Showing 251 - 275 of 1450
Artist: Shampoo
Shampoo is a duo of punk rock Barbie dolls barely out of their teens, hailing from Plumstead, England. Jacqui Blake and Carrie Askew both handle vocals in a highly energetic and barely intelligible fashion, and both have enough attitude and downright sass to make critics on both sides of the Atlantic go ga-ga over their primitive punk and sly... [+] Read More
Artist: Loudness
By the time they were introduced to the West by 1985's Thunder in the East album, Japan's Loudness had arguably already hit their peak. Their previous effort, Disillusion, was the fourth chart-topping release in their homeland, not to mention a critical triumph among members of the European press. But when faced with a contingency plan to... [+] Read More
Artist: Les McCann
Les McCann reached the peak of his career at the 1968 Montreux Jazz Festival, recording "Compared to What" and "Cold Duck Time" for Atlantic (Swiss Movement) with Eddie Harris and Benny Bailey. Although he has done some worthwhile work since then, much of it has been anti-climatic.
Les McCann first gained some fame in 1956 when he won a talent... [+] Read More
Artist: Wolfgang Voigt
Few artists can claim to be as prolific as Wolfgang Voigt, an artist from Cologne, Germany, who has recorded various styles of techno under more names than one can imagine. Beginning with the initial success of his Love Inc. track, "Trance Atlantic Excess," Voigt has since eclipsed all of his gifted peers by releasing records at a relentless... [+] Read More
Artist: The Format
Self-described as a "desert pop" band, Peoria, AZ-based the Format materialized around two friends, vocalist Nate Ruess and multi-instrumentalist Sam Means, in the early 2000s. Taking influence from '60s music to craft their own spirited indie pop melodies, the pair were barely in their twenties when they laid down a five-song EP with producer... [+] Read More
Artist: Debbie Gibson
Debbie Gibson became a pop phenomenon in the late '80s, scoring a string of hit singles when she was only 17. Although she was still a teenager, Gibson showed signs of being a talented pop craftsman, capable of making catchy dance-pop in the style of Madonna, as well as lush, orchestrated ballads. Gibson's time at the top of the charts was... [+] Read More
Artist: Anita Baker
With her classy, refined brand of romantic soul, Anita Baker was one of the definitive quiet storm singers of the '80s. Gifted with a strong, supple alto, Baker was influenced not only by R&B, but jazz, gospel, and traditional pop, which gave her music a distinctly adult sophistication. Smooth and mellow, but hardly lifeless, it made her one of... [+] Read More
Artist: The Persuaders
This group made a pair of marvelous heartache ballads in 1971, but have the unfortunate legacy of having their finest cuts turned into pop hits via covers. Lead singer Douglas Scott, whose nickname appropriately was "Smokey," Willie Holland, James Barnes, and Charles Stodghill formed in New York in 1969. They signed with Atlantic in the early... [+] Read More
Artist: Mercy Fall
Though its members individually boast a wide range of tastes (from jazz to folk to hardcore), it was a common love of mid-'90s alternative rock acts like Pearl Jam and Soundgarden that brought together Flagstaff, AZ-based Mercy Fall in the early 2000s. Comprised of vocalist Nate Stone, guitarist Jeff Lusby, bassist Kieran Smiley, and drummer... [+] Read More
Artist: Phil Nimmons
A prolific writer and arranger, Canadian clarinetist Phil Nimmons has never received due praise from the international jazz community. Nimmons' heavy involvement in jazz education (he has been on the University of Toronto faculty since 1973) has allowed him to act as mentor for many of Canada's jazz writers and arrangers, although it has perhaps... [+] Read More
Artist: Kam
With its overt sociopolitical stance, somewhat rare for a West Coast rapper, Kam's angst-ridden hardcore rap went largely unappreciated throughout the '90s, despite an early affiliation with Ice Cube. His releases appeared sporadically, debuting first on the Boyz N the Hood soundtrack, then releasing his first solo album, Neva Again (1993,... [+] Read More
Artist: Uninvited
The Uninvited was formed in Los Angeles in early 1988 around the frontmen duo of brothers John and Steve Taylor (who both play guitars and sing). After gigging around the region during the late '80s and early '90s, they settled on a rhythm section of bassist Bill Cory and drummer Bruce Logan. After recording scores of demos for record-company... [+] Read More
Artist: Lori Andrews
The harp is rarely thought of as a jazz instrument, but in the 1990s Lori Andrews and Deborah Henson-Conant proved that their instrument is not restricted to producing pretty backgrounds. Lori Andrews graduated from Temple University in 1979, played regularly in Atlantic City during 1980-1985, moved to Los Angeles in 1985, and from 1992 on has... [+] Read More
Artist: Keith Perry
Contemporary country singer/songwriter Keith Perry was born and raised in Gilbert, WV; already an impressive fiddler and mandolin player as an adolescent, at 14 he toured behind Mel Street, three years later making his recorded debut as a member of the gospel group the Revival Spirits. After quitting high school Perry worked as a paramedic... [+] Read More
Artist: The Soul Clan
A short-lived but legendary supergroup comprised of some of the biggest names in '60s soul, the Soul Clan's proper recording career amounted to a mere two songs, but the act's lineup was enough to make any R&B aficionado take notice: Solomon Burke, Arthur Conley, Don Covay, Ben E. King, and Joe Tex. At the height of their fame, Burke, Covay,... [+] Read More
Artist: Clarence & Calvin
The duo of Clarence & Calvin teamed vocalists Clarence Carter and Calvin Scott. Though little known during the lifespan of their collaboration, both went on to exemplify the gritty, earthy sound of Southern deep soul. Carter and Scott met in 1960 while attending Alabama State University. Both were blind since birth and excellent musicians as... [+] Read More
Artist: C&C Boys
The C&C Boys teamed vocalists Clarence Carter and Calvin Scott, and though little known during the lifespan of their collaboration, both went on to exemplify the gritty, earthy sound of Southern deep soul. Carter and Scott met in 1960 while attending Alabama State University. Both were blind since birth and excellent musicians as well as... [+] Read More
Artist: Beggars & Thieves
Heavily influenced by Def Leppard and Bon Jovi, Beggars & Thieves were among the countless pop-metal/hard rock hair bands that was formed on the East Coast in the late 80s. The New York outfit was never huge, although it has enjoyed a small following. Beggars & Thieves was formed in 1989, when lead singer Louie Merlino joined forces with... [+] Read More
Artist: Eugenius
Following the 1989 breakup of Scottish indie popsters the Vaselines, leader Eugene Kelly assembled a new band, Eugenius, and earned a major-label deal with the advocacy of Kurt Cobain. In contrast to the Vaselines' minimalism, Eugenius had a fuller, more traditional guitar pop sound, but carried much the same simple, amateurish, innocent charm.... [+] Read More
Artist: Kleeer
Kleeer was a New York-based disco/funk group headed by drummer, arranger, songwriter, and vocalist Woody Cunningham. The group -- fleshed out by vocalist/percussionist Paul Crutchfield, guitarist Richard Lee, and bassist Norman Durham -- formed in 1972 as the backing group for the Choice 4. Two years later, they broke off on their own and... [+] Read More
Artist: Clarence Carter
Singer Clarence Carter exemplified the gritty, earthy sound of Muscle Shoals R&B, fusing the devastating poignancy of the blues with a wicked, lascivious wit to create deeply soulful music rooted in the American South of the past and the present. Born January 14, 1936, in Montgomery, AL, Carter was blind from birth. He immediately gravitated to... [+] Read More
Artist: John Coltrane
Despite a relatively brief career (he first came to notice as a sideman at age 29 in 1955, formally launched a solo career at 33 in 1960, and was dead at 40 in 1967), saxophonist John Coltrane was among the most important, and most controversial, figures in jazz. It seems amazing that his period of greatest activity was so short, not only... [+] Read More
Artist: The Carnations
Formed in 1995, the four-piece of Thomas D'Arcy (bass/vocals), Steve Krecklo (guitar/vocals), Terrence Craig Toutant (drums), and Nathan Rekker (guitar) got together for the intentions of fulfilling their rock & roll dreams. Eventually calling themselves the Carnations, the four piece brought on their hybrid of '90s British pop and '80s new wave... [+] Read More
Artist: Tammy St. John
Tammy St. John is one of those odd cult figures who has risen out of the obscurity that plagued her career in the 1960s. An Essex, England, resident with a deep, soulful delivery that could convincingly have come from the other side of the Atlantic, St. John (born Judith Coster) never made much of an impression during her early- to mid-'60s... [+] Read More
Artist: Virgin Wool
The modern rock quartet Virginwool stirs lush pop harmonies and rollicking rock riffs to capture the new millennium's next breed of alternative pop/rock. Hailing from Florida, band members Jordan Pouzzner (vocals), Adam Loewy (bass), Gar Willard (guitar), and Brett Cook (drums) have been playing pockets in and around the Southeast since their... [+] Read More
