(Producer, singer-songwriter, b. 1969) With his roots firmly planted in R&B, pop and balladry Robert Kelly is one of America’s most successful male artists. Early albums like 12 Play (1993) and R. Kelly (1995) showcased his booty grabbing smooth vocal style over self-written and produced sensual music. ‘Sex Me Pts 1 & 2’, ‘She’s Got That Vibe’ and ...
(Guitar, harmonica, vocals, b. 1942) The son of A&R genius John Hammond, this New York City native left home at the age of 19 to perform professionally. He remains primarily an acoustic player, in the tradition of the classic Delta musicians. Hammond cut a fine series of LPs during 1964–76, encapsulated on 2000’s Best Of ...
(Guitar, harmonica, vocals, 1915–2006) Lockwood is thought to be the only musician given lessons by Robert Johnson, who was infatuated with Lockwood’s mother. But Lockwood, who was raised in Helena, Arkansas, also assimilated jazz chords and swinging rhythms to become one of the most sophisticated guitarists to emerge from the Delta. After decades as ...
Malcolm John ‘Mac’ Rebennack Jr., a.k.a. ‘Dr. John the Night Tripper’, was born in New Orleans in November 1940. The singer and pianist began his professional career while he was still a teenager. He backed local favourites including Joe Tex and Professor Longhair on guitar and keyboards, produced and arranged sessions at Cosmio Studio, also frequented ...
(Tenor saxophone, b. 1929) Admired by post-1960s Chicago improvisers as a founding member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, tenor saxophonist Fred Anderson’s reputation spread after his first trip to Europe in 1977, but he was very sparsely recorded until the 1990s. Since then his huge tone and gutsy, freely associative statements have been ...
(Guitar, vocals, 1926–2005) Sharecropper Rural ‘R.L.’ Burnside was inspired to learn guitar by his north Mississippi neighbours Mississippi Fred McDowell and Ranie Burnette, as well as John Lee Hooker records. He first recorded in the 1960s, but his career ignited after he appeared in the documentary Deep Blues (1991) and released Too Bad Jim (1994) ...
(Vocals, 1889–1942) A mill-hand from Fieldale, Virginia, Harrell was a contemporary and acquaintance of Charlie Poole, but had little of his raunchy zest; instead he sang old parlour pieces like ‘In The Shadow Of The Pine’ with bleak sobriety. He made his finest recordings with Poole’s fiddler Posey Rorer – among them the ballad ‘Charles Guiteau’ about ...
(Vocals, guitar, b. 1949) Williams was only three when his famous father died, but the youngster was raised to imitate his daddy’s records as closely as possible. He finally rebelled against that formula in 1975 by releasing Hank Williams Jr. And Friends with his southern-rock friends. After an injury-induced break, he returned to performing in 1976, ...
(Piano, singer-songwriter, b. 1942) A highly respected exponent of Southern R&B, Mac Rebennack had 15 years of recording and production experience as a session player before he released his first LP, 1968’s Gris Gris. Frequently adding jazz, rock, psychedelia and voodoo to the R&B mix, his prolific output is unpredictably eclectic, although his ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1971–present) A London rhythm & blues band that emerged from the pub rock scene in 1974, Dr. Feelgood’s back-to-basics approach foreshadowed punk. Comprising Lee Brilleaux (Lee Collinson, vocals), Wilko Johnson (John Wilkinson, guitar), John B. Sparks (bass) and John ‘The Big Figure’ Martin (drums), their live album Stupidity was a 1976 chart topper. Brilleaux remained ...
(Producer, rapper, songwriter, b. 1965) Adopting the name Dr. Dre, Andre Young is colossally influential in rap. A creative force behind Niggaz With Attitude, he pioneered gangsta rap and has a vast number of production credits, including Snoop Dogg and Blackstreet’s ‘No Diggity’ to his name. Dre also created the more laid-back G-funk musical style. ...
Michael Stipe (born 4 January 1960, vocals) met Peter Buck (born 6 December 1956, guitar) in the Wuxtry record store in Athens, Georgia, in 1978. Two years later they met Bill Berry (born 31 July 1958, drums) and Mike Mills (born 17 December 1958, bass) at a party and Rapid Eye Movement – R.E ...
(Vocals, b. 1982) 2002’s American Idol victor, Clarkson has, like many, tried hard to escape the show’s shadow. Indeed, it is her later material that the general public will remember if asked – singles ‘Because Of You’ (2005) and ‘Since You Been Gone’ (2004) are rockier, a direct result of the star trying to break ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1985–91, 1997, 2001–04, 2008–present) The charismatic Perry Farrell formed Jane’s Addiction in Los Angeles in 1985, Dave Navarro (guitar), Eric Avery (bass) and Stephen Perkins (drums) completing the line-up. Musically the band compacted punk, rock and elements of funk and jazz best showcased on Ritual De Lo Habitual (1991). Although Farrell instigated the ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1957–present) This long-careered family group originally comprised brothers O’Kelly, Rudolph and Ronald who travelled from 1950s gospel to 1980s disco with frequent and influential success. Their early R&B hits ‘Shout’ (1957) and ‘Twist And Shout’ (1962) became standards, while their 1964 backing band included the young Jimi Hendrix. They scored only one US success on signing ...
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An extensive music information resource, bringing together the talents and expertise of a wide range of editors and musicologists, including Stanley Sadie, Charles Wilson, Paul Du Noyer, Tony Byworth, Bob Allen, Howard Mandel, Cliff Douse, William Schafer, John Wilson...
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Classical, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country and more. Flame Tree has been making encyclopaedias and guides about music for over 20 years. Now Flame Tree Pro brings together a huge canon of carefully curated information on genres, styles, artists and instruments. It's a perfect tool for study, and entertaining too, a great companion to our music books.
David Bowie
Fantastic new, unofficial biography covers
his life, music, art and movies, with a
sweep of incredible photographs.