Photo: Winter/Getty
Born
June 7th, 1958
Key Tracks
Little Red Corvette,” “When Doves Cry,” “Kiss”
Influenced
OutKast, D’Angelo, Gwen Stefani, Kevin Barnes
“Prince is the boldest black singer in postmodern music, hands down,” says Roots drummer Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson. “His voice has multiple personalities, he’s fearless, and when he screams, he truly sounds like he’s crazy.” Indeed, that throat-shredding climax to “The [...]
Photo: Getty Images
Born
February 21st, 1933 (died April 21st, 2003)
Key Tracks
“Mississippi Goddam,” “Four Women,” “I Wish Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free”
Influenced
Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, Erykah Badu
“White people had Judy Garland — we had Nina,” Richard Pryor once said. Nina Simone’s honey-coated, slightly adenoidal cry was one of the most affecting voices of the [...]
Photo: Stevenson/Retna UK
Born
January 19th, 1943 (died October 4th, 1970)
Key Tracks
“Piece of My Heart,” “Cry Baby,” “Me and Bobby McGee”
Influenced
Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Lucinda Williams
“She was shaking that shake that she did, and was screaming. I’d never seen anything like it,” says Melissa Etheridge of seeing Janis Joplin on The Ed Sullivan Show back in 1969. [...]
Photo: Michael Ochs Archive/Getty
Born
September 17th, 1923 (died January 1st, 1953)
Key Tracks
“Lovesick Blues,” “Cold, Cold Heart,” “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”
Influenced
George Jones, Buddy Holly, Dwight Yoakam, Willie Nelson
“At first listen, Hank may not sound like a real good singer,” says Merle Haggard, “but he had a unique method of sincerity. I never heard anything Hank [...]
Photo: Simon/Retna UK
Born
June 9th, 1934 (died January 21st, 1984)
Key Tracks
“Lonely Teardrops,” “That’s Why (I Love You So),” “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher”
Influenced
Al Green, Ben E. King, Bobby Darin, Michael Jackson
Jackie Wilson remains unmatched in the category of loosened-tie, high-energy rhythm & blues vocalists. The operatic drama in his voice, his on-the-beat phrasing [...]
Michael Jackson, the greatest pop legend of our time, passed away Thursday (June 25, 2009) at the age of 50.
The sensationally gifted child star who rose to become the “King of Pop” died from cardiac arrest at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. He is survived by three children - Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr, Paris [...]
Name:
Michael Jackson
Birth Name:
Michael Joseph Jackson
Height:
5′ 10
Sex:
M
Nationality:
American
Birth Date:
August 29, 1958
Birth Place:
Gary, Indiana, USA
Profession:
musician, song writer, actor
Education:
California Preparatory School, Encino, California
Place of Death:
UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles
Death Date:
June 25, 2009
Death Cause:
cardiac arrest
Husband/Wife: [...]
Photo: Walter/Getty
Born
August 29th, 1958
Key Tracks
“I Want You Back” (the Jackson 5), “Billie Jean,” “Man in the Mirror” (solo)
Influenced
Justin Timberlake, Chris Brown, Usher
Michael Jackson is a perfect storm of innate talent and training. His singing as a child is astounding: He just nailed “I Want You Back” — there’s maybe one bum note on that song, [...]
Photo: Rivas/AFP/Getty
Born
August 31st, 1945
Key Tracks
“Brown Eyed Girl,” “Moondance,” “Tupelo Honey”
Influenced
Elvis Costello, Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Ray LaMontagne
John Lee Hooker called Van Morrison “my favorite white blues singer.” Morrison has left his mark on over 40 years’ worth of rock, blues, folk, jazz and soul, as well as several genres that only really exist on his records. [...]
Photo: Putland/Retna
Born
January 8th, 1947
Key Tracks
“Life on Mars?” “Fame,” “Space Oddity,” “Heroes
Influenced
Morrissey, Scott Weiland, Trent Reznor
There are singers with a more naturally beautiful voice than David Bowie’s dramatic, powdery, British-accented baritone, but nobody else in rock is as gifted at acting in song. Before he became a pop star, he studied theater, which served him well: [...]