Music Makers Encyclopedia: V

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.

Steve Vai

American rock guitarist born 6/6/1960. With David Lee Roth and Whitesnake (89-90).

Holly Valance

Song(s):
Kiss Kiss (2002)

Ricky Valance

Song(s):
Tell Laura I Love Her (1960)

Ritchie Valens

Rock singer/songwriter born Richard Steven Valenzeula on 5/13/1941 in Pacoima, CA. Killed in a plane crash near Mason City, IA along with Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper on 2/3/1959.

Song(s):
La Bamba (1958)
Donna (1958)
Come On, Let’s Go (1958)

Album(s):
Ritchie Valens (1959)

Gary Valentine

New wave bassist born Gary Joseph Lachman on 12/24/1955 in Bayonne, NJ. With Blondie.

Hilton Valentine

Rock guitarist born 5/21/1943 in North Shields, UK. With The Animals.

Kathy Valentine

New-wave bassist born Kathryn Valentine on 1/7/1959 in Austin, TX. With The Go-Go’s (1980-).

Rudy Vallee

Jazz/big band leader born Hubert Prior Vallée on 7/28/1901 in Island Pond, VT. Died 7/3/1986.

Song(s):
Weary River (1929)
Honey (1929)
Stein Song (University of Maine) (& His Connecticut Yankees, 1930)
As Time Goes By (1931)
Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries (1931)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1932)
Let’s Put Out the Lights and Go to Sleep (1932)
Lost in a Fog (1934)
Vieni, Vieni (1937)
Honey (& His Connecticut Yankees, 1937)

Frankie Valli

Pop singer born Francis Stephen Castelluccio 5/3/1934. With the 4 Seasons ("Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man"). Also a solo artist ("My Eyes Adored You," "Grease").

Song(s):
Can't Take My Eyes Off of You (1967)
Grease (1978)

Ross Valory

Rock bassist born 2/2/1949 in San Francisco, CA. With Journey (1973-83, 1996, 2008-2020) and The Storm (1990-96).

Vampire Weekend

Song(s):
Oxford Comma (2008)
Diane Young (2013)
Harmony Hall (2019)
This Life (2019)

Album(s):
Vampire Weekend (2008)
Modern Vampires of the City (2013)
Father of the Bride (2019)

Van & Schenck

Song(s):
For Me and My Gal (1917)
Mandy (1919)
Ain't We Got Fun? (1921)
Carolina in the Morning (1923)
I Wonder What’s Become of Sally (1924)

Egbert Van Alstyne

Walter Van Brunt

Tenor singer born 4/22/1892 in the United States. Died 4/11/1971.

Song(s):
And the Green Grass Grew All Around (1913)
Sympathy (with Helen Clark, 1913)
I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen (1916)

The Vandellas

- see Martha & the Vandellas

Van Der Graaf Generator

Song(s):
Refugees (1971)

Album(s):
Pawn Hearts (1971)

Luther Vandross

R&B singer born Luther Ronzoni Vandross, Jr. on 4/20/1951 in New York City, NY. Died 7/1/2005.

Song(s):
Never Too Much (1981)
Here and Now (1989)
Power of Love/Love Power (1991)
Dance with My Father (2003)

Album(s):
Never Too Much (1981)
Power of Love (1991)
Dance with My Father (2003)

Dick Van Dyke

Song(s):
Put on a Happy Face (from Bye Bye Birdie, musical: with Chita Rivera, 1960; soundtrack: with Janet Leigh, 1963)
Supercalifragilisticexpalidocious (from Mary Poppins, 1965) – see Julie Andrews
Chim Chim Cher-ee (from Mary Poppins, 1965) – see Julie Andrews

Leroy Van Dyke

Song(s):
Walk on By (1961)

Sharon Van Etten

Song(s):
Seventeen (2019)
Like I Used To (with Angel Olsen, 2021)

Rudy Van Gelder

Vangelis

Song(s):
Chariots of Fire – Titles (1981)

Van Halen

Hard rock group formed in Pasadena, CA (1974-98, 2004-). David Lee Roth (v: 74-85,96,07-), Eddie Van Halen (g), Michael Anthony (b: 74-04), and Alex Van Halen (d), Sammy Hagar (v: 85-96, 04), Gary Cherone (v: 96-98), Wolfgang Van Halen (b: 07-).

Song(s):
You Really Got Me (1978)
Runnin’ with the Devil (1978)
Ice Cream Man (1978)
Dance the Night Away (1979)
Everybody Wants Some (1980)
Happy Trails (1982)
Little Guitars (1982)
Jump (1983)
Hot for Teacher (1984)
Panama (1984)
I'll Wait (1984)
Love Walks In (1986)
When It's Love (1988)
Right Now (1992)
Me Wise Magic (1996)
Without You (1998)

Album(s):
Van Halen (1978)
Van Halen II (1979)
Diver Down (1982)
1984 (1984)
Best of Both Worlds (compilation, released 2004)
A Different Kind of Truth (2012)

Alex Van Halen

Rock drummer born Alexander Arthur van Halen on 5/8/1953 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. With Van Halen.

Eddie Van Halen

Rock guitarist born Edward Lodewijk van Halen on 1/26/1957 in Nijmegen, Netherlands. Died 10/6/2020. With Van Halen.

Jimmy Van Heusen

Vanilla Fudge

Song(s):
You Keep Me Hangin’ On (1967)

Vanilla Ice

Song(s):
Ice Ice Baby (1990)

Album(s):
To the Extreme (1990)

Gino Vannelli

Song(s):
I Just Wanna Stop (1978)
Living Inside Myself (1981)

Amy Van Singel

Blues magazine founder.

Steven Van Zandt

Rock guitarist born 11/22/1950 in Winthrop, MA. With Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band.

Townes Van Zandt

Song(s):
Tecumseh Valley (1968)
Pancho and Lefty (1972)
Pancho and Lefty (1983) – see Willie Nelson

Johnny Van Zant

Lead singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd (1987-present).

Song(s):
Brickyard Road (1990)

Ronnie Van Zant

Rock singer born 1/15/1948 in Jacksonville, FL. Died 10/20/1977. With Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The Vapors

Song(s):
Turning Japanese (1980)

Edgard Varese

Classical composer.

Album(s):
Poeme Electronique (1958)

Sarah Vaughan

Jazz singer born Sarah Lois Vaughan on 3/27/1924 in Newark, NJ. Died 4/3/1990. Considered one of the greatest jazz singers of the post-war era. Nicknamed "The Divine One." Worked with other greats including Earl Hines and Billy Eckstine before going solo in 1945.

Song(s):
S' Wonderful (1927)
If You Could See Me Now (1946)
Tenderly (1947)
Dancing in the Dark (1956)
Someone to Watch Over Me (1957)

Album(s):
Sarah Vaughan (1954)
The Complete Sarah Vaughan (1954-67)
Live in Japan (live, 1973)

Stevie Ray Vaughan (& Double Trouble)

Blues-rock guitarist and singer born Stephen Ray Vaughan on 10/3/1954 in Dallas, TX. Died 8/27/1990.

Song(s):
Pride and Joy (1983)
Texas Flood (1983)
Cold Shot (1984)
The Sky Is Crying (recorded 1984, released 1991)

Album(s):
Texas Flood (1983)
Couldn't Stand the Weather (1984)
In Step (1989)

Weston Vaughan

Song(s):
Charmaine! (1927) – see Guy Lombardo

Billy Vaughn

Pop musician born 4/12/1919 in Glasgow, KY. Died 9/26/1991.

Song(s):
Melody of Love (1954)
Sail Along Silvery Moon (1957)

Eddie Vedder

Grunge-rock singer born Edward Louis Severson III on 12/23/1964 in Evanston, IL. With Pearl Jam (1991-). Also in one-time project Temple of the Dog (1990-91).

Song(s):
Masters of War (live with Mike McCready, 1992)
Hard Sun (2007)
Guaranteed (2007)
Long Nights (2007)
All the Way (2008)
My City of Ruins (live, 2009)

Album(s):
Into the Wild (soundtrack: 2007)
Ukulele Songs (2011)
Earthling (2022)

Bobby Vee

Pop singer born Robert Thomas Velline on 4/30/1943 in Fargo, ND. Died 10/24/2016.

Song(s):
Rubber Ball (1960)
Take Good Care of My Baby (1961)

Suzanne Vega

Song(s):
Left of Center (with Joe Jackson, 1986)
Luka (1987)
Solitude Standing (1987)
Tom’s Diner (acappella version) (1987)
Tom’s Diner (with DNA, 1990)

Album(s):
Solitude Standing (1987)

Laura Veirs

Song(s):
July Flame (2010)

Velvet Revolver

Rock supergroup (2004-08) featuring Scott Weiland (v) with Guns N' Roses alums Slash (g), Duff McKagan (b), and Matt Sorum (d), as well as Dave Kushner (rhythm g) from punk band Wasted Youth.

Song(s):
Slither (2004)
Fall to Pieces (2004)
The Last Fight (2007)

Velvet Underground

One of the most influential rock groups of all-time. Considered the predecessor to alternative rock and punk. Active: 1965-70 Members: Lou Reed (v/g: 65-70; left in August 1970 to pursue a solo career), John Cale (v/b/viola: 65-68; solo), Sterling Morrison (g/, backing vox: 65-71), Moe Tucker (d/percussion: 65-72), Nico (v: 67); Doug Yule (b/backing vox – Velvet Underground: 69-70; American Flyer), Billy Yule (d: 70).

DMDB podcast: Covering Velvet Underground & Nico

Song(s):
Lou Reed/Velvet Underground: Top 50 Songs
Heroin (1967)
Venus in Furs (1967)
I’m Waiting for the Man (1967)
All Tomorrow’s Parties (1967)
European Son (1967)
White Light/White Heat (1968)
Sister Ray (1968)
Pale Blue Eyes (1969)
Foggy Notion (1969)
What Goes On (1969)
Rock and Roll (1970)
Satellite of Love (1970)
Sweet Jane (1970)
New Age (1970)

Album(s):
Velvet Underground/Lou Reed: Top 10 Albums
Velvet Underground & Nico (with Nico, 1967)
White Light/White Heat (1967)
The Velvet Underground (1969)
Loaded (1970)
Peel Slowly and See (box: 1965-70, released 1995)

The Venga Boys

We Like to Party! (1999)

Venom

Album(s):
Black Metal (1982)

The Ventures

Song(s):
Walk Don't Run (1960)

Billy Vera

Song(s):
At This Moment (1981)

Giuseppe Verdi

Classical composer born Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi on 10/10/1813 in Le Roncole, Italy. Died 6/27/1901.

Album(s):
Nabucco (Nebuchadnezzar) (opera: 1842)
Rigoletto: La Donna È Mobile (opera: 1851)
La Traviata (The Woman) (opera: 1853)
Il Trovatore (The Troubador) (opera: 1853)
Don Carlos (opera: 1867)
Aida (opera: 1871)
Requiem Mass (Messa Da Requiem) (1874)
Otello (opera: 1887)
Falstaff (opera: 1893)

Ben Vereen

Song(s):
Superstar (from Jesus Christ Superstar, 1971)

Tom Verlaine

The Veronicas

Song(s):
Hook Me Up (2007)
You Ruin Me (2014)
In My Blood (2016)

Vertical Horizon

Song(s):
Everything You Want (1999)

Veruca Salt

Song(s):
Seether (1994)
Volcano Girls (1997)

The Verve

Song(s):
History (1995)
Bitter Sweet Symphony (1997)
The Drugs Don't Work (1997)
Lucky Man (1997)
Sonnet (1998)

Album(s):
A Northern Soul (1995)
Urban Hymns (1997)

The Verve Pipe

Song(s):
The Freshmen (1996)

V.I.C.

Song(s):
Wobble (2012)

Sid Vicious

Punk-rock bassist born Simon John Ritchie on 5/10/1957 in Lewisham, London, England. Suspected of murdering his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, on 10/11/1978. Died of a drug overdose on 2/2/1979. With Sex Pistols (1977-78).

Vesta Victoria

Song(s):
Poor John! (1907)

Victor Light Orchestra Co.

Song(s):
The Yama Yama Man (1909) – see Ada Jones, 1909)

Victor Military Band

Song(s):
Tres Moutard (Too Much Mustard) (1911)
The Memphis Blues (1914)
That International Rag (1914)
Poor Butterfly (1917)

Victor Orchestra

Song(s):
I Love You So (Merry Widow Waltz) (1907)
The Glow-Worm (1908)

Victor Symphony Orchestra

Song(s):
An American in Paris (1929) – see George Gershwin

Butch Vig

Producer for Garbage and Nirvana born Bryan David Vig on 8/2/1955 in Voroqua, WI.

Kurt Vile

Song(s):
Over Everything (with Courtney Barnett, 2017)

Heitor Villa

Song(s):
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 – Aria (with Bidu Sayao, 1945)

Village People

Song(s):
Y.M.C.A. (1978)
Macho Man (1978)
In the Navy (1979)
Can’t Stop the Music (1980)

Album(s):
Can't Stop the Music (1980)

Gene Vincent

Early rock and roll singer born Vincent Eugene Craddock on 2/11/1935 in Norfolk, VA. Died 10/12/1971.

Song(s):
Be-Bop-A-Lula (& His Blue Caps, 1956)
Blue Jean Bop (1956)
Race with the Devil (1956)
Dance to the Bop (1957)

The Vines

Post-punk revival group formed in Sydney, Australia in 1994. Craig Nicholls (vocals), David Olliffe (drums: 1994-2002), Patrick Matthews (bass, backing vocals: 1994-2004, 2018), Hamish Rosser (drums, backing vocals: 2002-11, 2018), Ryan Griffiths (rhythm guitar, backing vocals, 2002-11, 2018), Brad Heald (bass, backing vocals: 2006-12), Lachlan West (drums, backing vocals: 2012-18), Tim John (bass, backing vocals: 2012-18).

Song(s):
Get Free (2002)

Album(s):
Highly Evolved (2002)
Vision Valley (2006)

Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson

Bobby Vinton

Pop singer born Stanley Robert Vinton, Jr. on 4/16/1935 in Canonsburg, PA.

Song(s):
Roses Are Red My Love (1962)
Blue Velvet (1963)
Mr. Lonely (1964)
L-O-N-E-L-Y (1965)
Please Love Me Forever (1967)
My Melody of Love (1974)

Violent Femmes

Song(s):
Blister in the Sun (1983)
Add It Up (1983)
Kiss Off (1983)

Album(s):
Violent Femmes (1983)
3 (1989)
We Can Do Anything (2016)
Hotel Last Resort (2019)

The Virtues

Song(s):
Guitar Boogie Shuffle (1959)

Visage

Song(s):
Fade to Grey (1980)

Tony Visconti

Producer born Anthony Edward Visconti on 4/2/1944 in Brooklyn, NY. Worked with David Bowie, Marc Bolan, and Talking Heads.

The Viscounts

Song(s):
Harlem Nocturne (1959)

Antonio Vivaldi

Classical composer born 3/4/1678 in Venice, Italy. Died 7/28/1741.

Album(s):
The Four Seasons (1725)

Carlos Vives

Song(s):
La Bicicleta (with Shakira, 2016)

Vixen

Song(s):
Edge of a Broken Heart (1988)

The Vogues

Song(s):
Five O’Clock World (1965)
Magic Town (1966)

Volbeat

Song(s):
The Devil’s Bleeding Crown (2016)

The Volumes

Song(s):
I Love You (1962)

Hildegard Von Bingen

Album(s):
A Feather on the Breath of God (1982)

The Von Bondies

Song(s):
C’mon C’mon (2004)

Herbert Von Karajan

Albert Von Tilzer

Song(s) written by Von Tilzer:
Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1908) – see Billy Murray
Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1908) – see Harvey Hindermeyer
Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1908) – see Edward Meeker
Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey (I Never Knew Any Girl Like You) (1911) – see Arthur Collins

Harry Von Tilzer

Songwriter and vaudevillian performer born Aaron Gumbinsky on 7/8/1872 in Detroit, Michigan. Also known as Harry Gumm. Died on 1/10/1946.

Song(s):
Top 30 Songs
A Bird in a Gilded Cage (1900) – see Steve Porter
A Bird in a Gilded Cage (1900) – see Jere Mahoney
On a Sunday Afternoon (1902) – see J.W. Myers
Down Where the Wurzburger Flows (1902) – see Arthur Collins
Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie (1906) – see Byron G. Harlan
I Want a Girl Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad (1911) – see Peerless Quartet

Voss’ 1st Regiment Band

Song(s):
One Minute Too Late (1891)

Chris Vrenna

Rock drummer and keyboardist born 2/23/1967 in Erie, PA. With Nine Inch Nails (d: 1989-97) and Marilyn Manson (k/d: 2004-11).

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