A musician is an artist who writes, performs, or creates music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music.

An instrumentalist plays a musical instrument.

A multi-instrumentalist plays a diverse range of instruments such as different forms of percussion, plucked strings, vocals etc.

A singer is a vocalist.

Composers, songwriters and arrangers create musical compositions, songs and arrangements. These may be transcribed in music notation, performed or recorded.

A conductor leads a musical ensemble. A conductor can simultaneously act as an instrumentalist in the ensemble.

A recording artist creates recorded music, such as CDs and MP3 files.

There are many forms of musicians. From classical artist to rock artist. The spectrum is so diverse that there is no limitation to a musician's qualifications.

See also

American Federation of Musicians

External links

Category:Occupations in music

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Coordinates	41°52′55″N87°37′40″N
alt	A mid-twenties African American man wearing a sequined military jacket and dark sunglasses. He is walking while waving his right hand, which is adorned with a white glove. His left hand is bare.
background	solo_singer
birth name	Michael Joseph Jackson
alias	Michael Joe Jackson, MJ, King of Pop
birth date	August 29, 1958
birth place	Gary, Indiana, U.S.
death date	June 25, 2009
death place	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
instrument	vocals, guitar, drums, percussion, keyboards
genre	R&B;, pop, rock, soul, dance, funk, disco, new jack swing
occupation	Singer-songwriter, musician, composer, dancer, choreographer, record producer, actor, businessman, philanthropist
years active	1964–2009
label	Motown, Epic, Legacy
associated acts	The Jackson 5
relatives	Janet Jackson (sister)
website	130pxMichael Jackson's signature }}

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Often referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records. His contribution to music, dance, and fashion, along with a much-publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene along with his brothers as a member of The Jackson 5, then the Jacksons in 1964, and began his solo career in 1971.

In the early 1980s, Jackson became a dominant figure in popular music. The music videos for his songs, including those of "Beat It", "Billie Jean", and "Thriller", were credited with transforming the medium into an art form and a promotional tool, and the popularity of these videos helped to bring the relatively new television channel MTV to fame. Videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream" made him a staple on MTV in the 1990s. Through stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk, to which he gave the name. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style have influenced numerous hip hop, post-disco, contemporary R&B;, pop and rock artists.

Jackson's 1982 album ''Thriller'' is the best-selling album of all time. His other records, including ''Off the Wall'' (1979), ''Bad'' (1987), ''Dangerous'' (1991), and ''HIStory'' (1995), also rank among the world's best-selling. Jackson is one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. He was also inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame as the first (and currently only) dancer from the world of pop and rock 'n' roll. Some of his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records; 13 Grammy Awards (as well as the Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award); 26 American Music Awards (more than any other artist, including the "Artist of the Century"); 13 number-one singles in the United States in his solo career (more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era); and the estimated sale of over 750 million records worldwide. Jackson won hundreds of awards, which have made him the most-awarded recording artist in the history of popular music.

Life and career

Early life and The Jackson 5 (1958–1975)

Michael Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, the eighth of ten children in an African American working-class family who lived in a small 3-room house in Gary, Indiana, an industrial city near Chicago. His mother, Katherine Esther Scruse, was a devout Jehovah's Witness, and his father, Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson, was a steel mill worker who performed with an R&B; band called The Falcons. Jackson had three sisters: Rebbie, La Toya, and Janet, and five brothers: Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Randy. A sixth brother, Brandon, died shortly after birth.

Jackson had a troubled relationship with his father, Joe. In 1980, Jackson won three awards at the American Music Awards for his solo efforts: Favorite Soul/R&B; Album, Favorite Soul/R&B; Male Artist, and Favorite Soul/R&B; Single for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". That year, he also won Billboard Year-End for Top Black Artist and Top Black Album and a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B; Vocal Performance, also for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". Jackson again won at the American Music Awards in 1981 for Favorite Soul/R&B; Album and Favorite Soul/R&B; Male Artist. Despite its commercial success, Jackson felt ''Off the Wall'' should have made a much bigger impact, and was determined to exceed expectations with his next release. In 1980, he secured the highest royalty rate in the music industry: 37 percent of wholesale album profit.

''Thriller'' and ''Motown 25'' (1982–83)

In 1982, Jackson contributed the song "Someone In the Dark" to the storybook for the film ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial''; the record won a Grammy for Best Recording for Children in 1984. In the same year he won another seven Grammys and eight American Music Awards (including the Award of Merit, the youngest artist to win it), making him the most awarded in one night for both award shows. The album topped the ''Billboard'' 200 chart for 37 weeks and was in the top 10 of the 200 for 80 consecutive weeks. It was the first album to have seven ''Billboard'' Hot 100 top 10 singles, including "Billie Jean", "Beat It," and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'." ''Thriller'' was certified for 29 million shipments by the RIAA, giving it Double Diamond status in the United States. The album won also another Grammy for Best Engineered Recording – Non Classical in 1984, awarding Bruce Swedien for his work. Thanks to the ''Bad'' album, Bruce Swedien and Humberto Gatica won one Grammy in 1988 for Best Engineered Recording – Non Classical and Michael Jackson won one Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form for "Leave Me Alone" in 1989. ''HIStory'' received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. However, the sales for ''Invincible'' were lower than those of his previous releases, due in part to a lack of promotion, no supporting world tour and the label dispute. The album also came out at a bad time for the music industry in general. Jackson rehearsed in Los Angeles in the weeks leading up to the tour under the direction of choreographer Kenny Ortega. Most of these rehearsals took place at the Staples Center, which was owned by AEG. With ''Thriller'', Christopher Connelly of ''Rolling Stone'' commented that Jackson developed his long association with the subliminal theme of paranoia and darker imagery. Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted this is evident on the songs "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'". In "Billie Jean", Jackson sings about an obsessive fan who alleges he has fathered a child of hers. In "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" he argues against gossip and the media. "Beat It" decried gang violence in an homage to ''West Side Story'', and was Jackson's first successful rock cross-over piece, according to Huey. He also observed that the title track "Thriller" began Jackson's interest with the theme of the supernatural, a topic he revisited in subsequent years. In 1985, Jackson co-wrote the charity anthem "We Are the World"; humanitarian themes later became a recurring theme in his lyrics and public persona.

In ''Bad'', Jackson's concept of the predatory lover can be seen on the rock song "Dirty Diana". The lead single "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" is a traditional love ballad, while "Man in the Mirror" is an anthemic ballad of confession and resolution. "Smooth Criminal" was an evocation of bloody assault, rape and likely murder. Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine states that ''Dangerous'' presents Jackson as a very paradoxical individual. He comments the album is more diverse than his previous ''Bad'', as it appeals to an urban audience while also attracting the middle class with anthems like "Heal the World". The first half of the record is dedicated to new jack swing, including songs like "Jam" and "Remember the Time". The album is Jackson's first where social ills become a primary theme; "Why You Wanna Trip on Me", for example, protests against world hunger, AIDS, homelessness and drugs. ''Dangerous'' contains sexually charged efforts such as the multifaceted love song, "In the Closet". The title track continues the theme of the predatory lover and compulsive desire. The second half includes introspective, pop-gospel anthems such as "Will You Be There", "Heal the World" and "Keep the Faith"; these songs show Jackson opening up about various personal struggles and worries. In the ballad "Gone Too Soon", Jackson gives tribute to his friend Ryan White and the plight of those with AIDS.

''HIStory'' creates an atmosphere of paranoia. Its content focuses on the hardships and public struggles Jackson went through just prior to its production. In the new jack swing-funk-rock efforts "Scream" and "Tabloid Junkie", along with the R&B; ballad "You Are Not Alone", Jackson retaliates against the injustice and isolation he feels, and directs much of his anger at the media. In the introspective ballad "Stranger in Moscow", Jackson laments over his "fall from grace", while songs like "Earth Song", "Childhood", "Little Susie" and "Smile" are all operatic pop pieces. In the track "D.S.", Jackson launched a verbal attack against Tom Sneddon. He describes Sneddon as an antisocial, white supremacist who wanted to "get my ass, dead or alive". Of the song, Sneddon said, "I have not—shall we say—done him the honor of listening to it, but I've been told that it ends with the sound of a gunshot". ''Invincible'' found Jackson working heavily with producer Rodney Jerkins. It is a record made up of urban soul like "Cry" and "The Lost Children", ballads such as "Speechless", "Break of Dawn" and "Butterflies" and mixes hip-hop, pop and R&B; in "2000 Watts", "Heartbreaker" and "Invincible".

Vocal style

Jackson sang from childhood, and over time his voice and vocal style changed noticeably. Between 1971 and 1975, Jackson's voice descended from boy soprano to high tenor. Jackson first used a technique called the "vocal hiccup" in 1973, starting with the song "It's Too Late to Change the Time" from The Jackson 5's ''G.I.T.: Get It Together'' album. Jackson did not use the hiccup technique— somewhat like a gulping for air or gasping— fully until the recording of ''Off the Wall'': it can be seen in full force in the "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" promotional video. With the arrival of ''Off the Wall'' in the late 1970s, Jackson's abilities as a vocalist were well regarded. At the time, ''Rolling Stone'' compared his vocals to the "breathless, dreamy stutter" of Stevie Wonder. Their analysis was also that "Jackson's feathery-timbred tenor is extraordinarily beautiful. It slides smoothly into a startling falsetto that's used very daringly". 1982 saw the release of ''Thriller'', and ''Rolling Stone'' was of the opinion that Jackson was then singing in a "fully adult voice" that was "tinged by sadness".

A distinctive deliberate mispronunciation of "come on", used frequently by Jackson, occasionally spelled "cha'mone" or "shamone", is also a staple in impressions and caricatures of him. The turn of the 1990s saw the release of the introspective album ''Dangerous''. ''The New York Times'' noted that on some tracks, "he gulps for breath, his voice quivers with anxiety or drops to a desperate whisper, hissing through clenched teeth" and he had a "wretched tone". When singing of brotherhood or self-esteem the musician would return to "smooth" vocals. When commenting on ''Invincible'', ''Rolling Stone'' were of the opinion that—at the age of 43—Jackson still performed "exquisitely voiced rhythm tracks and vibrating vocal harmonies". Nelson George summed up Jackson's vocals by stating "The grace, the aggression, the growling, the natural boyishness, the falsetto, the smoothness—that combination of elements mark him as a major vocalist".

Music videos and choreography

Referred to as the King of Music Videos, Steve Huey of Allmusic observed how Jackson transformed the music video into an art form and a promotional tool through complex story lines, dance routines, special effects and famous cameo appearances; simultaneously breaking down racial barriers. Before ''Thriller'', Jackson struggled to receive coverage on MTV, allegedly because he was African American. Pressure from CBS Records persuaded MTV to start showing "Billie Jean" and later "Beat It", leading to a lengthy partnership with Jackson, also helping other black music artists gain recognition. MTV employees deny any racism in their coverage, or pressure to change their stance. MTV maintains that they played rock music, regardless of race. The popularity of his videos on MTV helped to put the relatively young channel "on the map"; MTV's focus shifted in favor of pop and R&B.; His performance on ''Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever'' changed the scope of live stage show; "That Jackson lip-synced 'Billie Jean' is, in itself, not extraordinary, but the fact that it did not change the impact of the performance is extraordinary; whether the performance was live or lip-synced made no difference to the audience" thus creating an era in which artists re-create the spectacle of music video imagery on stage. Short films like ''Thriller'' largely remained unique to Jackson, while the group dance sequence in "Beat It" has frequently been imitated. The choreography in ''Thriller'' has become a part of global pop culture, replicated everywhere from Indian films to prisons in the Philippines. The ''Thriller'' short film marked an increase in scale for music videos, and has been named the most successful music video ever by the ''Guinness World Records''.

In the 19-minute music video for "Bad"—directed by Martin Scorsese—Jackson began using sexual imagery and choreography not previously seen in his work. He occasionally grabbed or touched his chest, torso and crotch. When asked by Oprah in the 1993 interview about why he grabbed his crotch, he replied, "I think it happens subliminally" and he described it as something that was not planned, but rather, as something that was compelled by the music. "Bad" garnered a mixed reception from both fans and critics; ''Time'' magazine described it as "infamous". The video also featured Wesley Snipes; in the future Jackson's videos would often feature famous cameo roles.

}} ;Bibliography

George, Nelson (2004). ''Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection'' booklet. Sony BMG.

Further reading

External links

Michael Jackson Live: Best Pics – slideshow by ''Life magazine''

Michael Jackson at MTV

FBI file on Michael Jackson

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Coordinates	41°52′55″N87°37′40″N
name	Anthony Kiedis
background	solo_singer
birth date	November 01, 1962
birth place	Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
occupation	Singer-songwriter, musician, actor
instrument	Vocals, guitar
genre	Funk rock, alternative rock, punk rock
years active	1983–present
label	Warner Bros. Records, EMI
associated acts	Red Hot Chili Peppers, What Is This?
notable instruments	}}

Anthony Kiedis ( ; born November 1, 1962) is an American vocalist/lyricist and occasional actor best known as the lead vocalist of the Grammy-winning American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Kiedis spent his youth in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his mother before moving, shortly before his 12th birthday, to Hollywood, California to live with his father. After high school, Kiedis began taking classes at UCLA, but dropped out after losing interest due to substance abuse. After dropping out, Kiedis received an offer to be the opening act for a local band, and enlisted friends Flea, Hillel Slovak, and Jack Irons to assist. The line-up eventually became the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Biography

Early life

Kiedis was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to John Kiedis, an actor, and Margaret "Peggy" Nobel. In 1965, when he was three years old, his parents divorced. Along with his two half-sisters, Julie and Jenny, and a half-brother, James, Keidis was raised by his mother in Lowell, Michigan. In 1973, when Kiedis was 11 years old, he then moved to Los Angeles, California to be raised by his father. Anthony's father was a drug dealer who introduced him to drugs. With his father's blessing, Anthony lost his virginity at the age of 12 to Kimberly, his father's 18-year-old girlfriend. His back has since improved, although he still has occasional problems. Kiedis recalled: "We were drawn to each other by the forces of mischief and love and we became virtually inseparable. We were both social outcasts. We found each other and it turned out to be the longest-lasting friendship of my life." Kiedis became a significant influence on Flea, exposing him to rock music, particularly punk rock. Kiedis also met Hillel Slovak after seeing him perform with his band Anthym, who invited Kiedis to his house for a snack. Kiedis later described the experience in his autobiography ''Scar Tissue'': "Within a few minutes of hanging out with Hillel, I sensed that he was absolutely different from most of the people I'd spent time with...He understood a lot about music, he was a great visual artist, and he had a sense of self and a calm about him that were just riveting." Slovak, Kiedis, and Flea became best friends and often used LSD, heroin, cocaine, and speed recreationally. Despite his frequent drug use, he excelled in school, often receiving straight A grades. The Red Hot Chili Peppers entered Bijou Studios to record a demo tape and subsequently secured a record deal with EMI. Irons and Slovak however, decided to leave the Red Hot Chili Peppers in order to pursue a "more serious" future with rock band What Is This?. Flea ultimately respected the decision, but felt the band would be lost without them. Kiedis and Flea hired drummer Cliff Martinez and guitarist Jack Sherman to fill Iron's and Slovak's places, respectively. Andy Gill, formerly of Gang of Four, agreed to produce their first album. Gill and Sherman clashed with Kiedis and Flea; they continuously argued over music style, sound, and the album's production.

Funk musician George Clinton was hired to produce the band's second album, ''Freaky Styley''. The strong chemistry between Clinton and the Chili Peppers was felt instantly. ''Freaky Styley'' was released in August 1985. It received only a bit more attention than ''The Red Hot Chili Peppers'' with roughly 75,000 copies sold by year's end.

The band hired Michael Beinhorn, their last resort among potential producers, to work on their next album, ''The Uplift Mofo Party Plan''. What Is This? had finally disbanded, and Irons returned to the Chili Peppers in mid 1986 after Martinez was fired. Flea, Slovak and Kiedis especially were involved in heavy drug use and their relationships became strained. Flea recalled that "it began to seem ugly to me and not fun; our communication was not healthy". Kiedis became dependent on heroin, leaving Flea and Slovak to work on much of the album's material by themselves.

Both Kiedis and Slovak struggled with debilitating heroin addictions, which grew worse as the band was preparing to record ''Uplift''. Due to his addiction, Kiedis lacked the motivation to contribute to the band musically, and appeared at rehearsal "literally asleep". He was asked to leave the band in order to undergo drug rehabilitation. During that time, the band won the ''LA Weekly'' Band of the Year award which prompted Kiedis to quit using heroin cold turkey. He visited his mother in Michigan for guidance, who drove him to drug rehabilitation immediately after picking him up from the airport upon seeing his unhealthy appearance. He checked into Salvation Army rehabilitation clinic in Grand Rapids, an experience which he initially detested until he noted that the other people in the clinic were understanding of his struggles and were trying to help him. He moved in with his mother after twenty days at the clinic, a time which marked the first time he was completely abstinent from drugs since he was eleven years old. After Kiedis completed his stint in rehabilitation, he felt a "whole new wave of enthusiasm" due to his sobriety and wrote the lyrics to a new song entitled "Fight Like a Brave" on the flight home. He rejoined the Red Hot Chili Peppers in Los Angeles to record the group's next album.

Drug addictions

Kiedis often battled with drug addiction, including lengthy addictions to heroin and cocaine, from a very young age. Since his father was an addict, Kiedis was constantly around his drug-using and dealing father, as well as his father's friends, who engaged in the same activities. Some of Kiedis' early drug use came from substances he got from his father, including marijuana, which he first smoked when he was 11 years old. He entered rehab and ended up staying clean for five years but relapsed in 1994 and kept using on and off over the next six years. The last major relapse was instigated by a New Zealand doctor prescribing him Ultram despite Kiedis specifically asking for drugs that are not in the opiate family. To a recovering heroin addict, the synthetic opiate only gave rise to strong cravings. This last relapse, as many previous ones, was to a degree also a byproduct of a tumultuous relationship with a woman. He has reportedly avoided another relapse since December 24, 2000. "It’s easy to be a junkie, but it's not easy to be one of the best guitarists or songwriters of all time," Kiedis said in the March 2007 issue of ''Blender''.

Role in the Red Hot Chili Peppers

Kiedis writes most of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' lyrics. Starting with 1989's ''Mother's Milk'' album, John Frusciante and Flea have written nearly all of the music (excluding melodies) for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, while Kiedis adds lyrics and melodies he hears during instrumental jams by his band mates. Kiedis said in 2006, "Somehow I find songs... in the bigness of what they're doing." His lyrical style has varied over the years. During the band's early years, Kiedis wrote many lyrics detailing his enjoyment of sex, drugs, and life in Los Angeles. As his musical tastes expanded and his outlook on life changed, he began writing songs about a wider spectrum of subjects. His lyrics include many of the same themes as the writings of Charles Bukowski, Kiedis' main literary influence.

His early vocal style with the band primarily consisted of rapping. On ''Mother's Milk'' (1989), Kiedis wrote more melody-driven songs, rather than the basic rhythm and beat style of funk. The first song where Kiedis employed his new melodic style was "Knock Me Down". The melody was actually shaped and performed by guitarist John Frusciante. Upon joining the band, Frusciante sang lead vocals on the song along with Kiedis. ''Blood Sugar Sex Magik'' in 1991 still saw Kiedis rapping, but he also started singing in songs such as "Under the Bridge", "Breaking the Girl", and "I Could Have Lied". Over the years, Kiedis grew to favor singing over rapping. Kiedis has had many vocal coaches, but none of them had helped him sing "well." In fact, it was not until 1999's ''Californication'' that he felt he could take full control of his voice while singing.

Despite the band's varied lineup, Kiedis remained and tried to keep the group together whenever it was about to fall apart. However, Kiedis himself was fired for around a month somewhere in 1986 because of his drug addiction; he was brought back into the band and stayed clean for, as he recalls, 53 days, after which he began abusing cocaine and heroin again.

Other projects

Using the stage name Cole Dammett (adapted from his father's stage name, Blackie Dammett), Kiedis landed a number of small roles in television and film as a teenager in the late 1970s. His early credits include ''F.I.S.T.'' and the 1978 ABC Afterschool Special ''It's a Mile from Here to Glory''. Resuming his acting work in the 1990s, Kiedis appeared in the 1991 Keanu Reeves/Patrick Swayze vehicle ''Point Break'' playing Tone, a surfer. ''The Chase'', a 1994 movie starring Charlie Sheen as an estranged man trying to escape the cops with a young woman he kidnapped, had Flea and Kiedis playing metalheads who chase Sheen's character in a 4x4 truck and end up crashing.

In 2004, Kiedis published a memoir titled ''Scar Tissue'', which peaked at #1 on the ''New York Times Bestseller List''. He also organized the New American Music Union, a two-day summer music festival set for August 2008 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has assembled a lineup of musicians including Bob Dylan, The Raconteurs, Gnarls Barkley, The Roots, and a second stage featuring college bands. (The lineup did not include Kiedis or the Red Hot Chili Peppers.)

In 2011, Kiedis, along with his son Everly, will appear in the documentary, Bob and the Monster. The documentary details the life and career of musician and drug counselor, Bob Forrest.

On May 11, 2011, Anthony donated a MTV European Music Award that the band had previously won to help raise funds for ongoing relief in devastated areas of Japan, which was hit with an earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

Upcoming television series

Kiedis is developing a series for HBO based on his unconventional upbringing in Los Angeles. The show is expected to be loosely based on much of Kiedis' autobiography. He has partnered with Catapult 360 partners Marc Abrams and Michael Benson to create the series, titled ''Spider and Son''. Abrams and Benson are scouting for a writer to pen the script, which will center on Kiedis's relationship with his father, Blackie Dammett, who sold many drugs and mingled with rock stars on the Sunset Strip, all while aspiring to get into show business. The show was scheduled to premiere in late 2010 at the very earliest. According to a post by Blackie on his Facebook page, the John Sayles script for the pilot episode was turned over to HBO on May 10, 2010.

Personal life

Kiedis's now ex-girlfriend, model Heather Christie, gave birth to the couple's first child, a son named Everly Bear, on October 2, 2007. According to Kiedis, Everly is named after one of Anthony's favorite bands, The Everly Brothers and the name Bear was something Heather came up with. Kiedis said that the name Bear made sense to him "because he's from me and I feel like I'm part of the bear clan, and I think it's nice to have a little bit of earth in your name." Kiedis split with Christie in June 2008. He had been a vegetarian since the 1980s. He is now vegan since 2008, telling PETA "Soon after I went vegan, I saw some documentary footage of what happens in the factory farming of cows... It sealed the deal." Kiedis regularly practices Vipassana meditation and is a follower of Kabbalah, but says "I don't go for sects and denominations."

Kiedis is a longtime Los Angeles Lakers fan; along with friend and bassist Flea, and former Peppers' guitarist John Frusciante. He has had courtside seats for years.

He is also a fan and collector of Robert Williams. He bought ''Mirror Image with Varicose Eyeballs'', which also appeared in the art show Helter Skelter at the Los Angeles MOCA in 1992 and referred to him in the song "Mellowship Slinky in B-Major".

Selected discography

;Red Hot Chili Peppers

''The Red Hot Chili Peppers'' (1984)

''Freaky Styley'' (1985)

''The Uplift Mofo Party Plan'' (1987)

''The Abbey Road E.P.'' (1988)

''Mother's Milk'' (1989)

''Blood Sugar Sex Magik'' (1991)

''One Hot Minute'' (1995)

''Californication'' (1999)

''By the Way'' (2002)

''Stadium Arcadium'' (2006)

''I'm with You'' (2011)

References

External links

Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:American male singers Category:American rock singers Category:American singer-songwriters Category:American punk rock singers Category:American vegans Category:Fairfax High School (Los Angeles) alumni Category:Grammy Award winners Category:People self-identifying as substance abusers Category:People from Grand Rapids, Michigan Category:People from Hollywood Category:Red Hot Chili Peppers members Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni

bg:Антъни Кийдис ca:Anthony Kiedis cs:Anthony Kiedis da:Anthony Kiedis de:Anthony Kiedis es:Anthony Kiedis eu:Anthony Kiedis fr:Anthony Kiedis ga:Anthony Kiedis gl:Anthony Kiedis hr:Anthony Kiedis it:Anthony Kiedis he:אנתוני קידיס ka:ენტონი კიდისი lv:Entonijs Kīdiss lt:Anthony Kiedis hu:Anthony Kiedis nl:Anthony Kiedis ja:アンソニー・キーディス no:Anthony Kiedis pl:Anthony Kiedis pt:Anthony Kiedis ru:Кидис, Энтони simple:Anthony Kiedis sk:Anthony Kiedis sl:Anthony Kiedis sr:Ентони Кидис fi:Anthony Kiedis sv:Anthony Kiedis tr:Anthony Kiedis uk:Ентоні Кідіс

Coordinates	41°52′55″N87°37′40″N
Name	Femi Kuti
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti
Birth date	June 16, 1962
Origin	London, UK/Nigeria
Instrument	Saxophone, vocals, trumpet, keyboards
Genre	Afrobeat, jazz
Occupation	Singer-songwriter, instrumentalist
Years active	1978–present
Associated acts	Egypt 80, Positive Force
Past members	}}

Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti (born 16 June 1962) popularly known as Femi Kuti, is a Nigerian musician and the eldest son of afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti.

Femi was born in London to Fela and Remi Kuti and grew up in the former Nigerian capital, Lagos. His mother soon left his father, taking Femi to live with her. In 1977, though, Femi chose to move in with his father. Femi eventually became a member of his father's band.

Like his father, Femi has shown a strong commitment to social and political causes throughout his career.

He created his own band ''Positive Force'' in late 80s with Dele Sosimi (Gbedu Resurrection), former key-board player of Fela Anikulapo Kuti. His international career began in 1988 when he was invited by the French Cultural Centre in Lagos and Christian Mousset to perform at Festival d'Angoulême (France), New Morning Club in Paris and Moers Festival in Germany.

In 2001, Femi collaborated on his album ''Fight to Win'' with a number of U.S. musicians, such as Common, Mos Def, and Jaguar Wright.

In 2002, Femi's mother, who had played an influential role in Femi's life, died at the age of 60. Femi's son currently appears as part of his act, playing alto saxophone.

Also in 2002, Femi contributed a remake of his father's classic song, "Water No Get Enemy," to Red Hot & Riot, a compilation CD in tribute to Fela Kuti that was released by the Red Hot Organization and MCA. His track was created in collaboration with hip hop and R&B; artists, D'Angelo, Macy Gray, The Soultronics, Nile Rodgers, and Roy Hargrove, and all proceeds from the CD were donated to charities dedicated to raising AIDS awareness or fighting the disease.

Femi Kuti's voice is featured in the videogame ''Grand Theft Auto IV'', where he is the host of radio station IF 99 (International Funk 99, described as "playing a great selection of classics from West Africa, the US and elsewhere").

Kuti's first nomination for a grammy occurred in 2003 and he was again nominated for a second time in 2010 in the world music category.

In similar fashion as his father, there have been complaints of Kuti's criticism of his homeland Nigeria, specifically in the song "Sorry Sorry".

Discography

''No Cause For Alarm?'' (1989, Polygram)

''M.Y.O.B.'' (1991, Meodie)

''Femi Kuti'' (1995, Tabu/Motown)

''Shoki Shoki'' (1998, Barclay/Polygram/Fontana MCA)

''Fight to Win'' (2001, Barclay/Polygram/Fontana MCA/Wraase)

"Ala Jalkoum" (on the album ''Rachid Taha Live'') (2001, Mondo Melodia)

''Africa Shrine (Live CD)'' (2004, P-Vine)

''Live at the Shrine (Deluxe Edition DVD) + Africa Shrine (Live CD)'' (2005, Palm Pictures/Umvd)

''The Best of Femi Kuti'' (2004, Umvd/Wraase)

''Femi Kuti The Definitive Collection'' (2007, ''Wrasse Records'')

''Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack'' (2008, IF99)

''Hope for the Hopeless'' (2008) Collaboration with ''Brett Dennen''

''Day by Day'' (2008, ''Wrasse Records'')

"Vampires" (on the album ''Radio Retaliation'' by Thievery Corporation) (2008, ESL Music)

''Africa for Africa'' (2010, ''Wrasse Records'')

See also

Ransome-Kuti family

Seun Kuti

No Cause For Alarm? (1989, Polygram) M.Y.O.B. (1991, Meodie) Femi Kuti (1995, Tabu/Motown) Shoki Shoki (1998, Barclay/Polygram/Fontana MCA) Fight to Win (2001, Barclay/Polygram/Fontana MCA/Wraase) "Ala Jalkoum" (on the album Rachid Taha Live) (2001, Mondo Melodia) Africa Shrine (Live CD) (2004, P-Vine) Live at the Shrine (Deluxe Edition DVD) + Africa Shrine (Live CD) (2005, Palm Pictures/Umvd) The Best of Femi Kuti (2004, Umvd/Wraase) Femi Kuti The Definitive Collection (2007, Wrasse Records) Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrack (2008, IF99) Hope for the Hopeless (2008) Collaboration with Brett Dennen Day by Day (2008, Wrasse Records) "Vampires" (on the album Radio Retaliation by Thievery Corporation) (2008, ESL Music) Africa for Africa (2010, Knitting Factory Records)

References

External links

The Shrine Unofficial website for Fela Kuti and Afrobeat Music with news, bio's, tour dates, gig reviews, interviews, lyrics and forum.

''LA Weekly'' interview, Jul. 2007 by Matthew Fleischer

Son of a Lion, interview on flyglobalmusic.com 2004

Photos and Biography

The AfroFunk Music Forum Daily news, music reviews and commentary on Afrobeat and related music

MCA artist page

VIDEO: Femi Kuti at Lincoln Center, July 2010 - Interview and Performance Footage

theartsdesk Q&A;: Femi Kuti (24 November 2010)

Video interview from July 2011 on Al-Jazeera's "One on One"

Category:Nigerian people Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:Nigerian musicians Category:Nigerian saxophonists Category:Wrasse Records artists Category:World music musicians Category:Yoruba musicians

de:Femi Kuti es:Femi Kuti fr:Femi Kuti it:Femi Kuti sw:Femi Kuti nl:Femi Kuti ja:フェミ・クティ oc:Femi Kuti yo:Femi Kuti

Coordinates	41°52′55″N87°37′40″N
Name	Josh Klinghoffer
Background	non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth name	Joshua Adam Klinghoffer
Origin	Los Angeles, California
Birth date	October 03, 1979
Genre	Alternative rock, experimental rock, avant-garde, electronica
Occupation	Musician, songwriter, producer
Years active	1995–present
Instrument	Guitar, drums, synthesizer, keyboards, organ, piano, bass, vocals, cello, double bass, flute, marimba, trumpet, tuba, vibraphone
Associated acts	Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Frusciante, Ataxia, Dot Hacker, The Bicycle Thief, Thelonious Monster, Gnarls Barkley, Warpaint
Notable instruments	Fender Telecaster Previous owned by John Frusciante Fender Stratocaster Gibson Firebird Gretsch White Penguin Gibson ES-335 }}

Joshua Adam "Josh" Klinghoffer (born October 3, 1979) is an American multi-instrumentalist, who is best known as the current lead guitarist for the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Klinghoffer replaced his friend and frequent collaborator John Frusciante, who left the band in 2009.

Klinghoffer also fronts Dot Hacker, and was a member of Ataxia (with Frusciante), The Bicycle Thief and Warpaint. He has also both recorded and toured as a session musician with Gnarls Barkley, PJ Harvey, Beck, the Butthole Surfers, Golden Shoulders and Vincent Gallo amongst others.

Life and career

Early career & The Bicycle Thief (1995-2001)

Dropping out of formal education at age of fifteen, Klinghoffer became involved in performing and recording music in Los Angeles at an early age. Klinghoffer describes himself at this time as "[the] little music dork who lived around the corner, dropped out of high school, and was just playing guitar all day long." In 1997, at the age of seventeen, Klinghoffer joined The Bicycle Thief, the then-current project from former Thelonious Monster frontman Bob Forrest. Red Hot Chili Peppers vocalist Anthony Kiedis noted that, "Bob [Forrest] has always had a very keen sensibility about finding extremely talented and down-to-earth people who just want to get to a kitchen and write a song." The band's subsequent studio album, ''You Come and Go Like a Pop Song'', marked Klinghoffer's first recording experience. Regarding bandmate Forrest's notorious drug addiction, which arguably stalled Thelonious Monster's commercial success, Klinghoffer stated at this time that he: "Pretty much had enough confidence in myself to know that I wasn't gonna be 'the next Bob Forrest'."

In 2000, The Bicycle Thief opened for Red Hot Chili Peppers, as they toured in support of their seventh studio album, ''Californication''.

John Frusciante and Ataxia (2002-2004)

Klinghoffer and then-Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante began writing together in 2002, with the hopes of recording and releasing an album under a band name. This album was eventually released as a John Frusciante solo release in 2004, entitled ''Shadows Collide with People''. Regarding this decision, Frusciante stated:

During the first six months of 2004, Klinghoffer continued to assist Frusciante in the studio during a break from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Together, they recorded two further Frusciante solo albums, ''The Will to Death'' and ''Inside of Emptiness'', an electronica album credited to both musicians, ''A Sphere in the Heart of Silence'', and two full-band albums, with Fugazi bassist Joe Lally; ''Automatic Writing'' and ''AW II'', under the name Ataxia. At this time, Frusciante commented on his relationship with Klinghoffer, stating: "He's simply a very talented person and has been a very close friend for the past four years. He's one of the very few people who I really like to spend a lot of time with. In many respects he's the person who is closest to me, and with whom I can speak honestly about everything. His opinion is very important to me and I value it a lot."

In 2004, Klinghoffer also appeared on former bandmate Bob Forrest's latest studio album with Thelonious Monster, ''California Clam Chowder''.

''Stadium Arcadium'' tour and Dot Hacker (2007-2009)

In 2007, Klinghoffer joined Red Hot Chili Peppers on the final few legs of their ''Stadium Arcadium'' tour, performing additional guitar, backing vocals, and keyboard parts alongside the band. This tour would ultimately be John Frusciante's last with the band, and coincidently Klinghoffer's first.

Klinghoffer founded his own band, Dot Hacker, in 2008, where he holds the position of primary songwriter, singer, rhythm guitarist and pianist. To date, they have released two songs, "Order/Disorder" and "Eye Opener".

On May 8, 2009, amidst confusion as to whether Frusciante still remained within Red Hot Chili Peppers, Klinghoffer, Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith, Ron Wood and Ivan Neville performed under the name, The Insects, at a MusiCares in honour of Kiedis's commitment to helping those struggling with addiction and recovery.

Joining Red Hot Chili Peppers (2009)

On October 12, 2009, the Red Hot Chili Peppers ended a two-year hiatus, and were joined by Klinghoffer in the studio to begin work on their tenth album. On January 29, 2010, Klinghoffer performed with the band for the first time as their lead guitarist at a MusiCares tribute event to Neil Young for a performance of Young's "A Man Needs a Maid." It was later revealed he would permanently replace Frusciante as guitarist. Klinghoffer was officially named the replacement for John Frusciante in early 2010. Regarding his entry into the band, Klinghoffer notes, "I've always been attracted to the idea of a tight-knit unit, a band of family, a brotherhood. Since my earliest memory, they always seemed like a band with a lot of love for each other."

In May 2010, Klinghoffer along with Flea performed the United States national anthem at a Lakers home playoff game during the NBA Western Conference Finals series against the Phoenix Suns.

After eleven months of writing and rehearsing, the Chili Peppers began recording their new album on September 13, 2010. According to drummer Chad Smith, Klinghoffer also sang, wrote music and played keyboards on the upcoming album. Recording for the new album was completed on March 18, 2011 and was in the process of being mixed. The album, now called ''I'm with You'', was released on August 29, 2011. The band's first single off the new album, "The Adventures of Raindance Maggie", features intricate, textured, and layered guitars and Klinghoffer's unique style and guitar playing has clearly taken the band in a new musical direction.

In 2011, Klinghoffer wrote and performed the original score for the documentary ''Bob and the Monster''. Klinghoffer also appears in the documentary, which is based on the life and career of musician and drug counselor Bob Forrest.

Klinghoffer will also appear on former Jane's Addiction bassist Eric Avery's forthcoming solo album.

On July 10, 2011, Klinghoffer appeared at the 2011 School of Rock's Rock the House Tour which also featured Keith Morris and Page Hamilton. Klinghoffer joined the School of Rock kids on stage to perform Red Hot Chili Peppers songs "Dani California' and "Give It Away". This was the first time he performed any of the Chili Peppers' songs live since officially joining the band as their guitarist

Equipment

Klinghoffer has played a 3-tone Sunburst Fender Telecaster (previously owned by John Frusciante), a 3-tone Sunburst Fender Stratocaster, a Vintage Sunburst Gibson Firebird VII, a Cherry Red Gibson ES-335, and a Gretsch White Penguin during I'm with You Tour. Klinghoffer use two amps on the stage, a Fender Super Reverb combo for clean tones (super six reverb) and Marshall JCM 800(2210) half stack for the dirty tones.

Personal life

Josh is distantly related to Leon Klinghoffer who was murdered by terrorists aboard Achille Lauro in 1985. According to Josh, Leon was a fourth or fifth cousin of his grandfather.

Discography

;Solo

''A Sphere In The Heart Of Silence'' (2004) (credited to both John Frusciante and Josh Klinghoffer)

;with Red Hot Chili Peppers

''I'm With You (2011)

;with The Bicycle Thief

''You Come and Go Like a Pop Song'' (1999)

;with Ataxia

''Automatic Writing'' (2004)

''AW II'' (2007)

;with John Frusciante

''Shadows Collide With People'' (2004)

''The Will to Death'' (2004)

''Inside of Emptiness'' (2004)

''The Empyrean'' (2009)

;with Warpaint

''Exquisite Corpse (2008)

;with Golden Shoulders

''Let My Burden Be'' (2002)

''Friendship Is Deep'' (2004)

''Get Reasonable'' (2009)

;Other appearances

''Pop Killer'' - Paul Oakenfold (2010)

Bambi Lee Savage – "GJ and the PimpKillers" (2009)

''The Last Laugh'' - Joker's Daughter (2009)

''The Silence of Love'' - Headless Heroes (2008)

''Chains''- Pocahaunted (2008)

''The Blue God'' - Martina Topley-Bird (2008)

''The Odd Couple- Gnarls Barkley (2008)

''Stainless Style'' - Neon Neon (2008)

''The Deep Blue'' - Charlotte Hatherley (2007)

''Nun Lover!'' - Spleen (2007)

''A Loveletter to the Transformer, Pt. 1'' The Diary of IC Explura (2007)

''The Peel Sessions 1991-2004'' - PJ Harvey (2006)

''Dog Problems'' - The Format (2006)

''Modern Folk and Blues: Wednesday'' - Bob Forrest (2006)

''The Roads Don't Love You'' - Gemma Hayes (2005)

''California Clam Chowder'' - Thelonious Monster (2004)

''Blowback'' - Tricky (2001)

''Song Yet to be Sung'' - Perry Farrell (2001)

Tours

The Bicycle Thief (Guitar, 2000)

Vincent Gallo (Guitar, Bass, Piano, 2001)

Butthole Surfers (Guitar, 2001)

Beck (Guitar, 2003)

Golden Shoulders (Bass, 2003)

PJ Harvey (Guitar, 2004)

Sparks (Guitar, 2006)

Gnarls Barkley (Guitar & Synthesizer, 2006–2008, Vocals, 2008)

Red Hot Chili Peppers (Guitar, Vocals, Synthesizer, Drums & Percussion, 2007)

See also

Red Hot Chili Peppers

John Frusciante

The Bicycle Thief

Ataxia

References

External links

Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:Butthole Surfers members Category:Red Hot Chili Peppers members Category:American multi-instrumentalists Category:American rock guitarists

bg:Джош Клингхофър ca:Josh Klinghoffer de:Josh Klinghoffer es:Josh Klinghoffer fr:Josh Klinghoffer gl:Josh Klinghoffer it:Josh Klinghoffer ka:ჯოშ კლინჰოფერი hu:Josh Klinghoffer nl:Josh Klinghoffer ja:ジョシュ・クリングホッファー no:Josh Klinghoffer pl:Josh Klinghoffer pt:Josh Klinghoffer ru:Клингхоффер, Джош sk:Josh Klinghoffer fi:Josh Klinghoffer sv:Josh Klinghoffer