockabilly singer.
Song(s):
Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Matchbox (1957)
Born: Joseph William Perkins on 7/7/1913 in Belzoni, MS Died: 3/21/2011
American blues musician. 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.
Born: 8/31/1945 in Israel Died:
Violinist.
Born: Anthony Joseph Pereira on 9/10/1950 in Lawrence, Massachussetts Died: --
Rock guitarist and backing vocalist with Aerosmith (70-).
Song(s):
I Kissed a Girl (2008)
Hot N Cold (2008)
California Gurls (with Snoop Dogg, 2010)
Firework (2010)
Album(s):
Teenage Dream (2010)
The DMDB Blog:
Katy Perry: #1 a Year Ago with “California Gurls” (6/19/2011)
Born: Rainford Hugh Perry on 3/20/1936 Died:
Jamaican reggae/dub musician and producer.
Album(s):
Blackboard Jungle Dub (1973)
Song(s):
Oh Sherrie (1984)
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)
Opera singer.
Born: 8/15/1925 Died: 12/23/2007
Canadian jazz pianist.
Album(s):
The Astaire Story (Fred Astaire with the Oscar Peterson Quintet, 1952)
Born: 7/12/1967 in Kings Park, Long Island, NY Died: --
Progressive metal guitarist and backing vocalist with Dream Theater (1989-) and Liquid Tension Experiment.
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 (1985-1991) G
Born: 10/20/53 in Gainsville, Florida Died: --
Rock singer and guitarist with Mudcrutch and then Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. 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.
Group Active: 1977-87, 1991-93, 1995-. Members: Mike Campbell (g – Mudcrutch, Heartbreakers), Benmont Tench (k – Mudcrutch, Heartbreakers), Ron Blair (b: ?-82), Stan Lynch (d), Howard Epstein (b: 82-).
Song(s):
American Girl (1976)
Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around (with Stevie Nicks, 1981)
Don’t Come Around Here No More (1985)
Free Fallin’ (solo, 1989)
Album(s):
Damn the Torpedoes (1979)
Full Moon Fever (solo, 1989)
& the Heartbreakers – Greatest Hits (compilation; produced by Rick Rubin, 1977-93)
Liz Phair
Song(s):
Fuck and Run (1993)
Album(s):
Exile in Guyville (1993)
Arthur Phelps - see Blind Blake
Born: 1/5/1923 Died: 7/30/2003
American producer and founder of Sun Records, which launched the careers of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Howlin’ Wolf, and Carl Perkins.
The DMDB Blog:
Sun Records opened: January 3, 1950 (1/3/12)
Simon Phillips
Phuture
Song(s):
Acid Tracks (1987)
Born: Edith Giovanna Gassion on 12/19/1915 in Paris, France Died: 10/11/1963
French singer.
Song(s):
La Vie En Rose (1950)
Bobby “Boris” Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers
Song(s):
Monster Mash (1962)
Born: 3/18/1941 Died:
American R&B/soul singer.
Song(s):
In the Midnight Hour (1965)
Mustang Sally (1966)
The Pied Pipers
Song(s):
I’ll Never Smile Again (Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra with Frank Sinatra & the Pied Pipers, 1940)
There Are Such Things (Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra with Frank Sinatra & the Pied Pipers, 1942)
Ac-Cent-Tchu-ate the Positive (with Johnny Mercer, written by Mercer and Harold Arlen, 1945)
On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe (with Johnny Mercer, 1945)
Dream (with Paul Weston & His Orchestra, written by Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen, 1945)
Born: 8/8/1921 Died: 2/24/1991
Country singer.
Song(s):
There Stands the Glass (1953)
In the Jailhouse Now (1955)
J.S. Pierpont
Born: Alecia Beth Moore on 9/8/1979 Died:
American pop singer/songwriter.
Song(s):
Get the Party Started (2001)
So What (2008)
Album(s):
M!ssundaztood (2001)
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):
See Emily Play (1967)
Money (1973)
Time (1973)
Wish You Were Here (1975)
Another Brick in the Wall Part II (1979)
Comfortably Numb (1979)
Mother (1979)
Album(s):
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)
A Saucerful of Secrets (1968)
More (1969) ST
Ummagumma (1969) live/studio
Atom Heart Mother (1970)
Meddle (1971)
Obscured by Clouds (1972)
Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Wish You Were Here (1975)
Animals (1977)
The Wall (1979)
The Final Cut (1983)
A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987)
The Division Bell (1994)
The DMDB Blog:
Pink Floyd releases Piper at the Gates of Dawn: August 5, 1967 (8/5/11)
Syd Barrett showed up while Pink Floyd recorded a tribute to him: June 5, 1975 (6/5/12)
Best-of List: The Top 50 Pink Floyd Songs (9/15/11)
Maceo Pinkard
Bill Pinkney
Ezio Pinza
Pitbull
Song(s):
Give Me Everything (with Ne-Yo, Afrojack, & Nayer; 2011)
On the Floor (with Jennifer Lopez, 2011)
Born: 2/17/1940 Died: 4/5/2006
American pop singer/songwriter.
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: 86-91; recorded solo as Frank Black), Joey Santiago (g: Pixies: 86-91; Martinis: 95-), Kim “Mrs. John Murphy” Deal (b/v – Pixies: 86-91; v/g – Breeders: 89-94; The Amps: 95), David Loverling (d – Pixies: 86-91; Martinis: 95).
Song(s):
Gigantic (1987)
Where Is My Mind? (1988)
Here Comes Your Man (1989)
Monkey Gone to Heaven (1989)
Debaser (1989)
Album(s):
Surfer Rosa (1988)
Doolittle (1989)
PJ Harvey - see Harvey, PJ
Plain White T’s
Song(s):
Hey There Delilah (2007)
Born: 8/20/1948
Rock singer 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):
Please Read the Letter (with Alison Krauss, 2007)
Album(s):
Pictures at Eleven (1982)
The Principle of Moments (1983)
Volume One (The Honeydrippers: 1984)
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: 2003)
Mighty Rearranger (2005)
Raising Sand (with Alison Krauss, produced by T-Bone Burnett, 2007)
Band of Joy (2010)
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 1/2/81), 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)
Twilight Time (1958)
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (written by Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach, 1958)
PM Dawn
Song(s):
Set Adrift on Memory Bliss (1991)
P-Nut
The Pogues
Album(s):
Rum, Sodomy and the Lash (1985)
The Pointer Sisters
Song(s):
Slow Hand (1981)
I’m So Excited (1984)
Poison
Song(s):
Every Rose Has Its Thorn (1988)
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):
Roxanne (1978)
Message in a Bottle (1979)
I Burn for You (1982)
Every Breath You Take (1983)
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 (aka ‘The Classics’) (compilation, recorded 1978-1986)
Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings (1978-86) box
The DMDB Blog:
Best-of List: The Top 60 Songs of Sting & The Police (10/4/11)
The Police's Synchronicity Turns 28 (6/17/2011)
The Police hit #1 with “Every Breath You Take”: July 9, 1983 (7/9/12)
Ben Pollack
Song(s):
Sweet Sue, Just You (with Franklyn Baur, 1928)
Lew Pollack
Born: Jerome Pomus on 6/27/1925 Died: 3/14/1991
R&B/pop songwriter.
Born: 4/12/1898 Died: 2/13/1976
French opera soprano singer.
Charlie Poole
Song(s):
Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down Blues (1925)
Born: James Newell Osterberg, Jr. on 4/21/1947 Died: --
American proto-punk singer with The Stooges and then later a solo artist.
Song(s):
Lust for Life (1977)
Album(s):
Lust for Life (1977)
Jeff Porcaro
Porcupine Tree
Album(s):
In Absentia (2002)
About: Musical theater composer.
Born: 6/9/1891 Died: 10/15/1964
Song(s) written by Cole Porter:
What Is This Thing Called Love? (performed by Leo Reisman, 1930)
Night and Day (Fred Astaire with Leo Reisman’s Orchestra, 1932)
I Get a Kick Out of You (performed by Ethel Merman with Johnny Green’s Orchestra, 1934)
You’re the Top (performed by Paul Whiteman, 1934)
You’re the Top (performed by Ethel Merman, 1934)
Anything Goes (1934)
Just One of Those Things (performed by Richard Himber, 1935)
I've Got You Under My Skin (performed by Ray Noble, 1936)
Begin the Beguine (performed by Artie Shaw, 1938)
Don’t Fence Me In (written with Robert Fletcher; performed by Bing Crosby with the Andrews Sisters, 1944)
Album(s):
Kiss Me, Kate (1948/1954) cast/ST
High Society (cast album, 1956)
The DMDB Blog:
Fred Astaire hit #1 with Cole Porter’s “Night and Day”: December 24, 1932 (12/24/11)
Born: 11/21/1941 Died:
American R&B songwriter.
George Porter, Jr.
About: 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).
Born: ? Died: 1/13/1946 at age 81.
Song(s):
A Bird in a Gilded Cage (1900)
Portishead
Song(s):
Sour Times (Nobody Loves Me) (1994)
Album(s):
Dummy (1994)
Mike Portnoy
Born: Earl Rudolph Powell on 9/27/1924 Died: 7/31/1966
American jazz pianist.
Song(s):
Un Poco Loco (1951)
Album(s):
The Quintet (Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, & Max Roach) – Jazz at Massey Hall (live, 1953)
Cozy Powell
Dick Powell
Song(s):
Lullaby of Braodway (1935)
Daniel Powter
Song(s):
Bad Day (2005)
Born: 12/11/1916 in Matanzas, Cuba Died: 9/14/1989
Jazz/big band leader and pianist.
Song(s):
Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White (1955)
Prefab Sprout
Album(s):
Steve McQueen (aka "Two Wheels Good") (1985)
Jazz group.
Links:
DMDB page
- official site
- Facebook
Born: 1/8/1935 in Tupelo, MS Died: in Memphis on 8/16/77 of heart failure caused by prescription drug abuse
The #1 star of rock music, often called "The King of Rock ‘N’ Roll." Won talent contest at age eight, singing "Old Shep." Moved to Memphis in 1948. First recorded for Sun in 1954. Signed to RCA Records on 11/22/55. Managed by Tom Parker (died 1/21/97). Starred in 31 feature films, starting with Love Me Tender in 1956. In U.S. Army from 3/24/58 to 3/5/60. 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):
That's All Right, Mama (1954)
Blue Moon of Kentucky (1954)
Mystery Train (1955)
Heartbreak Hotel (1956)
Don't Be Cruel (1956)
Hound Dog (written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, 1956)
Love Me Tender (1956)
All Shook Up (1957)
Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear (1957)
Jailhouse Rock (written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, 1957)
It’s Now or Never (1960)
Are You Lonesome Tonight? (1960)
Can't Help Falling in Love (1961)
Surrender (1961)
In the Ghetto (1969)
Suspicious Minds (1969)
Album(s):
The Sun Sessions (aka ‘Sunrise,’ ‘The Sun Years,’ or ‘The Sun Collection’) (1954-1956) archives
Elvis Presley (1956)
Elvis (1956)
Loving You (1957)
Elvis’ Christmas Album (1957) X
Golden Records (1956-1958) G
King Creole (1958) ST
50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong: Golden Records Vol. 2 (1957-1959) G
The King of Rock ‘N’ Roll: The ‘50s Masters (1953-1959) box
Elvis Is Back! (1960)
G.I. Blues (1960) ST
His Hand in Mine (1960) gospel
Something for Everybody (1961)
Blue Hawaii (1961) ST
Flaming Star/Wild in the Country/Follow That Dream (3 EPs: 4/61-5/62) ST
Pot Luck (1962)
Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962) ST
Golden Records Vol. 3 (1960-1962) G
It Happened at the World’s Fair (1963) ST
Fun in Acapulco (1963) ST
Kissin’ Cousins (1964) ST
Roustabout (1964) ST
Girl Happy (1965) ST
Harum Scarum (ST - 1965) ST
Frankie and Johnny (1966) ST
Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966) ST
Spinout (1966) ST
How Great Thou Art (1967) gospel
Double Trouble (1967) ST
Clambake (1967) ST
Speedway (1968) ST
Elvis – NBC TV Special (1968) live
Tiger Man (1968) live
From Elvis in Memphis (1969)
In Person at the International Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada (1969) live
Back in Memphis (1969)
From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential ‘60s Masters (1960-1969) box
Live a Little, Love a Little/Charro!/The Trouble with Girls/Change of Habit (4 EPs: 1968-1969) ST
On Stage February 1970 (1970) live
That’s the Way It Is (1970) live
Elvis Country: I’m 10,000 Years Old (1971)
The Wonderful World of Christmas (1971) X
If Every Day Was Like Christmas (1957-1971) X/G
Elvis Now (1972)
He Touched Me (1972) gospel
Amazing Grace (1960-1972) gospel/G
Recorded Live at Madison Square Garden (1972) live
Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite (1973) live
Elvis (1973)
Raised on Rock/For Ol’ Times Sake (1973)
Live on Stage in Memphis (1974) live
Good Times (1974)
Promised Land (1975)
Elvis Today (1975)
From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee (1976)
Artist of the Century (1954-1976) box
In Concert (1977) live
Moody Blue (1977)
Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential ‘70s Masters (1970-1977) box
30 #1 Hits (1956-1977 + a 2002 remix) G
2nd to None (1954-1977 + a 2003 remix) G
The DMDB Blog/Facebook Note(s):
Elvis Presley – Top 50 Songs
Elvis made legendary recordings at Sun Studios: July 5-6, 1954 (7/5/12)
Elvis Presley Performs for a Hound Dog: July 1, 1956 (7/1/11)
Elvis Presley charted with “It’s Now Or Never”: July 18, 1960 (7/18/12)
Elvis Presley’s comeback special aired on NBC: December 3, 1968 (12/3/11)
Music patron.
Rocco Prestia
Billy Preston
Song(s):
Get Back (with the Beatles, 1969)
Frances Preston
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):
Brass in Pocket (I'm Special) (1979)
Middle of the Road (1983)
Album(s):
Pretenders (1980)
The Pretty Things
Album(s):
S.F. Sorrow (1968)
Born: Andreas Ludwig Priwin on 4/6/1929 Died: --
German film score composer and conductor. Also a jazz pianist.
Born: 2/10/1927 Died: --
American opera singer.
Born: 3/9/1933 Died:
American R&B singer (“Stagger Lee”, “Personality”).
Song(s):
Lawdy Miss Clawdy (1952)
Born: 1/12/1926 Died: --
Country singer.
Song(s):
Crazy Arms (1956)
For the Good Times (1970)
Born: 3/18/1938 Died:
American country singer.
Song(s):
Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’ (1971)
Steve Priest
Song(s):
That Old Black Magic (with Keely Smith, 1958)
Album(s):
The Wildest (with Keely Smith, 1957)
Primal Scream
Song(s):
Loaded (1990)
Higher Than the Sun (1991)
Album(s):
Screamadelica (1991)
William Primrose
Born: Prince Roger Nelson on 6/7/58 in Minneapolis, MN
Vocalist/multi-instrumentalist/composer/producer and self-taught musician. Named for the Prince Roger Trio, led by his father. Changed his name on 6/7/93 to the unpronouncable 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):
When You Were Mine (1980)
1999 (1982)
Little Red Corvette (1983)
When Doves Cry (1984)
Purple Rain (1984)
Kiss (1986)
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man (1987)
Album(s):
Dirty Mind (1980)
Controversy (1981)
1999 (1982)
Purple Rain (with the Revolution, 1984) ST
Around the World in a Day (with the Revolution, 1985)
Parade/ Under the Cherry Moon (with the Revolution, 1986) ST
Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987)
Batman (1989)
Diamonds and Pearls (1991)
The DMDB Blog:
Best-of List: Prince was born: June 7, 1958 / His Top 50 Songs (6/7/12)
Prince charted with “When Doves Cry”: June 2, 1984 (6/2/12)
Prince’s Purple Rain Released: June 25, 1984 (6/25/11)
Born: 1/1/1869 in San Francisco, CA Died: 10/10/1937
Pianist and celesta player. 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):
Ballin' the Jack (1914)
The Memphis Blues (1914)
The Star-Spangled Banner (1916)
Beale Street Blues (1917)
Born: 10/10/1946
Folk singer/songwriter.
Song(s):
Angel from Montgomery (1971)
Album(s):
John Prine (1971)
Song(s):
A Whiter Shade of Pale (1967)
The DMDB Blog:
Procol Harum’s “A Whiter Shade of Pale” charted: May 25, 1967 (5/25/12)
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 Product G & B
Song(s):
Maria Maria (with Santana, 2000)
Born: Roy Byrd on 12/19/1918 Died:
Blues musician.
Song(s):
Tipitina (Roy “Professor Longhair” Byrd & His Blue Scholars, 1953)
Big Chief (1964)
Frank Profitt
Song(s):
Tom Dooley (1940)
Born: 4/27/1891 Died: 3/5/1953
Classical composer.
Album(s):
Piano Concerto No. 3 (1921)
Peter and the Wolf (1936)
Richard Pryor
Album(s):
That N****’s Crazy (1974)
Arthur Prysock
Psy
Song(s):
Gangnam Style (2012)
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 (produced by Rick Rubin, 1987)
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (produced by Rick Rubin, 1988)
Fear of a Black Planet (1990)
The DMDB Blog:
Public Enemy Charts with It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back: July 23, 1988 (7/23/11)
Public Image Limited
Album(s):
Metal Box (aka "Second Edition") (1979)
Born: 12/22/1858 Died: 11/29/1924
Italian classical composer.
Album(s):
La Bohčme (1896) opera
Tosca (1900) opera
Born: Ernesto Antonio Puente, Jr. on 4/20/1923 Died: 6/1/2000
American Latin-jazz and salsa percussionist.
Song(s):
Oye Como Va (1953)
Album(s):
Dance Mania (1958)
Born: Sean Combs on 11/4/1969 Died: --
American rap singer and mogul.
Song(s):
Mo Money, Mo Problems (with the Notorious B.I.G. & Mase) (1997)
I'll Be Missing You (with Faith Evans & 112, 1997)
The DMDB Blog:
14 Years Ago Puff Daddy Memorialized Notorious B.I.G. (6/14/2011)
Born: 4/15/1949 Died: --
Russian mezzo soprano singer. Most successful Soviet performer in terms of record sales.
Pulp
Song(s):
Common People (1995)
Album(s):
Different Class (1995)
Born: 1659 in Westminster, London, England Died: 11/21/1695
Classical composer.
Bernard Purdie
Pussycat
Song(s):
Mississippi (1976)
Click on a letter to choose a recording act (“S” for Bruce Springsteen, “B” for Beatles, etc.). Shown with the act are its major awards (see more here), short bios for select acts (generally taken or adapted from Joel Whitburn’s Pop Memories 1890-1954 and Top Pop Singles: Billboard books), and links to all albums reviewed here at the DMDB.
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Last updated January 31, 2013. 
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