Showing 1 - 19 of 19
Artist: The Beatles
So much has been said and written about the Beatles -- and their story is so mythic in its sweep -- that it's difficult to summarize their career without restating clichés that have already been digested by tens of millions of rock fans. To start with the obvious, they were the greatest and most influential act of the rock era, and introduced... [+] Read More
Artist: Reflection
The first Japanese signings to London's notorious Clear Records, Reflection seem to have more on their minds than simply updating '80s electro with the tweak of '90s technology. A production trio of Ichiro (programming) and Kenji Taniguchi (programming, occasional guitar) with supervisor Nobukazi Takemura, Reflection deals in intelligent... [+] Read More
Artist: Horse the Band
California's Horse the Band debuted in 2003 with R. Borlax, a noisy but undoubtedly leading light in the burgeoning post-hardcore subgenre of Nintendocore. They returned in 2005 with Mechanical Hand, which was produced by Matt Bayles (Isis, Norma Jean) and released through the Koch imprint Combat. Nathan Winneke (vocals), Erik Engstrom (keys),... [+] Read More
Artist: Michael
Michael was an Athens, GA-based indie combo with ties to emo and roots in '80s radio. The band first emerged in 1999, when vocalist/guitarist David Fairbairn, bassist John Nowicki, and drummer Bob Sleppy issued the You Must Be This Tall LP through a local Athens indie. Full of scruffy detachment and guitar squelch, it got in line behind '90s... [+] Read More
Artist: B.J. Cole
Born on June 17, 1946, in London, B.J. Cole was inspired by the instrumental work of the Shadows' Hank Marvin, and picked up a guitar. He worked his way through various versions of the instrument, eventually settling on pedal-steel guitar. During the 1970s, Cole was a sought-after session man, playing alongside Elton John, Scott Walker, T. Rex,... [+] Read More
Artist: Fatboy Slim
Norman "Jack-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: Danny Howells
A phenomenally versatile DJ, Danny Howells is as renowned for his work in the studio as in the clubs. A masterful mixer with seven albums to his name, an equally noted remixer, and an innovative producer in his own right under the monikers Squelch and Science Deptartment, Danny Howells has stamped his own sound across the modern dance scene.... [+] 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: Phuture
Phuture only released a handful of tracks (plus an album a full decade after their debut), but have remained a legendary act in the development of Chicago house for their stomping 1987 single "Acid Trax," the track that began and defined the acid house sound. The group was formed by DJ Pierre, synthesizer fan Spanky and Herb J in 1985 as a... [+] Read More
Artist: Nigel Martinez
Before moving to the U.S., Nigel Martinez was one of England's most sought after producers and session musicians. The Leicester, England native holds the distinction of the only producer from England signed to produce a Motown act, Louis Price. His first significant gig was as Real Thing's drummer; at the time, the British group was hot with a... [+] Read More
Artist: The Mike Stuart Span
A band with a confusing name and a confusing history, the Mike Stuart Span did manage to record a classic British psychedelic single in 1967, "Children of Tomorrow." With its driving power chords, squealing guitar leads, and haunting harmonies, the song struck a classic midpoint between hard mod-pop and the early psychedelia of UK groups like... [+] Read More
Artist: DJ Pierre
Besides being a crucial DJ and the production wizard partly responsible for the development of Chicago acid-house, DJ Pierre later influenced the sound of New York's more disco-fied house with his tenure as an in-house producer for Strictly Rhythm Records. Born in the Chicago suburbs, Nathaniel Pierre Jones was influenced by the Hot Mix Five,... [+] Read More
Artist: Oskar Sala
German inventor/composer Oskar Sala is best known for his role in developing the Trautonium: one of the earliest electronic instruments and a contemporary of the French Ondes Martenot and Russian theremin. While the Trautonium would eventually be viewed as a relic of electronic music's past, the instrument's tonal quality and expressive... [+] Read More
Artist: Neal Creque
Jazz pianist/organist Neal Creque, the youngest of eight siblings, was born in 1940 in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. His father taught classical piano and wrote poetry. At five, Creque started taking piano lessons; at nine he was working a live radio gig with his father called Creque and Creque. He moved to the States in 1956 and quietly built a... [+] Read More
Artist: Robin Wilson
Robin Wilson was born in Detroit in 1965. As the lead singer of Gin Blossoms, Wilson helped bring the Arizona music scene to prominence in both Tempe and Phoenix. The band released their first indie album in 1989; a debut EP, Up and Crumbling, in 1991; and their breakthrough smash, New Miserable Experience, in 1992, which sold over four million... [+] Read More
Artist: Jade Warrior
Jade Warrior was an eclectic group led by Jon Field and Tony Duhig, who met during the 1960s while working in a factory. The two did not immediately but spent several years improving their musical skills, Field on percussion, Duhig on guitar. They finally created a group named July, with Tom Newman, Chris Jackson and Alan James. Newman would... [+] Read More
Artist: Marshall Jefferson
One of the original innovators in Chicago house, Marshall Jefferson had a hand in several of the music's most influential early tracks. As a solo act, he recorded 1986's "Move Your Body" -- sub-titled and unanimously acclaimed "The House Music Anthem." Jefferson also helped record Phuture's "Acid Tracks," the first and best acid-house single.... [+] Read More
Artist: Tyrone Ashley
Tyrone Ashley was born Sammy Campbell in Plainfield, NJ. He recorded under his birth name until 1971 when he cut a single for Phil-La of Soul Records in Philadelphia. The Parliament, also from Plainsfield, competed with Campbell's group, the Del Larks, in talent shows and holiday festivals. the Del Larks formed around 1958 and consisted of... [+] Read More
Artist: Bunny Sigler
Born in Philadelphia into the family of Henry and Susie May Sigler, as a child, little Walter Sigler would walk around singing and making up lyrics and choruses to songs. Walter Sigler became Bunny Sigler when as an infant his mother discovered that he had a fully grown front tooth. She commented that he looked just like a bunny rabbit and the... [+] Read More
