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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, [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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, [...]
Photo: Pitard Collection/Retna Born January 25th, 1938 Key Tracks “At Last,” “Sunday Kind of Love,” “Tell Mama” Influenced Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt, Christina Aguilera “There’s a lot going on in Etta James’ voice,” says Bonnie Raitt. “A lot of pain, a lot of life but, most of all, a lot of strength.” James is often [...]
Photo: Janin/AFP/Getty Born February 26th, 1932 (died September 12th, 2003) Key Tracks “Ring of Fire,” “I Walk the Line,” “Folsom Prison Blues” Influenced Bob Dylan, Merle Haggard, Steve Earle Johnny cash “sounds like he’s at the edge of the fire,” Bob Dylan wrote in Chronicles. “Johnny’s voice was so big, it made the world grow [...]
Photo: Bucci/Getty Born February 19th, 1940 Key Tracks “The Tracks of My Tears,” “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” (the Miracles), “Cruisin’ ” (solo) Influenced Al Green, Linda Ronstadt, Mick Jagger “With his tone and delivery, you could fall in love with Smokey,” says fellow Motown star Martha Reeves. As a teenager, Robinson wanted [...]
Photo: Arron/Retna Born February 6th, 1945 (died May 11th, 1981) Key Tracks “No Woman, No Cry,” “Redemption Song,” “I Shot the Sheriff” Influenced Bono, Lauryn Hill, Buju Banton To talk only about Bob Marley’s singing voice would negate what makes him one of the greatest voices of our time — why his voice is stamped [...]
Photo: Mazel/Sunshine/Retna Born September 5th, 1946 (died November 24th, 1991) Key Tracks “We Are the Champions,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “You’re My Best Friend” Influenced Axl Rose, Joe Elliott, George Michael He’s “the most inspirational frontman of all time,” says My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way. A hard-rock hammerer, a disco glitterer, a rockabilly lover boy, Freddie Mercury [...]