Category: Music

Earl King (born Earl Silas Johnson IV, 1934–2003) was a New Orleans R&B and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. A key figure in the city’s music scene, he blended sharp…

Edwin Starr (born Charles Edwin Hatcher, 1942–2003) was an American soul and R&B singer best known for his powerful, gritty voice and energetic performances. He started in the 1950s with…

Dame Shirley Bassey is the legendary Welsh singer famous for her powerful voice and James Bond themes (“Goldfinger,” “Diamonds Are Forever,” “Moonraker”). On this track she is credited as “Miss…

Arc Angels (often just called the Arc Angels) is a blues-rock band formed in Austin, Texas, in the early 1990s shortly after Stevie Ray Vaughan’s death. The name comes from…

Mighty Sam McClain (1943–2015) was an American soul-blues singer known for his powerful, emotional voice in the Southern soul tradition. Born Samuel McClain in Monroe, Louisiana, he started singing gospel…

Jimmy Dean (1928–2010) was an American country singer, television host, actor, and later the founder of the Jimmy Dean sausage brand. He first gained notice as a TV personality in…

The Small Faces were one of the great British rock bands of the 1960s. Formed in London in 1965, they started out rooted in R&B, soul and the mod scene,…

Bill Withers (1938–2020) was an American soul/R&B singer-songwriter known for his warm, authentic voice and grounded songwriting that blended soul, folk, gospel, and funk influences. Born William Harrison Withers Jr.…

The Ides of March is an American rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1964. They achieved massive success with their 1970 hit single “Vehicle,” which became the fastest-selling single…

Tommy Castro (born April 15, 1955, in San Jose, California) is an American blues, R&B, soul, and rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, and bandleader known for his passionate, fiery guitar playing,…

The Hollies are a British rock/pop band formed in Manchester in 1962 by childhood friends Allan Clarke (lead vocals) and Graham Nash (vocals/guitar). They became one of the most successful…

“Palace of the King”(sometimes referred to with “Living in the…” in the title or lyrics) is a blues/rock track by Freddie King (often billed as Freddy King early in his…

The Pretenders “Brass in Pocket” Their breakthrough hit from the debut album. Released late 1979, it went to No. 1 in the UK (first new chart-topper of the 1980s) and…

Albert Collins (1932–1993) was a Texas blues guitarist and singer, nicknamed “The Iceman” and “Master of the Telecaster.” He was known for his sharp, icy tone, aggressive fingerstyle playing, unusual…

Tony Joe White was a Louisiana-born singer, songwriter, and guitarist who became one of the defining voices of swamp rock—a gritty blend of blues, country, R&B and Southern storytelling. His…

Kim Wilson, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and “Tuff Enuff” Kim Wilson is the unmistakable voice and harmonica player behind the The Fabulous Thunderbirds, one of the key bands to emerge from…

Looking Glass were a New Jersey pop-rock band formed by musicians who met at Rutgers University in the late 1960s. They had a tougher, more rocking sound than their one…

James “Superharp” Cotton was one of the great American blues harmonica players. Born in Mississippi in 1935, he learned from Sonny Boy Williamson II and later became an important member…

Ray Charles (1930–2004)was a pioneering American singer, pianist, and songwriter often called “the Genius” or “Father of Soul.” Blind from childhood, he blended gospel, blues, jazz, and R&B into a…

Rough Trade was a Canadian new wave/rock band formed in Toronto, best known for its provocative lyrics and stage presence. Centered on singer Carole Pope and multi-instrumentalist Kevan Staples, the…