Janis Joplin Joplin was well known for her performing abilities, and her fans referred to her stage presence as "electric". At the height of her career, she was known as "The Queen of Psychedelic Soul," and became known as Pearl among her friends. She was also a painter, dancer and music arranger. Early life: 1943–1961[edit] Joplin as a senior in high school, 1960. Singing career: 1962-1965[edit] Texas[edit] Cultivating a rebellious manner, Joplin styled herself in part after her female blues heroines and, in part, after the Beat poets. San Francisco[edit] She left Texas for San Francisco ("just to get away from Texas", she said, "because my head was in a much different place"[11]) in January 1963, living in North Beach and later Haight-Ashbury. In early 1965, Joplin's friends, noticing the physical effects of her amphetamine habit (she was described as "skeletal"[5] and "emaciated"[2]), persuaded her to return to Port Arthur, Texas. Back in Texas[edit] Monterey and breakthrough[edit]
The Clash The Clash's politicised lyrics, musical experimentation, promotion of DIY ethics and rebellious attitude had a far-reaching influence on rock, alternative rock in particular.[2] They became widely referred to as "The Only Band That Matters", originally a promotional slogan introduced by the group's record label, CBS. In January 2003, the band—including original drummer Terry Chimes—were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked the Clash number 28 on their list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.[3] History[edit] Origins: 1974–76[edit] The act was still searching for a lead singer. "so I went out in the crowd which was fairly sparse. On 30 May, Rhodes and Levene met surreptitiously with Strummer after a 101'ers gig. Early gigs and the growing scene: 1976[edit] With Rhodes insisting that the band not perform live again until they were much tighter, the Clash rehearsed intensely over the following month. Punk outbreak and UK fame: 1977–79[edit]
The Animals The original lineup had brief comebacks in 1975 and 1983. There have been several partial regroupings of the original era members since then under various names. The Animals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. History[edit] First incarnation[edit] It has often been said they were dubbed "animals" because of their wild stage act, and the name stuck.[3] In a 2013 interview, Eric Burdon denied this, stating it came from a gang of friends they used to hang out with, one of whom was "Animal" Hogg and the name was intended as a kind of tribute to him.[4] The Animals' success in their hometown and a connection with Yardbirds manager Giorgio Gomelsky motivated them to move to London in 1964 in the immediate wake of Beatlemania and the beat boom take-over of the popular music scene, just in time to play an important role in the so-called British Invasion of the US music charts. It was followed in June 1964 by the transatlantic number 1 hit "House of the Rising Sun".
Pink Floyd Pink Floyd were an English rock band formed in London. They achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music. Distinguished by their use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, extended compositions and elaborate live shows, they are one of the most commercially successful and musically influential groups in the history of popular music. Wright left Pink Floyd in 1979, followed by Waters in 1985, declaring it a "spent force". Gilmour and Mason continued as Pink Floyd; Wright rejoined them as a session musician and, later, a band member. The three produced two more albums, A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987) and The Division Bell (1994), and toured until 1994. Pink Floyd were inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. 1963–67: early years Formation Noble and Metcalfe left the Tea Set in late 1963, and Klose introduced the band to singer Chris Dennis, a technician with the Royal Air Force (RAF). Animals
Eric Clapton Clapton has been the recipient of 17 Grammy Awards, and the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. In 2004, he was awarded a CBE at Buckingham Palace for services to music.[6][7][8] In 1998, Clapton, a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, founded the Crossroads Centre on Antigua, a medical facility for recovering substance abusers.[9] Early life[edit] Eric Patrick Clapton was born in Ripley, Surrey, England, the son of 16-year-old Patricia Molly Clapton (7 January 1929 – March 1999) and Edward Walter Fryer (21 March 1920 – 15 May 1985), a 25-year-old soldier from Montreal, Quebec.[10] Fryer shipped off to war prior to Clapton's birth and then returned to Canada. Early career, breakthrough, and international success[edit] The Yardbirds and the Bluesbreakers[edit] In October 1963, Clapton joined The Yardbirds, a blues-influenced rock and roll band, and stayed with them until March 1965. Cream[edit] Clapton (right) with Cream
Radiohead Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboards, other instruments), Colin Greenwood (bass), Phil Selway (drums, percussion) and Ed O'Brien (guitar, backing vocals). Radiohead have sold more than 30 million albums worldwide,[2] with the band's work being placed highly in both listener polls and critics' lists; they have the distinction of doing so in both the 1990s and 2000s.[3][4] In 2005, Radiohead were ranked number 73 in Rolling Stone's list of "The Greatest Artists of All Time", while Jonny Greenwood (48th[5]) and Ed O'Brien were both included in Rolling Stone's list of greatest guitarists, and Thom Yorke (66th[6]) in their list of greatest singers.[7] In 2009, Rolling Stone readers voted the group the second best artist of the 2000s.[8] History Formation and first years (1985–91) Abingdon School, where the band formed
Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley[a] (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer, musician, and actor. Regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, he is often referred to as "the King of Rock and Roll", or simply, "the King". Presley is one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. Commercially successful in many genres, including pop, blues and gospel, he is the best-selling solo artist in the history of recorded music, with estimated album sales of around 600 million units worldwide.[9] He was nominated for 14 Grammys and won three, receiving the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36, and has been inducted into multiple music halls of fame. Life and career Early years (1935–53) Childhood in Tupelo Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi to 18-year-old Vernon Elvis Presley and 22-year-old Gladys Love Presley (née Smith), in the two-room shotgun house built by Vernon's father in preparation for the child's birth.
Led Zeppelin Page wrote most of Led Zeppelin's music, particularly early in their career, while Plant generally supplied the lyrics. Jones' keyboard-based compositions later became central to the group's catalogue, which featured increasing experimentation. The latter half of their career saw a series of record-breaking tours that earned the group a reputation for excess and debauchery. Although they remained commercially and critically successful, their output and touring schedule were limited during the late 1970s, and the group disbanded following Bonham's death from alcohol-related asphyxia in 1980. In the decades that followed, the surviving members sporadically collaborated and participated in one-off Led Zeppelin reunions. Led Zeppelin are widely considered one of the most successful, innovative, and influential rock groups in history. History[edit] Formation[edit] The band's logotype, used since 1973 Early years: 1968–70[edit] "The Biggest Band in the World": 1971–75[edit] Post-breakup[edit]
B.B. King Riley B. King (born September 16, 1925), known by the stage name B.B. King, is an American blues musician, singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at No. 6 on its 2011 list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time (previously ranked No. 3 in the 2003 edition of the same list),[1] and he was ranked No. 17 in Gibson's "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time".[2] According to Edward M. Early life[edit] King was born in a cabin on a cotton plantation outside of Berclair, Mississippi, to Albert King and Nora Ella Farr on September 16, 1925. In 1946, King followed Bukka White to Memphis, Tennessee. Initially he worked at WDIA as a singer and disc jockey, gaining the nickname Beale Street Blues Boy, which was later shortened to Blues Boy and finally to B.B.[12][13][14] It was there that he first met T-Bone Walker. Career[edit] 1949–2005[edit] King assembled his own band; the B.B. In the winter of 1949, King played at a dance hall in Twist, Arkansas. B.B.
Jimmy Reed Mathis James "Jimmy" Reed (September 6, 1925 – August 29, 1976)[1] was an American blues musician and songwriter, notable for bringing his distinctive style of blues to mainstream audiences. Reed was a major player in the field of electric blues, as opposed to the more acoustic-based sound of many of his contemporaries.[2] His music had a significant impact on many rock and roll artists who followed, such as Elvis Presley, Billy Gibbons and the Rolling Stones. Biography[edit] By the 1950s, Reed had established himself as a popular musician and joined the "Gary Kings" with John Brim, as well as playing on the street with Willie Joe Duncan. Reed maintained his reputation despite his rampant alcoholism; sometimes his wife had to help him remember the lyrics to his songs while recording. In spite of his numerous hits, Reed's personal problems prevented him from achieving the same level of fame as other popular blues artists of the time, though he had more hit songs than many others.
Otis Rush Otis Rush (born April 29, 1935[1][2][3] in Philadelphia, Mississippi) is a blues musician, singer and guitarist. His distinctive guitar style features a slow burning sound and long bent notes. With similar qualities to Magic Sam and Buddy Guy, his sound became known as West Side Chicago blues and became an influence on many musicians including Michael Bloomfield and Eric Clapton. Rush is left-handed and, unlike many other left-handed guitarists, plays a left-handed instrument strung upside-down with the low E string at the bottom. He played often with the little finger of his pick hand curled under the low E for positioning. It is widely believed that this contributes to his distinctive sound. Career[edit] After Cobra Records went bankrupt in 1959, Rush landed a recording contract with Chess in 1960. In the 1960s, Rush began playing in other cities in the U.S. and also to Europe, most notably the American Folk Blues Festival. Otis Rush performing in 2002 Discography[edit] Compilations[edit]
Bessie Smith Bessie Smith (April 15, 1894 – September 26, 1937) was an American blues singer. Nicknamed The Empress of the Blues, Smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s.[1] She is often regarded as one of the greatest singers of her era and, along with Louis Armstrong, a major influence on other jazz vocalists.[2] Life[edit] The 1900 census indicates that Bessie Smith was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in July 1892. Bessie Smith was the daughter of Laura (née Owens) and William Smith. To earn money for their impoverished household, Bessie Smith and her brother Andrew began busking on the streets of Chattanooga as a duo: she singing and dancing, he accompanying her on guitar. In 1904, her oldest brother, Clarence, covertly left home, joining a small traveling troupe owned by Moses Stokes. In 1912, Clarence returned to Chattanooga with the Stokes troupe. By 1923, when she began her recording career, Smith had taken up residence in Philadelphia. Career[edit] Broadway[edit]