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Artist: Marcus Johnson
A smooth jazz keyboardist, Marcus Johnson incorporates the rhythms of rap with the soul of R&B. Johnson grew up listening to a broad variety of music: his mother played classical piano and his first memorable concert experience was seeing an Earth, Wind & Fire show with his father. His interest in jazz first showed itself when he began tinkling... [+] Read More
Artist: Nikki Flores
Born in 1989 and signed to Epic in 2003, Nikki Flores began her music career at a very early age -- she even wrote her first song prior to her 13th birthday. Inspired by Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston, Flores either wrote or co-wrote the bulk of her first album, This Girl, which was scheduled for an early 2006 release after a... [+] Read More
Artist: Troy Keyes
Best known among soul aficionados for his cult-classic 1968 single "Love Explosions," singer Troy Keyes was born in Pantego, NC, on March 13, 1940. A member of his church's choir throughout childhood, from the age of ten he grew up in Brooklyn, New York, there singing in street-corner doo wop groups in addition to studying dance at the Fred... [+] Read More
Artist: Libby York
Influenced by such Cool School singers as June Christy and Chris Connor, Libby York is an expressive but obscure jazz vocalist who was born and raised in Chicago. York swings, although she does so in a subtle, relaxed, introspective fashion. As a young adult, York left Chicago to attend American University in Washington, DC, where she majored in... [+] Read More
Artist: Paradox
The reluctance of Dev Pandya to comply with accepted drum & bass programming and standards within his Paradox project has made him an increasingly influential figure within the movement. Over a decade since he first stepped into the studio with DJ Trax as Mixrace and offered the pairs debut single for Moving Shadow, The Future is Before Your... [+] Read More
Artist: Henri Duparc
A student of Franck in both piano and composition Duparc led a retiring life after the age of 36. It was prior to this time, however, that he completed most, if not all of his compositions. All that is left are 13 songs for he suffered from an acute case of hyperaesthesia (an extreme sensitivity to pain, touch, heat or cold) though he was not... [+] Read More
Artist: Norman Cook
Norman "Jacker-Of-All-Genres" Cook, in addition to his former occupations as bassist for the Housemartins and one third of acid-house hitmakers Pizzaman, is also the man behind one of the most popular of the new flock of English "brit hop" producers, Fatboy Slim. Releasing his Fatboy material through club staple Skint, Cook's raucous blend of... [+] Read More
Artist: Diffuser
Wishing to make a change in musical monikers while refraining from typical catchy phrases, the four men composing Long Island's Diffuser indicated their smart and singled-out brash approach to making music at their forming in 1994. Tomas Costanza (guitar/vocals), Lawrence Sullivan (bass), Billy Alemaghides (drums), and Anthony Cangelosi... [+] Read More
Artist: Animaniacs
The off-the-wall cartoon series Animaniacs was produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, making its broadcast debut on the Fox network on September 13, 1993. Detailing the comic exploits of the anthropomorphic Warner siblings -- brothers Yakko and Wakko and their sister Dot -- the series was a hit with audiences and critics alike,... [+] Read More
Artist: Arthur Schutt
An important pianist during the 1920's, appearing on many key recordings, Arthur Schutt faded out of the spotlight during the swing era. He was taught piano by his father and started playing for silent movies when he was just 13 in 1915. It was at a movie theatre that Schutt was discovered in 1918 by bandleader Paul Specht who quickly hired him.... [+] Read More
Artist: Yahowa 13
In all of rock history, there can be few stranger stories than that of Yahowa 13, the mystical quasi-cult psychedelic rock band that recorded prolifically in the mid-'70s. Psychedelic collectors are aware of Yahowa via their connection to Sky Saxon of the Seeds, who occasionally sang with members of the group. In fact, however, Yahowa 13's... [+] Read More
Artist: Michael Kaeshammer
After studying classical piano for seven years in his German homeland, a 13-year-old Kaeshammer (pronounced "case-hammer") discovered boogie-woogie as played by Albert Ammons, Meade Lux Lewis, Pete Johnson, and Pinetop Smith. In three years, the teen wunderkind was playing boogie-woogie piano in clubs, concerts, and festivals all over Germany.... [+] Read More
Artist: Shaw Blades
VH1 Classic is proud to present the upcoming U.S. headlining tour for Shaw/Blades—Styx/Damn Yankees guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw and Night Ranger/Damn Yankees bassist/vocalist Jack Blades. It will launch March 16 in Dewey Beach, DE and conclude in April 14 in Agoura Hills, CA. The duo is making the cross-country trek to promote their... [+] Read More
Artist: Clear Static
Growing up near Hollywood, the guys of Clear Static initially came together when most of the quintet members were barely in their teens. Pre-adolescents Tom Pederson (vocals) and Michael David (guitar/synth) became friends at a neighborhood party and soon began writing songs together. In time, they decided to expand their burgeoning band to... [+] Read More
Artist: Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder is a much-beloved American icon and an indisputable genius not only of R&B but popular music in general. Blind virtually since birth, Wonder's heightened awareness of sound helped him create vibrant, colorful music teeming with life and ambition. Nearly everything he recorded bore the stamp of his sunny, joyous positivity; even... [+] Read More
Artist: Raashan Ahmad
Raashan Ahmad has been on the grind since his first release as one of the lead M.C.s in the group Mission, who released the self titled album in 1999 (which quickly became a underground fan favorite) and more recently, as well as most notoriously, as the front man for the live hip-hop group Crown City Rockers who released the album Earthtones in... [+] Read More
Artist: David Burns
David Burns deserves much credit for his efforts both playing and promoting indie rock music since the '90s. He has been not only a drummer and instigator of various band activities, but a record company manager as well. His artwork and designs often adorn the covers of releases from his bands. Burns' activities have taken place in several... [+] Read More
Artist: Just One Ceego
IN ORDER: ARTIST TO COMPANYCeego as an artist was in development at seven years old, as far as I can remember. The point where I had discovered I wanted to actually do music was when heard my father rap on Pittsburgh's biggest rap radio station WAMO. For some years I hadn't told my father that I actually waned to do music. Some two years later... [+] Read More
Artist: George Kahumoku
One of the heralds and preservers of traditional Hawaiian culture, George Kahumoku, Jr. is an artist, musician, composer, farmer, storyteller and teacher. As a musician he is best known for playing a 12 string slack key guitar, but his immersion in teaching and promoting the Hawaiian way of life extends far beyond his music. His educational... [+] Read More
Artist: Kenny Nolan
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Kenny Nolan established himself as one of the key songwriters on the mid-'70s disco scene both at home and abroad, penning some of the most memorable hits of the era, often in tandem with writing partner Bob Crewe.
His promise was apparent from his teenage years -- at the age of 13 he won a scholarship to USC for... [+] Read More
Artist: 88 Keys
Moving from a behind the scenes producer to frontman breakthrough artist, 88-Keys presents his first solo album, The Death of Adam on Decon Records. A highly conceptual release, The Death of Adam examines humankind's most common storyline; the relationships between men and women. The album, executive produced by longtime friend Kanye West will... [+] Read More
Artist: Bill Gottlieb
The photographs of Bill Gottlieb define the golden age of jazz with as much clarity and vivid detail as a Billie Holiday vocal or a Charlie Parker solo. According to critic Whitney Balliett, his indelible images "[catch] the precise moment when the musician's face is suffused with effort and emotion and beauty: the music is there." Born January... [+] Read More
Artist: Q 65
Based on sheer musical ability, the Q 65 deserved to be at least as well known as the Pretty Things or the Yardbirds. Indeed, the Dutch quintet could have held their own with either of those groups or the Animals without breaking a sweat, based on the recorded evidence, and they also had room for some of the more countrified blues evident in the... [+] Read More
Artist: Walter J. Ridley
To fans of classic English rock 'n roll, Walter J. Ridley is best known as the man who brought Johnny Kidd & The Pirates to EMI Records. In his broader career, however, Ridley transformed EMI's HMV label into a major outlet for popular music, which it previously had not been, and played a key role in moving EMI into the 1960's in a profitable... [+] Read More
Artist: Herman "Junior" Denby
The soulful vocals of Herman "Junior" Denby were one key to the success of early-'50s R&B vocal group the Swallows. The composer of such tunes as "Will You Be Mine," "Dearest," "Wishing for You," "You Left Me," "Roll, Roll, Pretty Baby," "Tell Me Why," "Beside You," and "You Walked In," Denby sang lead on more than a dozen of the group's... [+] Read More
