(Vocals, guitar, songwriter, 1915–68) Honky-tonk stylist Skeets McDonald was another of Cliffie Stone’s discoveries, who put him on the Hometown Jamboree before he became a regular member of the weekly Town Hall Party. Stone also signed him to Capitol where he achieved a number one with ‘Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes’ (1952). He had ...
(Guitar, vocals, 1921–86) Known as ‘king of the strings’ for his ability to play virtually any string instrument, Joe Maphis was an active session musician, a cast member of Town Hall Party, and his inventive skills on the double-neck Mosrite inspired many, including a young Larry Collins (of The Collins Kids). He sang with his ...
(Vocals, guitar, songwriter, 1934–85) A formative figure of the West Coast hardcore honky-tonk movement, Stewart was a major influence on both Buck Owens and Merle Haggard (the latter played bass in Stewart’s band). He was a regular on KWTO in Springfield, Missouri when he was 13, before his family relocated to California. Skeets McDonald helped ...
America’s leading hard rock band in the 1980s, Bon Jovi have broadened their appeal still further by combining their musical aggression with catchy pop songs to achieve a universal appeal. The band was formed in 1983 in New Jersey by singer Jon Bon Jovi (b. John Francis Bongiovi, 2 March 1962), guitarist Richie Sambora (b. 11 July 1969), keyboard ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1965–70) One of the more doctrinal psychedelic groups that flourished in flower-power San Francisco featured Country Joe McDonald (vocals) and Barry ‘Fish’ Melton (guitar). Both Electric Music For The Mind And Body and Together made the US album Top 40, and ‘I Feel Like I’m Fixing To Die Rag’ was taken up as an anti-Vietnam war anthem. ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1976–present) These AOR giants established themselves in 1977 with their eponymous debut album and single ‘Feels Like The First Time’, which both reached No. 4 in the US. The band was founded by Englishman Mick Jones (guitar) with Lou Gramm’s dramatic tenor vocals to the fore. The original line-up was completed by Ian McDonald (guitar, keyboards), Al ...
(Vocals, dancer, 1906–75) Born Freda Josephine McDonald, the St. Louis-born entertainer danced in the 1921 Sissle/Blake musical Shuffle Along before gaining a bigger role in their Chocolate Dandies in 1924, leading to appearances at the Cotton Club. The following year, she introduced ‘le jazz hot’ to Paris in La Revue Négre (also featuring Sidney Bechet) with ...
January Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Although Pink Floyd were not defending their heavyweight title in the ring anymore, they were no longer anonymous figures and enjoyed all the personal trappings of being one of the world’s most successful and influential bands. On 17 January 1996 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York Gilmour, Wright and Mason were ...
(Vocal group, 1972–81, 1993–present) This critically acclaimed New York outfit was formed around the nucleus of songwriters of Walter Becker (bass, vocals) and Donald Fagen (keyboards, vocals). Drummer Jim Hodder and guitarists Denny Dias and Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter completed the line-up along with vocalist David Palmer, recruited because Fagen was not sufficiently confident in his own ...
(Vocal group, 1970–present) The Doobies were founded by Tom Johnston (guitar, vocals), Pat Simmons (guitar, vocals) and John Hartman (drums). Additional drummer Michael Hossack and Tiran Porter (bass) were recruited for the band’s second album Toulouse Street (1972). 1973’s The Captain And Me spawned radio staples ‘Long Train Running’ and ‘China Grove’. Steely Dan vocalist/keyboardist Michael McDonald was ...
Vince Gill (b. 1957) broke out of a respected but static 10-year career as a bandmember and solo act and into country stardom with the 1990 hit ‘When I Call Your Name’. Gill was in the forefront of the neo-traditional country movement and became one of the biggest crossover singing stars in Nashville. It helped that he was an excellent country ...
Although it generally refers to music recorded up to the end of the Second World War, nostalgia is not a genre in the sense that the artists share inherent characteristics or sensibilities. Instead they have a special resonance, an ability to conjure up feelings and memories of a specific era. Some of them stood for harrowing times: Mae West ...
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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.