- published: 25 Jan 2007
- views: 37090729
- author: Lnaa
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Atlanta
Atlanta (
/ətˈlæntə/, stressed /ætˈlæntə/, locally /ætˈlænə/) is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia with a 2010 population of 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest in the U.S. It is a major component of a growing southeastern megalopolis known as the Piedmont Atlantic Megaregion. Atlanta is the county seat of Fulton County, and a small portion of the city extends eastward into DeKalb County.
Atlanta began as a settlement located at the terminus of a railroad line, and it was incorporated in 1845. Today, the city is a major business city and the primary transportation hub of the Southeastern United States (via highway, railroad, and air), with Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport being the world's busiest airport since 1998. The World Cities Study Group at Loughborough University rated Atlanta as an "alpha(-) world city." With a gross domestic product of US$270 billion, Atlanta's economy ranks 15th among world cities and sixth in the nation. The city is a center for services, finance, information technology, government, and higher education. Metro Atlanta contains the country's third largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies, and is the world headquarters of The Coca-Cola Company, Turner Broadcasting, The Home Depot, AT&T Mobility, UPS, and Delta Air Lines. As of 2010, Atlanta is the seventh most visited city in the United States, with over 35 million visitors per year.
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Baltic states
The term Baltic states (also Baltics, Baltic nations or Baltic countries) refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania (from north to south); Finland also fell within the scope of the term from the 1920s to 1939.Estonia is only considered Baltic geographically, not linguistically or culturally, as Estonians and Finns are descendants of the Baltic Finns.
The term in the indigenous languages of the Baltic states is:
The term "Baltic" stems from the name of the Baltic Sea – a hydronym dating back to the 11th century (Adam of Bremen mentioned Latin: Mare Balticum) and earlier.
The Latvian and Lithuanian term Baltija most likely originates from the Indo-European root *bhel meaning white, fair. In modern Baltic languages, namely, Lithuanian language, baltas literally means white, and in Latvian language balts means white also.
Beginning in the Middle Ages and through the present day, the Baltic Sea appears on the maps subscribed in Germanic languages as German: Ostsee, Danish: Østersøen, Dutch: Oostzee, Swedish: Östersjön, etc. In English "Ost" is "East", and in fact, the Baltic Sea mostly lies to the east for Germany, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Clearly, part of the Baltic Sea lies to the east of Germany and Sweden, and due north of parts of Germany.
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Berkshire
Berkshire ( /ˈbɑrkʃər/ or /ˈbɑrkʃɪər/, abbreviated Berks) is both a ceremonial county and a historic county of England. The administrative county of Berkshire including the Berkshire County Council were abolished in 1998. The county is often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and letters patent issued confirming this in 1974.
The ceremonial county has the same boundaries as the former administrative county, but historically the county was not co-terminous with this. The county borders the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Wiltshire and Hampshire. Historically the county included several towns to the northwest of the county (including Abingdon, Didcot and Wantage) that were moved into Oxfordshire in 1974 boundary changes. At the same time the town of Slough was moved into Berkshire from Buckinghamshire.
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Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace is a luxury hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, an unincorporated township in Clark County, Nevada, United States in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Caesars Palace is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Corporation. Caesars is located on the west side of the Strip, between the Bellagio and the Mirage. The hotel includes a convention facility of over 300,000 square feet (28,000 m2).
Caesars has 3,960 rooms in six towers: Augustus, Centurion, Roman, Palace, Octavius, and Forum. The Forum tower features guest suites with 1,000 square feet (93 m2) of space. It is the only venue in Las Vegas to host a World Series of Poker Circuit Event.
In 1962, Jay Sarno, a cabana motel owner, used US$35 million that had been lent to him by the Teamsters Central States Pension Fund to begin plans for a hotel on land owned by Kirk Kerkorian. Sarno would later act as designer of the hotel he planned to construct.
Building of the 14-story Caesars Palace hotel began in 1962. That first tower would have 680 rooms on the 34 acre (138,000 m2) site.
wn.com/Caesars_Palace -
Concert for Diana
Concert for Diana was a concert held at the then new Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales, on 1 July 2007, which would have been her 46th birthday; 31 August that year brought the 10th anniversary of her death. The concert was hosted by Diana's sons, Princes William and Harry, who helped to organize many of the world's most famous entertainers and singers to perform at the concert.
The concert was broadcast in 140 different countries across the world with an estimated potential audience of 500 million. In December 2006, 22,500 tickets were made available for purchase for the concert, selling out in just 17 minutes, while 63,000 people turned out to Wembley Stadium to watch the performances to commemorate Diana. At the end of the performances, a video montage of Diana as a child was presented, accompanied by the Queen song "These Are the Days of Our Lives".
The concert started at 16:00 BST and finished at approximately 22:15 BST – there were two short intermissions during the concert.
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David Lloyd Leisure
Coordinates: 51°45′54″N 0°14′24″W / 51.765°N 0.240°W / 51.765; -0.240 David Lloyd Leisure is a chain of luxury fitness and racquet sport centres founded by the British professional tennis player David Lloyd.
David Lloyd established David Lloyd Leisure in 1980 and opened the first club, aimed at providing a family orientated, high quality fitness and leisure facility. This was somewhat distinct from the traditional gyms and sports centres of the time. There was also an emphasis on racquet sports.
By 1995, there were 18 David Lloyd Leisure clubs when Whitbread PLC acquired the company for £182 million, incorporating it into its Restaurants & Leisure Division. David Lloyd remained as managing director of the division until 1996.
Whitbread ran more than 50 David Lloyd Leisure (DLL) clubs in the UK and Northern Ireland with a further number in Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium. However, by the mid-2000s, the business was giving Whitbread a poor financial return, and on 2 August 2007 they sold it to London & Regional Properties and Bank of Scotland for £925 million. Whitbread used the proceeds from the sale to repay debt.
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Doncaster
Coordinates: 53°30′58″N 1°07′59″W / 53.516°N 1.133°W / 53.516; -1.133
Doncaster ( /ˈdɒŋkæstə/, /ˈdɒŋkəstə/ or /ˈdɒŋkɑːstə/,Old English: Donne ceaster) is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about 20 miles (32 km) from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny". Doncaster has an international airport, and in recent years its centre has undergone regeneration including the development of an Education City campus, currently the largest education investment of its kind in the UK. Doncaster has also recently extended the Frenchgate Centre, a shopping centre and transport interchange.
Over the few years the Doncaster Lakeside, which is home to the Doncaster Rovers ground has undergone major development. With the opening of the Lakeside Village, a major retail outlet with some 45 retail shops and restaurants, the area is becoming more attractive to tourists.
According to the 2001 census, the urban sub-area of Doncaster had a population of 67,977. Together with Bentley and Armthorpe, it forms an urban area with a population of 127,851. The wider metropolitan borough had a 2001 population of around 286,866 projected as nearly 297,000 for 2011.
wn.com/Doncaster -
DreamWorks
DreamWorks Studios, officially DW II Distribution Co., LLC, also known as DreamWorks, LLC, DreamWorks SKG, DreamWorks Studios or DW Studios, LLC, is an American film studio which develops, produces, and distributes films, video games and television programming. It has produced or distributed more than ten films with box-office grosses totalling more than $100 million each.
DreamWorks began in 1994 as an ambitious attempt by media moguls Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen (forming the SKG present on the bottom of the DreamWorks logo) to create a new Hollywood studio of which they own 72%. In December 2005, the founders agreed to sell the studio to Viacom, parent of Paramount Pictures. The sale was completed in February 2006. In 2008, DreamWorks announced its intention to end its partnership with Paramount and signed a $1.5 billion deal to produce films with India's Reliance ADA Group. Reliance provided $325M of equity to fund recreating Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks studio as an independent entity. Clark Hallren, former Managing Director of the Entertainment Industries group of J.P. Morgan Securities and Alan J. Levine of J.P. Morgan Entertainment Advisors led the Reliance team in structuring the capital and business plan for the company. The movie studio is 50% owned by Reliance which is led by Anil Ambani.
wn.com/DreamWorks -
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), better known by his stage name Eminem (often stylized as EMINƎM) and by his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group, D12, to mainstream recognition. As well as being a member of D12, Eminem is also one half of the hip hop duo Bad Meets Evil, with Royce da 5'9". Eminem is one of the best-selling artists in the world and is the best selling artist of the 2000s. He has been listed and ranked as one of the greatest artists of all time by many magazines including the Rolling Stone magazine which has ranked him 82nd on its list of The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. The same magazine has declared him The King of Hip Hop. Including his work with D12 and Bad Meets Evil, Eminem has achieved ten number-one albums on the Billboard 200. He has sold more than 42 million tracks and 41 million albums in the United States, and nearly 90 million albums worldwide.
Eminem quickly gained popularity in 1999 with his major-label debut album, The Slim Shady LP. That first album, The Marshall Mathers LP and his third major album, The Eminem Show, all won Grammy Awards, making Eminem the first artist to win Best Rap Album for three consecutive LPs. The Marshall Mathers LP is also considered one of Eminem's best and most successful albums. Eminem then went on hiatus after touring in 2005. He released his first album since 2004's Encore, titled Relapse, on May 15, 2009. In 2010, Eminem released his seventh studio album Recovery, which was an international success. Recovery was also named the best selling album worldwide of 2010 joining The Eminem Show, which was the best seller of 2002. Eminem won Grammy Awards for both Relapse and Recovery, giving him a total of 13 Grammys in his career. Eminem has named Masta Ace, Big Daddy Kane, Newcleus, the Beastie Boys, Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur, AZ, Nas, and Ice-T amongst others as his influences.
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Ferrari
Coordinates: 44°31′57″N 10°51′51″E / 44.532447°N 10.864137°E / 44.532447; 10.864137
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947. Throughout its history, the company has been noted for its continued participation in racing, especially in Formula One, where it has had great success. Ferrari road cars are generally seen as a symbol of luxury and wealth.
Enzo Ferrari wasn't initially interested in the idea of producing road cars when he formed Scuderia Ferrari (literally "Ferrari Stable", and usually used to mean "Team Ferrari", it is correctly pronounced [skudeˈriːa]) in 1928 as a sponsor for amateur drivers headquartered in Modena. Ferrari prepared, and successfully raced, various drivers in Alfa Romeo cars until 1938, when he was hired by Alfa Romeo to head their motor racing department.
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Gaza flotilla raid
Coordinates: 32°38′28″N 33°34′02″E / 32.64113°N 33.56727°E / 32.64113; 33.56727
The Gaza flotilla raid was a military operation by Israel against six ships of the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla" on 31 May 2010 in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The flotilla, organized by the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (İHH), was carrying humanitarian aid and construction materials, with the intention of breaking the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the Gaza Strip.
On 31 May 2010, Israeli Shayetet 13 naval commandos boarded the ships from speedboats and helicopters in order to force the ships to the Israeli port of Ashdod for inspection. On the Turkish ship MV Mavi Marmara, boarding faced resistance from about 40 IHH activists – described in a UN report as a "separate hardcore group" – who were armed with iron bars, dinner plates and knives. During the struggle, nine activists were killed, and many were wounded. All activist casualties were caused by gunshots, some of them in point blank range. Ten of the commandos were also wounded, one of them[who?] seriously. The five other ships in the flotilla employed passive resistance, which was suppressed without major incident. The ships were towed to Israel, where all passengers were detained and deported.
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Holland Park
Coordinates: 51°30′10″N 0°12′14″W / 51.5028°N 0.2038°W / 51.5028; -0.2038
Holland Park is a district and a public park in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, in west London, England.
Holland Park has a reputation as an affluent and fashionable area, known for attractive large Victorian townhouses, and high-class shopping and restaurants. There are many popular shopping destinations located around Holland Park such as High Street Kensington, Notting Hill, Holland Park Avenue, Portobello Market, Westbourne Grove, Clarendon Cross and Ledbury Road.
Though there are no official boundaries, they are roughly Kensington High Street to the south, Holland Road to the west, Holland Park Avenue to the north and Kensington Church Street to the east. Holland Park Avenue is at the boundaries of four CAS wards: Norland, Holland, Pembridge and Campden.
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Israel
Coordinates: 31°N 35°E / 31°N 35°E / 31; 35
Israel, officially the State of Israel ( /ˈɪzriːəl/ or /ˈɪzreɪəl/; Hebrew: מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, Medīnat Yisrā'el, IPA: [me̞diˈnät jisʁäˈʔe̞l] (
listen); Arabic: دَوْلَة إِسْرَائِيل, Dawlat Isrāʼīl, IPA: [dawlat ʔisraːˈʔiːl]), is a parliamentary republic in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan and the West Bank in the east, Egypt and the Gaza Strip on the southwest, and the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea to the south, and it contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area. Israel is defined as a Jewish and Democratic State in its Basic Laws and is the world's only Jewish-majority state.
Following the adoption of a resolution by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 29 November 1947 recommending the adoption and implementation of the United Nations plan to partition Palestine, on 14 May 1948 David Ben-Gurion, the Executive Head of the World Zionist Organization and president of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, declared the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz Israel, to be known as the State of Israel, a state independent from the British Mandate for Palestine. Neighboring Arab states invaded the next day in support of the Palestinian Arabs. Israel has since fought several wars with neighboring Arab states, in the course of which it has occupied the West Bank, Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights. Portions of these territories, including east Jerusalem, have been annexed by Israel, but the border with the neighboring West Bank has not yet been permanently defined.[neutrality is disputed] Israel has signed peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, but efforts to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict have so far not resulted in peace.
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Laeiszhalle
The Laeiszhalle (German pronunciation: [ˈlaɪsˌhalə], formerly Musikhalle Hamburg, English: Music hall Hamburg) is a concert hall in Hamburg, Germany and home to the Hamburger Symphoniker.
The hall is named after the German shipowning company F. Laeisz, founder of the concert venue and was planned by the architect Martin Haller.
Media related to Laeiszhalle, Hamburg at Wikimedia Commons
Coordinates: 53°33′21″N 9°58′51″E / 53.55583°N 9.98083°E / 53.55583; 9.98083
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Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately 4.2-mile (6.8 km) stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard South in Clark County, Nevada. The Strip is not located within the city of Las Vegas proper— it passes through the unincorporated towns of Paradise and Winchester, which are south of the Las Vegas city limits. Most of the Strip has been designated an All-American Road.
Many of the largest hotel, casino and resort properties in the world are located on the Las Vegas Strip. Fifteen of the world's 25 largest hotels by room count are on the Strip, with a total of over 62,000 rooms.
One of the most visible aspects of Las Vegas' cityscape is its use of dramatic architecture. The modernization of hotels, casinos, restaurants, and residential high-rises on the Strip has established the city as one of the most popular destinations for tourists.
Historically, the casinos that were not in Downtown Las Vegas along Fremont Street were restricted to outside of the city limits on Las Vegas Boulevard. In 1959 the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign was constructed exactly 4.5 miles (7.2 km) outside of the city limits. The sign is today about 0.4 miles (0.64 km) south of the southernmost entrance to Mandalay Bay (the southernmost casino).
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Maine
Maine (
i/ˈmeɪn/) is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost portion of New England. It is known for its scenery—its jagged, mostly rocky coastline, its low, rolling mountains, its heavily forested interior and picturesque waterways—as well as for its seafood cuisine, especially lobsters and clams.
For thousands of years, indigenous peoples were the only inhabitants of the territory that is now Maine. At the time of European encounter, several Algonquian-speaking peoples inhabited the area. The first European settlement in Maine was by the French in 1604 on Saint Croix Island, by Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons. The first English settlement in Maine, the short-lived Popham Colony, was established by the Plymouth Company in 1607. A number of English settlements were established along the coast of Maine in the 1620s, although the rugged climate, deprivations, and conflict with the local peoples caused many to fail over the years. As Maine entered the 18th century, only a half dozen European settlements survived. Patriot and British forces contended for Maine's territory during the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Maine was part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts until 1820, when it voted to secede from Massachusetts. On March 15, 1820, it was admitted to the Union as the 23rd state under the Missouri Compromise. Maine is the 39th most extensive and the 41st most populous of the 50 United States.
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Middlesex
Middlesex ( /ˈmɪdəlsɛks/; abbreviated Middx) is one of the 39 historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time. The county was significantly affected by the expansion of the metropolitan area of London in both the 18th and 19th centuries, such that from 1855 the south-east was administered as part of the metropolis. When county councils were initially introduced in England in 1889 about 20% of the area of Middlesex, along with a third of its population, was transferred to the County of London, and the remainder formed a smaller county, in the north-west, under the control of Middlesex County Council.
In the interwar years urban London had further expanded, with increasing suburbanisation, improvement and expansion of public transport, and the setting up of new industries outside the inner London area. After the Second World War, the population of the County of London and inner Middlesex was in steady decline, with new population growth only experienced in the outer suburbs. After a Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London, almost all of the original area was incorporated into an enlarged Greater London in 1965, with small parts transferred to neighbouring Hertfordshire and Surrey. Despite the disappearance of the county council, Middlesex is still used as an area name and was retained as a postal county; which is now an optional component of postal addresses.
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Old Windsor
Coordinates: 51°27′36″N 0°35′10″W / 51.46°N 0.586°W / 51.46; -0.586
Old Windsor is a large village and civil parish in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in the English county of Berkshire.
Old Windsor is located just south of the town of Windsor and near to the villages of Englefield Green and Datchet. It sits on the River Thames, and provides a pleasant walk along the river's edge to Old Windsor Lock in the summer. There are excellent views of Windsor Castle to be had from Pelling Hill, a private road, similar in style to the northern section of the Wentworth Estate at nearby Virginia Water. The Parish church (http://www.oldwindsorchurch.org.uk/) lies on the edge of the village by the river, being the site of the original settlement.
Old Windsor was originally the site of an important palace of the Saxon Kings. Certainly the settlement is documented as a defended royal manor in Edward the Confessor's time (1060s), but archaeological evidence suggests royal connections had existed since at least 9th century. Old Windsor was popular with the monarch because of its convenient location: near the river for transport and Windsor Forest for hunting. Old Windsor was also an early minster location and market, probably associated with a lock (hence the need for a winch) and important riverside mill complex. The name Windsor is believed to come from the Anglo Saxon 'Windlesora' meaning "Windslass on the bank". The Saxon palace was eventually superseded by the Norman castle - Windsor Castle - at 'New' Windsor. The medieval manor house, however, became a popular Royal hunting lodge, at a time when the castle was a fortress rather than a comfortable residence.
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Pinner
Coordinates: 51°35′36″N 0°23′22″W / 51.5932°N 0.3894°W / 51.5932; -0.3894
Pinner is a suburb in the London Borough of Harrow in London, England, 12.2 miles north west of Charing Cross.
Pinner was originally a hamlet, first recorded in 1231 as Pinnora, although the already archaic -ora (meaning 'hill') suggests its origins lie no later than c.900.
The area was in the county of Middlesex until 1965, when it was absorbed by the London Government Act 1963 into Greater London.
The oldest part of the village lies around the fourteenth-century parish church of St John the Baptist, at the junction of the present day Grange Gardens, The High Street and Church Lane. The earliest surviving private dwelling, East End Farm Cottage, dates from the late fifteenth-century.
The village expanded rapidly between 1923 and 1939 when a series of garden estates – encouraged by the Metropolitan Railway – grew around its historic core, and it was largely from this time onwards that the area (including Hatch End, which forms the northeastern part of Pinner) assumed much of its present-day suburban character. The area is now continuous with neighbouring suburban districts including Rayners Lane and Eastcote.
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Ramat Gan Stadium
Ramat Gan Stadium (Hebrew: איצטדיון רמת גן, Itztadion Ramat Gan) is the national football stadium in the Tel Aviv District city of Ramat Gan, Israel.
Completed in 1951 and serving as Israel's largest stadium ever since, this all-seated stadium contains 41,583 seats, 13,370 of which are located in the Western Tribune, completed in 1982 - at the time the stadium went through a major refurbishing process.
The stadium is mixed-use, fit for athletic competitions alongside its more regular usage as a football stadium when it hosts Israel international football matches along with the home UEFA Champions League matches of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa in the 2004–05 and 2009–10 seasons, respectively. The pitch dimensions are 105 m × 68 m (115 × 74 yd), with a 10,500 m2 (2.6 acres) lawn. The stadium's plot area is 36,000 m2 (8.9 acres).
The stadium also contains six dressing rooms, meeting halls, a conference center, press rooms, referees' room and medical and drug-test clinics. It is sided by two training fields, large athletes clinic, a cafe-restaurant, and a 3,900 space open-air car park. It also houses the headquarters of the Israel Football Association.
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Venice
Venice (Italian: Venezia [veˈnɛttsja] (
listen), Venetian: Venexia [veˈnɛsja]; (Latin: Venetia) is a city in northeast Italy sited on a group of 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges. It is located in the marshy Venetian Lagoon which stretches along the shoreline between the mouths of the Po and the Piave Rivers. Venice is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. The city in its entirety is listed as World Heritage Site, along with its lagoon.
Venice is the capital of the Veneto region. In 2009, there were 270,098 people residing in Venice's comune (the population estimate of 272,000 inhabitants includes the population of the whole Comune of Venezia; around 60,000 in the historic city of Venice (Centro storico); 176,000 in Terraferma (the Mainland), mostly in the large frazioni of Mestre and Marghera; 31,000 live on other islands in the lagoon). Together with Padua and Treviso, the city is included in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area (PATREVE) (population 1,600,000).
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Windsor Guildhall
The Windsor Guildhall is the town hall of the town of Windsor, in the English county of Berkshire. It is situated in the High Street, about 100 metres from Castle Hill, which leads to the main public entrance to Windsor Castle. It is a Grade I listed building.
The Borough of Windsor possessed a guildhall from early times. A deed of 1369, now in the possession of Eton College, refers to the "gildaule", and a charter of 1439 states that "pleas happening in the said borough...shall be pleaded and holden in the guildhall there, before the mayor and bailiffs for the time being". Norden's map of 1607 shows a market house in the location of the present guildhall: the main part of it is raised on wooden pillars to allow the space beneath to be used as a covered corn market.
The erection of the present guildhall was begun in 1687, under the direction of Sir Thomas Fitz (or Fiddes) but, on his death in 1689, the task was taken over by Sir Christopher Wren, whose childhood home had been Windsor, and was completed at a cost of £2687 - 1s - 6d. The new building was designed by Wren to be supported around its perimeter by stone columns, so that, like its predecessor, it would provide a covered area beneath it for the holding of corn markets.
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Adam Guettel
Adam Guettel ( /ˈɡɛtəl/; born December 16, 1964) is an American composer-lyricist of musical theater and opera . He is best known for the musical The Light in the Piazza, for which he won two Tony Awards, for Best Score and Best Orchestrations, and two Drama Desk Awards, for Best Music and Best Orchestrations.
Guettel was born and raised on the Upper West Side of New York City. He performed as a boy soprano soloist in operas including Pelléas et Mélisande and The Magic Flute, both at the Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Opera, and in another production of Pelléas with the Santa Fe Opera. He was also slated to play Amahl in the film remake of Gian Carlo Menotti's "Amahl and the Night Visitors". He later claimed that he ended his career as a boy soprano at age 13, by faking that his voice was changing; he turned to music composition soon afterward. He attended Phillips Exeter Academy, Interlochen Center for the Arts and graduated from Yale University in 1987.
His early works include 1996's Floyd Collins, Love's Fire, and Saturn Returns (which was recorded as Myths and Hymns). Guettel's music was almost immediately characterized by its complexity and chromaticism. His major influences include Igor Stravinsky, Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, Benjamin Britten, and Stevie Wonder. Stephen Sondheim has referred to Guettel's work as "dazzling." Guettel's songs have been recorded by such artists as Audra McDonald and Brian d'Arcy James. He also contributed original scores to several documentary films, including Arguing the World and Jack: The Last Kennedy Film. In 1999, he performed a concert evening of his own work at New York's Town Hall.
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Adam Pascal
Adam Pascal (born October 25, 1970) is an American actor and singer known for his performance as Roger Davis in the original cast of Jonathan Larson's musical Rent on Broadway 1996, the 2005 movie version of the musical, and the Broadway Tour of Rent in 2009. He is also known for originating the role of Radames in Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida and for playing the Emcee from the 1998 revival of Cabaret.
Pascal was born in The Bronx, New York and grew up in Woodbury, Nassau County, New York, with his mother and stepfather, Wendy and Mel Seamon. He was raised Jewish. He graduated from Syosset High School. Before his interest in music, he was a personal trainer. Although he began as a rock musician playing in a number of bands (such as Mute) formed with his schoolmates, Pascal became drawn to the musical theater. A friend of his from high school mentioned Rent to him. On a whim, he auditioned and was cast as the HIV positive rock guitarist Roger Davis. His powerful tenor voice and his performance in Rent earned him a Tony nomination, a Theater World award, and an Obie Award. He left the show on November 2, 1997, but went on to reprise Roger when Rent opened in London.
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Adolph Green
Adolph Green (December 2, 1914 – October 23, 2002) was an American lyricist and playwright who, with long-time collaborator Betty Comden, penned the screenplays and songs for some of the most beloved movie musicals, particularly as part of Arthur Freed's production unit at MGM, during the genre's heyday. Many people thought the pair were married; they were not, but they shared a unique comic genius and sophisticated wit that enabled them to forge a six-decade-long partnership that produced some of Hollywood and Broadway's greatest hits.
Green was born in The Bronx to Hungarian-Jewish immigrants Daniel and Helen Weiss Green. After high school, he worked as a runner on Wall Street while he tried to make it as an actor. He met Comden through mutual friends in 1938 while she was studying drama at New York University. They formed a troupe called the Revuers, which performed at the Village Vanguard, a club in Greenwich Village. Among the members of the company was a young comedian named Judy Tuvim, who later changed her name to Judy Holliday, and Green's good friend, a young musician named Leonard Bernstein, frequently accompanied them on the piano. The act's success earned them a movie offer and the Revuers traveled west in hopes of finding fame in Greenwich Village, a 1944 movie starring Carmen Miranda and Don Ameche, but their roles were so small they barely were noticed, and they quickly returned to New York.
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Alan Menken
Alan Menken (born July 22, 1949) is a pianist and composer of American musical theatre and film.
Menken is best known for his scores for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. His scores for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Pocahontas have each won him two Academy Awards. He also composed the scores for The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Home on the Range, The Shaggy Dog, Enchanted, and most recently, Tangled. Menken has collaborated on several occasions with lyricists including Howard Ashman, Tim Rice, Glenn Slater, and Stephen Schwartz. With nineteen nominations and eight wins, Menken has won the third most Oscars of any person, after Walt Disney (twenty-two wins) and Alfred Newman (nine wins).
Menken was born in New York, NY to a Jewish family, the son of Judith and Norman Menken, a dentist. He developed an interest in music at an early age, studying piano and violin. He went to New Rochelle High School in New Rochelle, New York. He attended college as a pre-med student, but later changed his focus to music at NYU Steinhardt. After college, he attended the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop. He performed frequently in local clubs and worked as a composer of jingles and songs and as an accompanist.
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Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Imelda Ceclia Ewen Burke (born August 25, 1988) is a British R&B and pop recording artist, songwriter, dancer and model. Born and raised in Islington, London, United Kingdom. Burke was exposed to music from an early age, with her mother being the lead singer of Soul II Soul. Burke rose to fame after winning the fifth series of British television series The X Factor in 2008. Burke currently stands as one of the most successful winners of The X Factor and she is currently signed to four record labels, Epic Records, RCA Records, Syco Music and Subliminal.
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Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber Kt. (born 22 March 1948) is an English composer and impresario of musical theatre.
Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of variations, two film scores, and a Latin Requiem Mass. He has also gained a number of honours, including a knighthood in 1992, followed by a peerage from the British Government for services to Music, seven Tony Awards, three Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, fourteen Ivor Novello Awards, seven Olivier Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2006.
Several of his songs have been widely recorded and were hits outside of their parent musicals, notably "The Music of the Night" from The Phantom of the Opera, "I Don't Know How to Love Him" from Jesus Christ Superstar, "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" and "You Must Love Me" from Evita, "Any Dream Will Do" from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and "Memory" from Cats.
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Angela Lansbury
Angela Brigid Lansbury, CBE (born 16 October 1925) is an English-born US-naturalized actress and singer in theatre, television, and motion pictures. Her career has spanned eight decades and earned an unsurpassed number of performance Tony Awards (tied with Julie Harris), with five wins. Her first film appearance was in the film Gaslight (1944) as a conniving maid, for which she received an Academy Award nomination. Among her other films are The Manchurian Candidate (1962), Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971), Beauty and the Beast (1991), and Anastasia (1997).
She expanded her repertoire to Broadway musicals and television in the 1950s and was particularly successful in Broadway productions of Gypsy, Mame and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Lansbury is perhaps best known to modern audiences for her twelve-year run starring as writer and sleuth Jessica Fletcher on the American television series Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996). Her recent roles include Lady Adelaide Stitch in the film Nanny McPhee (2005), Leona Mullen in the 2007 Broadway play Deuce, Madame Arcati in the 2009 Broadway revival of the play Blithe Spirit and Madame Armfeldt in the 2010 Broadway revival of the musical A Little Night Music.
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Anna Paquin
Anna Helene Paquin (/ˈpækwɪn/; born 24 July 1982) is a Canadian-born New Zealand actress. Paquin's first critically successful film was The Piano, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1993 at the age of 11 – the second youngest winner in history. Her acting career took off almost half a decade later when she appeared in a string of successful films including She's All That, Almost Famous and the X-Men franchise.
Paquin has received critical acclaim for her role as Sookie Stackhouse in the HBO series True Blood, for which she won the 2008 Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama.
Paquin was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, the daughter of Mary Paquin (née Brophy), an English teacher and native of Wellington, New Zealand, and Brian Paquin, a high school physical education teacher, native Canadian. Paquin is the youngest of three children; she has two older siblings: a brother, Andrew, a director, born in 1977, and a sister, Katya, born in 1980, who is the partner of Green Party co-leader Russel Norman. Paquin's family moved to New Zealand when she was four. She attended the Raphael House Rudolf Steiner School until she was eight or nine. Her musical childhood hobbies in New Zealand included playing the viola, cello, and piano. She also participated in gymnastics, ballet, swimming and downhill skiing, though she did not have any hobbies related to acting.
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Anne Rice
Anne Rice (born Howard Allen Frances O'Brien; October 4, 1941) is a best-selling American author of metaphysical gothic fiction, Christian literature and erotica from New Orleans. Her books have sold nearly 100 million copies, making her one of the most widely read authors in modern history. She was married to poet and painter Stan Rice for 41 years until his death from brain cancer in 2002.
Rice was born the second of four daughters of Irish Catholic parents, Howard O'Brien and Katherine "Kay" Allen O'Brien, in New Orleans. Rice's father worked for the U.S. Postal Service and authored the book, The Impulsive Imp, which was published posthumously. Rice's older sister, the late Alice Borchardt, was a noted genre author. Her husband, Stan Rice was a highly regarded poet, and their son, Christopher Rice is a bestselling author.
Rice's early years were marked by coping with her mother's advancing alcoholism and poverty. She lived in the Irish Channel of New Orleans, which she describes as an Irish Catholic ghetto, in the rented home of her maternal grandmother, Alice Allen, known as "Mamma Allen," at 2301 St. Charles Avenue. Mamma Allen, a hard working Irish Catholic woman who worked as a domestic after she separated from her alcoholic husband, was an important early influence in Rice's life, keeping the family and household together while Rice's mother sank deeper into alcoholism. She died in 1949, but the O'Briens remained in her home until 1956, when they moved to 2524 St. Charles Avenue, a former rectory, convent, and school owned by the parish, to be closer to the church and support for her mother's advanced alcoholism.
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Axl Rose
W. Axl Rose (born William Bruce Rose, Jr.; raised as William Bruce Bailey; February 6, 1962) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is the lead vocalist and only remaining original member of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he enjoyed great success and recognition in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before disappearing from the public eye for several years. In 2001, he resurfaced with a new line-up of Guns N' Roses at Rock in Rio 3, and subsequently played periodic concert tours, before releasing the long-delayed album Chinese Democracy in 2008. Rose has been named one of the greatest singers of all time by various media outlets, including Rolling Stone and NME.
Rose was born William Bruce Rose, Jr. in Lafayette, Indiana, the oldest child of Sharon E. (née Lintner), then 16 years old, and William Bruce Rose, then 20 years old. When Rose was two years old, his father abandoned the family. His mother remarried to Stephen L. Bailey, and his name was changed to William Bruce Bailey. He has two younger siblings—a sister, Amy, and a half-brother, Stuart. Until the age of 17, Rose believed that Bailey was his real father. He never met his biological father as an adult; William Rose, Sr. was found murdered in Illinois in 1984.
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Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand (/ˈstraɪsænd/; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress, writer, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, five Emmy Awards including one Daytime Emmy, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award.
She is one of the most commercially and critically successful entertainers in modern entertainment history, with more than 71.5 million albums shipped in the United States and 140 million albums sold worldwide. She is the best-selling female artist on the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) Top Selling Artists list, the only female recording artist in the top ten, and the only artist outside of the rock and roll genre. Along with Frank Sinatra, Cher, and Shirley Jones, she shares the distinction of being awarded an acting Oscar and also recording a number-one single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
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Bernie Taupin
Bernard John "Bernie" Taupin (born 22 May 1950) is an English lyricist, poet, and singer, best known for his long-term collaboration with Elton John, writing the lyrics for the majority of the star's songs, making his lyrics some of the best known in pop-rock's history.
In 1967, Taupin answered an advertisement in the UK's music paper New Musical Express that was seeking new songwriters. Around the same time Elton John submitted samples of his work to the paper, and the pair were brought together, collaborating on many projects since.
Much of Taupin's childhood is reflected in his lyrics and poetry. He was born at Flatters Farmhouse which is located between the village of Anwick and the town of Sleaford in the southern part of Lincolnshire, England. Of French ancestry, his father was educated in Dijon and was employed as a stockman by a large farm estate near the town of Market Rasen and his mother worked as a nanny, having previously lived in Switzerland. The family later relocated to Rowston Manor, a significant step up from Flatters Farmhouse which had no electricity.
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Betty Comden
Betty Comden (May 3, 1917 – November 23, 2006) was one-half of the musical-comedy duo Comden and Green, who provided lyrics, libretti, and screenplays to some of the most beloved and successful Hollywood musicals and Broadway shows of the mid-20th century. Her writing partnership with Adolph Green lasted for six decades, during which time they collaborated with other leading entertainment figures such as the famed "Freed Unit" at MGM, Jule Styne and Leonard Bernstein.
Betty Comden was born Basya Cohen in New York City, attended Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, and studied drama at New York University. In 1938, mutual friends introduced her to Adolph Green, an aspiring actor. Along with the young Judy Holliday and Leonard Bernstein, Comden and Green formed a troupe called the Revuers, which performed at the Village Vanguard, a club in Greenwich Village. Due to the act's success, the Revuers appeared in the 1944 film Greenwich Village, but their roles were so small they barely were noticed, and they quickly returned to New York.
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Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King (née Moffitt; born November 22, 1943) is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society. She won "The Battle of the Sexes" in 1973, in which she defeated Bobby Riggs, a former Wimbledon men's singles champion, for $100,000, winner take all. She completed a career tour all surfaces win-loss performance of 81.76% (696-165). Her win-loss performance in all Grand Slam singles tournaments was 82.00% (190-39), at the French Open 77.77% (21-6), at Wimbledon 86.36% (95-15), at the US Open 80.55% (58–14), and at the Australian Open 80.00% (16-4).
King is the founder of the Women's Tennis Association, the Women's Sports Foundation, and owner of World Team Tennis, which was founded by her former husband, Larry King, Dennis Murphy, Frank Barman, and Jordan Kaiser.
Billie Jean Moffit was born in Long Beach, California, into a conservative Methodist family, the daughter of a fireman father and housewife mother. Her younger brother Randy Moffitt grew up to become a professional baseball player, pitching for 12 years in the major leagues for the San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, and Toronto Blue Jays.
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Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American pianist, singer-songwriter, and composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man," in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to the RIAA.
Joel had Top 40 hits in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, achieving 33 Top 40 hits in the United States, all of which he wrote himself. He is also a six-time Grammy Award winner, a 23-time Grammy nominee and has sold over 150 million records worldwide. He was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame (1992), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1999), the Long Island Music Hall of Fame (2006), and the Hit Parade Hall of Fame (2009). In 2008, Billboard magazine released a list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists to celebrate the US singles chart's 50th anniversary, with Billy Joel positioned at No. 23. With the exception of the 2007 songs "All My Life" and "Christmas in Fallujah," Joel stopped recording pop/rock material after 1993's River of Dreams, but he continued to tour extensively until 2010.
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Billy Stewart
Billy Stewart (March 24, 1937 – January 17, 1970) was an American musical artist, with a highly distinctive scat-singing style, who enjoyed popularity in the 1960s.
Stewart was 12 years old when he began singing with his younger brothers Johnny, James, and Frank as The 4 Stewart Brothers, and later went on to get their own radio show every Sunday for five years at WUST radio station in Washington, D.C.
Stewart made the transition to secular music by filling in occasionally for The Rainbows, a D.C. area vocal group led by the future soul star, Don Covay. It was also through The Rainbows that Stewart met another aspiring singer, Marvin Gaye. Rock and roller Bo Diddley has been credited with discovering Stewart playing piano in Washington, D.C. in 1956 and inviting him to be one of his backup musicians.[citation needed]
This led to a recording contract with Diddley's label, Chess Records and Diddley played guitar on Stewart's 1956 recording of "Billy's Blues". A strong seller in Los Angeles, "Billy's Blues" reached the sales top 25 in Variety magazine. Stewart then moved to Okeh Records and recorded "Billy's Heartache", backed by the Marquees, another D.C. area group which featured Marvin Gaye.
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Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( /ˈbjɜrk/; [ˈpjœr̥k ˈkvʏðmʏntsˌtoʊhtɪr] ( listen); born 21 November 1965), known as Björk, is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her musical style is eclectic and she has achieved recognition in rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical, and folk.
Björk's 1990s singles "It's Oh So Quiet", "Army of Me" and "Hyperballad" charted in the UK Top 10.[citation needed] Her record label, One Little Indian, reported that by 2003 she had sold more than 15 million albums worldwide. She has acquired a high level of critical acclaim. She has won four BRIT Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, one MOJO Award, three UK Music Video Awards, and, in 2010, the Polar Music Prize from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music, in recognition for her "deeply personal music and lyrics, her precise arrangements and her unique voice".
Björk has also been nominated for twelve Grammy Awards, one Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards. She won the Best Actress Award at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival for her performance in Dancer in the Dark. She was ranked thirty-sixth in VH1's "The 100 Greatest Women in Rock and Roll", eighth in MTV's "22 Greatest Voices in Music", and sixtieth in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Singers of All Time".
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Bob Birch
Bob Birch (born July 14, 1956, Detroit, Michigan) is an American musician. Primarily a session musician and sideman to a variety of notable artists.
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Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan (
/ˈdɪlən/), born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24, 1941, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist. He has been an influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly reluctant figurehead of social unrest. A number of Dylan's early songs, such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin'", became anthems for the US civil rights and anti-war movements. Leaving his initial base in the culture of folk music behind, Dylan's six-minute single "Like a Rolling Stone" has been described as radically altering the parameters of popular music in 1965. However, his recordings employing electric instruments attracted denunciation and criticism from others in the folk movement.
Dylan's lyrics incorporated a variety of political, social, philosophical, and literary influences. They defied existing pop music conventions and appealed hugely to the then burgeoning counterculture. Initially inspired by the songs of Woody Guthrie,Robert Johnson, and Hank Williams, as well as the music and performance styles of Buddy Holly and Little Richard, Dylan has both amplified and personalized musical genres. His recording career, spanning fifty years, has explored numerous distinct traditions in American song—from folk, blues and country to gospel, rock and roll, and rockabilly to English, Scottish, and Irish folk music, embracing even jazz and swing.
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Bobby Brown
Robert Barisford "Bobby" Brown (born February 5, 1969) is an American R&B singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, and dancer.
Brown started his career as one of the frontmen of the pop group New Edition, from its inception as The Bricks in 1978 until his forced exit from the group in 1986 following a period of misbehavior on his part. Starting a solo career, he became a hit success with his second album, Don't Be Cruel, which spawned a number of hit singles including the co-self penned "My Prerogative", which became his signature hit. Brown had a string of top ten hits on various Billboard charts between 1986 and 1992, and is a recipient of a Grammy Award. Brown is noted as a pioneer of New Jack Swing music, a fusion of hip-hop and R&B.
Brown was most noted in recent years as the ex-husband of pop singer Whitney Houston. Brown and Houston later gained notoriety co-starring in the reality show, Being Bobby Brown.
Brown was born in Boston as one of eight children to Herbert "Pops" and Carole Brown. Herbert was a construction worker and Carole was a schoolteacher. Brown and his family grew up in Roxbury's Orchard Park Projects. As a child, Brown got involved in petty theft including robbery later saying "I didn't wanna ask my mother or my father because they didn't have a lot of money", stating that whenever he saw something he wanted, "I'd just go to the store and take it." Brown also grew up around gangs. At ten, he was shot in the knee during a fight with a rival gang while attending a block party. Brown said his life reached a turning point at eleven after seeing one of his friends dead from multiple stab wounds at another party. Brown's brother Tommy would later say after that moment, Brown took "his career, schooling, his whole life more seriously." Brown's first taste of being onstage occurred at the age of three when one of his childhood idols, James Brown, performed in Boston.
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Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt (born November 8, 1949) is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially accessible recordings in the 1990s including "Nick of Time", "Something to Talk About", "Love Sneakin' Up on You", and the slow ballad "I Can't Make You Love Me". Raitt has received nine Grammy Awards in her career and is a lifelong political activist.
Raitt, the daughter of Broadway musical star John Raitt and his first wife, pianist Marjorie Haydock, began playing guitar at an early age, something few of her high school female friends did. Later she would become famous for her bottleneck-style guitar playing. "I had played a little at school and at camp", she later recalled in a July 2002 interview. The camp Raitt refers to is Camp Regis-Applejack, located in the heart of the Adirondacks.
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Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. On stage, Wilson provided many of the lead vocals, and often harmonized with the group in falsetto. Early during his on-stage career, Wilson primarily played bass on stage, but gradually transitioned to primarily playing piano/keyboards. Besides being the primary composer in The Beach Boys, he also functioned as the band's main producer and arranger. After signing with Capitol Records in mid-1962, Wilson wrote or co-wrote more than two dozen Top 40 hits including "Surfin' Safari", "Surfin' USA", "Shut Down", "Little Deuce Coupe", "Be True to Your School", "In My Room", "Fun, Fun, Fun", "I Get Around", "Dance Dance Dance", "Help Me Rhonda", "California Girls" and "Good Vibrations". These songs and their accompanying albums were internationally popular, making The Beach Boys one of the biggest acts of their time.
In the mid-60s Wilson used his increasingly creative ambitions to compose and produce Pet Sounds, considered one of the greatest albums of all time. At this point his music was considered to rival that of Lennon–McCartney. The intended follow up to Pet Sounds, Smile, was cancelled for various reasons, including Wilson's deteriorating mental health. Wilson's contributions to The Beach Boys diminished as the years went by, and his erratic behavior led to tensions with the band. After years of treatment and recuperation, he began a solo career in 1988 with Brian Wilson, the same year that he and The Beach Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Since then he has toured for the first time in decades with a new band and released acclaimed albums such as a reworked version of Smile in 2004, for which Wilson won a Grammy Award for "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow (Fire)" as Best Rock Instrumental, That Lucky Old Sun, and Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin.
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Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album ...Baby One More Time in 1999, which became the best-selling album by a teenage solo artist. During her first decade in the music industry, she became a prominent figure in mainstream popular music and popular culture, followed by a much-publicized personal life. Her first two albums established her as a pop icon and broke sales records, while title tracks "...Baby One More Time" and "Oops!... I Did It Again" became international number-one hits. Spears was credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s, and became the 'best-selling teen aged artist of all time' before she turned 20, garnering her the honorific title of "Princess of Pop".
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Bruce Johnston
Bruce Arthur Johnston (born Benjamin Baldwin on June 27, 1942) is a member of The Beach Boys and a songwriter, remembered especially for composing "I Write the Songs". Johnston was not one of the original members of the band. He joined the band on April 9, 1965 after Glen Campbell (who was substituting on stage for the group's chief song writer Brian Wilson) decided to embark on a solo career. Johnston's first vocal recording with the Beach Boys was "California Girls."
As a child Johnston was adopted by William and Irene Johnston of Chicago, and grew up on the West side of Los Angeles in Brentwood and Bel-Air. His adoptive father was president of the Owl Rexall Drug Company in Los Angeles after moving from Walgreens in Chicago. Johnston attended private school Bel-Air Town And Country School (later renamed John Thomas Dye School) in Los Angeles and also studied classical piano in his early years. In high school, Johnston switched to contemporary music. He performed in a few "beginning" bands during this time and then moved on to working with young musicians such as Sandy Nelson, Kim Fowley and Phil Spector. Soon Johnston began backing people such as Ritchie Valens, the Everly Brothers, and even Eddie Cochran. In 1959 while still in high school, Johnston arranged and played on his first hit record called "Teenbeat" by Sandy Nelson. The single record reached the Billboard Top Ten. The same year Johnston made his first single under his own name, "Take This Pearl" on Arwin Records (a record label owned by Doris Day) as part of the Bruce & Terry duo.
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Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949), nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter-performer who records and tours with the E Street Band. Springsteen is widely known for his brand of heartland rock, poetic lyrics, and Americana sentiments centered on his native New Jersey.
Springsteen's recordings have included both commercially accessible rock albums and more somber folk-oriented works. His most successful studio albums, Born in the U.S.A. and Born to Run, showcase a talent for finding grandeur in the struggles of daily American life; he has sold more than 65 million albums in the United States and more than 120 million worldwide and he has earned numerous awards for his work, including 21 Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes and an Academy Award. He is widely regarded by many as one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th century, and in 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him as the 23rd Greatest Artist of all time.
Springsteen was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, and spent his childhood and high school years in Freehold Borough. He lived on South Street in Freehold Borough and attended Freehold Borough High School. His father, Douglas Frederick Springsteen, was of Dutch and Irish ancestry and worked, among other vocations, as a bus driver, although he was frequently unemployed; his surname is Dutch for jump stone. His mother, Adele Ann (née Zerilli), was a legal secretary and was of Italian ancestry. His maternal grandfather was born in Vico Equense, a city near Naples. He has two younger sisters, Virginia and Pamela. Pamela had a brief film career, but left acting to pursue still photography full time; she took photos for the Human Touch and Lucky Town albums.
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Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, OC OBC (born Bryan Guy Adams, 5 November 1959) is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. For his contributions to music, Adams has many awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations, 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television in 1992. He has also won MTV, ASCAP, and American Music awards. In addition, he has won two Ivor Novello Awards for song composition and has been nominated for several Golden Globe Awards and three times for Academy Awards for his songwriting for films.
Adams was awarded the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia for contributions to popular music and philanthropic work via his own foundation, which helps improve education for people around the world.
Adams was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with the 2,435th star in March 2011 and Canada's Walk of Fame in 1998, and in April 2006 he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at Canada's Juno Awards. In 2008, Bryan was ranked 38 on the list of All-Time top artists by the Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary Charts. On 13 January 2010, he received the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award for his part in numerous charitable concerts and campaigns during his career, and on 1 May 2010 was given the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for his 30 years of contributions to the arts.
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Burt Bacharach
Burt F. Bacharach ( /ˈbækəræk/ BAK-ə-rak; born May 12, 1928) is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick. Following on with the initial success of this collaboration, Bacharach went on to produce hits with Dusty Springfield, Bobbie Gentry, Jackie DeShannon and others.
As of 2006[update], Bacharach had written 70 Top 40 hits in the U.S., and 52 Top 40 hits in the UK.
Burt Bacharach was born in Kansas City, Missouri, but grew up in the Forest Hills section of New York City, graduating from Forest Hills High School in 1946. He is the son of Irma (née Freeman) and Bert Bacharach, a well-known syndicated newspaper columnist, and is of German-Jewish descent. Bacharach studied music at McGill University, under Helmut Blume, at the Mannes School of Music, and at the Music Academy of the West in Montecito, California. His composition teachers included Darius Milhaud, Henry Cowell, and Bohuslav Martinů. Following service in the Army, Bacharach worked as a pianist, both as a solo player and as an accompanist for singers such as Vic Damone, Polly Bergen, Steve Lawrence, the Ames Brothers and Paula Stewart (who became his first wife). For some years he was musical arranger for Marlene Dietrich as well as touring with her.
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Caleb Quaye
Caleb Quaye (born October 9, 1948, London), is an English Afro-European rock guitarist and studio musician best known for his work in the 1960s and 1970s with Elton John, Mick Jagger, Pete Townshend, Paul McCartney and Hall & Oates. He is the son of Cab Kaye, younger brother of Terri Quaye, and older half-brother of Finley Quaye.
Quaye was a member of local band The Sound Castles while at school. Quaye spent several years as a member of Long John Baldry's backing band, Bluesology, which also featured a keyboard player named Reg Dwight, who would soon become known as Elton John. When Bluesology disbanded in 1967, Quaye released a single under the name Caleb called "Baby Your Phrasing is Bad" b/w "Woman of Distinction" (1967, Philips Records). In 1969 he served as guitarist for the one-off "flower power" pop band Argosy (which also included Dwight, Roger Hodgson, and Nigel Olsson) on their single, "Mr. Boyd" b/w "Imagine".
Starting in 1969, Quaye played guitar supporting Elton John at live concerts around the local London area, first with Boots Slade (bass) and Malcolm Tomlinson (drums), and then later on with what eventually became the nucleus of Hookfoot for sporadic shows. The live support work continued until Elton formed his original touring band in the spring of 1970, the trio featuring Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson.
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Carl Wilson
Carl Dean Wilson (December 21, 1946 – February 6, 1998) was an American rock and roll singer and guitarist, best known as a founding member, lead guitarist and occasional lead vocalist of The Beach Boys. Wilson performed lead vocals on a number of notable songs by The Beach Boys, including "Good Vibrations" and "God Only Knows".
Carl Wilson was the younger brother of fellow Beach Boys Dennis and Brian Wilson. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. Wilson died in 1998 from a combination of brain and lung cancer.
Wilson was born in Hawthorne, California, the son of Audree Neva (née Korthof) and Murry Gage Wilson. Wilson played the Chuck Berry-esque guitar parts on many of the band's early hits. Turning 15 as the group's first hit, "Surfin'", broke locally in Los Angeles, his father and manager, Murry Wilson, who sold his business to support his sons' band, bought him a Fender Jaguar. By the end of 1964 he was using a 12-string Rickenbacker, also favored by George Harrison of the Beatles and Roger McGuinn of the Byrds. Because the band first became successful when he was in his teens, he was still developing as a musician and singer. Though both quickly became skilled guitarists, he was nominally the lead over David Marks when they first started recording. Dave Marsh, in "The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll" (1976), stated that Pete Townshend of The Who expanded on both R&B and white rock "influenced heavily by Beach Boy Carl Wilson...".
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Carol Burnett
Carol Creighton Burnett (born April 26, 1933) is an American actress, comedian, singer, dancer and writer. Burnett started her career in New York. After becoming a hit on Broadway, she made her television debut. After successful appearances on The Garry Moore Show, Burnett moved to Los Angeles and began an eleven-year run on The Carol Burnett Show which was aired on CBS television from 1967 to 1978. With roots in vaudeville, The Carol Burnett Show was a variety show which combined comedy sketches, song, and dance. The comedy sketches included film parodies and character pieces. Burnett created many characters during the show's television run.
Burnett was born in San Antonio, Texas, the daughter of Ina Louise (née Creighton), a publicity writer for movie studios, and Joseph Thomas Burnett, a movie theater manager. Both of her parents suffered from alcoholism, and at a young age she was left with her grandmother, Mabel Eudora White. Her parents divorced in the late 1930s, and Burnett and her grandmother moved to an apartment near her mother’s in an impoverished area of Hollywood. There, they stayed in a boarding house with her younger half-sister Chrissy.
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Carole Bayer Sager
Carole Bayer Sager (born March 8,[citation needed] 1947) is an American lyricist, songwriter, singer, and painter.
Carole Bayer was born in New York City to parents Anita and Eli Bayer. She graduated from New York University, where she majored in English, dramatic arts and speech. She had already co-written her first pop hit, "A Groovy Kind of Love", with Toni Wine, while still a student at the New York City High School of Music and Art. It was recorded by the British invasion band The Mindbenders, whose version was a worldwide hit, reaching #2 on the Billboard magazine Hot 100. This song was later recorded by Sonny & Cher, Petula Clark, and Phil Collins, whose rendition for the film Buster reached Number one in 1988. She also had a minor career of singing songs as well—her biggest hit was her 1977 single, You're Moving Out Today.
Sager's first recording as a singer was the 1977 album Carole Bayer Sager, which included the #1 international single[citation needed] "You're Moving Out Today", a song which she co-wrote with Bette Midler. (Paul Buckmaster provided horn and string arrangements for the album.) The album went platinum in Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom. It was followed by ...Too in 1978 and a third and last album, co-produced by Burt Bacharach, entitled Sometimes Late at Night (1981), which included a top 30 hit single "Stronger Than Before", later recorded by Dionne Warwick and Chaka Khan.
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Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, CC OQ, (French pronunciation: [selin djɔ̃] ( listen); born March 30, 1968), is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record. In 1990, she released the English-language album Unison, establishing herself as a viable pop artist in North America and other English-speaking areas of the world.
Dion had first gained international recognition in the 1980s by winning both the 1982 Yamaha World Popular Song Festival and the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest. Following a series of French albums in the early 1980s, she signed on to CBS Records Canada in 1986. During the 1990s, with the help of Angélil, she achieved worldwide fame after signing with Epic Records and releasing several English albums along with additional French albums, becoming one of the most successful artists in pop music history. However, in 1999 at the height of her success, Dion announced a hiatus from entertainment in order to start a family and spend time with her husband, who had been diagnosed with cancer. She returned to the top of pop music in 2002 and signed a three-year (later extended to almost five years) contract to perform nightly in a five-star theatrical show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada.
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Charles Strouse
Charles Strouse (born June 7, 1928) is an American composer and lyricist.
Strouse was born and raised in New York City, the son of Ira and Ethel (Newman) Strouse. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Strouse studied under David Diamond, Aaron Copland and Nadia Boulanger.
Strouse's first Broadway musical was the 1960 hit Bye Bye Birdie, with lyrics by Lee Adams, who would become his long time collaborator. Strouse won his first Tony Award for best score for this musical, which is considered the precursor of the rock musical. Strouse's next show, All American, with a book by Mel Brooks and lyrics by Adams, came in 1962 and produced the standard “Once Upon a Time” (recorded by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Bobby Darin, among others). Following this was Golden Boy (1964, also with Adams), starring Sammy Davis, Jr. and It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman (1966, based on the popular comic strip) which introduced the song "You've Got Possibilities" sung by Linda Lavin.
In 1970, Applause (starring Lauren Bacall, with book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and lyrics by Adams) won Strouse his second Tony Award. In 1977, Strouse adapted another comic strip for the stage, creating the hit Annie, which garnered him his third Tony Award and two Grammy Awards. Other Strouse musicals include Charlie and Algernon (1979), Dance a Little Closer (1983, with lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner), Rags (1986), Nick & Nora (1993), and An American Tragedy (1995, with lyrics by David Shaber). Strouse also wrote a number of musical revues, many with Adams.
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Charlie Morgan
Charlie Morgan (born John Charles Morgan, 9 August 1955, Hammersmith, London, England) is an English drummer and percussionist.
Morgan turned professional in 1973, at the age of 18. By the mid-80s he'd become one of the top session drummers in the UK. In the early 80s he played on albums by artists including Kate Bush, Roy Harper, Judie Tzuke, Clannad, Tracey Ullman, Gary Moore and Justin Hayward.
In 1985 his drumming work with Nik Kershaw attracted the attention of Elton John, who booked him to play on his Ice on Fire album. Later that year John invited him to play with his band at Live Aid. This was the start of a thirteen year period of recording and touring with John.
Morgan co-wrote the theme music to the ITV TV series, The Bill, with bassist Andy Pask.
He currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
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Cher
Cher ( /ˈʃɛər/) (born Cherilyn Sarkisian; May 20, 1946) is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer, and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes, and a Cannes Film Festival Award for her work in film, music, and television. She is the only person in history to receive all five awards. She began her career as a backup singer and came to prominence in 1965 as one-half of the pop rock duo Sonny & Cher with the success of their song "I Got You Babe". She subsequently established herself as a solo recording artist and became a television star in 1971 with The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, a variety show for which she won a Golden Globe. A well-received performance in the film Silkwood earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress of 1983. In the following years, she starred in a string of hit films including Mask, The Witches of Eastwick, and Moonstruck, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress of 1987.
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Chita Rivera
Chita Rivera (born January 23, 1933) is an American actress, dancer, and singer best known for her roles in musical theater. She is the first Hispanic woman to receive a Kennedy Center Honors award (December 2002). She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.
Rivera (birth name: Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero) was born in Washington, D.C., the daughter of Katherine, a government clerk, and Pedro Julio Figueroa del Rivero, a clarinetist and saxophonist for the United States Navy Band. Her father was Puerto Rican and her mother was of Scottish and Italian descent. Rivera was seven years old when her mother was widowed and went to work for The Pentagon.
In 1944, Rivera's mother enrolled her in the Jones-Haywood School of Ballet (now the Jones Haywood School of Dance). Later, when she was 15, a teacher from George Balanchine's School of American Ballet visited their studio and Rivera was one of two students picked to audition in New York City; she was accompanied to the audition by Doris Jones, one of the people who ran the Jones-Haywood School. Rivera's audition was successful and she was accepted into the school and given a scholarship
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Chris Rea
Chris Rea ( /ˈriːə/ REE-ə; born Christopher Anton Rea, 4 March 1951) is an English singer-songwriter, recognisable for his distinctive, husky voice and slide guitar playing. The British Hit Singles & Albums stated that Rea was "one of the most popular UK singer-songwriters of the late 1980s. He was already a major European star by the time he finally cracked the UK Top 10 with his 18th chart entry; "The Road to Hell (Part 2)". By 2009, Rea had sold more than 30 million albums worldwide.
He is well known for his 1978 hit song "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" that charted #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent three weeks at #1 on the U.S. Billboard adult contemporary chart. The song was later covered by Elkie Brooks and was a top 20 hit in the UK.
Although Rea had limited success in the United States, two of his albums, The Road to Hell and Auberge, topped the UK Albums Chart. The book Guinness Rockopedia described him as a "gravel-voiced guitar stalwart".
Rea was born in Middlesbrough, England, the son of ice cream producer Camillo Rea who together with his brother Gaetano owned an ice cream factory and ran twenty-one cafés.
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Christopher Hampton
Christopher James Hampton, CBE, FRSL (born 26 January 1946) is a British playwright, screen writer and film director. He is best known for his play based on the novel Les Liaisons dangereuses and the film version Dangerous Liaisons (1988) and also more recently for writing the nominated screenplay for the film adaptation of Ian McEwan's Atonement.
Hampton was born in Faial, Azores, to British parents Dorothy Patience (née Herrington) and Bernard Patrick Hampton, a marine telecommunications engineer for Cable & Wireless. His father's job led the family to subsequently settle in Aden and Alexandria in Egypt and later Hong Kong and Zanzibar. The Suez Crisis in 1956 necessitated that the family flee under cover of darkness, leaving their possessions behind.
After a prep school at Reigate, Hampton went to the independent boarding school Lancing College at the age of 13, where he won house colours for boxing and distinguished himself as a sergeant in the CCF. Fellow dramatist David Hare was a school contemporary; poet Harry Guest was a teacher.
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Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry (born October 18, 1926) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" (1955), "Roll Over Beethoven" (1956), "Rock and Roll Music" (1957) and "Johnny B. Goode" (1958), Chuck Berry refined and developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive, with lyrics focusing on teen life and consumerism and utilizing guitar solos and showmanship that would be a major influence on subsequent rock music.
Born into a middle class family in St. Louis, Missouri, Berry had an interest in music from an early age and gave his first public performance at Sumner High School. While still a high school student he served a prison sentence for armed robbery between 1944 and 1947. On his release, Berry settled into married life and worked at an automobile assembly plant. By early 1953, influenced by the guitar riffs and showmanship techniques of blues player T-Bone Walker, he was performing in the evenings with the Johnnie Johnson Trio. His break came when he traveled to Chicago in May 1955, and met Muddy Waters, who suggested he contact Leonard Chess of Chess Records. With Chess he recorded "Maybellene"—Berry's adaptation of the country song "Ida Red"—which sold over a million copies, reaching No. 1 on Billboard's Rhythm and Blues chart. By the end of the 1950s, Berry was an established star with several hit records and film appearances to his name as well as a lucrative touring career. He had also established his own St. Louis-based nightclub, called Berry's Club Bandstand. But in January 1962, Berry was sentenced to three years in prison for offenses under the Mann Act—he had transported a 14-year-old girl across state lines.
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Clay Aiken
Clayton Holmes "Clay" Aiken (born November 30, 1978) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, producer and author who began his rise to fame on the second season of the television program American Idol in 2003. RCA Records offered him a recording contract, and his multi-platinum debut album Measure of a Man was released in October 2003. He released four more albums on the RCA label: Merry Christmas with Love (2004), A Thousand Different Ways (2006), and the Christmas EP, All is Well (2006). His fourth studio album (the first album of original material since 2003's Measure of a Man), On My Way Here was released on May 6, 2008.
After the release of On My Way Here, Aiken left RCA and later signed with Decca Records. His first album with Decca, Tried and True, was released June 1, 2010 and his second Steadfast, was released March 26, 2012.
In the years following his American Idol appearance, Aiken has launched ten tours, authored a New York Times best-selling book Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life with Allison Glock, and was the executive producer for a 2004 televised Christmas special, A Clay Aiken Christmas and his televised live concert special in 2010 on PBS Tried & True Live!. He has been a frequent talk show guest, particularly on The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live. He appeared as a guest star on Scrubs, Drop Dead Diva, 30 Rock and participated in comedy skits on numerous other shows.
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Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide (1959–1965). He rose to fame for playing the Man with No Name in Sergio Leone's Dollars trilogy of spaghetti westerns (A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) during the late 1960s, and as Harry Callahan in the Dirty Harry films (Dirty Harry, Magnum Force, The Enforcer, Sudden Impact, and The Dead Pool) throughout the 1970s and 1980s. These roles, among others, have made him an enduring cultural icon of masculinity.
For his work in the films Unforgiven (1992) and Million Dollar Baby (2004), Eastwood won Academy Awards for Best Director and Producer of the Best Picture, as well as receiving nominations for Best Actor. These films in particular, as well as others including Play Misty for Me (1971), Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974), The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), Escape from Alcatraz (1979), Tightrope (1984), Pale Rider (1985), Heartbreak Ridge (1986), In the Line of Fire (1993), The Bridges of Madison County (1995), and Gran Torino (2008), have all received commercial success and critical acclaim. Eastwood's only comedies have been Every Which Way but Loose (1978) and its sequel Any Which Way You Can (1980), which are his two most commercially successful films after adjustment for inflation.
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Coolio
Artis Leon Ivey Jr. (born August 1, 1963), better known by the stage name Coolio, is an American Grammy Award winning musician, rapper, actor, and record producer. He is best known for the song "Gangsta's Paradise", and the theme song for Kenan & Kel a Nickelodeon show from 1996 to 2000.
He recorded two singles in the late 1980s, titled "Watcha Gonna Do" and "You're Gonna Miss Me". Neither single was successful, but Coolio had made connections in the Los Angeles rap scene, and ended up joining the group WC and the Maad Circle in 1991. WC was the group's lead rapper, but Coolio was another rapper in the group. He had a few verses on the group's debut album, Ain't a Damn Thang Changed, including on the single "Dress Code". The album was regionally successful, but did not make much impact on a national scale.
Three years later in 1994, Coolio signed to Tommy Boy Records and released his debut solo album, It Takes a Thief. The lead single "Fantastic Voyage" was put into heavy rotation on MTV, and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Fantastic Voyage" would become one of the biggest rap singles of the year. The album also contained a few minor hits in "County Line" and "I Remember". It Takes a Thief eventually peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 200, becoming certified Platinum. The album received praise for bringing a humorous and lighthearted perspective to often violent and profane themes of typical gangsta rap.
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Cy Coleman
Cy Coleman (June 14, 1929 - November 18, 2004) was an American composer, songwriter, and jazz pianist.
He was born Seymour Kaufman on June 14, 1929, in New York City to Eastern European Jewish parents, and was raised in the Bronx. His mother, Ida (née Prizent) was an apartment landlady and his father was a brickmason. He was a child prodigy who gave piano recitals at Steinway Hall, Town Hall, and Carnegie Hall between the ages of six and nine. Before beginning his fabled Broadway career, he led the Cy Coleman Trio, which made many recordings and was a much-in-demand club attraction.
Despite the early classical and jazz success, he decided to build a career in popular music. His first collaborator was Joseph Allen McCarthy, but his most successful early partnership, albeit a turbulent one, was with Carolyn Leigh. The pair wrote many pop hits, including "Witchcraft" and "The Best Is Yet To Come." One of his instrumentals, "Playboy's Theme," became the signature music of the regular TV shows and specials presented by Playboy, and remains synonymous with the magazine and its creator, Hugh Hefner.
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Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper (born June 22, 1953 in Queens, New York) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and LGBT rights activist.
She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the debut solo album She's So Unusual in 1983, which spawned four Billboard Hot 100 top-five songs—"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", "Time After Time", "She Bop" and "All Through the Night"—She's So Unusual was the first album in history to have four top five singles by a female. The album earned Lauper Best New Artist at the 27th Grammy Awards in 1985.
Her success continued with the follow-up, True Colors in 1986, which spawned two Billboard Hot 100 top-ten songs—"True Colors" and "Change of Heart", and earned two nominations at the 29th Grammy Awards.
Since 1989 released from a nine studio albums acclaimed critical, A Night to Remember (1989), Hat Full of Stars (1993), Sisters of Avalon (1996), Merry Christmas... Have a Nice Life (1998),Shine (2001), At Last (2003), The Body Acoustic (2005), Bring Ya to the Brink (2008).
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Cynthia Nixon
Cynthia Ellen Nixon (born April 9, 1966) is an American actress, best known for her portrayal of Miranda Hobbes in the HBO series Sex and the City (1998–2004). She has received two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, a Grammy Award, and a GLAAD Media Award.
Nixon was born in New York, New York, the daughter of Anne Knoll, an actress from Chicago, and Walter E. Nixon, a Texas-born radio journalist. She graduated from Hunter College High School, and attended Barnard College. During her college years she also studied abroad with Semester at Sea in the spring of 1986.
From 1988 to 2003, Nixon was in a relationship with photographer Danny Mozes. They have two children together, a daughter born in 1996 and a son born in 2002. Since 2004, Nixon has been in a relationship with education activist Christine Marinoni. Nixon and Marinoni became engaged in April 2009. Marinoni gave birth to a son in 2011. Nixon and Marinoni were married on May 27, 2012. Regarding her sexual orientation, Nixon remarked in 2007: "I don't really feel I've changed. I'd been with men all my life, and I'd never fallen in love with a woman. But when I did, it didn't seem so strange. I'm just a woman in love with another woman." She identified herself as bisexual in 2012.
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Dave Brubeck
David Warren "Dave" Brubeck (born December 6, 1920) is an American jazz pianist. He has written a number of jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke". Brubeck's style ranges from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills. His music is known for employing unusual time signatures, and superimposing contrasting rhythms, meters, and tonalities.
His long-time musical partner, alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, wrote the Dave Brubeck Quartet's best remembered piece, "Take Five", which is in 5/4 time and has endured as a jazz classic on the top-selling jazz album, Time Out. Brubeck experimented with time signatures throughout his career, recording "Pick Up Sticks" in 6/4, "Unsquare Dance" in 7/4, and "Blue Rondo à la Turk" in 9/8. He is also a respected composer of orchestral and sacred music, and wrote soundtracks for television such as Mr. Broadway and the animated mini-series This Is America, Charlie Brown.
Brubeck was born in Concord, California and grew up in Ione. He is of English (maternal), Swiss and possibly Native American Modoc Tribe multi-ethnic (paternal) ancestry His father, Howard "Pete" Brubeck, was a cattle rancher, and his mother, Elizabeth (née Ivey), who had studied piano in England under Myra Hess and intended to become a concert pianist, taught piano for extra money. Brubeck originally did not intend to become a musician (his two older brothers, Henry and Howard, were already on that track), but took lessons from his mother. He could not read sheet music during these early lessons, attributing this difficulty to poor eyesight, but "faked" his way through, well enough that this deficiency went mostly unnoticed.
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Davey Johnstone
Davey Johnstone (born 6 May 1951, Edinburgh, Scotland), is a Scottish rock guitarist and vocalist, best known for his work with Elton John.
Johnstone's first work was with Noel Murphy in 1968, where he received his first album credit on the album Another Round. By 1969, Johnstone had secured regular work as a session musician, where he began to branch out and explore differing genres of music, and experiment with a variety of instruments. In 1970, when Lyell Tranter, one of the two guitarists in the acoustic British folk group, Magna Carta, left the band, Johnstone took his place as a member. He recorded several albums with them beginning in 1970 on Seasons, (1970) and continued to contribute to Songs from Wasties Orchard (1971),(named after the street where he lived in Long Hanborough, Oxfordshire), and a live album entitled In Concert. During his stint with Magna Carta, he played a wide variety of instruments including guitar, mandolin, sitar, and dulcimer. It was during his work with Magna Carta that he caught the attention of producer Gus Dudgeon who asked Johnstone to play on Bernie Taupin's self-titled 1970 solo album, which resulted in a meeting with Elton John and Johnstone playing on his 1971 album Madman Across the Water. After playing on Madman Across the Water, he was invited to join Elton John's band as a full member.
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David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE (born 2 May 1975) is an English association footballer who plays for Los Angeles Galaxy. He has played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, Milan, and the England national team for which he holds the appearance record for an outfield player.
Beckham's career began when he signed a professional contract with Manchester United, making his first-team debut in 1992 aged 17. During his time there, United won the Premier League title six times, the FA Cup twice, and the UEFA Champions League in 1999. He left Manchester United to sign for Real Madrid in 2003, where he remained for four seasons, clinching the La Liga championship in his final season with the club. In January 2007, it was announced that Beckham would leave Real Madrid for the Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy, signing a five-year contract with them on 1 July 2007. While a Galaxy player, he spent two loan spells in Italy with Milan in 2009 and 2010. On 20 November 2011, he joined an elite group of players to have won three league titles in three different countries, when Los Angeles won their third MLS Cup.
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David Bowie
David Bowie ( /ˈboʊ.i/ BOH-ee; born David Robert Jones on 8 January 1947) is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s. He is known for his distinctive voice and the intellectual depth and eclecticism of his work.
Bowie first caught the eye and ear of the public in July 1969, when his song "Space Oddity" reached the top five of the UK Singles Chart. After a three-year period of experimentation he re-emerged in 1972 during the glam rock era with the flamboyant, androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust, spearheaded by the hit single "Starman" and the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Bowie's impact at that time, as described by biographer David Buckley, "challenged the core belief of the rock music of its day" and "created perhaps the biggest cult in popular culture." The relatively short-lived Ziggy persona proved merely one facet of a career marked by continual reinvention, musical innovation and striking visual presentation.
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David Bryan
David Bryan (born David Bryan Rashbaum; February 7, 1962) is the keyboard player of the rock band, Bon Jovi. He is also the writer of the successful Broadway musical Memphis and current Design Manager at Aquatic Eco-Systems Inc.
Bryan was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey and raised in Edison, New Jersey. His father, Eddie Rashbaum, played the trumpet. Bryan was raised Jewish. He attended elementary school at Clara Barton, where he played many instruments as violin, viola, trumpet and clarinet. Also attended Herbert Hoover Middle School, then J. P. Stevens High School, from which he graduated. Bryan began to learn piano at age seven, and played keyboards for a band called Transition with bass player Steve Sileo. He studied with Emery Hack, a professor at Juilliard, for thirteen years. Bryan was accepted into Rutgers University, but dropped out to attend Juilliard, a school devoted to the performing arts in New York City.
In October 1984, Bon Jovi supported the group Kiss at the Queens Hall in Leeds.
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David Crosby
David Van Cortlandt Crosby (born August 14, 1941) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash (who are sometimes joined by Neil Young), and CPR. Crosby has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: once for his work in The Byrds and once for his work with CSN.
David Crosby was born in Los Angeles, California. His parents were Aliph Van Cortlandt Whitehead and Floyd Crosby, an Academy Award winning cinematographer. He is also the younger brother of musician Ethan Crosby. Growing up in California, he attended several schools, including the University Elementary School in Los Angeles, the Crane Country Day School in Montecito, and Laguna Blanca School in Santa Barbara for the rest of his elementary school and junior high. At Crane, he starred in HMS Pinafore and other musicals but was asked not to return due to lack of academic progress. He graduated from the Cate School in Carpinteria, completing his studies by correspondence. In 1960, his parents divorced, and his father was remarried to Betty Christie Crosby.
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David Foster
David Walter Foster, OC, OBC (born November 1, 1949), is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Céline Dion, Andrea Bocelli, Toni Braxton, Madonna, Air Supply and Michael Jackson. Foster has won 16 Grammy Awards from 47 nominations. David Foster is the current Chairman of Verve Music Group.
Throughout his career, he has produced recordings for a wide range of musical artists, including Bryan Adams, Tamia, Christina Aguilera, The Bee Gees, Andrea Bocelli, Boz Scaggs, Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Chicago, Destiny's Child, Neil Diamond, Céline Dion, Earth Wind and Fire, Gloria Estefan, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan, Beyonce Knowles, Kenny Loggins, Madonna, Olivia Newton-John, Nsync, All-4-One, Plus One, Charice Pempengco, Prince, LeAnn Rimes, Kenny Rogers, Barbra Streisand, Donna Summer, Shania Twain, Hall & Oates, Tim Feehan, The Tubes, and Jackie Evancho.
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David Furnish
David James Furnish (born 25 October 1962) is a Canadian/British filmmaker, former advertising executive, and now a film director and producer most known for his documentary Elton John: Tantrums & Tiaras. He is the civil partner of British entertainer Elton John.
David Furnish was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada to Jack Furnish (retired, former director of Bristol-Myers) and Gladys Furnish (retired, homemaker). He has an older brother, John, and a younger brother, Peter. Furnish graduated from the Sir John A. Macdonald Collegiate Institute in 1981 and received an Honours Business Administration undergraduate degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario in 1985. He was recruited by the advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather, eventually transferred to the London, England, office and was appointed to their Board.[citation needed]
Furnish is co-chief of Rocket Pictures along with John.[citation needed] Furnish serves on the board of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, attending fundraisers and other events in support of that cause.[citation needed]
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David Gilmour
David Jon Gilmour,CBE (born 6 March 1946) is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. It is estimated that as of 2010, the group have sold over 250 million records worldwide, including 74.5 million units sold in the United States.
In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of artists, and has enjoyed a successful career as a solo artist. Gilmour has been actively involved with many charities over the course of his career.
In 2003, he was appointed CBE for his charity work and was awarded with the Outstanding Contribution title at the 2008 Q Awards. In 2011, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him number 14 in their list of the greatest guitarists of all time.
Gilmour was born in Cambridge, England. His father, Douglas Gilmour, was a senior lecturer in zoology at the University of Cambridge and his mother, Sylvia (née Wilson), was a teacher and film editor who raised her family at Grantchester Meadows, later immortalised by a Roger Waters song on Pink Floyd's Ummagumma. He has a younger brother who is also a musician.
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David Hentschel
David Hentschel is an English recording engineer, writer and music producer who engineered on George Harrison's All Things Must Pass and Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, as well as with artists including Genesis, Elton John, Ringo Starr, Queen, Marti Webb, Andy Summers, Mike Oldfield, Peter Hammill and Ronnie Caryl.
Hentschel's career began at Trident Studios in London where he was initially an assistant before rising to become one of the in-house producers. In addition to engineering and production credits, Hentschel also played early synthesizers with a diverse range of bands including Nazareth, Pilot and Byzantium. He played synthesizer on several high profile recordings, including Elton John's "Rocket Man" and "Funeral for a Friend" from the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album. "Funeral for a Friend" featured an early analogue synthesizer, the ARP 2500, to create tonal feeling and effect.
After leaving Trident in 1974, he produced his own album Startling Music for Ringo Starr's short lived record label, Ring O'Records, consisting of a song-by-song cover of Ringo's first album and featuring performances by Phil Collins, David Cole, Ronnie Caryl, John Gilbert and Starr. He then began a successful collaboration with the band Genesis which resulted in five albums beginning with A Trick of the Tail in 1976.
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David LaChapelle
David LaChapelle (born March 11, 1963 in Fairfield, Connecticut) is an artist and photographer known for combining a hyper-realistic aesthetic with social messages.
LaChapelle’s photography career began in the 1980s when he began showing his artwork in New York City galleries. His work caught the eye of Andy Warhol, who offered him his first job as a photographer at Interview Magazine. His photographs of celebrities in Interview garnered positive attention, and before long he was shooting for a variety of top editorial publications and creating some of the most memorable advertising campaigns of his generation.
LaChapelle’s striking images have graced the covers and pages of Italian Vogue, French Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ, Rolling Stone and i-D, and he has photographed personalities as diverse as Tupac Shakur, Madonna, Shakira, Amanda Lepore, Eminem, Philip Johnson, Lance Armstrong, Pamela Anderson, Lil’ Kim, Uma Thurman, Elizabeth Taylor, David Beckham, Paris Hilton, Jeff Koons, Leonardo DiCaprio, Hillary Clinton, Muhammad Ali, and Britney Spears, to name a few.
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David Paich
David Frank Paich (born June 25, 1954 in Los Angeles, California) is a multi-disciplined musical contributor. His contibutions include performing as a live and studio session musician, keyboard player, recording producer, arranger, vocalist and main composer of the Los Angeles-based rock/pop band Toto. With Toto, Paich has released 17 albums and sold over 30 million records. Additionally, Paich has contributed to a host of artists with his songwriting and arrangements including working with Boz Skaggs extensively in the 1970s and Michael Jackson in the 1980s.
He is the son of the late jazz composer, musician, and arranger Marty Paich, having adopted many of his father's skills for his contribution to music.
A prolific writer of chart-breakers, Paich wrote or co-wrote hits such as "Hold the Line", "Lowdown", "Lido Shuffle", "Georgy Porgy", "Rosanna", "Got To Be Real", and "Lady Love Me (One More Time)". He also performed lead vocals on the Toto hits "Africa", "Lovers in the Night", and "Stranger in Town".
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David Paton
David Paton (born 29 October 1949, Edinburgh, Scotland) is a Scottish bass and guitar player, most notably with three different bands: Pilot, The Alan Parsons Project, and Camel. He has also worked as a solo artist, session musician, and sometime vocalist. He wrote and sang on Pilot's two big hits: "January" and "Magic".
Paton was also a member of an early version of the Bay City Rollers.
He grew up in the south-eastern suburb of Gilmerton in Edinburgh, where he attended Liberton High School.
In the 1980s, Paton was known for his work with Elton John in studio albums and touring around the world. Other credits include bass guitar and backing vocals for several records by Fish, and, in the late 1990s, several albums by Rick Wakeman. In 1984, he was a member of Keats.
His first solo album was released in 1991, titled Passions Cry, and second album No Ties No Strings was released in 2003. No Ties No Strings was a re-recording of his never released album from 1980.
Paton also appeared solo in the Countdown Spectacular 2 concert series in Australia, between August and September 2007, as a performer and musical director. He also sang a duet entitled "All of My Days" with the Scottish singer-songwriter, Kenny Herbert.
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David Sanborn
David Sanborn (born July 30, 1945) is an American alto saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He released his first solo album Taking Off in 1975, but has been playing the saxophone since before he was in high school. Sanborn has also worked extensively as a session musician, notably on David Bowie's Young Americans (1975).
One of the most commercially successful American saxophonists to earn prominence since the 1980s, Sanborn is described by critic Scott Yannow as "the most influential saxophonist on pop, R&B, and crossover players of the past 20 years." Sanborn is often identified with radio-friendly smooth jazz However, Sanborn has expressed a disinclination for both the genre itself and his association with it.
Sanborn was born in Tampa, Florida, and grew up in Kirkwood, Missouri. He suffered from polio in his youth, and began playing the saxophone on a physician's advice to strengthen his weakened chest muscles and improve his breathing. Alto saxophonist Hank Crawford, at the time a member of Ray Charles' band, was an early and lasting influence on Sanborn. Sanborn performed with blues musicians Albert King and Little Milton at the age of 14, and continued playing blues when he joined Paul Butterfield's band in 1967, after attending the University of Iowa.
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David Yazbek
David Yazbek (born 1961) is an American writer, musician, composer, and lyricist. He wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musicals The Full Monty (2000), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2005) and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (2010).
Yazbek was born to a Jewish-Italian mother and a Lebanese father in New York City. Musical from birth, he began cello lessons in elementary school and took up the piano as a teenager.
While attending Brown University as an undergraduate, he wrote an original musical with the production group Brownbrokers before graduating in 1982. He also directed a production of HAIR with student theatre group Production Workshop, for which he composed an original song to compliment the classic score. After college he got a job writing for David Letterman's late night television show. He won an Emmy as part of Letterman's writing team in 1986, but quit to pursue his love of music. From 1987 to 1989 he was the co-owner of Manhattan Recording Company and wrote many commercial jingles.
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David Zippel
David Joel Zippel (born May 17, 1954) is an American musical theatre lyricist.
Zippel was born in Easton, Pennsylvania. He is a 1976 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. While there, he wrote a "bizarre political musical" called Rotunda. He had intended on going to Harvard Law School to become a theatrical lawyer, but when he met Wally Harper (at the time Barbara Cook's accompanist and was in need of a lyricist, Zippel offered his services. Two of the songs they wrote together were used when Cook sang at Carnegie Hall. According to his official biography, "he is delighted not to practice law."[citation needed]
He also wrote the theme song to Veronica's Closet.
His theatrical credits include:
Zippel contributed lyrics to The Swan Princess (music by Lex de Azevedo, the song Far Longer than Forever was nominated for a Golden Globe Award), as well as provided the singing voice of Jean-Bob the Frog, and more notably wrote the lyrics for the Disney films Hercules, with music by Alan Menken (the song "Go the Distance" received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song) and Mulan, with music by Matthew Wilder. The music and lyrics received an Academy Award nomination for Best Musical or Comedy Score. A year later, Zippel collaborated with Phil Collins for Tarzan. He was in his agent Richard Kraft's film Finding Kraftland.
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Dee Murray
Dee Murray (3 April 1946 - 15 January 1992) was an English bassist, best known as a member of Elton John's original rock band.
Murray was born David Murray Oates in Southgate, London in 1946. Before joining Elton John as his touring sidemen, Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson were members of the Spencer Davis Group in 1968-1970. In Murray's musician bio in the programme book for 1982's "Jump Up!" tour, Murray recalled when he first took up the bass guitar during his high school years: "Someone put this heavy thing over my shoulder and said, 'Here, you play this!'" Murray quickly established a solid reputation on the instrument. In the Eagle Vision documentary on "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," producer Gus Dudgeon lauded Murray's musical ability, and said he hadn't heard a bassist quite as good as him.
Murray and Olsson joined John as his road sidemen in 1970, and first appeared on disc with John on "Amoreena" from the 1970 album Tumbleweed Connection, though they were first featured on the live album 17-11-70. While they were John's constant touring band mates, his record company only allowed them to play on just one track per studio album. As of "Honky Château" in 1972, however, John exerted some of his skyrocketing popularity at the time, and convinced his record company to allow Murray and Olsson to also become full-time recording members of John's band. Along with fellow new recruit Davey Johnstone on guitars, Murray and Olsson played on John's hit albums, including the milestone album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, singles and world tours for several years. In 1975, after recording Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, Murray and Olsson were released from the band because John wanted to achieve a different sound. He said at the time "The band always rattled along. I want it to chug".[citation needed]
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Deon Estus
Deon Estus (born Jeffery Deon Estus, 1956, Detroit, Michigan) is an American bassist and singer, best known as the bass player of Wham! and as George Michael's bassist on the latter's first two subsequent solo projects.
Estus was born in Detroit and graduated from Northwestern High School in 1974. He sang second tenor in the choir at Northwestern under the direction of Brazel Dennard. His bass teacher was the late James Jamerson of Motown's The Funk Brothers.
Estus joined the R&B band Brainstorm as a teenager, recording two albums with them and scoring a hit with "Popcorn." During the early 1980s, he appeared as a session bassist on several mainstream albums, including Marvin Gaye's 1982 comeback album, Midnight Love. After his bass talents were recognized, he was invited to join the UK pop group, Wham!. He went on to tour China with Wham! and later backed Wham! frontman George Michael on his Faith tour. He also participated in the late-1980s collective, Boogie Box High, which was spearheaded by George Michael's cousin, Andros Georgiou, and featured Michael along with other high-profile musicians; Estus appears on the group's only album, Outrageous, released in 1989. Estus later performed with Michael at Rock in Rio and has continued to play bass as part of Michael's backing band.
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Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer, record producer, and actress.
Diana Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that has included successful ventures into film and Broadway. She received a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her role as Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues (1972), for which she won a Golden Globe award. She has won seven American Music Awards, was honored with a 2012 Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award, and won a Tony Award for her one-woman show, An Evening with Diana Ross, in 1977.
In 1976, Billboard magazine named her the "Female Entertainer of the Century." In 1993, the Guinness Book of World Records declared Diana Ross the most successful female music artist in history due to her success in the United States and United Kingdom for having more hits than any female artist in the charts with a career total of 18 number one records in the United States. Diana Ross has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.
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Dick James
Dick James (12 December 1920 – 1 February 1986), born Reginald Leon Isaac Vapnick in the East End of London, was a music publisher and the founder of the DJM record label and recording studios, as well as (with Brian Epstein) The Beatles' publisher Northern Songs.
James sang with North London dance bands in his early teens, and was a regular vocalist at the Cricklewood Palais by the age of seventeen. He joined the Henry Hall band, and made first radio broadcast in 1940. Joining the Army in 1942, after World War II he continued to sing with top post-war bands, including Geraldo's. Later still, James was also a part-time member of The Stargazers, a popular early 1950s vocal group.
He was the singer of the theme songs of The Adventures of Robin Hood and The Buccaneers, from British television in the 1950s, and was a friend and associate of renowned record producer George Martin.
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Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick (born Marie Dionne Warrick; December 12, 1940) is an American singer, actress and TV show host, who became a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and a United States Ambassador of Health.
Having been in a partnership with Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Warwick ranks among the 40 biggest hit makers of the entire rock era (1955–1999), based on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Charts. Warwick ranks second only to Aretha Franklin as the most-charted female vocalist with 56 singles making the Billboard Hot 100 between 1962 and 1998. She is also a cousin of Whitney Houston.
Warwick was born in East Orange, New Jersey, to Mancel Warwick (1911–1977), who began his career as a Pullman porter and subsequently became a chef, a gospel record promoter for Chess Records and later a Certified Public Accountant; and Lee Drinkard Warwick (1920–2005), manager of The Drinkard Singers (see below). Warwick had a sister Delia "Dee Dee" and a brother, Mancel Jr., who was killed in an accident in 1968 at the age of 21.[citation needed]. She has African American, Native American, Brazilian and Dutch ancestry.
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Disney Legends
Established in 1987, the Disney Legends program recognizes people who have made an extraordinary and integral contribution to The Walt Disney Company. The honor is awarded annually during a special ceremony.
Recipients are chosen by a selection committee, formerly appointed and chaired by the late Disney Legend Roy E. Disney, Walt Disney's nephew, former vice chairman and director emeritus of The Walt Disney Company. The committee consists of long-time Disney executives, historians and other authorities. Roy Disney died on December 16, 2009. Disney's corporate headquarters in Burbank, California features a plaza honoring the recipients outside Team Disney - The Michael D. Eisner Building. Each honoree is represented by a bronze plaque; the plaque features the recipient's handprints and signature if they were living when named a Disney Legend.
Artist Andrea Favilli created the Disney Legends award, which is handcrafted from bronze each year. The award depicts the arm of Mickey Mouse holding a star-tipped wand.
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Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie ( /ɡɨˈlɛspi/; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer and, occasionally, singer.
Allmusic's Scott Yanow wrote, "Dizzy Gillespie's contributions to jazz were huge. One of the greatest jazz trumpeters of all time (some would say the best), Gillespie was such a complex player that his contemporaries ended up copying Miles Davis and Fats Navarro instead, and it was not until Jon Faddis's emergence in the 1970s that Dizzy's style was successfully recreated . . . Arguably Gillespie is remembered, by both critics and fans alike, as one of the greatest jazz trumpeters of all time."
Gillespie was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuoso style of Roy Eldridge but adding layers of harmonic complexity previously unknown in jazz. His beret and horn-rimmed spectacles, his scat singing, his bent horn, pouched cheeks and his light-hearted personality were essential in popularizing bebop.
In the 1940s Gillespie, together with Charlie Parker, became a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz. He taught and influenced many other musicians, including trumpeters Miles Davis, Fats Navarro, Clifford Brown, Arturo Sandoval, Lee Morgan, Jon Faddis and Chuck Mangione.
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Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. As a songwriter, she has composed over 3,000 songs, the best known of which include "I Will Always Love You" (a two-time U.S. country chart-topper for Parton, as well an international pop hit for Whitney Houston), "Jolene", "Coat of Many Colors", "9 to 5" and "My Tennessee Mountain Home". As an actress, she starred in the movies 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias, Straight Talk, Unlikely Angel and Joyful Noise. She is one of the most successful female country artists of all time; with an estimated 100 million in album sales, Dolly Parton is also one of the best selling artists of all time. She is known as "The Queen of Country Music".
She was born in Sevierville, Tennessee, the fourth of twelve children of Avie Lee Parton (née Owens; October 5, 1923 – December 5, 2003) and Robert Lee Parton (March 22, 1921 – November 12, 2000), a tobacco farmer. Her siblings are: Willadeene Parton (born March 24, 1940), David Wilburn Parton (born March 30, 1942), Coy Denver "Denver" Parton (born August 16, 1943), Bobby Lee Parton (born February 18, 1948), Stella Mae Parton (born May 4, 1949), Cassie Nan Parton (February 12, 1951), Randel Huston "Randy" Parton (born December 15, 1953), Larry Gerald Parton (born and died July 6, 1955), Floyd and Frieda Estelle Parton (born June 1, 1957), and Rachel Ann Parton (born August 31, 1959). Her family was, as she has described them, "dirt poor". She outlined her family's lack of money in a number of her early songs, notably "Coat of Many Colors" and "In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)". They lived in a rustic, dilapidated one-room cabin in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, a hamlet just north of the Greenbrier Valley, in the Locust Ridge area of the Great Smoky Mountains in Sevier County, a predominantly Pentecostal area.
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Don Henley
Donald Hugh "Don" Henley (born July 22, 1947, in Gilmer, Texas) is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up. Henley sings lead vocals on Eagles hits such as "Witchy Woman", "Desperado", "Best of My Love", "One of These Nights", "Hotel California", "Life in the Fast Lane", and "The Long Run". He formed one of the most successful songwriting partnerships with Glenn Frey.
After the Eagles broke up in 1980, Henley pursued a solo career and released his debut album in 1982. He has released four studio albums, two compilation albums, and one live DVD. His solo hits include "Dirty Laundry", "The Boys of Summer", "All She Wants to Do Is Dance", "The Heart of the Matter", "The Last Worthless Evening", "Sunset Grill", "Not Enough Love in the World", "New York Minute" and "The End of the Innocence".
The Eagles have sold over 120 million albums worldwide, won six Grammy Awards, had five #1 singles, 17 Top 40 singles, and six #1 albums. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and are the biggest selling American band in history. As a solo artist, Henley has sold over 10 million albums worldwide, had eight Top 40 singles, won two Grammys and five MTV Video Music Awards. Combined with the Eagles and as a solo artist, Henley has released 25 Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. He has released seven studio albums with the Eagles and four as a solo artist. In 2008, he was ranked the 87th greatest singer of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.
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Doris Troy
Doris Troy (January 6, 1937 – February 16, 2004) was an American R&B singer, known to her many fans as "Mama Soul".
She was born as Doris Elaine Higginsen, in The Bronx, the daughter of a Barbadian Pentecostal minister. She later took her grandmother's name and grew up as Doris Payne. Her parents disapproved of "subversive" forms of music like rhythm & blues, so she cut her teeth singing in her father's choir. She was working as an usherette at the Apollo where she was discovered by James Brown.
Troy worked with Solomon Burke, The Drifters, Cissy Houston, and Dionne Warwick, before she co-wrote and recorded "Just One Look", which hit #10 in the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. The song has been covered by The Hollies, Linda Ronstadt, Bryan Ferry, Anne Murray, Klaus Nomi, and Harry Nilsson. Her only foray into the UK Singles Chart, "Whatcha Gonna Do About It", peaked at #37 in December 1964.
As her solo career peaked, she sang back-up for the Rolling Stones, Humble Pie, Kevin Ayers, Pink Floyd (on their album The Dark Side of the Moon),George Harrison, Johnny Hallyday, Dusty Springfield,Nick Drake, Junior Campbell and Carly Simon.
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Duncan Sheik
Duncan Scott Sheik (born November 18, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter and composer. Sheik initially found success as a singer, most notably for his 1996 debut single "Barely Breathing". He later expanded his work to include compositions for motion pictures and the Broadway stage, leading him to involvement in the multiple award-winning musical Spring Awakening. He resides in New York City.
Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Sheik's upbringing was split between his grandparents' home in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and his parents' in New Jersey. His grandmother, a graduate of Juilliard, taught him to play the piano and encouraged his musical development. He has a younger brother, Peter, and a younger sister, Kacie, who is a theatre actress. Sheik graduated from the Eaglebrook School before attending Phillips Academy, Andover, in 1988. He subsequently studied semiotics at Brown University. After college, he moved to Daly City, a suburb near San Francisco where he started his music career.
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Dusty Springfield
Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienOBE (16 April 1939 – 2 March 1999), known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s. With her distinctive sensual sound, she was an important white soul singer, and at her peak was one of the most successful British female performers, with 18 singles in the Billboard Hot 100 from 1964 to 1970. She is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the U.K. Music Hall of Fame. International polls have named Springfield among the best female rock artists of all time.
Born in West London to an Irish Catholic family that enjoyed music, Springfield learned to sing at home. She joined her first professional group, The Lana Sisters, in 1958, then formed the pop-folk vocal trio The Springfields in 1960 with her brother Dion.
Her solo career began in 1963 with the upbeat pop hit, "I Only Want to Be with You" (1963). Among the hits that followed were "Wishin' and Hopin'" (1964), "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" (1964), "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" (1966), and "Son of a Preacher Man" (1968). A fan of American pop music, she was the first public figure to bring little-known soul singers to a wider British audience, when she created and hosted the first British performances of the top-selling Motown artists in 1965. By 1966, she was the best-selling female singer in the world, and topped a number of popularity polls, including Melody Maker's Best International Vocalist. She was the first British singer to top the New Musical Express readers' poll for Female Singer. Her image, supported by a peroxide blonde beehive hairstyle, evening gowns, and heavy make-up, made her an icon of the Swinging Sixties.
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Edward Kleban
Edward “Ed” Kleban (April 30, 1939 - December 28, 1987) was an American musical theatre composer and lyricist.
Kleban was born in the Bronx, New York in 1939 and graduated from New York's High School of Music & Art and Columbia University, where he attended with future playwright Terrance McNally. Kleban is best known as lyricist of the Broadway hit A Chorus Line. He and composer Marvin Hamlisch won the 1976 Tony Award for Best Original Score, and he shared the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1976 with Hamlisch and three other contributors to the musical. The one-woman Phyllis Newman show, The Madwoman of Central Park West (1979), featured a few tunes with his lyrics. For several years he worked at Columbia Records, where he produced albums by performers as diverse as Igor Stravinsky and Percy Faith and the album for the Off-Broadway musical Now Is The Time For All Good Men.
He was a teacher for many years at the BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated) Musical Theater Workshop.
In his will, Kleban established the Kleban Foundation which grants annual awards, each in the amount of $100,000 over two years, to the most promising librettist and lyricist in American musical theatre. The awards are administered by BMI. His will also granted rights to his collection of unpublished songs to friends Avery Corman and Wendy Wasserstein with the request that they incorporate them into a new musical. Their attempts failed and the rights reverted to Kleban's longtime companion, librettist Linda Kline. Kline sought someone who did not know or work with Kleban, but who would learn about him through the material. She admired previous work of Lonny Price and sought him as a collaborator.
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Elizabeth Hurley
Elizabeth Jane Hurley (born 10 June 1965) is an English model and actress. In the 1990s, Hurley became known as a girlfriend of Hugh Grant. In 1994, as Grant became the focus of worldwide media attention due to the global box office success of his film Four Weddings and a Funeral, Hurley accompanied him to the film's Los Angeles premiere in a plunging black Versace dress held together with gold safety pins, which gained her instant media attention.
Hurley has been associated with the cosmetics company Estée Lauder for over 15 years since the company awarded Hurley her first modelling job at the age of 29. It has featured her as a representative and model for its products, especially perfumes such as Sensuous, Intuition, and Pleasures, since 1995. As an actress, her best known cinematic works to date have been as Vanessa Kensington in Mike Myers' hit spy comedy, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) and as the Devil in Bedazzled (2000). Hurley currently owns an eponymous beachwear line.
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Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; born 21 April 1926) is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms, and head of the 54-member Commonwealth of Nations. She is also head of state of the Crown Dependencies.
Elizabeth was born in London, and educated privately at home. Her father acceded to the throne as George VI in 1936 on the abdication of his brother Edward VIII. She began to undertake public duties during the Second World War, in which she served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. On the death of her father in 1952, she became Head of the Commonwealth and queen regnant of seven independent Commonwealth countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon. Her coronation service in 1953 was the first to be televised. Between 1956 and 1992, the number of her realms varied as territories gained independence and some realms became republics. Today, in addition to the first four aforementioned countries, Elizabeth is Queen of Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
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Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond "Liz" Taylor, DBE (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was a British-American actress. From her early years as a child star with MGM, she became one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age. As one of the world's most famous film stars, Taylor was recognized for her acting ability and for her glamorous lifestyle, beauty and distinctive violet eyes.
National Velvet (1944) was Taylor's first success, and she starred in Father of the Bride (1950), A Place in the Sun (1951), Giant (1956), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), and Suddenly, Last Summer (1959). She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for BUtterfield 8 (1960), played the title role in Cleopatra (1963), and married her co-star Richard Burton. They appeared together in 11 films, including Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), for which Taylor won a second Academy Award. From the mid-1970s, she appeared less frequently in film, and made occasional appearances in television and theatre.
Her much publicized personal life included eight marriages and several life-threatening illnesses. From the mid-1980s, Taylor championed HIV and AIDS programs; she co-founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research in 1985, and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in 1993. She received the Presidential Citizens Medal, the Legion of Honour, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and a Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute, who named her seventh on their list of the "Greatest American Screen Legends". Taylor died of congestive heart failure in March 2011 at the age of 79, having suffered many years of ill health.
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Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor. He has worked with lyricist Bernie Taupin as his songwriter partner since 1967; they have collaborated on more than 30 albums to date.
In his four-decade career John has sold more than 250 million records, making him one of the most successful artists of all time. His single "Candle in the Wind 1997" has sold over 33 million copies worldwide, and is the best selling single in Billboard history. He has more than 50 Top 40 hits, including seven consecutive No. 1 US albums, 56 Top 40 singles, 16 Top 10, four No. 2 hits, and nine No. 1 hits. He has won six Grammy Awards, four Brit Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Tony Award. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him Number 49 on its list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.
John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Having been named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1996, John received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for "services to music and charitable services" in 1998.
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Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello (born Declan Patrick MacManus, 25 August 1954) is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader than that of most popular songs. His music has drawn on many diverse genres; one critic described him as a "pop encyclopaedia", able to "reinvent the past in his own image".
Costello has won multiple awards in his career, including a Grammy Award, and has twice been nominated for the Brit Award for Best British Male. In 2003, Elvis Costello & the Attractions were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Costello number 80 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Costello was born Declan Patrick MacManus in St Mary's Hospital, London, the son of Lilian Alda (née Ablett, b. 1927, Liverpool) and Ross MacManus (1927–2011), a musician and bandleader. He is of Irish heritage. Costello lived in Twickenham, attending Hounslow Secondary Modern School, which is now St Mark's Catholic Secondary School, in neighbouring Hounslow. With a musically inclined father (who was a jazz trumpeter and sang with The Joe Loss Orchestra), Costello's first broadcast recording was alongside his dad in a television commercial for R. White's Lemonade (I'm a Secret Lemonade Drinker). His father wrote and sang the song; Costello provided backing vocals. The advertisement won a silver award at the 1974 International Advertising Festival.
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Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King".
Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, Presley moved to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family at the age of 13. He began his career there in 1954, working with Sun Records owner Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African American music to a wider audience. Accompanied by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, Presley was the most important popularizer of rockabilly, an uptempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country and rhythm and blues. RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who would manage the singer for over two decades. Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel", released in January 1956, was a number one hit. He became the leading figure of the newly popular sound of rock and roll with a series of network television appearances and chart-topping records. His energized interpretations of songs, many from African American sources, and his uninhibited performance style made him enormously popular—and controversial. In November 1956, he made his film debut in Love Me Tender.
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Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), better known by his stage name Eminem (often stylized as EMINƎM) and by his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group, D12, to mainstream recognition. As well as being a member of D12, Eminem is also one half of the hip hop duo Bad Meets Evil, with Royce da 5'9". Eminem is one of the best-selling artists in the world and is the best selling artist of the 2000s. He has been listed and ranked as one of the greatest artists of all time by many magazines including the Rolling Stone magazine which has ranked him 82nd on its list of The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. The same magazine has declared him The King of Hip Hop. Including his work with D12 and Bad Meets Evil, Eminem has achieved ten number-one albums on the Billboard 200. He has sold more than 42 million tracks and 41 million albums in the United States, and nearly 90 million albums worldwide.
Eminem quickly gained popularity in 1999 with his major-label debut album, The Slim Shady LP. That first album, The Marshall Mathers LP and his third major album, The Eminem Show, all won Grammy Awards, making Eminem the first artist to win Best Rap Album for three consecutive LPs. The Marshall Mathers LP is also considered one of Eminem's best and most successful albums. Eminem then went on hiatus after touring in 2005. He released his first album since 2004's Encore, titled Relapse, on May 15, 2009. In 2010, Eminem released his seventh studio album Recovery, which was an international success. Recovery was also named the best selling album worldwide of 2010 joining The Eminem Show, which was the best seller of 2002. Eminem won Grammy Awards for both Relapse and Recovery, giving him a total of 13 Grammys in his career. Eminem has named Masta Ace, Big Daddy Kane, Newcleus, the Beastie Boys, Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur, AZ, Nas, and Ice-T amongst others as his influences.
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Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, Italian pronunciation: [ˈɛnnjo morriˈkoːne], (born November 10, 1928) is an Italian composer and conductor, who has written music for more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces. Morricone is most famous for his work in the Spaghetti Westerns directed by his friend Sergio Leone, including A Fistful of Dollars (1964), For a Few Dollars More (1965), The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966), and Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) but his career includes a wide range of composition genres making him one of the film world's most versatile artists. He is considered as one of the most influential film music composers of the 20th century.
Born in Rome, Italy, Morricone took up the trumpet as a child and attended the National Academy of Santa Cecilia to take lessons on the instrument at the age of nine. He formally entered a conservatory at the age of 12, enrolling in a four-year harmony programme. He received his trumpet diploma in 1946 and started working professionally, composing the music to "Il Mattino" ("The Morning"). Morricone soon gained popularity by writing his first background music for radio dramas and quickly moved into film.
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Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, (born 30 March 1945) is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time. Clapton ranked second in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and fourth in Gibson's Top 50 Guitarists of All Time.
In the mid 1960s, Clapton departed from the Yardbirds to play blues with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. In his one-year stay with Mayall, Clapton gained the nickname "Slowhand". Immediately after leaving Mayall, Clapton formed Cream, a power trio with drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce in which Clapton played sustained blues improvisations and "arty, blues-based psychedelic pop." For most of the 1970s, Clapton's output bore the influence of the mellow style of J.J. Cale and the reggae of Bob Marley. His version of Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" helped reggae reach a mass market. Two of his most popular recordings were "Layla", recorded by Derek and the Dominos, another band he formed and Robert Johnson's "Crossroads", recorded by Cream. A recipient of seventeen Grammy Awards, in 2004 Clapton was awarded a CBE for services to music. In 1998, Clapton, a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, founded the Crossroads Centre on Antigua, a medical facility for recovering substance abusers.
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Eric Ericson
Eric Ericson (help·info) (born 26 October 1918, Borås), is a Swedish choral conductor and influential choral teacher. He graduated from the Royal College of Music (Kungl. Musikhögskolan) in Stockholm in 1943 and went on to complete his studies abroad, at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, Switzerland, and in Germany, Great Britain, and the United States.
Renowned for his innovative teaching methods and the wide-ranging nature of his repertoire, Ericson was the principal conductor of the Orphei Drängar choir at Uppsala University from 1951 until 1991, and choirmaster until 1982 of the Swedish Radio Choir which was established on his initiative in 1951. Also in 1951, he began his teaching career at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, where he became a legendary and inspirational figure, and he was appointed to the chair of choral conducting there in 1968.
He won the Nordic Council Music Prize in 1995, and in 1997 Ericson shared the Polar Music Prize with Bruce Springsteen: the citation was for "pioneering achievements as a conductor, teacher, artistic originator and inspirer in Swedish and international choral music". On the occasion of his 80th birthday in 1998, Swedbank of Sweden endowed an "Eric Ericson Chair in Choral Directing" to Uppsala University.
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Fred Ebb
Fred Ebb (April 8, 1928 – September 11, 2004) was an American musical theatre lyricist who had many successful collaborations with composer John Kander. The Kander and Ebb team frequently wrote for such performers as Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera.
Ebb was born in Manhattan to a Jewish family, the son of Anna Evelyn (née Gritz) and Harry Ebb. He worked during the early 1950s bronzing baby shoes, as a trucker's assistant, and was also employed in a department store credit office and at a hosiery company. He graduated from New York University with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature, and also earned his Master’s Degree in English from Columbia University.
One of his early collaborators was Phil Springer, and a song they wrote together ("I Never Loved Him Anyhow") was recorded by Carmen McRae in 1956. Another song Ebb wrote with Springer was "Heartbroken" (1953), which was recorded by Judy Garland, the mother of his future protégée, Liza Minnelli. Other Springer-Ebb tunes include "Moonlight Gambler" and "Nevertheless I Never Lost the Blues". "Don't Forget", which he wrote with Norman Leyden, was recorded by singer Eddy Arnold in 1954.
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Fred Mandel
Fred Mandel (born c. 1953 Estevan, Saskatchewan) is a Canadian session musician. He is a keyboard player and guitarist.
Mandel became involved in music from an early age. He started playing the piano and age 4 and picked up the guitar aged 8. In 1964, at the age of 11, his family moved to Toronto where he became immersed in the local music scene being lucky enough to see many major sixties acts such as Jimi Hendrix, The Who and The Rolling Stones play.
Mandel made his first appearance on record courtesy of Domenic Troiano (whose band he was in at the time). Troiano was invited to record Alice Cooper's first solo record and got Mandel to play keyboards on the record. This led to Alice Cooper inviting Mandel to join his band the Nightmare Band. Mandel did this for four years progressing from keyboards to lead guitar and finally ending up working as the musical director.
Following his work with Alice Cooper, Mandel was invited to play keyboards on the Pink Floyd album The Wall and this was followed up by some recordings with Cheap Trick.
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Freddie Hubbard
Frederick Dewayne "Freddie" Hubbard (April 7, 1938 – December 29, 2008) was an American jazz trumpeter. He was known primarily for playing in the bebop, hard bop and post bop styles from the early 1960s and on. His unmistakable and influential tone contributed to new perspectives for modern jazz and bebop.
Hubbard started playing the mellophone and trumpet in his school band at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. Trumpeter Lee Katzman, former sideman with Stan Kenton, recommended that he begin studying at the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music (now the Jordan College of Fine Art at Butler University) with Max Woodbury, the principal trumpeter of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. In his teens Hubbard worked locally with brothers Wes and Monk Montgomery and worked with bassist Larry Ridley and saxophonist James Spaulding. In 1958, at the age of 20, he moved to New York, and began playing with some of the best jazz players of the era, including Philly Joe Jones, Sonny Rollins, Slide Hampton, Eric Dolphy, J. J. Johnson, and Quincy Jones. In June 1960 Hubbard made his first record as a leader, Open Sesame, with saxophonist Tina Brooks, pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Sam Jones, and drummer Clifford Jarvis.
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Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara (Gujarati: ફારોખ બલ્સારા), 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991) was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range. As a songwriter, Mercury composed many hits for Queen, including "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Killer Queen", "Somebody to Love", "Don't Stop Me Now", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and "We Are the Champions". In addition to his work with Queen, he led a solo career, and also occasionally served as a producer and guest musician (piano or vocals) for other artists. He died of bronchopneumonia brought on by AIDS on 24 November 1991, only one day after publicly acknowledging he had the disease.
Mercury was a Parsi born in Zanzibar and grew up there and in India until his mid-teens. He has been referred to as "Britain's first Asian rock star". In 2002, Mercury was placed at number 58 in the BBC's poll of the 100 Greatest Britons, in 2006, Time Asia named him one of the most influential Asian heroes of the past 60 years, and he continues to be voted one of the greatest singers in the history of popular music. In 2005, a poll organised by Blender and MTV2 saw Mercury voted the greatest male singer of all time. In 2008, Rolling Stone editors ranked him number 18 on their list of the 100 greatest singers of all time. In 2009, a Classic Rock poll saw him voted the greatest rock singer of all time.Allmusic has characterised Mercury as "one of rock's greatest all-time entertainers", who possessed "one of the greatest voices in all of music".
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Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric François Chopin ( /ˈʃoʊpæn/; French pronunciation: [fʁe.de.ʁik ʃɔ.pɛ̃]; Polish: Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin, also phonetically Szopen; 22 February or 1 March 1810 – 17 October 1849) was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of French-Polish parentage. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music. Chopin was born in Żelazowa Wola, a village in the Duchy of Warsaw. A renowned child-prodigy pianist and composer, Chopin grew up in Warsaw and completed his music education there; he composed many mature works in Warsaw before leaving Poland in 1830 at age 20, shortly before the November 1830 Uprising.
Following the Russian suppression of the Uprising, he settled in Paris as part of Poland's Great Emigration. During the remaining 19 years of his life, Chopin gave only some 30 public performances, preferring the more intimate atmosphere of the salon; he supported himself by sales of his compositions and as a piano teacher. After some romantic dalliances with Polish women, including an abortive engagement, from 1837 to 1847 he carried on a relationship with the French writer Amantine Dupin (pen name "George Sand"). For most of his life, Chopin suffered from poor health; he died in Paris in 1849 at age 39.
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Gary Osborne
Gary Osborne (born in London) is an English singer and songwriter (most notably a lyricist) from the United Kingdom.
Osborne was born in London, educated in Switzerland, and followed his father into the music industry at the age of fifteen.
In his younger days, Osborne was a staff A&R man for RCA Records with his own show on the BBC World Service. He went on to write and sing on hundreds of television jingles including Pepsi, Shredded Wheat and Abbey National. In 1971, Osborne and his musical partner at the time, Paul Vigras, were signed by Elton John's original publisher, Dick James, to James' label: DJM Records. As a duo, Vigras and Osborne released two lps: Queues in 1972 and Steppin' Out in 1974, before disbanding.
Osborne is best known for his lyrical work with Elton John throughout the album A Single Man, and on parts of the albums, 21 at 33, The Fox, Jump Up!, and Leather Jackets. The three single hits of the collaboration are "Part Time Love" from 1978, "Little Jeannie" from 1980 plus "Blue Eyes" from 1982. The beginning and end of "Little Jeannie" accidentally plagiarised "When I Need You", and instead of suing Osborne, the latter's songwriter, Albert Hammond, collaborated with him on four songs on his 1982 album Somewhere in America.
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George Jones
George Glenn Jones (born September 12, 1931) is an American country music singer known for his long list of hit records, his distinctive voice and phrasing, and his marriage to Tammy Wynette.
Over the past 20 years, Jones has frequently been referred to as the greatest living country singer. Country music scholar Bill C. Malone writes, "For the two or three minutes consumed by a song, Jones immerses himself so completely in its lyrics, and in the mood it conveys, that the listener can scarcely avoid becoming similarly involved."
Throughout his long career, Jones made headlines often as much for tales of his drinking, stormy relationships with women, and violent rages as for his prolific career of making records and touring. His wild lifestyle led to Jones missing many performances, earning him the nickname "No Show Jones." With the help of his fourth wife, Nancy, he has been sober for over 10 years. Jones has had more than 150 hits during his career, both as a solo artist and in duets with other artists. The shape of his nose and facial features have given Jones the nickname "The Possum." Jones said in an interview that he has chosen to tour only about 60 dates a year.
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George Michael
George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (Greek: Γεώργιος Κυριάκος Παναγιώτου); 25 June 1963) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. Michael rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley. His first solo single, "Careless Whisper", was released when he was still in the duo and sold about six million copies worldwide.
As one of the world's best-selling music artists, Michael has sold more than 100 million records worldwide as of 2010. His 1987 debut solo album, Faith, has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide and made several records and achievements in the United States. Michael has garnered seven number one singles in the UK and eight number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. In 2008, Billboard magazine ranked Michael the 40th most successful artist on the Billboard Hot 100 Top All-Time Artists list.
Michael has won numerous music awards throughout his 30-year career, including three Brit Awards—winning Best British Male twice, four MTV Video Music Awards, four Ivor Novello Awards, three American Music Awards, and two Grammy Awards from eight nominations.
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Gianni Versace
Gianni Versace (Italian pronunciation: [ˈdʒanni verˈsaːtʃe]; December 2, 1946 - July 15, 1997) was an Italian fashion designer and founder of Gianni Versace S.p.A., an international fashion house, which produces accessories, fragrances, makeup and home furnishings as well as clothes. He also designed costumes for the theatre and films, and was a friend of Madonna, Elton John, Cher, Sting, and Diana, Princess of Wales among many others. Openly gay, Versace and his partner Antonio D'Amico were regulars on the international party scene. Versace was murdered outside his Miami Beach home, the former Casa Casuarina now known as "The Villa By Barton G.", at the age of 50 by spree killer Andrew Cunanan.
Gianni Versace was born in Reggio Calabria, Italy, on December 2, 1946, where he grew up with his older brother Santo and younger sister Donatella, along with their father and dressmaker mother, Francesca. An older sister, Tina, died at the age of 12 from an improperly treated tetanus infection.
Versace began his apprenticeship at a young age, helping his mother find precious stones and gold braid with which to embroider dresses. He studied architecture before moving to Milan at the age of 26 to work in fashion design.
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Gilberto Gil
Gilberto Passos Gil Moreira (born June 26, 1942), better known as Gilberto Gil (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʒiɫˈbɛʁtu ʒiɫ]) or (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʒiu̯ˈbɛɾtʊ ʒiu̯]), is a Brazilian singer, guitarist, and songwriter, known for both his musical innovation and political commitment. From 2003 to 2008, he served as Brazil's Minister of Culture in the administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Gil's musical style incorporates an eclectic range of influences, including Rock music, Brazilian genres including samba, African music, and reggae.
Gil started to play music as a child and was still a teenager when he joined his first band. He began his career as a bossa nova musician, and then grew to write songs that reflected a focus on political awareness and social activism. He was a key figure in the Música Popular Brasileira and tropicália movements of the 1960s, alongside artists such as longtime collaborator Caetano Veloso. The Brazilian military regime that took power in 1964 saw both Gil and Veloso as a threat, and the two were held for nine months in 1969 before they were told to leave the country. Gil moved to London, but returned to state of Bahia in 1972 and continued his musical career, as well as working as a politician and environmental advocate.
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Gladys Knight
Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944), known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author. She is best known for the hits she recorded during the 1960s and 1970s, for both the Motown and Buddah Records labels, with her group Gladys Knight & the Pips, the most famous incarnation of which also included her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight and her cousins Edward Patten and William Guest.
Knight was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the daughter of Sarah Elizabeth (née Woods) and Merald Woodlow Knight, Sr., a postal worker. She first achieved minor fame by winning Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour TV show contest at the age of 7 in 1952. The following year, she, her brother Merald, sister Brenda, and cousins William and Elenor Guest formed a musical group called The Pips (named after another cousin, James "Pip" Woods). By the end of the decade, the act had begun to tour, and had replaced Brenda Knight and Eleanor Guest with Gladys Knight's cousin Edward Patten and friend Langston George.
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Grace Bumbry
Grace Bumbry (born January 4, 1937), an American opera singer, is considered one of the leading mezzo-sopranos of her generation, as well as a major soprano for many years. She was a member of a pioneering generation of singers who followed Marian Anderson (including Leontyne Price, Martina Arroyo, Shirley Verrett and Reri Grist) in the world of classical music and paved the way for future African American opera and classical singers. Bumbry's voice was rich and sizable, possessing a wide range, and was capable of producing a very distinctive plangent tone. In her prime, she also possessed good agility and bel canto technique (see for example her renditions of the 'Veil Song' from Verdi's Don Carlo in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as her Ernani from the Chicago Lyric Opera in 1984). She was particularly noted for her fiery temperament and dramatic intensity on stage. More recently, she has also become known as a recitalist and interpreter of lieder, and as a teacher. From the late 1980s on, she seemed to concentrate her career in Europe, rather than in the US. A long time resident of Switzerland, she now makes her home in Salzburg, Austria.
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Graham Nash
Graham William Nash, OBE (born 2 February 1942) is an English singer-songwriter known for his light tenor voice and for his songwriting contributions with the British pop group The Hollies, and with the folk-rock super group Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Nash is a photography collector and a published photographer. Nash was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Crosby, Stills & Nash in 1997 and as a member of The Hollies in 2010.
Nash was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours for services to music and to charity.
Nash holds three honorary doctorates, the latest in Music from the University of Salford (England) in 2011.
Nash was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, in 1942, his mother having been evacuated there from the Nash's hometown of Salford, Lancashire because of the Second World War. The family subsequently returned to Salford, where Graham grew up. In the early 1960s he was co-founder with schoolfriend Allan Clarke of The Hollies. Nash was a leading 'group figurehead' member of The Hollies, one of the UK's most successful pop and "British Invasion" groups. Credited on the first album as 'Group Leader' and recognised as a key member of the group, plus their public spokesman, he occasionally took a lead vocal. Nash was featured vocally on 'Just One Look' in 1964, and sang his first lead vocal on the original Hollies song "To You My Love" on the band's second album In The Hollies Style (1964). He then progressed to often singing featured 'bridge vocals' on Hollies recordings; 'So Lonely', 'I've Been Wrong' 1965, 'Pay You Back With Interest' 1966 etc., also by 1966 Nash was providing a few solo lead vocals on Hollies albums & then from 1967 'B' sides to singles.
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Greg Morrison
Greg Morrison (born 1965) is an Tony Award–winning and Drama Desk Award–winning Canadian writer and composer best known for his work on the music and lyrics of The Drowsy Chaperone, which he wrote with Lisa Lambert. He also has extensive credits for directing and musical directing shows across the United States and Canada. He is a recipient of a Canadian Comedy Award and a Sterling Award for Original Composition.
Morrison’s affiliation with The Drowsy Chaperone started in 1999 when Don McKellar and Lisa Lambert created a spoof of old musicals for the stag party before the wedding of their theatre friends Bob Martin and Janet Van De Graaff.
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Gus Dudgeon
Angus Boyd Dudgeon (30 September 1942 – 21 July 2002), most commonly known as Gus Dudgeon, was an English record producer, most notable for production of many of Elton John's recordings.
Gus Dudgeon was born in Surrey, England. He began work at Decca's Olympic Studios in Baker Street, London as a tea boy, and eventually was promoted to the position of sound engineer. In this capacity, he worked with The Artwoods, Bruce Channel, Davy Graham and Shirley Collins. Early pop successes included The Zombies' "She's Not There" (1964) and John Mayall's Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton (1966). He helped in the auditions for Tom Jones and The Rolling Stones. Finally he became a co-producer on Ten Years After's debut album in 1967. Around this time he also produced the Bonzo Dog Band albums The Doughnut in Granny's Greenhouse and Tadpoles. Dudgeon produced two highly successful albums for Elkie Brooks: Pearls and Pearls II. He is also known for producing David Bowie's hit single, Space Oddity (1969).
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Guy Babylon
Guy Babylon (December 20, 1956 – September 2, 2009) was a keyboardist/composer, most noted for his work with Elton John.
Babylon was born in New Windsor, Maryland. Growing up listening to the likes of Led Zeppelin, Yes and Gentle Giant, he attended Francis Scott Key High School and then moved on to the University of South Florida, earning a BFA in music composition. Upon graduation, he moved to Los Angeles, California. In 1988, he joined Elton John's studio and touring band, appearing on the album Sleeping With the Past. In 1990, he performed with the group Warpipes, a side project of fellow Elton John member Davey Johnstone.
Guy Babylon also arranged many Elton John introductions, including those used in "Bennie and the Jets" and "Pinball Wizard". 2001 was a good year for Babylon, as he won a Grammy Award for his contributions on the Elton John / Tim Rice musical Aida. Babylon also worked extensively on the Elton John / Bernie Taupin musical Lestat, (based on the Anne Rice novels). Until his death, he lived in Los Angeles with his wife and children, and was a member of Elton John's six-member touring and recording band. He died of a heart attack on September 2, 2009, while swimming in a pool.
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György Ligeti
György Sándor Ligeti (Hungarian: Ligeti György Sándor, [ˈliɡɛti ˈɟørɟ ˈʃaːndor]; May 28, 1923 – June 12, 2006) was a composer of contemporary classical music. Born into a Hungarian Jewish family in Transylvania, Romania, he lived in Hungary before emigrating and becoming an Austrian citizen.
Ligeti was born in Dicsőszentmárton, which was renamed Târnăveni in 1945, in Transylvania to a Hungarian Jewish family. Ligeti recalls that his first exposure to languages other than Hungarian came one day while listening to a conversation among the Romanian-speaking town police. Before that he hadn't known that other languages existed. He moved to Kolozsvár (Cluj) with his family when he was 6, and he was not to return to the town of his birth until the 1990s.
Ligeti received his initial musical training in the conservatory at Kolozsvár (Cluj), and during the summers privately with Pál Kadosa in Budapest.
In 1940, Northern Transylvania was occupied by Hungary following the Second Vienna Award. In 1944, Ligeti's education was interrupted when he was sent to a forced labor brigade by the Horthy regime. His brother, age 16, was deported to the Mauthausen concentration camp, and both of his parents were sent to Auschwitz. His mother was the only other survivor of his immediate family.
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Heather Headley
Heather Headley (born October 5, 1974) is a Trinidadian-American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She has won one Tony Award and one Grammy Award.
Headley was born in Barataria, Trinidad and Tobago, the daughter of Hannah and Eric Headley. At age four, Headley began playing the music of her native Trinidad, including calypso, and soca.[citation needed] In 1989 she moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana in the United States at the age of fifteen with her mother and brother Junior, when her father was offered a job as pastor of McKee Street Church of God with headquarters in Anderson, Indiana.
Headley attended Northrop High School, and was a member of their resident show choir, Charisma, and starred as Fanny Brice in the school's production of Funny Girl. After graduating from Northrop High School, Headley attended Northwestern University to study communications and musical theatre until the last day of her junior year, when she made the difficult decision to become a part of the musical Ragtime and drop out of school.
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Herbert Kretzmer
Herbert Kretzmer OBE (born 5 October 1925) is a South African-born English journalist and lyric writer. He is perhaps best known as the lyricist for the English-language musical adaptation of Les Misérables.
Kretzmer began his professional career writing documentary films and the commentary for a weekly cinema newsreel. However, he soon moved on to print journalism, initially as a reporter and feature writer for the Johannesburg Sunday Express. He relocated to London in the mid-1950s and pursued twin careers as journalist and lyric writer.
After several years as a feature writer on the Daily Sketch, Kretzmer became a profile writer on the Sunday Dispatch and the Daily Express, interviewing John Steinbeck, Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, Sugar Ray Robinson, Louis Armstrong, Henry Miller, Cary Grant and Duke Ellington. In 1962, he became senior drama critic of the Daily Express: a post he held for 18 years, covering about 3,000 first nights.
From 1979 to 1987, he wrote television criticism for the Daily Mail, winning in this capacity two national press awards, including TV Critic Of The Year.
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Howard Ashman
Howard Elliott Ashman (May 17, 1950 – March 14, 1991) was an American playwright and lyricist. Ashman first studied at Boston University and Goddard College (with a stop at Tufts University's Summer Theater) and then went on to achieve his master's degree from Indiana University in 1974. He collaborated with Alan Menken on several films, notably animated features for Disney, Ashman writing the lyrics and Menken composing the music.
Ashman was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Shirley Thelma (née Glass) and Raymond Albert Ashman, an ice cream cone manufacturer. He was the artistic director of the WPA Theater in New York. His first two plays, Cause Maggie's Afraid of the Dark and Dreamstuff, were met with mixed reviews. His play The Confirmation was produced in 1979 at Princeton's McCarter Theater and starred Herschel Bernardi. He first worked with Alan Menken on a 1979 musical adapted from Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. They also collaborated on Little Shop of Horrors with Ashman as director, lyricist, and librettist, winning the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics.
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Iannis Xenakis
Iannis Xenakis (Greek pronunciation: [ˈʝanis kseˈnakis], Greek: Γιάννης Ξενάκης) (May 29, 1922 – February 4, 2001) was a Greek composer, music theorist, and architect-engineer. After 1947, he fled Greece, becoming a naturalized citizen of France. He is commonly recognized as one of the most important post-war avant-garde composers. Xenakis pioneered the use of mathematical models in music such as applications of set theory, stochastic processes and game theory and was also an important influence on the development of electronic music. He integrated music with architecture, designing music for pre-existing spaces, and designing spaces to be integrated with specific music compositions and performances.
Among his most important works are Metastaseis (1953–4) for orchestra, which introduced independent parts for every musician of the orchestra; percussion works such as Psappha (1975) and Pléïades (1979); compositions that introduced spatialization by dispersing musicians among the audience, such as Terretektorh (1966); electronic works created using Xenakis's UPIC system; and the massive multimedia performances Xenakis called polytopes. Among the numerous theoretical writings he authored, the book Formalized Music: Thought and Mathematics in Composition (1971) is regarded as one of his most important. As an architect, Xenakis is primarily known for his early work under Le Corbusier: the Sainte Marie de La Tourette, on which the two architects collaborated, and the Philips Pavilion at Expo 58, which Xenakis designed alone.
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Isaac Stern
Isaac Stern (Ukrainian: Исаак Стерн, Russian: Айзек Стерн; July 21, 1920 – September 22, 2001) was a Ukrainian-born violinist and conductor. He was renowned for his recordings and for discovering new musical talent.
Isaac Stern was born into a Jewish family in Kremenets, Ukraine. He was fourteen months old when his family moved to San Francisco. He received his first music lessons from his mother, then in 1928 enrolled at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied until 1931 before going on to study privately with Louis Persinger. He returned to the San Francisco Conservatory to study for five years with Naoum Blinder, to whom he said he owed the most. At his public début on February 18, 1936, aged 15, he played Saint-Saëns' Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor with the San Francisco Symphony under the direction of Pierre Monteux. Reflecting on his background, Stern once memorably quipped that cultural exchanges between the US and Soviet Russia were simple affairs: "They send us their Jews from Odessa, and we send them our Jews from Odessa."
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Itzhak Perlman
Itzhak Perlman (Hebrew: יצחק פרלמן; born August 31, 1945) is an Israeli-born violinist, conductor, and instructor of master classes. He is regarded as one of the preeminent violinists of the 20th and early-21st centuries.
Perlman was born in Tel Aviv, British Mandate for Palestine. His parents, Chaim and Shoshana Perlman, were natives of Poland and had independently immigrated to Palestine in the mid-1930s before they met and got married. Perlman first became interested in the violin after hearing a classical music performance on the radio. At the age of three, he was denied entrance to the Shulamit Conservatory for being too small to hold a violin. He instead taught himself how to play the instrument using a toy fiddle until he was old enough to study with Rivka Goldgart at the Shulamit Conservatory and at the Academy of Music in Tel Aviv, where he gave his first recital at age 10, before moving to the United States to study at the Juilliard School with the violin pedagogue, Ivan Galamian, and his assistant Dorothy Delay.
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Jack Nicholson
Not to be confused with Nicholas Jackson
John Joseph "Jack" Nicholson (born April 22, 1937) is an American actor, film director, producer and writer. He is renowned for his often dark portrayals of neurotic characters. His twelve Oscar nominations make him the second most nominated actor of all time, behind only Meryl Streep, and tied with Katharine Hepburn.
Nicholson has been nominated for an Academy Award twelve times and has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice: for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and for As Good as It Gets. He also won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the 1983 film Terms of Endearment. He is tied with Walter Brennan for most acting wins by a male actor (three). Nicholson is well known for playing villainous roles such as Jack Torrance in The Shining, Frank Costello in The Departed, and the Joker in 1989's Batman, among many other roles.
Nicholson is one of only two actors who have been nominated for an Academy Award for acting in every decade from the 1960s to 2000s; the other is Michael Caine. He has won seven Golden Globe Awards, and received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2001. In 1994, he became one of the youngest actors to be awarded the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award. Notable films in which he has starred include Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, Chinatown, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Passenger, The Shining, Reds, Terms of Endearment, Batman, A Few Good Men, As Good as It Gets, About Schmidt, The Departed and Anger Management .
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Jack Petchey
Jack Petchey CBE (born 1925) is a businessman, now involved in many charitable enterprises. He was born and brought up in the East End of London. During the second world war, he served in the Royal Navy, and used his Navy discharge pay to start a car hire and car sales business. This grew into a business empire worth - in mid-2007 - over half a billion pounds. In 1969 he was involved with property development becoming one of the most successful businessmen in Britain. As well as his own business interests, he is a frequent investor in quoted companies via his investment vehicle, Trefick. His investing style tends to be cautious. He tends to look for strong asset backing and cash flow.
The Jack Petchey Foundation, formed in 1999, has given over £42 million to youth programmes. He started an award scheme for young people recognising, "extreme endeavour and to help young people to help themselves". This scheme covers schools, Scouts, sports clubs, such as cricket clubs, and other organisations.
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James Brown
James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of funk music and is a major figure of 20th century popular music and dance.
In a career that spanned decades, Brown profoundly influenced the development of many different musical genres. Brown moved on a continuum of blues and gospel-based forms and styles to a profoundly "Africanized" approach to music making. Brown performed in concerts, first making his rounds across the Chitlin' Circuit, and then across the country and later around the world, along with appearing in shows on television and in movies. Although he contributed much to the music world through his hitmaking, Brown holds the record as the artist who charted the most singles on the Billboard Hot 100 without ever hitting number one on that chart.
For many years, Brown's touring show was one of the most extravagant productions in American popular music. At the time of Brown's death, his band included three guitarists, two bass guitar players, two drummers, three horns and a percussionist. The bands that he maintained during the late 1960s and 1970s were of comparable size, and the bands also included a three-piece amplified string section that played during ballads. Brown employed between 40 and 50 people for the James Brown Revue, and members of the revue traveled with him in a bus to cities and towns all over the country, performing upwards of 330 shows a year with almost all of the shows as one-nighters. In 1986, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 1990 into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
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James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) is an American actor. Since his Broadway debut in 1957, Jones has spent more than five decades as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile actors" and has been termed "one of the greatest actors in American history." On November 12, 2011, Jones received an Honorary Academy Award.
He is well known for his distinctive bass voice and for his portrayal of characters of substance, gravitas and leadership.
James Earl Jones was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, son of Robert Earl Jones (1910–2006), an actor, boxer, butler, and chauffeur who left the family shortly after James Earl's birth, and his wife Ruth (Connolly) Jones, a teacher and maid. Jones and his father reconciled many years later. Jones was raised by his maternal grandparents, farmers John Henry and Maggie Connolly. He is multiracial, with African, Irish, and Native American ancestry.
Jones describes his grandmother, Maggie, as "the most racist person I have ever known", thus forcing him to develop his own independent thinking. His grandmother was of Cherokee, Choctaw, and black ancestry.
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James Horner
James Roy Horner (born August 14, 1953) is an American composer, orchestrator, and conductor of orchestral and film music. He is noted for the integration of choral and electronic elements in many of his film scores, and for frequent use of Celtic musical elements. His score to the 1997 film Titanic remains the best selling orchestral film soundtrack of all time.
In addition, Horner has scored over 100 films, frequently collaborating with acclaimed directors such as James Cameron and Ron Howard. Some of his most noteworthy works include Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), Cocoon (1985), An American Tail (1986), Aliens (1986), The Land Before Time (1988), Willow (1988), Glory (1989), Field of Dreams (1989), The Rocketeer (1991), Legends of the Fall (1994), Apollo 13 (1995), Braveheart (1995), The Mask of Zorro (1998), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Troy (2004), and Avatar (2009).
Horner has won two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, three Satellite Awards, three Saturn Awards, and has been nominated for three BAFTA Awards. His body of work is also notable for including the scores to the two highest-grossing films of all time; Titanic (1997) and Avatar (2009), both of which were directed by James Cameron.
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James Levine
James Lawrence Levine ( /lɨˈvaɪn/; born June 23, 1943) is an American conductor and pianist. He is currently on hiatus from his work as Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera, a situation necessitated by health problems and not due to end before the fall of 2013; the hiatus began in May 2011.
Levine's first performance conducting the Metropolitan Opera was on June 5, 1971, and, as of June 2011, he had conducted 2,442 Met performances, a record. The conductor has held music director positions with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Munich Philharmonic. In 1997, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts.
Levine was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to a musical family: his maternal grandfather was a cantor in a synagogue, his father was a violinist who led a dance band, and his mother was an actress. He began to play the piano as a small child. At the age of 10, he made his concert debut as soloist in Felix Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto No. 2 at a youth concert of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
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James Newton Howard
James Newton Howard (born June 9, 1951) is an American composer best known for his scores to motion pictures. He is one of the most popular and respected composers for cinema, and has scored over 100 films. The recipient of eight Academy Award nominations, some of Howard's best known film scores include The Prince of Tides (1991), The Fugitive (1993), Dinosaur (2000), King Kong (2005), I Am Legend (2007), and, most recently Green Lantern (2011) and The Hunger Games (2012). He is also known for his collaboration with director M. Night Shyamalan, having scored all his films since The Sixth Sense (1999).
Howard was born in Los Angeles, California. Twenty-five years after the death of his father, Howard learned that his father's family was Jewish (Howard later became a practicing Reconstructionist Jew).
Throughout his career as a composer/musician/songwriter, he has scored films of all scales and genres, earning multiple award nominations for his work. Howard began studying music as a child and went on to attend the Thacher School in Ojai, California, the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California, and then majored in piano performance at the University of Southern California.
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Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan (born 1 June 1968) is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989 with UK sales of over 1.5 million copies. He has had four UK No. 1 singles, one of which was "Especially for You", his 1988 duet with Kylie Minogue. In more recent years, he has returned to acting on television and in stage musicals.
Jason Donovan was born in Malvern, Melbourne, is the son of actor Terence Donovan, who also appeared in Neighbours as Doug Willis, and Sue McIntosh. His half-sister is former Neighbours star Stephanie McIntosh. Donovan attended De La Salle College, Malvern. His partner since 1998 is Angela Malloch, a former stage manager, with whom he has three children; a daughter, Jemma (born 28 March 2000) a son, Zac (born 22 March 2001), and daughter, Molly (born 9 March 2011). Donovan and Malloch were married in Bali in 2008.
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Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz ( /məˈræz/; born June 23, 1977 in Mechanicsville, Virginia) is an American singer-songwriter. Mraz released his debut album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, which contained the hit single "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)", in 2002, but it was not until the release of his second album, Mr. A-Z, in 2005, that Mraz achieved major commercial success. The album peaked at number five on the Billboard 200 and sold over 100,000 copies in the US. In 2008, Mraz released his third studio album, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and was a commercial success worldwide, peaking in the top ten of many international charts.
Mraz's international breakthrough came with the release of the single "I'm Yours" from the album We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. The single peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Mraz his first top ten single. The song was on the Hot 100 for 76 weeks, beating the previous record of 69 weeks held by LeAnn Rimes' "How Do I Live". The song was a huge commercial success in the US, receiving a 5x platinum certification from the RIAA for sales of over five million. The song was successful internationally, topping the charts in New Zealand and Norway and peaking in the top ten of multiple international charts.
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Jason Robert Brown
Jason Robert Brown (born June 20, 1970 in Ossining, New York) is an American musical theater composer, lyricist, and playwright. Brown's music sensibility fuses pop-rock stylings with theatrical lyrics. An accomplished pianist, Brown has often served as music director, conductor, orchestrator, and pianist for his own productions.
Brown grew up in the suburbs of New York City, and attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York for 2 years. During summer, he attended French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts in Hancock, New York. He said Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Sunday in the Park with George were two of his biggest influences, and had it not been for them, he would have joined a rock band and tried to be Billy Joel.
When Brown was 23, he and a friend were invited to see Stephen Sondheim's show Passion by Sondheim himself. Brown's friend, whom he refers to only as "Franz Liszt", wrote to Sondheim, and that is how they both got the tickets. Sondheim also invited them to dinner afterward. At the show, they sat in front of the New York Times' Frank Rich. They went to dinner, and after twenty minutes, Sondheim asked them what they thought of the show: they both were silent. Brown described the dinner after that moment as "many extremely awkward silences punctuated by bursts of frantic, desperate conversation about anything other than the slaughtered elephant in the room." Brown called mutual friend Daisy Prince the next day, asking if there might be any way to repair the damage after the dinner. She and her family decided that Brown should call Sondheim. Brown paraphrased what Sondheim said:
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Jeff Porcaro
Jeffrey Thomas "Jeff" Porcaro (April 1, 1954 – August 5, 1992) was an American session drummer and a founding member of the Grammy Award winning band Toto. Porcaro was one of the most recorded drummers in history, working on hundreds of albums and thousands of sessions. While already an established studio player in the 1970s, he shot to prominence in the US as the drummer on the Steely Dan album Katy Lied. Allmusic has characterized him as "arguably the most highly regarded studio drummer in rock from the mid-'70s to the early '90s", further stating that "It is no exaggeration to say that the sound of mainstream pop/rock drumming in the 1980s was, to a large extent, the sound of Jeff Porcaro."
Porcaro was born in Hartford, Connecticut, the eldest son of Los Angeles session percussionist Joe Porcaro. His brothers Steve and Mike are both still active session musicians. Porcaro was raised in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles and attended Ulysses S. Grant High School.
On October 22, 1983, Porcaro married Susan Norris, a Los Angeles television newscaster. They had three sons, Christopher Joseph (born July 3, 1984), Miles Edwin Crawford (born June 12, 1986), and Nico Hendrix (born December 26, 1991).
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Jerry Herman
Jerry Herman (born July 10, 1931) is an American composer and lyricist, known for his work in Broadway musical theater. He composed the scores for the hit Broadway musicals Hello, Dolly!, Mame, and La Cage aux Folles. He has been nominated for the Tony Award five times, and won twice, for Hello, Dolly! and La Cage aux Folles. In 2009, Herman received the Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. He is a recipient of the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors.
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Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935) is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. He is known by the nickname "The Killer". An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis had hits in the late 1950s with songs such as "Great Balls of Fire", "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On", "Breathless" and "High School Confidential". However, Lewis' rock 'n' roll career faltered in the wake of his marriage to his young cousin. He had little success in the charts following the scandal until his popularity recovered in the late 1960s after he extended his career to country and western music with songs such as "Another Place, Another Time". More country hits soon followed over the late 1960s and through the 1970s. Lewis's successes continued throughout the decade and he embraced his rock 'n' roll past with songs such as a cover of the Big Bopper's "Chantilly Lace" and "Rockin' My Life Away". In the 21st century Lewis continues to tour to audiences around the world and still releases new albums. One such new album, titled Last Man Standing, is his best selling to date at over a million copies sold worldwide.
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Jim Reeves
James Travis "Jim" Reeves (August 20, 1923 – July 31, 1964) was an American country and popular music singer-songwriter. With records charting from the 1950s to the 1980s, he became well known as a practitioner of the Nashville sound (a mixture of older country-style music with elements of popular music). Known as Gentleman Jim, his songs continued to chart for years after his death. Reeves died at age 40 in the crash of a private airplane. He is a member of both the Country Music and Texas Country Music Halls of Fame.
Reeves was born in Galloway, Texas, a small rural community near Carthage. Winning an athletic scholarship to the University of Texas, he enrolled to study speech and drama, but quit after only six weeks to work in the shipyards in Houston. Soon he resumed baseball, playing in the semi-professional leagues before contracting with the St. Louis Cardinals "farm" team during 1944 as a right-handed pitcher. He played for the minor leagues for three years before severing his sciatic nerve while pitching, which ended his athletic career.[citation needed]
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Joan Sutherland
Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, OM, AC, DBE (7 November 1926 – 10 October 2010) was an Australian dramatic coloratura soprano noted for her contribution to the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s through to the 1980s.
One of the most remarkable female opera singers of the 20th century, she was dubbed La Stupenda by a La Fenice audience in 1960 after a performance of the title role in Handel's Alcina. She possessed a voice of beauty and power, combining extraordinary agility, accurate intonation, "supremely" pinpoint staccatos, a splendid trill and a tremendous upper register, although music critics often complained about the imprecision of her diction. Her friend Luciano Pavarotti once called Sutherland the "Voice of the Century"; Montserrat Caballé described the Australian's voice as being like "heaven".
Joan Sutherland was born to Scottish parents in Sydney, and attended St Catherine's School in the suburb of Waverley, New South Wales. As a child, she listened to and imitated her mother's singing exercises. Her mother, a mezzo-soprano, had taken voice lessons but never considered making a career as a professional singer. Sutherland was 18 years old when she began seriously studying voice with John and Aida Dickens. She made her concert debut in Sydney, as Dido in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, in 1947. In 1951, she made her stage debut in Eugene Goossens's Judith. In 1951, after winning Australia's most important competition, the Sun Aria, now known as the Sydney Eisteddfod McDonald's Operatic Aria in 1949. She then went to London to further her studies at the Opera School of the Royal College of Music with Clive Carey. She was engaged by the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, as a utility soprano, and made her debut there on 28 October 1952, as the First Lady in The Magic Flute, followed in November by a few performances as Clotilde in Vincenzo Bellini's Norma, with Maria Callas as Norma.
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John Deacon
John Richard Deacon (born 19 August 1951) is a retired English multi-instrumentalist and song writer, best known as the bassist for the rock band Queen. Of the four members of the band, he was the last to join and also the youngest, being only 19 years old when he was recruited by the other members of the band. Deacon wrote a number of Queen's hit singles, including "You're My Best Friend", "Spread Your Wings", "Back Chat", "I Want to Break Free", and the band's biggest selling single in the United States, "Another One Bites the Dust", as well as a number of album tracks. He also played electric and acoustic guitars on several albums and, to a lesser extent, keyboards, synthesizers, programming and drums. He occasionally provided backing vocals during live shows.
Following The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992, Deacon's sole performance with the remaining members of Queen was a one-off rendition of "The Show Must Go On" in 1997 with Mercury's friend Elton John (who had sung the track with the band at Mercury's tribute). He contributed to the final Queen song, "No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)" – released that year on the Queen Rocks compilation – after which he retired from the music industry. He chose not to participate with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor in the Queen + Paul Rodgers collaboration, but did give them his support. Deacon was also absent from Queen's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.
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John Jorgenson
John Jorgenson (born 6 July 1956 in Madison, Wisconsin) is a US musician. Although best known for his guitar work with bands such as the Desert Rose Band and The Hellecasters, Jorgenson is also proficient in the mandolin, mandocello, Dobro, pedal steel, piano, upright bass, clarinet, bassoon and saxophone. While a member of the Desert Rose Band, Jorgenson won the Academy of Country Music's "Guitarist of the Year" award three consecutive years.
Jorgenson has also recorded or toured with many artists including Elton John, The Byrds, Bob Dylan, Bob Seger, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Hank Williams Jr., Barbra Streisand, Luciano Pavarotti, Roy Orbison, Patty Loveless, Michael Nesmith and Bonnie Raitt.
Jorgenson has played professionally since the age of fourteen, and had been playing both the piano and clarinet since age eight.
He was born in 1956 in Madison, Wisconsin, into a musical family. His mother was a piano teacher and his father an orchestra conductor and college music professor.
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John Kander
John Harold Kander (born March 18, 1927) is the American composer of a number of musicals as part of the songwriting team of Kander and Ebb.
Kander was born in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Bernice (née Aaron) and Harold S. Kander. Kander attended The Pembroke Country-Day School and Oberlin College before earning a Master's degree at Columbia University where he was a protégé of Douglas Moore and studied composition with Jack Beeson.
Kander began his Broadway career as substitute rehearsal pianist for West Side Story. The stage manager for West Side Story then asked Kander to play the auditions for her next show, Gypsy. During the auditions, Kander met the choreographer, Jerome Robbins, who suggested that Kander compose the dance music for the show in 1959. After that experience, he wrote dance arrangements for Irma la Douce in 1960.
His first produced musical was A Family Affair, written with James and William Goldman. He met lyricist Fred Ebb in 1962 and began a songwriting collaboration that would last for more than four decades. Later that year rising star Barbra Streisand recorded two of the duo's songs, "My Coloring Book" and "I Don't Care Much." In 1965, Kander and Ebb landed their first show on Broadway, Flora the Red Menace, produced by Hal Prince, directed by George Abbott, and with book by George Abbott and Robert Russell,[disambiguation needed
] in which Liza Minnelli made her initial Broadway appearance. Kander and Ebb have since been associated with writing material for both Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera, and have produced special material for their appearances live and on television.
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John Lennon
John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founder members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Together with Paul McCartney, he formed one of the most celebrated songwriting partnerships of the 20th century.
Born and raised in Liverpool, Lennon became involved as a teenager in the skiffle craze; his first band, The Quarrymen, evolved into The Beatles in 1960. As the group disintegrated towards the end of the decade, Lennon embarked on a solo career that produced the critically acclaimed albums John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Imagine, and iconic songs such as "Give Peace a Chance" and "Imagine". After his marriage to Yoko Ono in 1969, he changed his name to John Ono Lennon. Lennon disengaged himself from the music business in 1975 to devote time to raising his infant son Sean, but re-emerged with Ono in 1980 with the new album Double Fantasy. He was murdered three weeks after its release.
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John Williams
John Towner Williams (born February 8, 1932) is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Hook, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, War Horse, Home Alone and the first three Harry Potter films. He has had a long association with director Steven Spielberg, composing the music for all but two (Duel and The Color Purple) of Spielberg's major feature films.
Other notable works by Williams include theme music for four Olympic Games, NBC Sunday Night Football, the NBC Nightly News, the rededication of the Statue of Liberty, and the television series Lost in Space. Williams has also composed numerous classical concerti, and he served as the principal conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra from 1980 to 1993; he is now the orchestra's conductor laureate.
Williams has won five Academy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, seven BAFTA Awards, and 21 Grammy Awards. With 47 Academy Award nominations, Williams is the second most nominated person, after Walt Disney. John Williams was honored with the prestigious Richard Kirk award at the 1999 BMI Film and TV Awards. The award is given annually to a composer who has made significant contributions to film and television music. Williams was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame in 2000, and was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in 2004.
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Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi (born John Francis Bongiovi, Jr., March 2, 1962) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the founder, occasional rhythm guitarist, and lead singer of rock band Bon Jovi, which was named after him. During his career, he has released two solo albums and eleven studio albums with his band, which to date have sold over 130 million albums worldwide. Тhe band was declared the second richest band for 2011, behind U2, earning an approximate $125 million income. In addition, Jon Bon Jovi is one of the majority-owners of the Philadelphia Soul, a team playing in the Arena Football League. In 2010, President Barack Obama named Jon Bon Jovi to the White House Council for Community Solutions.
As a solo artist, Bon Jovi has received numerous awards for his work, including a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination for his solo hit, "Blaze of Glory". He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Monmouth University in 2001. He campaigned for Al Gore in the 2000 Presidential election, John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential election, and Barack Obama in the 2008 Presidential election.
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Jonathan Larson
Jonathan Larson (February 4, 1960 – January 25, 1996) was an American composer and playwright noted for the serious social issues of multiculturalism, addiction, and homophobia explored in his work. Typical examples of his use of these themes are found in his works, Rent and tick, tick... BOOM!. He received three posthumous Tony Awards and a posthumous Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the rock opera Rent.
Larson was born to Jewish parents, Allan and Nanette Larson, in White Plains, New York. He was exposed to the performing arts, especially music and theatre from an early age, as he played the trumpet, tuba, was involved in his school's choir, and took formal piano lessons. His early musical influences were his favorite rock musicians such as Elton John, The Beatles, The Doors, The Who, and Billy Joel, as well as the classic composers of musical theatre, especially Stephen Sondheim. Larson was also involved in acting in high school, performing in lead roles in various productions at White Plains High School.
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Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, CC (born Roberta Joan Anderson; November 7, 1943) is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto. In 1965 she moved to the United States and, touring constantly, began to be recognized when her original songs ("Urge for Going," "Chelsea Morning," "Both Sides, Now," "The Circle Game") were covered by notable folk singers, allowing her to sign with Reprise Records and record her own debut album in 1968. Settling in Southern California, Mitchell and her popular songs like "Big Yellow Taxi" and "Woodstock" helped define an era and a generation. Her more starkly personal 1971 recording Blue has been called one of the best albums ever made. Musically restless, Mitchell switched labels and began moving toward jazz rhythms by way of lush pop textures on 1974's Court and Spark, her best-selling LP, featuring her radio hits "Help Me" and "Free Man in Paris."
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Jorge Donn
Jorge Donn, born in El Palomar, Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 25 February 1947, was an internationally-known ballet dancer, he was best known for his work with the Maurice Béjart's Ballet company, and his participation as lead dancer in Claude Lelouch's film Les Uns et les Autres. He died of AIDS on 30 November 1992 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
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José Antonio Abreu
José Antonio Abreu (born May 7, 1939 in Valera) is a Venezuelan pianist, economist, educator, activist, and politician.
Born in the city of Valera in 1939, Abreu graduated ¨Summa Cum Laude¨ as an Economist at Universidad Católica Andres Bello and he was awarded a PhD degree in Petroleum Economics from the same university in 1961. Abreu also did some graduate work at the University of Michigan. He served as a Deputy at the Chamber of Deputies in the Congress of Venezuela. After his political career, he also worked as a professor of economics and law at Universidad Simón Bolívar and his Alma Mater. He would return to politics briefly in 1983 to serve as Minister of Culture.
Abreu began to study music with Doralisa Jiménez de Medina in Barquisimeto. Later, he attended the Caracas Musical Declamation Academy in 1957, where he studied piano with Moisés Moleiro, organ and harpsichord with Evencio Castellanos, and composition with Vicente Emilio Sojo. In 1967, he received the Symphonic Music National Prize for his musical ability. It was in 1975 that he founded El Sistema, formally known as the Foundation for the National Network of Youth and Children Orchestras of Venezuela.
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Judie Tzuke
Judie Tzuke (born Judie Myers, 3 April 1956 in London) is an English singer/songwriter. She is most well known for her 1979 hit "Stay With Me Till Dawn", which reached no.16 on the UK Singles Chart.
Tzuke's family relocated from Poland to England in the 1920s, and changed their surname from Tzuke to Myers. Her mother, Jean Silverside, was a television actress, and her father, Sefton Myers, was a successful property developer who also managed artists and singers—most notably Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice during the writing of Jesus Christ Superstar. When Tzuke embarked on her singing career, she decided to reclaim the family's Polish name as her stage name.
Educated in the visual arts, performing arts, and music, Tzuke performed in folk clubs from the age of 15. Her meeting with Mike Paxman in 1975 was a turning point and they began to collaborate. Under the name Tzuke & Paxo, they eventually secured a recording contract and the duo released a single, "These are the Laws", which was produced by Tony Visconti.
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Judith Light
Judith Ellen Light (born February 9, 1949) is an American actress. Her television roles include Karen Wolek on the soap opera One Life to Live, Angela Bower on the sitcom Who's the Boss?, Claire Meade on ABC's TV series Ugly Betty and Judge Elizabeth "Liz" Donnelly on Law & Order Special Victims Unit. She is currently appearing on Broadway as Silda in Other Desert Cities.
Light was born in Trenton, New Jersey, the daughter of Pearl Sue (née Hollander), a model, and Sidney Light, an accountant. Light graduated from high school in 1966 at St. Mary's Hall-Doane Academy, now Doane Academy, in Burlington, New Jersey. She graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University with a degree in drama. She recalled the university as "rigorous" and "amazing". Afterwards, she started out on stage, making her professional debut in Richard III at the California Shakespeare Festival in 1970, before moving to Broadway to star in A Doll's House in 1975. She also starred in the 1976 Broadway play Herzl. Light also acted for such theatre companies as the Milwaukee Repertory Theater and the Seattle Repertory Theatre. In the late 1970s, Light went through a real crisis after a period of not landing any parts. Broke, she almost quit acting, because she felt that she was not contributing to the theater.
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Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE (née Wells; born 1 October 1935) is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honours.
Andrews is a former child actress and singer who made her Broadway debut in a 1954 production of The Boy Friend, and rose to prominence starring in musicals such as My Fair Lady and Camelot, both of which earned her Tony Award nominations. In 1957, she made her television debut with the title role in Cinderella, which was seen by over 100 million viewers.
Andrews made her feature film debut in Mary Poppins (1964), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. She received her second Academy Award nomination for The Sound of Music (1965). Adjusted for inflation, these two films are the 25th and 3rd highest grossing films of all time, respectively. From 1964 to 1967, Andrews was the biggest film star in the world, with the additional box office successes of her films The Americanization of Emily, Hawaii, Torn Curtain, and Thoroughly Modern Millie.
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Julie Harris
Julia Ann "Julie" Harris (born December 2, 1925) is an American stage, screen, and television actress. She has won five Tony Awards, three Emmy Awards and a Grammy Award, and was nominated for an Academy Award. In 1994, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts. She is a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame. She also received the 2002 Special Lifetime Achievement Tony Award.
Harris's screen debut was in 1952, repeating her Broadway success as the monumentally lonely teenage girl Frankie in Carson McCullers' The Member of the Wedding, for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. That film also preserves the original Broadway cast performances of Ethel Waters and Brandon DeWilde. That same year, she won her first Best Actress Tony for originating the role of insouciant Sally Bowles in I Am a Camera, the stage version of Christopher Isherwood's Goodbye to Berlin (later musicalized as Cabaret on Broadway in 1966 and, in the 1972 film, with Liza Minnelli as Sally Bowles.) Harris repeated her stage role in the 1955 film version of I Am a Camera. She also appeared in such films as East of Eden (1955), with James Dean (with whom she became close friends), Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962), with Paul Newman in the private-detective film Harper in 1966, and Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967).
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Kanye West
Kanye Omari West ( /ˈkɑːnjeɪ/; born June 8, 1977) is an American musician, film director and fashion designer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and Janet Jackson. His style of production originally used pitched-up vocal samples from soul songs incorporated with his own drums and instruments. However, subsequent productions saw him broadening his musical palette and expressing influences encompassing '70s R&B, baroque pop, trip hop, arena rock, folk, alternative, electronica, synthpop, and classical music.
West released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004, his second album Late Registration in 2005, his third album Graduation in 2007, his fourth album 808s & Heartbreak in 2008, and his fifth album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy in 2010. West released a collaborative album, Watch the Throne with Jay-Z in 2011, which is the duo's first collaborative album. His five solo albums, all of which have gone platinum, have received numerous awards and critical acclaim. As of 2012, West has won a total of eighteen Grammy Awards, making him one of the most awarded artists of all-time. All albums have been very commercially successful, with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy becoming his fourth consecutive No. 1 album in the U.S. upon release. West has had 5 songs exceed 3 million in digital sales as of July 2011, with "Gold Digger" selling 3,086,000, "Stronger" selling 4,402,000, "Heartless" selling 3,742,000, "E.T." selling over 4,000,000 and "Love Lockdown" selling over 3,000,000 placing him third in overall digital sales of the past decade. He has sold over 30 million digital songs in the United States making him one of the best-selling digital artists of all-time.
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Kate Bush
Catherine "Kate" Bush (born 30 July 1958) is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.
In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart for four weeks with her debut single "Wuthering Heights", becoming the first woman to have a UK number one with a self-written song. She has since released ten albums, three of which topped the UK Albums Chart, and has had 25 UK Top 40 hit singles including the Top 10 hits "Wuthering Heights", "Running Up that Hill", "King of the Mountain", "Babooshka", "The Man with the Child in His Eyes", and "Don't Give Up".
In 1987, she won a Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist, and in 2002, her songwriting ability was recognised with an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. During the course of her career, she has also been nominated for three Grammy Awards. After her 1979 tour – the only concert tour of her career – Bush released the 1980 album Never for Ever, which made her the first British solo female artist to top the UK album charts and the first female artist ever to enter the album chart at Number 1. She is also the first (and to date only) female artist to have Top 5 albums in the UK charts in 5 successive decades.
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Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett (born May 8, 1945, in Allentown, Pennsylvania) is an American pianist and composer who performs both jazz and classical music.
Jarrett started his career with Art Blakey, moving on to play with Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s he has enjoyed a great deal of success in jazz, jazz fusion, and classical music; as a group leader and a solo performer. His improvisations draw not only from the traditions of jazz, but from other genres as well, especially Western classical music, gospel, blues, and ethnic folk music.
In 2003, Jarrett received the Polar Music Prize, the first (and to this day only) recipient not to share the prize with a co-recipient, and in 2004 he received the Léonie Sonning Music Prize.
In 2008, he was inducted into the Down Beat Hall of Fame in the magazine's 73rd Annual Readers' Poll.
Jarrett grew up in suburban Allentown, Pennsylvania, with significant early exposure to music. He possessed absolute pitch, and he displayed prodigious musical talents as a young child. He began piano lessons just before his third birthday, and at age five he appeared on a TV talent program hosted by the swing bandleader Paul Whiteman. The young Jarrett gave his first formal piano recital at the age of seven, playing works by composers including Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, and Saint-Saëns, and ending with two of his own compositions. Encouraged especially by his mother, Jarrett took intensive classical piano lessons with a series of teachers, including Eleanor Sokoloff of the Curtis Institute.
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Kelly Osbourne
Kelly Michelle Lee Osbourne (born 27 October 1984) is an English media personality, television personality, host, fashion designer, singer and actress, best known for being the daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne. She was thrust into the limelight after appearing on the reality series The Osbournes with her family, for which they won a 2002 Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Programme. She has also appeared on Dancing with the Stars, in which she and professional dance partner Louis van Amstel took third place, and has made forays into music, acting, theatre, writing, columnist and broadcast presenting.
Osbourne was born in Westminster, London. She has an elder sister, Aimee, and a younger brother, Jack. She has two half-siblings: Jessica Hobbs and Louis John Osbourne from Ozzy's first marriage. She had an unofficially "adopted" brother, Robert Marcato, whom Sharon and Ozzy took in after Marcato's mother died. Kelly grew up travelling with her father as he went on tour, and lived in more than 20 homes between the UK and the US.
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Kenny Passarelli
Kenny Passarelli (born October 28, 1949 in Denver, Colorado) is an American bassist who has played with Joe Walsh, Elton John and Hall and Oates. Passarelli was a founding member of Barnstorm, co-writing the hit "Rocky Mountain Way". He was a replacement for Dee Murray in the Elton John Band from 1975–76, playing on the albums Rock of the Westies and Blue Moves. After leaving John's band he joined the Hall And Oates band in June 1977 and appeared on their albums Livetime and Along the Red Ledge.
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Kevin Ayers
Kevin Ayers (born 16 August 1944 in Herne Bay, Kent) is an English singer-songwriter and was a major influential force in the English psychedelic movement. BBC DJ John Peel wrote in his autobiography that "Kevin Ayers' talent is so acute you could perform major eye surgery with it."
Ayers was a founding member of the pioneering psychedelic band Soft Machine in the late 1960s, and was closely associated with the Canterbury scene. He has recorded a series of albums as a solo artist and over the years has worked with Brian Eno, Syd Barrett, John Cale, Elton John, Robert Wyatt, Andy Summers, Mike Oldfield, Nico and Ollie Halsall, among others. After living for many years in Deià, Majorca, he returned to the United Kingdom in the mid 1990s. He now lives in the south of France. His most recent album was Unfairground, which was recorded in New York City, Tucson, Arizona, and London in 2006.
Ayers is the son of BBC producer Rowan Ayers, but following his parents' split and his mother's subsequent marriage to a British civil servant, Ayers spent most of his childhood in Malaysia. The tropical atmosphere and unpressured lifestyle had an impact, and one of the frustrating and endearing aspects of Ayers' career is that every time he seemed on the point of success, he would take off for some sunny spot where good wine and food were easily found.
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Kiki Dee
Kiki Dee (born Pauline Matthews, 6 March 1947, Little Horton, Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England) is an English singer with a career spanning more than 40 years.
She is best known for her 1976 duet with Elton John, entitled "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", which went to Number 1 both in the UK Singles Chart and the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 1993 she performed another duet with Elton John for his Duets album, a cover version of Cole Porter's "True Love", which reached #2 in the UK.
Kiki Dee began singing with a local band in Bradford in the early 1960s. Her recording career began as a session singer. She sang backing vocals for Dusty Springfield, among others, and was well regarded by other singers but did not achieve solo success in the UK for many years. However, her 1965 release "Why Don't I Run Away From You" was a big hit on Radios London and Caroline in 1965, and her 1968 release, "On a Magic Carpet Ride", which was originally a B-side, has remained popular with the Northern Soul circuit. Much of her early recorded work for Fontana Records was released on Jan. 24, 2011, on the single-CD compilation "I'm Kiki Dee."
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Kim Carnes
Kim Carnes (born July 20, 1945 Hollywood, California) is an American singer-songwriter. She is a two-time Grammy Award winner noted for her distinctive raspy vocal style. Some people have called her "The Female Rod Stewart" due to her raspy voice.
As a young singer, Kim Carnes joined in 1966 The New Christy Minstrels together with Kenny Rogers and Karen Black. After writing songs for many years, Carnes signed her first publishing deal in 1969 with famed producer Jimmy Bowen. During this period, she shared demo-recording time with Bowen's other writers, including Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and J.D. Souther. Carnes also sang "Nobody Knows", written by Mike Settle, which was featured in the end credits of the 1971 film, Vanishing Point. The film also featured Carnes' first selection as a songwriter, "Sing Out for Jesus", which was recorded by Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton.
In the early 1970s Carnes and husband Dave Ellingson co-wrote several songs with David Cassidy, then at the peak of his career as an international idol, and toured the world with him as part of his band. These songs appear on Cassidy's albums Rock Me Baby, Dreams are Nuthin' More than Wishes and Cassidy Live!, where Carnes' backing vocals can be heard to great effect.
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Kim Kardashian
Kimberly Noel "Kim" Kardashian (born October 21, 1980) is an American socialite, celebutante, television personality, model, actress and businesswoman. She is known for starring in Keeping Up with the Kardashians, the E! reality series that she shares with her family, and its spin-offs including Kourtney and Kim Take New York.
Prior to the development of her career as a reality television star, Kardashian gained notoriety as the subject of a sex tape that subsequently resulted in a court awarding her $5 million. She has been involved in the production of several lines of clothing and fragrances. In 2010, she was the highest earning reality star, with estimated earnings of $6 million, and is one of the most highly documented and followed celebrities in the world in popular media.
In August 2011, Kardashian married basketball player Kris Humphries in a widely publicized ceremony. In October 2011, Kardashian filed for divorce, 72 days after the wedding.
Kardashian was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of attorney Robert Kardashian and his wife Kris Kardashian (née Houghton). Her father was a third generation Armenian American, and her mother is of Dutch and Scottish descent. Kardashian has two sisters, Kourtney and Khloé, and one brother, Robert. She has stepbrothers Burton Jenner, Brandon Jenner, and reality TV star Brody Jenner, step-sister Casey Jenner, and half-sisters Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner. She attended Marymount High School.
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Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE ( /ˈkaɪliː mɨˈnoʊɡ/; born 28 May 1968) — often known simply as Kylie — is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, showgirl, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing her career as a recording artist in 1987. Her first single, "Locomotion", spent seven weeks at number one on the Australian singles chart and became the highest selling single of the decade. This led to a contract with songwriters and producers Stock, Aitken & Waterman. Her debut album, Kylie (1988), and the single "I Should Be So Lucky", each reached number one in the United Kingdom, and over the next two years, her first 13 singles reached the British top ten. Her debut film, The Delinquents (1989) was a box-office hit in Australia and the UK, and received generally positive reviews.
Initially presented as a "girl next door", Minogue attempted to convey a more mature style in her music and public image. Her singles were well received, but after four albums her record sales were declining, and she left Stock, Aitken & Waterman in 1992 to establish herself as an independent performer. Her next single, "Confide in Me", reached number one in Australia and was a hit in several European countries in 1994, and a duet with Nick Cave, "Where the Wild Roses Grow", brought Minogue a greater degree of artistic credibility. Drawing inspiration from a range of musical styles and artists, Minogue took creative control over the songwriting for her next album, Impossible Princess (1997). It failed to attract strong reviews or sales in the UK, but was successful in Australia.
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Lady Gaga
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (/ˈstɛfəniː dʒʌrməˈnɑːtə/ STE-fə-nee jurr-mə-NAH-tə; born March 28, 1986), known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to focus on her musical career. She began performing in the rock music scene of Manhattan's Lower East Side, and was signed with Streamline Records by the end of 2007. During her employment as a songwriter for the record company, her vocal abilities captured the attention of recording artist Akon, who signed her to his label Kon Live Distribution.
Lady Gaga came to prominence as a recording artist following the release of her debut album The Fame (2008), which was a critical and commercial success that topped charts around the world and included the international number-one singles "Just Dance" and "Poker Face". After embarking on the The Fame Ball Tour, she followed the album with The Fame Monster (2009), which spawned the worldwide hit singles "Bad Romance", "Telephone" and "Alejandro". The album's success allowed her to embark on the eighteen-month long Monster Ball Tour, which later became one of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time. Her most recent album Born This Way (2011) topped the charts of most major markets and generated more international chart-topping singles, including "Born This Way", "Judas" and "The Edge of Glory". Besides her musical career, she involves herself with humanitarian causes and LGBT activism.
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Larry King
Larry King (born November 19, 1933) is an American television and radio host whose work has been recognized with awards including two Peabodys and ten Cable ACE Awards. He began as a local Florida journalist and radio interviewer in the 1950s and 1960s and became prominent as an all-night national radio broadcaster starting in 1978. From 1985-2010, he hosted the nightly interview TV program Larry King Live on CNN.
King was born Lawrence Harvey Zeiger in Brooklyn, New York City, to an Austrian immigrant Edward Zeiger, a restaurant owner and defense plant worker, and his wife Jennie Gitlitz, a garment worker, who emigrated from Belarus. King grew up in a religiously observant Jewish home, but in adulthood became an agnostic.
King's father died at 44 of heart disease, and his mother had to go on welfare to support her two sons. His father's death greatly affected King, and he lost interest in school. After graduating from high school, he worked to help support his mother. From an early age, however, he had wanted to go into radio. King is a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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Leon Fleisher
Leon Fleisher (born July 23, 1928) is an American pianist and conductor.
Fleisher was born in San Francisco, where he started studying the piano at age four. He made his public debut at age eight and played with the New York Philharmonic under Pierre Monteux at 16; Monteux famously called him "the pianistic find of the century." He became one of the few child prodigies to be accepted for study with Artur Schnabel and also studied with Maria Curcio. Fleisher was linked via Schnabel to a tradition that descended directly from Beethoven himself, handed down through Carl Czerny and Theodor Leschetizky.
In the 1950s, Fleisher signed an exclusive recording contract with Columbia Masterworks. He is particularly well known for his interpretations of the piano concerti of Brahms and Beethoven, which he recorded with George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra. They also recorded Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 25, the Grieg and Schumann piano concertos, Franck's Symphonic Variations, and Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.
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Leon Russell
Claude Russell Bridges (born April 2, 1942), known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music.
Born in Lawton, Oklahoma, he began playing piano at the age of four. Russell attended Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At this time he was already performing at Tulsa nightclubs. After moving to Los Angeles, he became a session musician, working as a pianist on the recordings of many notable musical artists since the 1960s. By the late 1960s, Russell diversified, becoming successful as an arranger and wrote/co-wrote songs. As a musician, he worked his way from gigs as a sideman to well known performers. By 1970 he had graduated to solo recording artist, although he never ended all his previous roles within the music industry.
Russell was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Monday, March 14, 2011, at a black-tie dinner at The Waldorf-Astoria hotel in Manhattan.
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Leona Lewis
Leona Louise Lewis (born 3 April 1985) is a British singer and songwriter. Lewis came to prominence in 2006 when she won the third series of the British television series The X Factor.
Lewis has released two albums to date, Spirit and Echo, in 2007 and 2009 respectively. A multi-platinum selling artist and three-time Grammy Award nominee, her most successful single, "Bleeding Love", reached number one in over thirty countries around the world, and was the best-selling single worldwide in 2008. Other notable singles include "Better in Time", "Happy" and "I Got You". She was proclaimed 'Top New Artist' by Billboard magazine in 2008.
Lewis's debut tour, The Labyrinth, took place in 2010, and her third album, Glassheart, is scheduled for release in 2012. It was preceded by "Collide", a single from the album, which became her seventh top-five hit in the United Kingdom. Lewis's net worth was estimated at £12 million in April 2012.
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Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, CC GOQ (born 21 September 1934) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet, and novelist. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality, and interpersonal relationships. Cohen has been inducted into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and both the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is also a Companion of the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian honour.
While giving the speech at Cohen's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 10 March 2008, Lou Reed described Cohen as belonging to the "highest and most influential echelon of songwriters."
Cohen was born on 21 September 1934 in Westmount, Montreal, Quebec, into a middle-class Jewish family. He attended Roslyn Elementary School. His mother, Marsha Klinitsky, of Lithuanian Jewish ancestry, emigrated from Lithuania while his great-grandfather emigrated from Poland. He grew up in Westmount on the Island of Montreal. His grandfather was Lyon Cohen, founding president of the Canadian Jewish Congress. His father, Nathan Cohen, who owned a substantial Montreal clothing store, died when Cohen was nine years old. On the topic of being a Kohen, Cohen has said that, "I had a very Messianic childhood." He told Richard Goldstein in 1967. "I was told I was a descendant of Aaron, the high priest." Cohen attended Westmount High School, beginning in 1948 where he was involved with the Student Council and studied music and poetry. He became especially interested in the poetry of Federico Garcia Lorca. As a teenager, he learned to play the guitar, and formed a country-folk group called the Buckskin Boys. Although he initially played a regular acoustic guitar as a teenager, he soon switched to playing a classical guitar after meeting a young Spanish flamenco guitar player who taught him "a few chords and some flamenco."
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Lesley Duncan
Lesley Duncan (married name Lesley Cox; 12 August 1943 – 12 March 2010) was an English singer-songwriter, best known for her work during the 1970s. She received a lot of airplay on British radio stations such as BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2, but never achieved great commercial success due in part to her crippling stage fright.
Duncan was born in Stockton-on-Tees on August 12, 1943, and left school while only 14 years old. At 19, while working in a London coffee bar, she and her brother were placed on weekly retainers by a music publisher. Within a year Duncan had signed her first recording contract, with major label EMI, and appeared in the film What a Crazy World.
Considered one of Britain's first female singer-songwriters, her songs included "Everything Changes" and "Sing Children Sing", and the song for which she is most well known, "Love Song". Elton John recorded a duet with Duncan of the song, similar to her solo version, for his album Tumbleweed Connection. She appeared onstage with John in a 1974 concert at the Royal Festival Hall to perform the duet once again, and the live recording of "Love Song" was included on John's Here and There album. John described "Love Song" as "one of the very few" songs he did not co-author but included on an album earlier in his career. Duncan's "Love Song" went on to be covered by more than 150 other artists, including David Bowie and Olivia Newton John. This success notwithstanding, and despite their receiving critical acclaim, Duncan's multiple solo albums failed to achieve commercial success.
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Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. (born June 20, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, record producer and actor. From 1968, he was a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records. Richie made his solo debut in 1982 with the album Lionel Richie and number-one hit "Truly".
Richie was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, the son of Alberta R. (Foster) and Lionel Brockman Richie. Richie grew up on the campus of Tuskegee Institute. His grandfather's house was across the street from the home of the president of the college. His family moved to Joliet, Illinois, where he graduated from Joliet Township High School, East Campus. A star tennis player in Joliet, he accepted a tennis scholarship to attend Tuskegee Institute, and graduated with a major in economics. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Tuskegee, Richie briefly attended graduate school at Auburn University. He is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
As a student in Tuskegee, Richie formed a succession of R&B groups in the mid-1960s. In 1968 he became a singer and saxophonist with the Commodores. They signed a recording contract with Atlantic Records in 1968 for one record before moving on to Motown Records initially as a support act to The Jackson 5. The Commodores then became established as a popular soul group. Their first several albums had a danceable, funky sound, as in such tracks as "Machine Gun" and "Brick House." Over time, Richie wrote and sang more romantic, easy-listening ballads such as "Easy," "Three Times a Lady," "Still," and the tragic breakup ballad "Sail On."
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Lisa Lambert
Lisa Lambert (born December 1962, in Washington D.C.) is an actress, comedy writer, and Tony Award winning composer, best known for writing the lyrics and music to The Drowsy Chaperone.
Lambert played in the movies Childstar and Slings and Arrows. Her works for television include Getting Along Famously and Skippy's Rangers- The Show They Never Gave.
Lambert also took part in stage productions, including Mirth, People Park, The Irish Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Bargain Musical, All Hams on Deck, Ouch My Toe, An American in Harris, An Awkward Evening with Martin and Johnson.
Lambert won the Tony Award for Best Original Score, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music, and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics for The Drowsy Chaperone.
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Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman (born December 5, 1932), known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the mid-1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and contributed significantly to the early development of soul music. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website entry on Penniman states that:
He claims to be "the architect of rock and roll", and history would seem to bear out Little Richard’s boast. More than any other performer – save, perhaps, Elvis Presley, Little Richard blew the lid off the Fifties, laying the foundation for rock and roll with his explosive music and charismatic persona. On record, he made spine-tingling rock and roll. His frantically charged piano playing and raspy, shouted vocals on such classics as "Tutti Frutti", "Long Tall Sally" and "Good Golly, Miss Molly" defined the dynamic sound of rock and roll.
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Long John Baldry
John William "Long John" Baldry (12 January 1941 – 21 July 2005) was an English and Canadian blues singer and a voice actor. He sang with many British musicians, with Rod Stewart and Elton John appearing in bands led by Baldry in the 1960s. He enjoyed pop success in the UK where Let the Heartaches Begin reached No. 1 in 1967 and in Australia where his duet with Kathi McDonald You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' reached number two in 1980. Baldry lived in Canada from the late 1970s until his death. There he continued to make records and do voiceover work. He was well known for the voice of Dr Robotnik in Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog.
Baldry's birth was registered in Brixworth Registration District in the first quarter of 1941. This District includes East Haddon so it appears certain that this was his birthplace. His mother's maiden name was Parker. His early life was spent in Edgware, Middlesex where he attended Camrose Primary School until the age of 11, after which he attended Harrow Downer Grammar School.
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Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn (born Loretta Webb April 14, 1932), is an American country music singer-songwriter, author and philanthropist. Born in Butcher Hollow, near Paintsville, Kentucky in Johnson County to a coal miner father, Lynn married at 15 years old, was a mother soon after, and moved to Washington with her husband, Oliver Vanetta Lynn, Jr. (1926–1996), nicknamed "Doo". Their marriage was sometimes tumultuous; he had affairs and she was headstrong. Their experiences together became inspiration for her music.
On her 21st birthday, Lynn's husband bought her a $17.00 Harmony guitar. She taught herself to play and when she was 24, on her wedding anniversary, Doo encouraged her to become a singer. She learned the guitar better, started singing at the Delta Grange Hall in Washington State with the Pen Brothers' band, The Westerners, then eventually cut her first record in February, 1960. She became a part of the country music scene in Nashville in the 1960s, and in 1967 charted her first of 16 number-one hits (out of 70 charted songs as a solo artist and a duet partner) that include "Don't Come Home A' Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)", "You Ain't Woman Enough", "Fist City", and "Coal Miner's Daughter". She focused on blue collar women's issues with themes of philandering husbands and persistent mistresses, and pushed boundaries in the conservative genre of country music by singing about birth control ("The Pill"), repeated childbirth ("One's on the Way"), double standards for men and women ("Rated "X""), and being widowed by the draft during the Vietnam War ("Dear Uncle Sam"). Country music radio stations often refused to play her songs. Nonetheless, she became known as "The First Lady of Country Music" and continues to be one of the most successful vocalists of all time.
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Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI (12 October 1935 – 6 September 2007) was an Italian operatic tenor, who also crossed over into popular music, eventually becoming one of the most commercially successful tenors of all time. He made numerous recordings of complete operas and individual arias, and established himself as one of the finest tenors of the 20th century. He was one of The Three Tenors and became well known for his televised concerts and media appearances. Pavarotti was also noted for his charity work on behalf of refugees and the Red Cross, amongst others.
Pavarotti began his professional career as a tenor in 1961 in Italy. That same year, he made his first international appearance in La traviata in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. He sang in opera houses in addition to Italy, in the Netherlands, Vienna, London, Ankara, Budapest and Barcelona. The young tenor earned valuable experience and recognition while touring Australia at the invitation of soprano Joan Sutherland in 1965. He made his United States debut in Miami soon afterwards, also on Sutherland's recommendation. His position as a leading lyric tenor was consolidated in the years between 1966 and 1972, during which time he first appeared at Milan's La Scala and other major European houses. In 1968, he debuted at New York City's Metropolitan Opera as Rodolfo in Puccini's La bohème. At the Met in 1972, in the role of Tonio in Donizetti's La fille du régiment he earned the title "King of the high Cs" when he sang the aria "Ah mes amis ... pour mon âme". He gained worldwide fame for the brilliance and beauty of his tone, especially into the upper register. He was at his best in bel canto operas, pre-Aida Verdi roles and Puccini works such as La bohème, Tosca and Madama Butterfly. The late 1970s and 1980s saw Pavarotti continue to make significant appearances in the world's foremost opera houses.
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Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times. He won four Grammy Awards in 2004 including the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for the track "Dance with My Father", co-written with Richard Marx.
Luther Vandross was born on April 20, 1951 at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, New York City, United States. He was the fourth child and second son to Mary Ida Vandross and Luther Vandross, Sr.
Born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City in the NYCHA Alfred E. Smith Houses public housing development, Vandross began playing the piano at the age of three. He grew up in a musical family that moved to the Bronx when he was thirteen. His sister, Patricia, sang with the vocal group The Crests, who had a number two hit in 1958 with "16 Candles", though she left the group before the recording. Vandross's father died of diabetes when Vandross was eight years old. Luther Vandross was in a high school group, Shades of Jade, that once played at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. He was also a member of a theater workshop, "Listen My Brother" who released the singles "Only Love Can Make a Better World" and "Listen My Brother", and appeared on the second and fifth episodes of Sesame Street in November 1969.
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Lynn Ahrens
Lynn Ahrens (born October 1, 1948) is an American writer and lyricist for the musical theatre, television and film. She has collaborated with Stephen Flaherty for many years. She won the Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award for the Broadway musical Ragtime and was nominated for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards for the animated Twentieth Century Fox film "Anastasia." She is a mainstay writer for ABC-TV's "Schoolhouse Rock."
Ahrens was born in New York City, graduated from Neptune High School on the Jersey shore, and graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Journalism and English. She is Jewish. She began a career in advertising as a copywriter but was invited to work on a children's television show, and began writing songs for "Schoolhouse Rock". She subsequently worked as a freelance composer and singer of commercial music, and wrote and produced shows for children's television. She began writing for the musical theater in 1982.
Ahrens met Stephen Flaherty at the BMI Workshop in 1982 and they started working together the following year. Their first musical together was Lucky Stiff, which premiered Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in April 1988. Their next musical was Once on This Island, which premiered on Broadway in 1990 and which was nominated for eight Tony Awards. My Favorite Year opened at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre in Lincoln Center in October 1992 but ran for only 36 performances.
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Major Lance
Major Lance (April 4, 1939, 1941 or 1942, – September 3, 1994) was an American R&B singer. After a number of US hits in the 1960s, including "The Monkey Time" and "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um", he became an iconic figure in Britain in the 1970s among followers of Northern soul. Although he stopped making records in 1982, Major Lance continued to perform at concerts and tours until his death in 1994.
Major Lance was born in Winterville, Mississippi and was one of 12 children. There has been some dispute over Lance's birth year; some sources say he was born 1941 or 1942 (as Lance claimed), while his gravestone states he was born in 1939. 'Major' was his given forename; it was not a nickname or stage name. Lance was also a Baseball player.
Lance moved with his family on the northwest side of Chicago in the Cabrini-Green projects, a high-crime area, as a child where he developed a boyhood friendship with Otis Leavill, both attending Wells High School. This was the same school Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler went to. Mayfield called him a "sparkly fellow, and a great basketball player, which is probably how we met. His hero was Jackie Wilson, and he was always coming round and looking through my bag for songs that I'd written but didn't want to do with the Impressions. He was pretty good at picking them, too."
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Martin Charnin
Martin Charnin (born November 24, 1934) is an American lyricist, writer, and theatre director. Charnin's best-known work is as conceiver, director and lyricist of the hit musical Annie.
Born in New York City, he graduated from The High School of Music & Art and then from The Cooper Union, where he got his BFA. Charnin began his theatrical career as a performer, appearing as "Big Deal", one of the Jets in the original production of West Side Story. He played the role for 1000 performances on Broadway and on the road. After completing his duties in West Side Story, he wrote music and lyrics for numerous off-Broadway and Cabaret revues, many of them for Julius Monk. He then went on to write, direct, and produce nightclub acts for Dionne Warwick, Nancy Wilson, Mary Travers, Larry Kert, Jose Ferrer, and Leslie Uggams. His first Broadway musical was in 1963, as the lyricist for Hot Spot starring Judy Holliday, with music by Mary Rodgers.
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Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese ( /skɔrˈsɛsɛ/; born November 17, 1942) is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film historian. In 1990 he founded The Film Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to film preservation, and in 2007 he founded the World Cinema Foundation. He is a recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award for his contributions to the cinema, and has won Academy Award, Palme d'Or, Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and DGA Awards.
Scorsese's body of work addresses such themes as Italian American identity, Roman Catholic concepts of guilt and redemption,machismo, modern crime, and violence. Scorsese is hailed as one of the most significant and influential filmmakers of all time, directing landmark films such as Mean Streets (1973), Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980), and Goodfellas (1990) – all of which he collaborated on with actor and close friend Robert De Niro. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for The Departed (2006), having been nominated a previous five times.
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Marvin Hamlisch
Marvin Frederick Hamlisch (born June 2, 1944) is an American composer. He is one of only eleven people to have been awarded Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, and a Tony. He is also one of only two people to have won those four prizes and also a Pulitzer Prize (the other is Richard Rodgers). Hamlisch has also won two Golden Globes.
Hamlisch was born in New York City to Viennese Jewish parents: Lilly Schachter and Max Hamlisch. His father was an accordionist and bandleader. Hamlisch was a child prodigy, and by age five he began mimicking music he heard on the radio on the piano. A few months before he turned seven, in 1951, he was accepted into what is now the Juilliard School Pre-College Division. His first job was as a rehearsal pianist for Funny Girl with Barbra Streisand. Shortly after that, he was hired by producer Sam Spiegel to play piano at Spiegel's parties. This connection led to his first film score, The Swimmer. His favorite musicals growing up were My Fair Lady, Gypsy, West Side Story, and Bye Bye Birdie.
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Maurice Béjart
Maurice Jean Béjart (1 January 1927 – 22 November 2007) was a French-born dancer, Swiss choreographer and opera director who ran the Béjart Ballet Lausanne in Switzerland. He was the son of the French philosopher Gaston Berger.
He was born in Marseille, France in 1927. Fascinated by a recital of Serge Lifar, he decided to devote himself entirely to dance. In South France days, he had studied under Mathilde Kschessinska. In 1945, he enrolled as a corps de ballet at the Opéra de Marseille. From 1946, he had studied under Madam Rousanne (Sarkissian), Leo Staats, Madam Lyubov Egorova and Olga Preobrajenska at "Studio Wacker," and etc. in Paris. In 1948, he was also formed with Janine Charrat, Yvette Chauvire and then with Roland Petit, in addition he had studied under Vera Volkova at London.
In 1954, he founded the Ballet de l'Étoile company (dissolved in 1957). In 1960 he founded the Ballet du XXe Siècle in Brussels (dissolved in 1987).
In 1987 he moved to Lausanne in Switzerland, where he founded the Béjart Ballet Lausanne, one of the most famous and successful dance companies in the world.
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Maury Dean
Maury Dean is an American musician, professor and author, whose book "The Rock Revolution" is in the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame and the Smithsonian.
Dean taught a "History of Rock N' Roll" course at Suffolk County Community College, and was a member of the band "The Woolies", whose cover of the song "Who Do You Love?" hit the #95 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1967. Dean was also in the rock band, "Maury Dean & The Night Shift" - who recorded for the Detroit-based Fortune Records. He was also a writer at Motown Records, where he says he lasted all of a few days before leaving.
Dean's first book, "The Rock Revolution" is considered one of the earliest books about rock n' roll, having been written and published in 1966. Dean has also authored "Rock N' Roll Gold Rush", a book that is used as the textbook to his rock n' roll classes, as well as other professor's classes. "Rock N' Roll Gold Rush" also contains his opinions on music, with most of the text dedicated to his opinions on certain singles, musicians, and bands. Dean also wrote another book, about Buddy Holly, titled "This'll Be the Day: The Life and Legacy of Buddy Holly". It was released in April 2009.
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Maury Yeston
Maury Yeston (born October 23, 1945) is an American composer, lyricist, educator and musicologist.
He is known for writing the music and lyrics to Broadway musicals, including Nine in 1982, and Titanic in 1997, both of which won Tony Awards for best musical and best score. He also won a Drama Desk Award for Nine. Yeston also wrote a significant amount of the music and most of the lyrics to the Tony-nominated musical Grand Hotel in 1989, which was nominated for best score. His musical version of the novel The Phantom of the Opera called Phantom (not to be confused with Andrew Lloyd Webber's version) has enjoyed numerous productions in the U.S. and around the world. He has also written a number of other Off-Broadway musicals, a song cycle, a Cello Concerto, and other pieces.
Yeston serves on the Board of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is also President of the Kleban Foundation, serves on the editorial boards of Musical Quarterly and the Kurt Weill Foundation Publication Project and on the advisory board of the Yale University Press Broadway Series. He was the Director of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop in New York City for two decades beginning in 1982.
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Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday; September 27, 1947), better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor. He is noted for the Bat Out of Hell album trilogy consisting of Bat Out of Hell, Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell and Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster is Loose. Bat Out of Hell has sold more than 43 million copies. After more than 30 years, it still sells an estimated 200,000 copies annually and stayed on the charts for over nine years, making it one of the best selling albums of all time.
Although he enjoyed success with Bat Out of Hell and Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell and earned a Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo for the song "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" on the latter album, Meat Loaf experienced some initial difficulty establishing a steady career within his native US. However, he has retained iconic status and popularity in Europe, especially the UK, where he ranks 23rd for the number of weeks overall spent on the charts. He ranked 96th on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock".
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Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks (born Melvin Kaminsky; June 28, 1926) is an American film director, screenwriter, composer, lyricist, comedian, actor and producer. He is best known as a creator of broad film farces and comic parodies. He began his career as a stand-up comic and as a writer for the early TV variety show Your Show of Shows. He became well known as part of the comedy duo with Carl Reiner, The 2000 Year Old Man. In middle age he became one of the most successful film directors of the 1970s, with many of his films being among the top ten money makers of the year that they were released. His most well known films include The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, History of the World, Part I and Spaceballs. More recently he has had a smash hit on Broadway with the musical adaptation of his first film, The Producers. He was married to the actress Anne Bancroft from 1964 until her death in 2005.
Brooks is a member of the short list of entertainers with the distinction of having won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony award. Three of his films ranked in the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 comedy films of all-time: Blazing Saddles at number 6, The Producers at number 11, and Young Frankenstein at number 13.
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Michael Jackson
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 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 influenced numerous hip hop, post-disco, contemporary R&B, pop and rock artists.
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Mike Nichols
Mike Nichols (born Michael Igor Peschkowsky; November 6, 1931) is a German-born American television, stage and film director, writer, producer and comedian. He began his career in the 1950s as one half of the comedy duo Nichols and May, along with Elaine May. In 1968 he won the Academy Award for Best Director for the film The Graduate. His other noteworthy films include Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Carnal Knowledge, Working Girl, Closer and the TV mini-series Angels in America. He also staged the original theatrical productions of Barefoot in the Park, Luv, The Odd Couple and Spamalot.
Nichols is one of a small group of people who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award. His other honors include the Lincoln Center Gala Tribute in 1999, the National Medal of Arts in 2001, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2003 and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2010.
Mike Nichols was born Michael Igor Peschkowsky in Berlin, Germany, the son of Brigitte (née Landauer) and Paul Peschkowsky, a physician. His father was born in Vienna, Austria, to a Russian Jewish immigrant family that had been wealthy and lived in Siberia, leaving after the Russian Revolution and settling in Germany around 1920. His mother's family were German Jews. His maternal grandparents were anarchist Gustav Landauer and author Hedwig Lachmann. Nichols is a third cousin twice removed of scientist Albert Einstein, through Nichols' mother. He moved to the United States to flee the Nazis on April 28, 1939. His father, who had changed his name to Paul Nichols, had successfully set up a medical practice in Manhattan and the family lived near Central Park. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1944 and attended public elementary school in Manhattan (PS 87). After graduating from Walden High School, Nichols briefly attended New York University before dropping out. In 1950, he enrolled in the pre-med program at the University of Chicago.
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Mikhail Baryshnikov
Mikhail Nikolaevich Baryshnikov (Russian: Михаи́л Никола́евич Бары́шников, Latvian: Mihails Barišņikovs) (born January 27, 1948), nicknamed "Misha", is a Russian American dancer, choreographer, and actor, often cited alongside Vaslav Nijinsky and Rudolf Nureyev as one of the greatest ballet dancers in history. After a promising start in the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad, he defected to Canada in 1974 for more opportunities in western dance. After freelancing with many companies, he joined the New York City Ballet as a principal dancer to learn George Balanchine's style of movement. He then danced with the American Ballet Theatre, where he later became artistic director.
Baryshnikov has spearheaded many of his own artistic projects and has been associated in particular with promoting modern dance, premiering dozens of new works, including many of his own. His success as a dramatic actor on stage, cinema and television has helped him become probably the most widely recognized contemporary ballet dancer. In 1977, he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe nomination for his work as "Yuri Kopeikine" in the film The Turning Point.
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Millie Jackson
Mildred "Millie" Jackson (born July 15, 1944) is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter and comedienne. Three of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA for over 500,000 copies.
Her vocal performances are often distinguished by long, humorous, and explicit spoken sections in her music, which she started doing on stage to get the attention of the audience. She has also recorded songs in a disco or dance music style and even some country styled songs. She is the mother of contemporary R&B singer, Keisha Jackson.
Born in Thomson, Georgia, Jackson is the daughter of a sharecropper. Her mother died when she was a child and subsequently, she and her father moved to Newark, New Jersey. By the time Jackson was in her mid-teens, she had moved to Brooklyn to live with an aunt. She occasionally worked as a model for magazines like JIVE and Sepia.
Jackson's singing career reportedly began on a dare to enter a 1964 Harlem nightclub talent contest, which she won. Although she first recorded for MGM Records in 1970, she soon left and began a long association with New York-based Spring Records. Working with the label's in-house producer, Raeford Gerald, her first single to chart was 1971's deceptively titled "A Child of God (It's Hard to Believe)," which reached number 22 on the R&B charts. In 1972, Jackson had her first R&B Top Ten single with the follow-up, "Ask Me What You Want", which also reached the pop Top 30, then "My Man, A Sweet Man" reached #7 R&B; all three hits were co-written by Jackson. "My Man, A Sweet Man" retains its popularity today for Northern soul enthusiasts and is played on the radio in the UK and quoted as an example from this musical genre as is her recording of "House for Sale" from the same period. The following year brought her biggest single success and her third Top Ten hit, "It Hurts So Good," which made #3 on the R&B charts and #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. The single was featured in the blaxploitation film Cleopatra Jones.
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Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba (4 March 1932 – 10 November 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa, was a Grammy Award winning South African singer and civil rights activist.
In the 1960s she was the first artist from Africa to popularize African music in the U.S. and around the world. She is best known for the song "Pata Pata", first recorded in 1957 and released in the U.S. in 1967. She recorded and toured with many popular artists, such as Harry Belafonte, Paul Simon, and her former husband Hugh Masekela.
She actively campaigned against the South African system of apartheid. As a result, the South African government revoked her citizenship and right of return. After the end of apartheid she returned home. She died on 10 November 2008 after performing in a concert organized to support writer Roberto Saviano in his stand against the Camorra, a mafia-like organisation local to the Region of Campania.
Zenzile Miriam Makeba was born in Johannesburg in 1932. Her mother was a Swazi sangoma (traditional healer-herbalist). Her father, who died when she was six years old, was a Xhosa. When she was eighteen days old, her mother was arrested for selling umqombothi, an African homemade beer brewed from malt and cornmeal. Her mother was sentenced to a six-month prison term, so Miriam spent her first six months of life in jail. As a child, she sang in the choir of the Kilmerton Training Institute in Pretoria, a primary school that she attended for eight years.
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Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman (born June 1, 1937) is an American actor, film director, aviator and narrator. Freeman has received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus and won in 2005 for Million Dollar Baby. He has also won a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Freeman has appeared in many other box office hits, including Unforgiven, Glory, Seven, Deep Impact, The Sum of All Fears, Bruce Almighty, Batman Begins, March of the Penguins, The Bucket List, Wanted, The Dark Knight, and RED.
Morgan Freeman was born in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of Mayme Edna (née Revere), a teacher, and Morgan Porterfield Freeman, a barber who died April 27, 1961, from cirrhosis. He has three older siblings. Freeman was sent as an infant to his paternal grandmother in Charleston, Mississippi. His family moved frequently during his childhood, living in Greenwood, Mississippi; Gary, Indiana; and finally Chicago, Illinois. Freeman made his acting debut at age 9, playing the lead role in a school play. He then attended Broad Street High School, later named Threadgill Elementary School, in Mississippi. At age 12, he won a statewide drama competition, and while still at Broad Street High School, he performed in a radio show based in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1955, he graduated from Broad Street, but turned down a partial drama scholarship from Jackson State University, opting instead to work as a mechanic in the United States Air Force.
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Neil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka (born March 13, 1939) is an American pop/rock singer, pianist, and composer. His career has spanned nearly 55 years, during which time he has sold millions of records as an artist and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard Greenfield and Phil Cody.
Sedaka was born in Brooklyn, New York. His father, Mac Sedaka (aka Sedacca), a taxi driver, was of Sephardic Turkish-Jewish descent. ("Sedaka" and "Sedacca" are variants of tzedaka, which translates in both Hebrew and Arabic as the word charity). Sedaka's mother, Eleanor (née Appel), was of Polish-Russian Jewish descent (or generally referred to as Ashkenazi-Jewish descent). He grew up in the then-heavily Jewish Brooklyn neighborhood of Brighton Beach, which lies on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. Sedaka is a cousin of singer Eydie Gormé.
He demonstrated musical aptitude in his second-grade choral class, and when his teacher sent a note home suggesting he take piano lessons, his mother took a part-time job in an Abraham & Straus department store for six months to pay for a second-hand upright. In 1947, he auditioned successfully for a piano scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music's Preparatory Division for Children, which he attended on Saturdays. His mother wanted him to become a renowned classical pianist such as the contemporary of the day, Van Cliburn, but Sedaka was discovering pop music. When Sedaka was 13, a neighbor heard him playing and introduced him to her 16-year-old son, Howard Greenfield, an aspiring poet and lyricist. They became two of the legendary Brill Building's composers.
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Neil Young
Neil Percival Young,OC,OM (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation.
Young began performing as a solo artist in Canada in 1960, before moving to California in 1966, where he co-founded the band Buffalo Springfield along with Stephen Stills and Richie Furay, and later joined Crosby, Stills & Nash as a fourth member in 1969. He forged a successful and acclaimed solo career, releasing his first album in 1968; his career has since spanned over 40 years and 34 studio albums, with a continual and uncompromising exploration of musical styles. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website describes Young as "one of rock and roll’s greatest songwriters and performers". He has been inducted into the Hall of Fame twice: first as a solo artist in 1995, and second as a member of Buffalo Springfield in 1997.
Young's work is characterized by his distinctive guitar work, deeply personal lyrics and signature alto or high tenor singing voice. Although he accompanies himself on several different instruments, including piano and harmonica, his idiosyncratic electric and clawhammer acoustic guitar playing are the defining characteristics of a varyingly ragged and melodic sound. While Young has experimented with differing music styles, including swing and electronic music throughout a varied career, his best known work usually falls into two primary styles: acoustic (folk and country rock) and electric (amplified hard rock, very often in collaboration with the band Crazy Horse). Young has also adopted elements from newer styles such as alternative rock and grunge. His influence on the latter caused some to dub him the "Godfather of Grunge".
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Nigel Olsson
Nigel Olsson (born 10 February 1949) is an English rock drummer, who is best known for his affiliation with Elton John. Olsson helped establish the Elton John sound as the first member of John's band, on drums, percussion and backing vocals. When not working with John, Olsson has taken up the role of a session musician. Olsson has composed, recorded, and produced albums for his own solo career.
Olsson was born in Wallasey, Merseyside, England. He began with his musical endeavours playing the guitar in small bands, until the band's drummer left, and Olsson took up the drum kit. His first appearance on a record album was in the band Plastic Penny, which released Two Sides of a Penny on Page One Records in 1968. Olsson was spotlighted on one song on that album, "I Want You," performing both lead vocals and a drum solo. In 1969 he played drums on the "flower power" pop single "Mr. Boyd" b/w "Imagine" by Argosy, a one-off group which also included Reginald Dwight (later known as Elton John), Caleb Quaye, and Roger Hodgson. Olsson also served a brief time with the English hard rock band Uriah Heep, playing drums for some songs on its 1970 debut LP, Very 'eavy... Very 'umble. Subsequently, he played drums on one track on Elton John's debut album, Empty Sky, and the next year, as a member of The Spencer Davis Group with bassist Dee Murray. The pair joined John on the road as his touring band, and played with John during his debut tour in the United States at the Troubadour Club. Only permitted at first to play on one track of John's studio albums, Olsson and Murray were added, along with guitarist Davey Johnstone, who was newest to the band, and all teamed up to play and sing backing vocals on Elton John's early 1970s albums.
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Nik Kershaw
Nik Kershaw (born Nicholas David Kershaw, 1 March 1958) is an English singer-songwriter. The one time jazz-funk guitarist was a 1980s teen idol. His 50 weeks on the UK Singles Chart in 1984 beat all other soloists. Kershaw appeared at Live Aid, and penned hits for Let Loose, The Hollies and a number 1 for Chesney Hawkes, "The One and Only".
Although born in Bristol, Kershaw grew up in Ipswich, Suffolk, and after leaving Northgate High School in 1976 worked as a shop assistant and in the Department of Employment for several years, during which time he played guitar and sang in a number of underground Ipswich bands. However, when the last of these, Fusion, split up in 1982, he embarked on a full time career as a songwriter and performer. In 1983, he signed a recording contract with MCA Records, a deal which spawned his debut single, "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me".
At the beginning of 1984, Kershaw released his breakthrough song "Wouldn't It Be Good", which reached Number 4 in the UK Singles Chart, and was a big success in Europe, particularly in Germany, Italy, Switzerland and in Scandinavia, Australia and New Zealand. The music video, featuring Kershaw as a chroma key-suited alien, received heavy rotation by MTV, helping the song reach No.46 in the United States. He enjoyed three more Top 20 hits from his debut album Human Racing, including the title track and a successful re-issue of "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". This track ultimately proved his biggest hit as a performer when it reached Number 2 in the UK.
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Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Count Nikolaus de la Fontaine und d'Harnoncourt-Unverzagt) (born 6 December 1929) is an Austrian conductor, particularly known for his historically informed performances of music from the Classical era and earlier. Starting out as a classical cellist, he founded his own period instrument ensemble in the 1950s, and became a pioneer of the Early Music movement. Around 1970, Harnoncourt started to conduct opera and concert performances, soon leading renowned international symphony orchestras, and appearing at leading concert halls, operatic venues and festivals. His repertoire has since widened to include composers of the 19th and 20th century. In 2001 and 2003, he conducted the Vienna New Year's Concert. Harnoncourt is also the author of several books, mostly on questions of performance history and musical aesthetics.
Harnoncourt was born in Berlin, Germany. He was raised in Graz, Austria and studied music in Vienna. His mother, Ladislaja Gräfin von Meran, Freiin von Brandhoven, was the granddaughter of the Habsburg Archduke Johann, the 13th child of the Emperor Leopold II. He is thus descended from various Holy Roman Emperors and other European royalty. His father, Eberhard de la Fontaine Graf d'Harnoncourt-Unverzagt, was an engineer working in Berlin who had two children from a previous marriage. Two years after Nikolaus's birth, his brother Philipp was born. The family eventually moved to Graz, where Eberhard had obtained a post in the state-government (Landesregierung) of Styria.
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Ossie Davis
Ossie Davis (born Raiford Chatman Davis, December 18, 1917 – February 4, 2005) was an Emmy Award winning and Grammy nominated, African- American film, television and Broadway actor, director, poet, playwright, author, and social activist.
Davis was born Raiford Chatman Davis in Cogdell, Clinch County, Georgia, a son of Kince Charles Davis, a railway construction engineer, and his wife Laura (née Cooper). The name Ossie came from a county clerk who misheard his mother's pronunciation of his initials "R.C." when he was born. So he inadvertently became "Ossie" when his mother told the courthouse clerk in Clinch River, Ga., who was filing his birth certificate that his name was R.C. Davis. Davis experienced racism from an early age as the KKK threatened to shoot his father, whose job they felt was too advanced for a black man to have. Following the wishes of his parents, he attended Howard University but dropped out in 1939 to fulfill his acting career in New York; he later attended Columbia University School of General Studies. His acting career, which spanned seven decades, began in 1939 with the Rose McClendon Players in Harlem. He made his film debut in 1950 in the Sidney Poitier film No Way Out. He voiced Anansi the spider on the PBS children's television series Sesame Street in its animation segments.
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Patti Smith
Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith (born December 30, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses.
Called the "Godmother of Punk", her work was a fusion of rock and poetry. Smith's most widely known song is "Because the Night", which was co-written with Bruce Springsteen and reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978. In 2005, Patti Smith was named a Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture, and in 2007, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On November 17, 2010, she won the National Book Award for her memoir Just Kids. She is also a recipient of the 2011 Polar Music Prize.
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Paul Buckmaster
Paul John Buckmaster (born in 1946 London) is a Grammy Award-winning English artist, arranger and composer.
He began learning the cello at the age of 4 and graduated from the Royal College of Music at age 16.
He is perhaps best known for his orchestral collaborations with Elton John. He has displayed professional mastery as a cellist but he has also worked as an arranger on various hit songs, including David Bowie's "Space Oddity" (1969), and played with Miles Davis on On the Corner, for which he also did the arrangements.
Buckmaster also played with Bowie and his band in the recordings for the original soundtrack to the science fiction film The Man Who Fell To Earth, in which David Bowie starred as Thomas Jerome Newton. Buckmaster himself told in the book "60 Years Of Bowie" that he had played cello on the original soundtrack recordings. Also Carlos Alomar, J. Peter Robinson and others were involved. Buckmaster: ""There were a couple of medium tempo rock instrumental pieces, with simple motifs and rifly kind of grooves, with a line-up of David's rhythm section (Carlos Alomar et al) plus J Peter Robinson on Rhodes-Fender and me on cello and some synth overdubs, using ARP Odyssey and Solina. There was also a piece I wrote and performed using some beautifully made mbiras (African thumb pianos) I had purchased earlier that year, plus cello, all done by multiple overdubbing." Later film-director Nicholas Roeg decided not to use the recordings but existing songs as soundtrack for the movie.
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Paul Carrack
Paul Carrack (born 22 April 1951) is an English singer, songwriter and musician. Carrack has been a member of several bands including Ace, Squeeze, Mike + The Mechanics, and Roxy Music, been a session and touring musician for several others including Nick Lowe, and has enjoyed success as a solo artist as well. His distinctive voice appears on some of his affiliated bands' best-known hits. He was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England.
Carrack's recording career began with the jazz rock band Warm Dust, who released three albums of original material between 1970 and 1972. Carrack was the keyboard player for the band, occasionally playing other instruments, with Les Walker as the lead vocalist.
After Warm Dust broke up, Carrack and Warm Dust bassist Tex Comer helped to found the pub rock band Ace. Carrack both wrote and was vocalist on "How Long?", Ace's debut single – a hit in both the UK and US in 1975. However, no further Ace recordings enjoyed that same level of popularity.
In 1977 Ace disbanded, and Carrack began working as a backing musician for Frankie Miller. Subsequently, he was a member of Roxy Music, playing keyboards on their 1979 reunion album Manifesto. Carrack would also play on the next two Roxy Music albums, but as a session musician, not a band member.
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Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM (born 18 June 1942) is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of the Beatles (1960–1970) and Wings (1971–1981), he has been described by Guinness World Records as "The Most Successful Composer and Recording Artist of All Time", with 60 gold discs and sales of over 100 million albums and 100 million singles. With John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, he gained worldwide fame as a member of the Beatles, and with Lennon formed one of the most celebrated songwriting partnerships of the 20th century. After leaving the Beatles, he began a solo career and later formed the band Wings with his first wife, Linda Eastman, and singer-songwriter Denny Laine.
According to the BBC, his Beatles song "Yesterday" has been covered by over 2,200 artists—more than any other song. Wings' 1977 release, "Mull of Kintyre", became one of the best-selling singles ever in the UK, and he is "the most successful songwriter" in UK chart history, according to Guinness. As a songwriter or co-writer, he is included on thirty-one number one titles on the Billboard Hot 100, and as of 2012 he has sold over 15.5 million RIAA certified units in the United States.
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Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is a grammy award winning American singer-songwriter, poet and guitarist.
Simon's international fame and success began as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, launched in 1964 with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached No. 1 on the U.S. singles charts: "The Sound of Silence", "Mrs. Robinson", and "Bridge Over Troubled Water". The duo split up in 1970 at the height of their popularity, and Simon began a successful solo career, recording three highly acclaimed albums over the next five years. In 1986, he released Graceland, an album inspired by South African township music. Simon also wrote and starred in the film One-Trick Pony in 1980 and co-wrote the Broadway musical The Capeman in 1998.
Simon has earned 12 Grammys for his solo and collaborative work, including the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2001, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2006 was selected as one of the "100 People Who Shaped the World" by Time magazine. Among many other honors, Simon was the first recipient of the Library of Congress' Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2007. In 1986 Simon was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music where he currently serves on the Board of Trustees.
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Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend (born 19 May 1945) is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career. His career with The Who spans more than 40 years, during which time the band grew to be considered one of the most influential bands of the 1960s and 1970s, and, according to Eddie Vedder, "possibly the greatest live band ever."
Townshend is the primary songwriter for The Who, having written well over 100 songs for the band's 11 studio albums, including concept albums and the rock operas Tommy and Quadrophenia, plus popular rock and roll radio staples like Who's Next, and dozens more that appeared as non-album singles, bonus tracks on reissues, and tracks on rarities compilations like Odds & Sods. He has also written over 100 songs that have appeared on his solo albums, as well as radio jingles and television theme songs. Although known primarily as a guitarist, he also plays other instruments such as keyboards, banjo, accordion, synthesiser, bass guitar and drums, on his own solo albums, several Who albums, and as a guest contributor to a wide array of other artists' recordings. Townshend has never had formal lessons in any of the instruments he plays.
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Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton (born 22 April 1950) is an English born naturalized American musician, singer, songwriter, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies in the United States alone and spawned several hits. Since then he has released several major albums. He has also worked with David Bowie and both Matt Cameron and Mike McCready from Pearl Jam, among others. Frampton is best known for such hits as "Breaking All The Rules", "Show Me the Way", "Baby, I Love Your Way", "Do You Feel Like We Do", and "I'm in You", which remain staples on classic-rock radio. He has also appeared as himself in television shows such as The Simpsons and Family Guy. Frampton is known for his work as a guitar player and particularly with a Talkbox and his tenor voice.
Frampton was born in Bromley, England. He attended Bromley Technical High School, at which his father, Owen Frampton, was a teacher and the head of the Art department. He first became interested in music when he was seven years old. Upon discovering his grandmother's banjolele (a banjo-shaped ukulele) in the attic, he taught himself to play, and later taught himself to play guitar and piano as well. At age eight he started taking classical music lessons.
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Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950) is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career. His 1986 album, So, is his most commercially successful, and the album's biggest hit, "Sledgehammer", won a record nine MTV Awards at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards, and the song is the most played music video in the history of the station.
More recently, Gabriel has focused on producing and promoting world music and pioneering digital distribution methods for music. He has also been involved in various humanitarian efforts. Gabriel has won numerous music awards throughout his career, including three Brit Awards—winning Best British Male in 1987, six Grammy Awards, thirteen MTV Video Music Awards, and in 2007 he was honoured as a BMI Icon at the 57th annual BMI London Awards for his “influence on generations of music makers.” Gabriel was also awarded the Polar Music Prize in 2009, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010.
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Peter Kay
Peter John Kay (born 2 July 1973) is an English comedian, writer, actor, director and producer from Lancashire. His work includes That Peter Kay Thing (2000), Phoenix Nights (2001), Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere (2004), Britain's Got the Pop Factor... (2008) and other independent productions which have included two sell out tours. Kay has sold over 10 million DVDs, a UK record for a comedian.
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Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams (born April 5, 1973), commonly known simply as Pharrell, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, composer, and fashion designer. Williams and Chad Hugo make up the record production duo The Neptunes, producing hip hop and R&B music. He is also the lead vocalist and drummer of hip-hop band N.E.R.D, which he formed with Hugo and childhood friend Shay Haley. He released his first single "Frontin'" in 2003 and followed up with his first album In My Mind in 2006.
As part of The Neptunes, Williams has produced numerous hit singles for various musicians. The two have earned three Grammy Awards amongst ten nominations. He is also the co-founder of the clothing brands Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream Clothing. He is a member of the supergroup V.A. Playaz with Fam-Lay, Clipse, Skillz, Missy Elliott, and Timbaland & Magoo.
Pharrell Williams was born on April 5, 1973, in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the eldest of three sons of Carolyn, a teacher, and Pharaoh Williams, a handyman. He met Chad Hugo in a seventh-grade summer band camp where Williams played the keyboards and drums and Hugo played tenor saxophone. They were also both members of a marching band; Williams played the snare drum while Chad was student conductor. With Hugo, Williams attended Princess Anne High School where they played in the school band; there he got the name Skateboard P.
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Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO (born 30 January 1951) is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist.
Collins sang the lead vocals on several chart hits in the United Kingdom and the United States between 1975 and 2010, either as a solo artist or with Genesis. His singles, sometimes dealing with lost love, ranged from the drum-heavy "In the Air Tonight", dance pop of "Sussudio", piano-driven "Against All Odds", to the political statements of "Another Day in Paradise".
Collins's professional music career began as a drummer, originally in a band called The Real Thing with Andrea Bertorelli, who later became his first wife. Collins played drums and shared lead vocals (with Brian Chatton) in Flaming Youth which recorded one album, (Ark II). In 1970, he took over drums for Genesis, which had already recorded two albums. In Genesis, Collins originally supplied backing vocals for front man Peter Gabriel, singing lead on only two songs: "For Absent Friends" from 1971's Nursery Cryme album and "More Fool Me" from Selling England by the Pound, which was released in 1973. Following Gabriel's departure in 1975, Collins became the group's lead singer.
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Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez (French pronunciation: [pjɛʁ bu.lɛːz]) (born 26 March 1925) is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.
Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics. He pursued the latter at Lyon before pursuing music at the Paris Conservatoire under Olivier Messiaen and the wife of Arthur Honegger, Andrée Vaurabourg.
Through Messiaen, Boulez discovered twelve-tone technique — which he would later study privately with René Leibowitz — and went on to write atonal music in a post-Webernian serial style. Boulez was initially part of a cadre of early supporters of Leibowitz, but due to an altercation with Leibowitz, their relations turned divisive, as Boulez spent much of his career promoting the music of Messiaen instead.
The first fruits of this were his cantatas Le visage nuptial and Le soleil des eaux for female voices and orchestra, both composed in the late 1940s and revised several times since, as well as the Second Piano Sonata of 1948, a well-received 32-minute work that Boulez composed at the age of 23. Thereafter, Boulez was influenced by Messiaen's research to extend twelve-tone technique beyond the realm of pitch organization, serialising durations, dynamics, mode of attack, and so on. This technique became known as integral serialism.
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Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈplaθiðo ðoˈmiŋɡo]; born 21 January 1941), born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range. In March 2008, he debuted in his 128th opera role, and as of July 2011, his 136 roles give Domingo more roles than any other tenor.
One of The Three Tenors, he has also taken on conducting opera and concert performances, and he is the General Director of the Los Angeles Opera in California.
Plácido Domingo was born on January 21, 1941, in the distrito de Retiro section of Madrid, Spain, and in 1949 moved to Mexico with his family, who ran a zarzuela company. He studied piano at first privately and later at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City.
In 1957, Domingo made his first professional appearance, performing with his mother in a concert at Mérida, Yucatán. He made his opera debut performing in Manuel Fernández Caballero's zarzuela, Gigantes y cabezudos, singing a baritone role. At that time, he was working with his parents' zarzuela company, taking baritone roles and as an accompanist for other singers. Among his first performances was a minor role in the first Mexican production of My Fair Lady where he was also the assistant conductor and assistant coach. The company gave 185 performances, which included a production of Lehár's The Merry Widow in which he performed alternately as either Camille or Danilo.
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Quincy Jones
Quincy Delight Jones, Jr. (born March 14, 1933) is an American record producer, conductor, arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend Award in 1991. He is particularly recognized as the producer of the album Thriller, by pop icon Michael Jackson, which has sold more than 110 million copies worldwide, and as the producer and conductor of the charity song “We Are the World”.
In 1968, Jones and his songwriting partner Bob Russell became the first African Americans to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song "The Eyes of Love" from the Universal Pictures film Banning. That same year, he became the first African American to be nominated twice within the same year when he was nominated for Best Original Score for his work on the music of the 1967 film In Cold Blood. In 1971, Jones would receive the honor of becoming the first African American to be named musical director/conductor of the Academy Awards ceremony. He was the first African American to win the Academy's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, in 1995. He is tied with sound designer Willie D. Burton as the most Oscar-nominated African American, each of them having seven nominations. At the 2008 BET Awards, Quincy Jones was presented with the Humanitarian Award. He was played by Larenz Tate in the 2004 biopic about Ray Charles, Ray.
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Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar (Bengali: রবি শংকর; born Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury on 7 April 1920), often referred to with the title Pandit, is an Indian musician and composer who plays the plucked string instrument sitar. He has been described as the most known contemporary Indian musician by Hans Neuhoff in Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart.
Shankar was born in Varanasi and spent his youth touring Europe and India with the dance group of his brother Uday Shankar. He gave up dancing in 1938 to study sitar playing under court musician Allauddin Khan. After finishing his studies in 1944, Shankar worked as a composer, creating the music for the Apu Trilogy by Satyajit Ray, and was music director of All India Radio, New Delhi, from 1949 to 1956.
In 1956, he began to tour Europe and America playing Indian classical music and increased its popularity there in the 1960s through teaching, performance, and his association with violinist Yehudi Menuhin and George Harrison of The Beatles. Shankar engaged Western music by writing concerti for sitar and orchestra and toured the world in the 1970s and 1980s. From 1986 to 1992 he served as a nominated member of the upper chamber of the Parliament of India. Shankar was awarded India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, in 1999, and received three Grammy Awards. He continues to perform in the 2000s, often with his daughter Anoushka.
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Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004), known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records. He also helped racially integrate country and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, most notably with his Modern Sounds albums. While with ABC, Charles became one of the first African-American musicians to be given artistic control by a mainstream record company.Frank Sinatra called Charles “the only true genius in show business.”
The influences upon his music were mainly jazz, blues, rhythm and blues and country artists of the day such as Art Tatum, Nat King Cole, Louis Jordan, Charles Brown, Louis Armstrong. His playing reflected influences from country blues and barrelhouse, and stride piano styles.
Rolling Stone ranked Charles number ten on their list of "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" in 2004, and number two on their November 2008 list of "100 Greatest Singers of All Time". In honoring Charles, Billy Joel noted: "This may sound like sacrilege, but I think Ray Charles was more important than Elvis Presley. I don't know if Ray was the architect of rock & roll, but he was certainly the first guy to do a lot of things . . . Who the hell ever put so many styles together and made it work?"
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Ray Cooper
Ray Cooper (born 19 September 1942) is an English musician. He is a session and road-tour percussionist, and occasional actor, who has worked with several musically diverse bands and artists including George Harrison, Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, and Elton John. Cooper is commonly regarded by music fans, critics and fellow musicians as one of the greatest rock percussionists of all time.[citation needed] He is also regarded as one of the finest practitioners of the in-concert percussion and drum solo.[citation needed] Cooper absorbed the influence of rock drummers from the 1960s and 1970s such as Ginger Baker, Carmine Appice, and John Bonham. Incorporation of unusual instruments (for rock drummers of the time) such as cowbells, glockenspiel, and tubular bells, along with several standard kit elements, helped create a highly varied setup. Continually modified to this day, Cooper's percussion set offers an enormous array of percussion instruments for sonic diversity such as the crash cymbals, tambourine, congas, bongos, cowbells, tubular bells, toms, the gong, and tambourine. For two decades Cooper honed his technique; In the 1990s, he reinvented his style. He is known for the 7 minute percussion and drum solos he performed during the years 1990-1991 for Eric Clapton and for the 7 minute percussion and drum solos during the year 1994 during all the Face to Face Tours with Billy Joel, and Elton John, and the tours with the Elton John band during the years of 1994-1995.
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Renate Blauel
Renate Ruth Margot John (née Blauel; born 1 March 1953) is a German music engineer.
Already a sound engineer, she had engineered albums including Hysteria for the Human League and Croatia Records. She met Elton John whilst she was working as a recording engineer on his 1983 album Too Low for Zero in Sydney, Australia. John admitted that his bisexuality was a "compromise". They were married on Valentine's Day, 1984, in Sydney, after he had proposed to her four days earlier in a restaurant. Attendees included Olivia Newton-John. A second service was held for John's family members in the United Kingdom a few days later. She also worked as a recording engineer on John's 1984 album Breaking Hearts. Their marriage was dissolved on 18 November 1988, when both Blauel and John could no longer deny his true sexuality.
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Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming (born February 14, 1959) is an American soprano specializing in opera and lieder. Fleming has a full lyric soprano voice. Fleming has performed coloratura, lyric, and lighter spinto soprano repertoires. She has sung roles in Italian, German, French, Czech, and Russian, aside from her native English. She also speaks fluent German and French, along with limited Italian. Her signature roles include Countess Almaviva in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, Desdemona in Verdi's Otello, Violetta in Verdi's La traviata, the title role in Dvořák's Rusalka, the title role in Massenet's Manon, the title role in Massenet's Thaïs, the Marschallin in Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier, and the title role in Arabella.
A Richard Tucker Award winner, she regularly performs in opera houses and concert halls worldwide. In 2008 she was awarded the Swedish Polar Music Prize for her services in music.
Conductor Sir Georg Solti said of Fleming, "In my long life, I have met maybe two sopranos with this quality of singing; the other was Renata Tebaldi."
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Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman (born 18 May 1949) is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes. He is also known for his solo albums, contributing to the BBC comedy series Grumpy Old Men and for Rick's Place, his former radio show on Planet Rock that aired until December 2010.
Wakeman was born in West London. He purchased his first electronic keyboard at 12 years of age. In 1968, he studied the piano, clarinet, orchestration and modern music at the Royal College of Music before leaving after a year in favour of session music work. He went on to feature on songs by artists including Black Sabbath,David Bowie, T. Rex, Elton John and Cat Stevens. Wakeman joined the folk group Strawbs in 1969 and played on three of their albums. He first joined Yes in 1971 to replace Tony Kaye, and left the group in 1974 to work on his solo career. He returned in 1976 before leaving with lead vocalist Jon Anderson in 1980. Wakeman was part of the side project Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, a group of ex-Yes members formed in 1989, and the eight-member Yes line-up that followed until his third departure in 1992. He returned for two years in 1995 and once more in 2002, where he was part of the band's 35th anniversary tour until its end in 2004.
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Rikrok
Ricardo George Ducent (born 17 June 1972, London, England) better known by his stage name Rikrok is an English singer. Rikrok is most famous for the single "It Wasn't Me" from Shaggy's Hot Shot album.
Rikrok's parents migrated from Jamaica to England in the mid 1960s in search of greater economic opportunities. Regarding his Jamaican influences during childhood, Rikrok noted "[when I was growing up it was pretty much Jamaican people who came over... My father was a big reggae fan, especially of Gregory Isaacs, John Holt and Dennis Brown. He had a big record collection and on Sundays he would play music all day at home".[citation needed]
Rikrok was eleven years old when he returned to Jamaica with his family. While attending Manchester High School in Mandeville, Jamaica, he discovered his singing talent and soon realized he had a flair for songwriting. "One day I was listening to Babyface’s Tender Lover album and I remember thinking, I could probably be a songwriter", Rikrok says. "So I wrote a song, put it down, came back to it and tried it again. Then I started writing more and more songs. I wasn’t really good at it first; some of them were really corny, really stupid. But it was just a hobby and I never thought anything would come from it because it seemed like a completely unreachable dream being in the music business".[citation needed]
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Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro (pronounced /dəˈnɪəroʊ/; born August 17, 1943) is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973. In 1974, he played the young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II, a role that won him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
His critically acclaimed, longtime collaborations with Martin Scorsese began with 1973's Mean Streets, and earned De Niro an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Jake LaMotta in the 1980 film Raging Bull. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for his roles in Scorsese's Taxi Driver (1976) and Cape Fear (1991). In addition, he received nominations for his acting in Michael Cimino's The Deer Hunter (1978) and Penny Marshall's Awakenings (1990). Also in 1990, his portrayal as Jimmy Conway in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas earned him a BAFTA nomination.
He has earned four nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy: New York, New York (1977), Midnight Run (1988), Analyze This (1999) and Meet the Parents (2000). De Niro directed A Bronx Tale (1993) and The Good Shepherd (2006). He has received accolades for his esteemed career, including the AFI Life Achievement Award and the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award.
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Robert Moog
Robert Arthur "Bob" Moog (/ˈmoʊɡ/ MOHG; May 23, 1934 – August 21, 2005), founder of Moog Music, was an American pioneer of electronic music, best known as the inventor of the Moog synthesizer.
Bob Moog's innovative electronic design is employed in numerous synthesizers including the Minimoog Model D, Minimoog Voyager, Little Phatty, Moog Taurus Bass Pedals, Moog Minitaur, and the Moogerfooger line of effects pedals.
A native of New York City, Moog attended the Bronx High School of Science in New York, graduating in 1952. Moog earned a bachelor's degree in physics from Queens College, New York in 1957, another in electrical engineering from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in engineering physics from Cornell University. Moog's awards include honorary doctorates from Polytechnic Institute of New York University (New York City) and Lycoming College (Williamsport, Pennsylvania).
During his lifetime, Moog founded two companies for manufacturing electronic musical instruments. He also worked as a consultant and vice president for new product research at Kurzweil Music Systems from 1984 to 1988, helping to develop the Kurzweil K2000. He spent the early 1990s as a research professor of music at the University of North Carolina at Asheville.
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Robert Redford
Charles Robert Redford, Jr. (born August 18, 1936), better known as Robert Redford, is an American actor, film director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, philanthropist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival. He has received two Oscars: one in 1981 for directing Ordinary People, and one for Lifetime Achievement in 2002. In 2010 he was awarded French Knighthood in the Legion d'Honneur. At the height of his fame in the 1970s and 1980s, he was often described as one of the world's most attractive men and remains one of the most popular movie stars. His popular films include Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Downhill Racer (1969), Jeremiah Johnson (1972), The Candidate (1972), The Sting (1973), The Way We Were (1973), The Great Gatsby (1974), Three Days of the Condor (1975), The Great Waldo Pepper (1975), All the President's Men (1976), A Bridge Too Far (1977), The Natural (1984), Out of Africa (1985), Sneakers (1992), Indecent Proposal (1993),The Last Castle and Spy Game (2001). As a filmmaker, his notable films include Ordinary People (1980), The Milagro Beanfield War (1988), A River Runs Through It (1992), Quiz Show (1994), The Horse Whisperer (1998) and The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000).
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Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE (born 1 March 1944), is an English singer, musician, songwriter and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also producing films. In 2008 he was ranked number 61 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 greatest singers of all time.
Roger Harry Daltrey was born in the Hammersmith area of London, but was brought up in Acton, the same working class suburban district that produced fellow Who members Pete Townshend and John Entwistle. He was one of three children born to parents Irene and Harry Daltrey, and grew up with two sisters, Gillian and Carol. Harry Daltrey worked for a water closet manufacturer, and Irene Daltrey was told she would be unable to have children because of losing a kidney in 1937. Nevertheless, she went into labour during a World War II air raid and gave birth to her son at the nearby Hammersmith Hospital, West London. At the age of three, the young Roger swallowed a rusty nail which had to be surgically removed, leaving a visible scar. At the age of five, the rust from the nail caused an ulcer in his stomach which required him to be hospitalised.
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Roger Hodgson
Charles Roger Pomfret Hodgson (born 21 March 1950) is a British musician and songwriter, best known as the former co-frontman, and founding member, of progressive rock band Supertramp.
Hodgson composed and sang on the majority of the band's hits, including "Dreamer", "Give a Little Bit", "The Logical Song", "Breakfast in America", "Take the Long Way Home" and "It's Raining Again".
He left Supertramp in 1983 to pursue a solo career, but after two albums he retired from touring and other industry obligations. In 1997 he returned to doing solo tours, and released a third album in 2000. He is recognised for his tenor singing voice, which became a trademark of his former band Supertramp, and often writes about spiritual and philosophical topics.
Hodgson was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, in 1950 and grew up in Oxford. He is the son of Charles Hodgson and Jill Hodgson (died in June 2009). He attended Woodcote House near Wallingford, Oxfordshire, where he was the first boy to learn electric guitar, and Stowe School near Buckingham, Buckinghamshire. His first guitar was a parting gift from his father at age 12 when his parents divorced. He took it to boarding school with him, where his teacher taught him three chords. He began composing his own music and lyrics and within a year gave his first concert at school with nine original songs. Hodgson's first band at school consisted of him on guitar and his friend Roy Hoby playing snare drums. They were dubbed the "H-bombs" because of their last names.
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Roger Miller
Roger Dean Miller (January 2, 1936 – October 25, 1992) was an American singer, songwriter, musician and actor, best known for his honky tonk-influenced novelty songs. His most recognized tunes included the chart-topping country/pop hits "King of the Road", "Dang Me" and "England Swings", all from the mid-1960s Nashville sound era.
After growing up in Oklahoma and serving in the United States Army, Miller began his musical career as a songwriter in the late 1950s, penning such hits as "Billy Bayou" and "Home" for Jim Reeves and "Invitation to the Blues" for Ray Price. He later started a recording career and reached the peak of his fame in the late-1960s, but continued to record and tour into the 1990s, charting his final top 20 country hit "Old Friends" with Willie Nelson in 1982. Later in his life, he wrote the music and lyrics for the 1985 Tony-award winning Broadway musical Big River, in which he also acted.
Miller died from lung cancer in 1992, and was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame three years later. His songs continued to be recorded by younger artists, with covers of "Tall, Tall Trees" by Alan Jackson and "Husbands and Wives" by Brooks & Dunn, each reaching the number one spot on country charts in the 1990s. The Roger Miller Museum in his home town serves as a tribute to Miller.
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Rose Stone
Rose Stone (or Rosie Stone) (born Rosemary Stewart, March 21, 1945, in Vallejo, California) is an African-American singer and keyboardist. She is best known as one of the lead singers in Sly and the Family Stone, a popular psychedelic soul/funk band founded by her brothers, Sly Stone and Freddie Stone. She often wore a platinum-colored wig while performing with the band, and was noted for her strong vocals.
After the band's dissolution in 1975, "Sister Rose" (as she was also known) married Sly Stone's former manager/co-producer, Bubba Banks. She later recorded a solo album on Motown Records, billed as 'Rose Banks'. During the 1980s and 1990s, Stone worked as a backing session singer, appearing on recordings by Michael Jackson, Ringo Starr, Reef and Bobbysocks!. Stone is today part of the musical department at her brother Freddie's church. She returned to her gospel roots in 1983 when she sang on Sandra Crouch's Grammy Award-winning album We Sing Praises, soloing on the old hymn "Power in the Blood". She has been associated with the Crouch family and the music department of Christ Memorial COGIC in California for many years.
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Ruby Dee
Ruby Dee (born October 27, 1924) is an American actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist, and activist. She is perhaps best known for co-starring in the film A Raisin in the Sun (1961) and the film American Gangster (2007) for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She has won a Grammy, Emmy, Obie, Drama Desk, Screen Actors Guild Award, Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award, and is a recipient of the National Medal of Arts and the Kennedy Center Honors, among scores of others awards.
Dee was born Ruby Ann Wallace in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of Gladys Hightower and Marshall Edward Nathaniel Wallace, a cook, waiter, and porter. After her mother left the family, Dee's father married Emma Amelia Benson, a schoolteacher. Dee grew up in Harlem, New York. She attended Hunter College High School and went on to graduate from Hunter College with degrees in French and Spanish in 1944. Dee is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Dee made several appearances on Broadway before receiving national recognition for her role in the 1950 film The Jackie Robinson Story. Her career in acting has crossed all major forms of media over a span of eight decades, including the films A Raisin in the Sun, in which she recreated her stage role as a suffering housewife in the projects, and Edge of the City. She played both roles opposite Sidney Poitier. During the 1960s, Dee appeared in such politically charged films as Gone Are the Days and The Incident, which is recognized as helping pave the way for young African-American actors and filmmakers.
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RuPaul
RuPaul Andre Charles (born November 17, 1960), best known as simply RuPaul, is an American actor, drag queen, model, author, and singer-songwriter, who first became widely known in the 1990s when he appeared in a wide variety of television programs, films, and musical albums. Previously, he was a fixture on the Atlanta and New York City club scenes during the 1980s and early 90s. RuPaul has on occasion performed as a man in a number of roles, usually billed as RuPaul Charles. RuPaul is noted among famous drag queens for his indifference towards the gender-specific pronouns used to address him—both "he" and "she" have been deemed acceptable. "You can call me he. You can call me she. You can call me Regis and Kathie Lee; I don't care! Just as long as you call me." He hosted a short-running talk show on VH1, and currently hosts reality television shows called RuPaul's Drag Race and RuPaul's Drag U.
RuPaul was born in San Diego, California. His name was given to him by his mother, a Louisiana native. The Ru came from roux, an ingredient used in gumbo. RuPaul struggled as a musician and filmmaker in Atlanta, Georgia during the 1980s. He participated in underground cinema, helping create the low-budget film Star Booty, and an album by the same name. In Atlanta, RuPaul often performed at the Celebrity Club (managed by Larry Tee) as a bar dancer or with his band, Wee Wee Pole, which included the late Todd Butler. RuPaul's first prominent national exposure came with a featured role dancing in the video for "Love Shack" by the B-52s.
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Rupert Holmes
Rupert Holmes (born February 24, 1947) is an English-born American composer, singer-songwriter, musician and author of plays, novels and stories. He is best known for his number one pop hit "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" (1979/1980) and the song "Him", which reached the number 6 position on the Hot 100 U.S. pop chart in 1980. He is also known for his 1985 Tony Award-winning musical Drood (originally The Mystery of Edwin Drood) and his 2007 Drama Desk Award-winning book for the Broadway musical Curtains, and for his television series Remember WENN.
Holmes was born David Goldstein in Northwich, Cheshire, England. His father, Leonard Goldstein, was a United States Army Warrant Officer and bandleader, his mother, Gwen, was English, and both were musical. Holmes has dual American and British citizenship. The family moved when Holmes was six years old to the northern New York City suburb of Nanuet, New York, where Holmes grew up and attended nearby Nyack High School and then the Manhattan School of Music (majoring in clarinet). Holmes' brother, Richard, is an opera singer based in New York City and is the principal lyric baritone of the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, sings roles with regional opera companies, such as Glimmerglass Opera, Lake George, and Virginia Opera, among others, and has appeared at the Metropolitan Opera.
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Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III ( /ˈlɪmbɔː/; born January 12, 1951) is an American radio talk show host and political commentator. Since he was 16 Limbaugh has worked a series of disc jockey jobs. His talk show began in 1984 at Sacramento radio station KFBK, featuring his ongoing format of political commentary and listener calls. In 1988 Limbaugh began broadcasting his show nationally from radio station WABC in New York, New York. He currently lives in West Palm Beach, Florida, from where he broadcasts the The Rush Limbaugh Show, the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United States.
In the 1990s Limbaugh's books The Way Things Ought to Be (1992) and See, I Told You So (1993) made The New York Times Best Seller list. Limbaugh frequently criticizes, in his books and on his show, what he regards as liberal policies and politicians, as well as what he perceives as a pervasive liberal bias in major U.S. media.
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, the son of Mildred Carolyn "Millie" (née Armstrong) and Rush Hudson Limbaugh, Jr. His father was a lawyer and a U.S. fighter pilot who served in the China Burma India Theater of World War II. His mother was a native of Searcy, Arkansas. The name "Rush" was originally chosen for his grandfather to honor the maiden name of family member Edna Rush.
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Ryan White
Ryan Wayne White (December 6, 1971 – April 8, 1990) was an American teenager from Kokomo, Indiana, who became a national poster child for HIV/AIDS in the United States, after being expelled from middle school because of his infection. As a hemophiliac, he became infected with HIV from a contaminated blood treatment and, when diagnosed in December 1984, was given six months to live. Doctors said he posed no risk to other students, but AIDS was poorly understood at the time, and when White tried to return to school, many parents and teachers in Kokomo rallied against his attendance. A lengthy legal battle with the school system ensued, and media coverage of the case made White into a national celebrity and spokesman for AIDS research and public education. He appeared frequently in the media with celebrities such as Elton John, Michael Jackson and Phil Donahue. Surprising his doctors, White lived five years longer than predicted and died in April 1990, one month prior to his high school graduation.
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Sean Lennon
Sean Taro Ono Lennon (Japanese name Tarō Ono (小野 太郎, Ono Tarō?); born October 9, 1975) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, guitarist and actor of English, Japanese and Irish descent. He is the only child of John Lennon and Yoko Ono and the younger half-brother of Julian Lennon. His godfather is Sir Elton John.
Sean Lennon was born in New York City on October 9, 1975, his father's 35th birthday. Julian Lennon is his half-brother and Kyoko Chan Cox is his half-sister. After Sean's birth, John became a house husband, doting on his young son until his murder in 1980. Sean attended kindergarten in Tokyo, and was also educated at the exclusive private boarding school Institut Le Rosey in Rolle, Switzerland, and earlier at New York's private Ethical Culture Fieldston School and Dalton School. He later attended Columbia University, though for only three semesters before dropping out to focus on his music career.
His parents did not force him into the life of a musician: they intentionally hid their musical lives from their son. His debut into the music world came at the age of five, reciting a story on his mother's 1981 album Season of Glass. From childhood into his teen years, Sean continued to collaborate with his mother, contributing vocals and receiving production credit on her solo albums It's Alright (I See Rainbows), Starpeace and Onobox. At 16 Sean co-wrote the song "All I Ever Wanted" with Lenny Kravitz for his 1991 album Mama Said. By 1995 Sean had formed the band IMA (with Sam Koppelman and Timo Ellis) to play alongside his mother on her album Rising. Sean also made appearances in film, featured in the cast of Michael Jackson's 1988 Moonwalker and portraying a teenager experiencing visions of various M. C. Escher paintings in Sony's 1990 promotional short-film Infinite Escher.
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Seymour Stein
Seymour Stein (born 1942 in Brooklyn, New York) is an entrepreneur in the music industry who has been a part of the business since getting his first job as a clerk for Billboard magazine in 1958. Stein is a vice president of Warner Bros. Records and a co-founder of Sire Records.
In 1966 Stein and record producer Richard Gottehrer founded Sire Productions, which led to the formation of Sire Records, the label under which he signed pioneer artists such as the Ramones and Talking Heads in 1975, the Pretenders in 1980 and Madonna in 1982. Other acts signed by Sire include Depeche Mode, The Smiths, Ice-T, The Undertones and Echo & the Bunnymen.
Such was Stein's influence in signing and promoting the "New Wave" genre of music that he is sometimes credited with coming up with the name as an alternative to the term "punk", which he found derogative. The term had previously been used to refer to the French New Wave film movement of the 1960s.
To date, Stein remains the President of Sire Records and is also Vice President of Warner Bros. Records with which he has had a marketing and distribution deal from 1976 to 1994 and again since April 2003. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 14, 2005, under the lifetime-achievement category.
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Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Rachel Osbourne (née Arden, originally Levy; born 9 October 1952) is an English television host, author, music manager, businesswoman and promoter as well as the wife of heavy metal singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne.
She came into public prominence after appearing in The Osbournes, a reality television show that followed her family's daily routine. Osbourne later became a judge on the talent shows The X Factor and America's Got Talent. Her autobiography, Extreme, has sold in excess of two million copies.
After the success of The Osbournes and The X Factor, hosting her own chat shows and securing advertising contracts, Osbourne was ranked as the 25th richest woman in Britain on the 2009 Sunday Times Rich List. Sharon and husband, Ozzy Osbourne, are currently ranked as the 724th richest people in Britain with an estimated joint wealth of £110 million. Sharon Osbourne is credited with reviving her husband's heavy metal career by founding the summer Ozzfest tour. She currently lives in California and is one of five co-hosts of the daytime series, The Talk, where she discusses controversial topics and contemporary issues. The Talk premiered on 18 October 2010. BBC announced she is expected to host a syndicated daytime version Who Wants To Be A Millionaire in 2012.
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Sherie Rene Scott
Sherie Rene Scott (born February 8, 1967) is an American actress, singer and writer. She is a co-founder of Grammy winning Sh-K-Boom Records and Ghostlight Records and has performed in numerous Off-Broadway and Broadway musicals and plays, and appears on numerous solo and original cast recordings.
Scott was born in Kentucky. When she turned 18, Scott moved from Kansas to New York City to attend the Neighborhood Playhouse. After graduation, she was cast in the 25th-anniversary production of Hair at the United Nations.
In 2010 Scott starred in the critically acclaimed production Everyday Rapture, which Scott wrote with co-author Dick Scanlan. Everyday Rapture began its run on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre in previews April 19, 2010, and officially opened on April 29, 2010. The show played to sold out audiences throughout the run, finally ending its limited engagement on July 11, 2010. Scott received Tony Award nominations for Best Book, and Best Leading Actress in a Musical, and Drama Desk Award nominations in the categories of Best Leading Actress, Best Book, and Best Musical for Rapture.
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Shirley Bassey
Dame Shirley Bassey, DBE (born 8 January 1937), is a Welsh singer. She found fame in the mid-1950s and was "one of the most popular female vocalists in Britain during the last half of the 20th century". In the US, in particular, she is best known for recording the theme songs to the James Bond films Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), and Moonraker (1979) and is the only artist to record more than one Bond theme song. Bassey is also a UNESCO Artist for Peace.
"Born above a brothel in a docklands slum", Shirley Veronica Bassey was the sixth and last child of Eliza Jane Start and Henry Bassey in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, Wales (now called Cardiff Bay), of paternal Nigerian and maternal English descent. Bassey's mother also had four children from previous relationships, two of whom lived in the Bassey household. Eliza had married previously, to Alfred Metcalfe, and upon her marriage to Bassey, Eliza Jane Metcalfe listed Alfred Metcalfe as her father on the marriage registry. It has thus been theorized that she never divorced Alfred, and that her marriage to Bassey was bigamous. Eliza and Henry's second child died in infancy, so Shirley was born into a household of three sisters, two half-sisters, and one brother. A year later her father was arrested and charged with having sex with a minor, was tried, imprisoned for five years, then deported. After Henry's arrest, Eliza and the children moved to the nearby steelworking district of Splott.
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Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is most notable for being the founder and front man of the popular Motown vocal group, The Miracles, for which he also served as the group's chief songwriter and producer. Robinson led the group from its 1955 origins as The Five Chimes until 1972 when he announced a retirement from the stage to focus on his role as Motown's vice president.
However, Robinson returned to the music industry as a solo artist the following year, later having solo hits such as "Baby That's Backatcha", "Quiet Storm", "The Agony and the Ecstasy", "Cruisin'", "Being With You" and "Just to See Her". Following the sale of Motown Records in 1988, Robinson left Motown in 1990. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
Robinson was born in Detroit and raised in the city's North End section. At one point, he and Diana Ross were next-door neighbors; he said he has known Ross since she was eight. Robinson later told reporters when he was a child, his uncle christened him "Smokey Joe", which Robinson assumed was a "cowboy name for me" until he was later told that smokey was a pejorative term for dark-skinned Blacks. Robinson, who is mainly of African American descent and is light-skinned, remembers his uncle saying to him, "I'm doing this so you won't ever forget that you're black." Robinson grew up as a fan of Western films.
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Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. (born October 20, 1971), better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg (formerly known as Snoop Doggy Dogg), is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school. Shortly after graduation, he was arrested for cocaine possession and spent six months in Wayside County Jail. His music career began in 1992 after his release when he was discovered by Dr. Dre. He collaborated on several tracks on Dre's solo debut, The Chronic and on the titular theme song to the film Deep Cover.
Snoop's debut album Doggystyle, was released in 1993 under Death Row Records making a debut at No.1 on both the Billboard 200 and R&B charts. Selling almost a million copies in the first week of its release, Doggystyle quickly became certified 4× platinum in 1994 and spawned several hit singles, including "What's My Name" and "Gin & Juice". In 1994, Snoop released a soundtrack on Death Row Records for the short film Murder Was The Case, starring himself. In early 1996, Snoop Dogg was cleared of charges over his bodyguard's 1993 murder of Philip Woldemariam. His second album, late 1996's Tha Doggfather, also debuted at No.1 on both charts with "Snoop's Upside Ya Head" as the lead single. The album sold only half as well, being certified double platinum in 1997.
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Sofia Gubaidulina
Sofia Asgatovna Gubaidulina, (Russian: Софи́я Асгатовна Губайду́лина, Tatar Cyrillic: София Әсгать кызы Гобәйдуллина, Latin: Sofia Äsğät qızı Ğöbäydullina) (born October 24, 1931) is a Russian composer of half Russian, half Tatar ethnicity.
Gubaidulina's music is marked by the use of unusual instrumental combinations. In Erwartung combines percussion (bongos, güiros, temple blocks, cymbals and tam-tams among others), bayan and saxophone quartet.
Gubaidulina was born in Chistopol, in the Tatar ASSR. She studied composition and piano at the Kazan Conservatory, graduating in 1954. In Moscow she undertook further studies at the Conservatory with Nikolay Peyko until 1959, and then with Shebalin until 1963. She was awarded with Stalin-fellowship. Her music was deemed "irresponsible" during her studies in Soviet Russia, due to its exploration of alternative tunings. She was supported, however, by Dmitri Shostakovich, who in evaluating her final examination encouraged her to continue down her "mistaken path". However, she was allowed to express her modernism in various scores she composed for documentary films, including the 1968 production, On Submarine Scooters, a 70mm film shot in the unique Kinopanorama widescreen format.
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Sonny Rollins
Theodore Walter "Sonny" Rollins (born September 7, 1930 in New York City) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Rollins is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. A number of his compositions, including "St. Thomas", "Oleo", "Doxy", and "Airegin", have become jazz standards.
Although Rollins was born in New York City, his parents were born in the United States Virgin Islands. Rollins received his first saxophone at age 13. He attended Benjamin Franklin High School in East Harlem. He said that a concert by Frank Sinatra there, accompanied by a plea for racial harmony, changed his life.
Rollins started as a pianist, changed to alto saxophone, and finally switched to tenor in 1946. During his high-school years, he played in a band with other future jazz legends Jackie McLean, Kenny Drew and Art Taylor. He was first recorded in 1949 with Babs Gonzales ( J. J. Johnson was the arranger of the group). In his recordings through 1954, he played with performers such as Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk.
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Stephen Flaherty
Stephen Flaherty (born September 18, 1960) is an American composer of musical theatre. He works most often in collaboration with the lyricist/bookwriter Lynn Ahrens. They are best known for writing the Broadway musicals Once on This Island, which was nominated for eight Tony Awards, Seussical , which was nominated for the Grammy Award and Ragtime, which was nominated for twelve Tony Awards and won Best Original Score. Flaherty was also nominated for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards with Lynn Ahrens for his songs and song score for the animated film musical Anastasia.
Flaherty was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He began studying piano at the age of seven. When he was twelve he knew he wanted to write musicals and by age fourteen he had already composed his first musical score. He attended South Hills Catholic High School in Pittsburgh and later studied musical composition and piano at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, graduating in 1982. He did additional graduate studies in Musical Theater at New York University.
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Stephen Fry
Stephen John Fry (born 24 August 1957) is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter, film director, and a director of Norwich City Football Club.
After a troubled childhood and adolescence, during which he was expelled from a number of schools and eventually spent three months in prison for credit card fraud, he was able to secure a place at Queens' College, Cambridge, where he studied English Literature.
He first came to public attention in the 1981 Cambridge Footlights Revue presentation "The Cellar Tapes", which also included Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson and Tony Slattery. With Hugh Laurie, as the comedy double act Fry and Laurie, he co-wrote and co-starred in A Bit of Fry & Laurie, and took the role of Jeeves (with Laurie playing Wooster) in Jeeves and Wooster.
As an actor, Fry played the lead in the film Wilde, was Melchett in the BBC television series Blackadder, starred as the title character Peter Kingdom in the ITV series Kingdom, has a recurring guest role as Dr. Gordon Wyatt on the Fox crime series Bones and appeared as rogue TV host Gordon Deitrich in the dystopian thriller V For Vendetta. He has also written and presented several documentary series including the 2008 television series Stephen Fry in America, which saw him travelling across all 50 US states. Since 2003 he has been the host of the quiz show QI.
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Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Joshua Sondheim ( /ˈsɒnd.haɪm/) (born March 22, 1930) is an American composer and lyricist known for his contributions to musical theatre. He is the winner of an Academy Award, eight Tony Awards (more than any other composer) including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award. Described by Frank Rich of the New York Times as "the greatest, and perhaps best-known artist working in musical theatre", his most famous works include (as composer/lyricist) A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George and Into the Woods. He also wrote the lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy.
Sondheim has also written material for movies, including the 1981 Warren Beatty film Reds, contributing the song "Goodbye For Now". He also wrote five songs for the 1990 movie Dick Tracy, including "Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)", which won the Academy Award for Best Song.
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Steve Martin
Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, author, playwright, producer, musician and composer. Martin came to public notice as a writer for the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and later became a frequent guest on The Tonight Show. In the 1970s, Martin performed his offbeat, absurdist comedy routines before packed houses on national tours. In 2004, Comedy Central ranked Martin at sixth place in a list of the 100 greatest stand-up comics.
Since the 1980s, having branched away from stand-up comedy, Martin has become a successful actor in both comedic and dramatic roles, as well as an author, playwright, pianist, and banjo player, eventually earning Emmy, Grammy, and American Comedy awards, among other honors.
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Steve Reich
Stephen Michael "Steve" Reich ( /ˈraɪʃ/; born October 3, 1936) is an American composer who is one of the pioneering composers of minimal music along with La Monte Young, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass.
His innovations include using tape loops to create phasing patterns (examples are his early compositions, "It's Gonna Rain" and "Come Out"), and the use of simple, audible processes to explore musical concepts (for instance, "Pendulum Music" and "Four Organs"). These compositions, marked by their use of repetitive figures, slow harmonic rhythm and canons, have significantly influenced contemporary music, especially in the US. Reich's work took on a darker character in the 1980s with the introduction of historical themes as well as themes from his Jewish heritage, notably the Grammy Award-winning Different Trains.
Reich's style of composition influenced many other composers and musical groups. Reich has been described, in The Guardian by music critic Andrew Clements, as one of "a handful of living composers who can legitimately claim to have altered the direction of musical history", and the critic Kyle Gann has said Reich "may...be considered, by general acclamation, America's greatest living composer."
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Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg (born December 18, 1946) is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as archetypes of modern Hollywood blockbuster filmmaking. In later years, his films began addressing such issues as the Holocaust, slavery, war and terrorism. He is considered one of the most popular and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. He is also one of the co-founders of DreamWorks movie studio.
Spielberg won the Academy Award for Best Director for Schindler's List (1993) and Saving Private Ryan (1998). Three of Spielberg's films—Jaws (1975), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), and Jurassic Park (1993)—achieved box office records, each becoming the highest-grossing film made at the time. To date, the unadjusted gross of all Spielberg-directed films exceeds $8.5 billion worldwide. Forbes puts Spielberg's wealth at $3.0 billion.
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Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris (born May 13, 1950 as Stevland Hardaway Judkins), known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, a child prodigy who developed into one of the most creative musical figures of the late 20th century. Blind since shortly after birth, Wonder signed with Motown's Tamla label at the age of eleven, and continues to perform and record for Motown to this day.
Among Wonder's best known works are singles such as "Superstition", "Sir Duke", "I Wish" and "I Just Called to Say I Love You". Well known albums also include Talking Book, Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life. He has recorded more than thirty U.S. top ten hits and received twenty-two Grammy Awards, the most ever awarded to a male solo artist. Wonder is also noted for his work as an activist for political causes, including his 1980 campaign to make Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday a holiday in the United States. In 2009, Wonder was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace. In 2008, Billboard magazine released a list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists to celebrate the US singles chart's fiftieth anniversary, with Wonder at number five.
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Suzanne Farrell
Suzanne Farrell (born August 16, 1945) is an eminent 20th century ballerina (often referred to as the greatest American lyric ballerina) and the founder of the Suzanne Farrell Ballet at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
She was born as Roberta Sue Ficker in Cincinnati, and received her early training at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. In 1960 she was selected to study at George Balanchine's School of American Ballet with a Ford Foundation scholarship; she started there in 1960, and joined the New York City Ballet (NYCB) in 1961.
Initially part of the corps de ballet at NYCB, Farrell soon moved on to dancing featured roles. The first ballet choreographed for her was Passage, now Arcade, by John Taras in 1963. Balanchine first paired her with Jacques d' Amboise to choreograph his Meditation, which debuted in Winter 1963. One of her most notable roles was Dulcinea in Balanchine's Don Quixote, which premiered in May 1965. Balanchine performed in the of Don Quixote on opening night. She re-scaled many ballets and expanded them to a new level of technique. In 1965 she was promoted to principal dancer. Her first role in her new title was Agon with Arthur Mitchell at the Paris Opera. George Balanchine quickly fell in love with his "alabaster princess", and created many roles for her. Farrell described learning choreography from Balanchine as a collaborative process, saying, "When Mr. B was working on a ballet, something would just spill out of his body; he could rarely duplicate it, so I tried to see precisely what he wanted the first time." In 1965 he created Don Quixote, thought to be a valentine to his newest "muse." In 1968 he cast her as the lead in the "Diamonds" section of his three-act plotless ballet "Jewels".
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Tammy Wynette
Virginia Wynette Pugh, known professionally as Tammy Wynette, (May 5, 1942 – April 6, 1998) was an American country music singer-songwriter and one of the genre's best-known artists and biggest-selling woman singers.
Wynette was sometimes called the "First Lady of Country Music", and her best-known song, Stand by Your Man, was one of the best-selling hit singles by a woman in the history of the country music genre. Many of Wynette's hits dealt with classic themes of loneliness, divorce, and the difficulties of man-woman relationships. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Wynette ranked high in the country sales charts with 17 number-one songs. Along with Loretta Lynn, Lynn Anderson, and Dolly Parton, Wynette defined the role of women in country music during the 1970s.
Wynette's marriage to the country singer George Jones in 1969, which end in divorce in 1975, created a country music "couple", following the earlier success of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. Jones and Wynette recorded a sequence of duet albums and single records that hit the charts throughout the 1970s.
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The Carpenters
The Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of siblings Karen and Richard Carpenter. Though often referred to by the public as The Carpenters, the duo's official name on authorized recordings and press materials is simply "Carpenters". During a period in the 1970s when louder and wilder rock was in great demand, Richard and Karen produced a distinctively soft musical style that made them among the best-selling music artists of all time.
Carpenters' melodic pop produced a record-breaking run of hit recordings on the American Top 40 and Adult Contemporary charts, and they became leading sellers in the soft rock, easy listening and adult contemporary genres. Carpenters had three #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and fifteen #1 hits on the Adult Contemporary chart (see The Carpenters discography). In addition, they had twelve top 10 singles (including their #1 hits). To date, Carpenters' album and single sales total more than 100 million units.[citation needed]
During their 14-year career, the Carpenters recorded 11 albums, thirty-one singles, five television specials, and a short-lived television series. They toured in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, the Netherlands and Belgium. Their recording career ended with Karen's death in 1983 from cardiac arrest following complications of anorexia nervosa. Extensive news coverage of the circumstances surrounding her death increased public awareness of the consequences of eating disorders.
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The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers ( /ˈaɪzliː/ YZ-lee) are an American musical group consisting of brothers Ron and Ernie Isley. The founding members of the band were Ronald Isley, older brothers Rudy and Kelly and younger brother Vernon. Originally formed as a gospel quartet, following the death of brother Vernon, the remaining trio launched a career into doo-wop scoring with their first million-selling hit single, "Shout", in 1959. Follow-up successes came with the 1962 single, "Twist and Shout" and the 1966 Motown single, "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)".
Following the release of their 1969 Grammy Award winning hit, "It's Your Thing" and subsequent other hits on their own label, the family eventually grew to include younger brothers Ernie and Marvin Isley as well as brother-in-law Chris Jasper. From 1973 until 1983, the group would release a successive string of hit albums and singles on the R&B charts, becoming one of the few successful black groups to successfully cross over into the pop charts due to their mixture of soul, funk and rock thanks to the albums, 3 + 3 and The Heat Is On and also helped pioneer the quiet storm format with a string of ballads on their 1970s and 1980s albums.
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Thom Bell
Thomas Randolph "Thom" Bell (born January 26, 1943 in Kingston, Jamaica) is an American songwriter and producer, best known as one of the creators of the Philadelphia style of soul music in the 1970s. He moved to Philadelphia as a child.
Bell was classically trained, but as a teenager had sung with Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Daryl Hall (of Hall & Oates fame). Bell's first big break in soul music came with Cameo Records in Philadelphia in 1967, where he was introduced to a local group called The Delfonics. Bell brought a smooth, lush style to soul and his production talents yielded several big hits for the group on the Philly Groove label run by their manager Stan Watson, including "La-La (Means I Love You)" and "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)," the latter nominated for a Grammy Award in 1970.
By 1971, Bell had left the Delfonics to produce another local group, The Stylistics, this time on Avco Records. By then he had teamed up with the Philadelphia born songwriter Linda Creed and Russell Thompkins, Jr., lead singer of the Stylistics. This partnership generated three albums full of memorable tracks. Bell and Creed became one of the era's dominant soul songwriting teams, penning hits such as "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)", "You Are Everything", "Betcha by Golly, Wow", "Break Up to Make Up", and "You Make Me Feel Brand New".
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Tim Henman
Timothy Henry "Tim" Henman OBE (born 6 September 1974) is a retired English professional tennis player and former British Number One. Henman played a serve-and-volley style of tennis that suited the grass courts of Wimbledon. He was the first player from the United Kingdom since Roger Taylor in the 1970s to reach the semi-finals of the Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship. Henman never reached the finals of any Grand Slam but having reached six Grand Slam semi-finals, won 15 career ATP titles (11 in singles and 4 in doubles), and been ranked number 4 in the world, Henman was one of Britain's most successful open era male tennis players. He retired after helping Great Britain defeat Croatia in a Davis Cup match played in September 2007. Nicknamed "Tiger Tim", Henman is worth £17 million and remains a celebrity among the public.
Tim Henman comes from a talented sporting family: his father Tony, a solicitor, was accomplished at various sports, including tennis and squash. His mother Jane, a dress designer, played Junior Wimbledon and introduced Tim and his older brothers Michael and Richard to tennis as soon as they could walk on the family's grass tennis court. His great grandfather played at Wimbledon. His maternal grandfather, Henry Billington, played at Wimbledon between 1948 and 1951, plus representing Britain in the Davis Cup in 1948, 1950 and 1951. In 1901 his maternal great-grandmother, Ellen Stanwell-Brown (or Ellen Mary Stowell-Brown), was reputedly the first woman to serve overarm at Wimbledon. His maternal grandmother, Susan Billington, appeared regularly at Wimbledon in the 1950s, playing mixed doubles on Centre Court with her husband Henry, reaching the third round of the ladies' doubles in 1951, 1955 and 1956.
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Tim Rice
Sir Timothy Miles Bindon "Tim" Rice (born 10 November 1944) is a British lyricist and author. An Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Tony Award and Grammy Award-winning lyricist, Rice is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, and additional songs for the 2011 West End revival of The Wizard of Oz, and for his work for Walt Disney Studios with Alan Menken (Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, King David), Elton John (The Lion King, Aida) and Ennio Morricone.
Rice was born at Shardeloes, an historic English country house near Amersham, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom that was requisitioned as a maternity hospital during World War II. His father, Hugh Gordon Rice, served with the Eighth Army and reached the rank of major during World War II, whilst his mother, Joan Odette (née Bawden), served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) as a photographic interpreter. After the war, they worked for the de Havilland aircraft company.
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Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley (born March 10, 1972) better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper. Timbaland's first full credit production work was in 1996 on Ginuwine...the Bachelor for R&B singer Ginuwine. After further work on Aaliyah's 1996 album One in a Million and Missy Elliott's 1997 album Supa Dupa Fly, Timbaland became a prominent producer for R&B and hip-hop artists. As a rapper he initially released several albums with fellow rapper Magoo, but later released his debut solo album Tim's Bio in 1998. In 2007, Timbaland released the first album in his Shock Value series, Timbaland Presents: Shock Value. Then In 2009 Timbaland Presents: Shock Value II. It is expected that Timbaland will release Timbaland Presents: Shock Value III in June 2012.
Timothy Zachery Mosley was born on March 10, 1972 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he was raised. He graduated from Salem High School. During his time as a DJ, he was known as "DJ Tim" or "DJ Timmy Tim". His brother, Sebastian, is nine years younger. Timbaland began making hip hop backing tracks on a Casio keyboard. While attending high school, he began a long-term collaboration with rapper Melvin Barcliff, who performed under the name of Magoo. The teenaged Mosley also joined the production ensemble S.B.I. (which stood for surrounded by idiots) which also featured Neptunes producer Pharrell. Mosley was also high school friends with Terrence and Gene Thorton, who would go on to be known as Pusha T and Malice of the rap group Clipse. In 1986, when Timbaland was 15 years old, he was shot while working a part time job at his local Red Lobster and was partially paralyzed for nine months. During this time, he began to learn how to DJ using his left hand.
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Tina Turner
Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939) is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards. Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Success followed with a string of hits including "River Deep, Mountain High" and the 1971 hit "Proud Mary". With the publication of her autobiography I, Tina (1986), Turner revealed severe instances of spousal abuse against her by Ike Turner prior to their 1976 split and subsequent 1978 divorce. After virtually disappearing from the music scene for several years following her divorce from Ike Turner, she rebuilt her career, launching a string of hits beginning in 1983 with the single "Let's Stay Together" and the 1984 release of her fifth solo album Private Dancer.
Her musical career led to film roles, beginning with a prominent role as The Acid Queen in the 1975 film Tommy, and an appearance in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. She starred opposite Mel Gibson as Aunty Entity in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome for which she received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, and her version of the film's theme, "We Don't Need Another Hero", was a hit single. She appeared in the 1993 film Last Action Hero.
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Tom Robinson
Tom Robinson (born 1 June 1950) is an English singer-songwriter, bassist and radio presenter, better known for the hits "Glad to Be Gay", "2-4-6-8 Motorway", and "Don't Take No for an Answer", with his Tom Robinson Band. He later peaked at #6 in the UK Singles Chart with his solo single "War Baby".
Tom Robinson was born into a middle-class family in Cambridge on 1 June 1950. He attended Friends School Saffron Walden, a co-ed privately funded Quaker school, between 1961 and 1967. Robinson has two brothers and a sister: Matthew (former executive producer of BBC One's EastEnders and Byker Grove, currently running Khmer Mekong Films in Cambodia), George and Sophy.
At the age of 13, Robinson realised that he was a homosexual when he fell in love with another boy at school. At that time, male homosexual activity was still a crime in England, punishable by prison. Wracked with shame and self-hatred, he had a nervous breakdown and attempted suicide at 16. A head teacher got him transferred to Finchden Manor, a therapeutic community for disturbed teenagers in Kent, where he spent his following six years. At Finchden Manor, Robinson was inspired by John Peel's The Perfumed Garden on pirate Radio London, and by a visit from Alexis Korner. The legendary bluesman and broadcaster transfixed a roomful of people with nothing but his voice and an acoustic guitar. The whole direction of Robinson's life and career became suddenly clear to him.
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Toni Tennille
Cathryn Antoinette "Toni" Tennille (born May 8, 1940) is one-half of the 1970s Grammy Award-winning duo Captain & Tennille. Tennille has also done musical work independently of her husband Daryl Dragon. Tennille has a contralto vocal range.
Tennille was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, as part of a family of entertainers. Her father, Frank Tennille, who used the pseudonym Clark Randall, was a big band singer with Bob Crosby and the Bobcats and her mother, Cathryn Tennille, was a local television pioneer, being the hostess of Montgomery’s first daytime TV talk show. Tennille's musical sisters, Jane, Louisa, and Melissa, all sang on her variety TV shows, as well as on the Captain & Tennille albums. Tennille began her career studying classical piano at Auburn University and singing with the university's big band, the Auburn Knights. Her sister, Louisa Tennille, is the background singer in her band.
Tennille sang backup vocals on Pink Floyd's The Wall as well as Art Garfunkel's Breakaway. She also did backup singing for Elton John's recordings: performing on at least three John albums, including Caribou, Blue Moves, 21 at 33 and most notably on the song, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me".
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Tony Bennett
Anthony Dominick Benedetto, better known as Tony Bennett (born August 3, 1926), is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz. Bennett is also a serious and accomplished painter, having created works — under the name Benedetto — that are on permanent public display in several institutions. He is the founder of Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in New York City.
Raised in New York City, Bennett began singing at an early age. He fought in the final stages of World War II as an infantryman with the U.S. Army in the European Theatre. Afterwards, he developed his singing technique, signed with Columbia Records, and had his first number one popular song with "Because of You" in 1951. Several top hits such as "Rags to Riches" followed in the early 1950s. Bennett then further refined his approach to encompass jazz singing. He reached an artistic peak in the late 1950s with albums such as The Beat of My Heart and Basie Swings, Bennett Sings. In 1962, Bennett recorded his signature song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". His career and his personal life then suffered an extended downturn during the height of the rock music era.
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Tony Christie
Tony Christie (born Anthony Fitzgerald, 25 April 1943) is an English musician, singer and actor. He is best known for his track, "Is This The Way To Amarillo", a double UK chart success.
Tony Christie has sold over 10 million albums Worldwide. He had two Top Twenty hits in the UK Singles Chart in 1971 with "I Did What I Did For Maria", which reached #2 and "Is This the Way to Amarillo", which peaked at #18. He also had a minor hit with "Avenues And Alleyways" which reached #37, the theme to the television series The Protectors. "Is This the Way to Amarillo" sold over one million copies by September 1972, and was awarded a gold disc. His early songs were dramatic big-voiced numbers, many of which were written by Mitch Murray and Peter Callander.
He recorded albums regularly throughout the 1970s and made infrequent appearances on the charts. His album With Loving Feeling sold well boosted by the hit single "Is This The Way to Amarillo". He recorded an album in the United States in 1973 with the record producer Snuff Garrett, which did little to stop his commercial slide. A live album followed which sold relatively better. But by the mid 1970s recorded work became rarer and stage work took preference.
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Tony Renis
Tony Renis (born May 13, 1938), stage name of Elio Cesari, is an Italian composer, songwriter, music producer and film actor.
Born in Milan, he debuted in the mid-fifties, paired with Adriano Celentano, performing an impression of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. In 1958, he signed to the label "Combo Record" as a singer and started releasing covers of Italian and American songs. In 1961, Renis debuted at the Sanremo Music Festival with the song "Pozzanghere".
In 1962, Renis gained international success with the song "Quando, Quando, Quando", written with Alberto Testa and performed at the Sanremo Music Festival. One year later, he won the same Festival with the song "Una per tutte", and, in 1967, he reached second place with the song "Quando dico che ti amo".
In 1972, he composed the song "Grande grande grande" with Alberto Testa, successfully performed by Mina, and later by Shirley Bassey under the English translation title "Never Never Never".
In 1974, he won the Nastro d'Argento for the Best Score for the score of Blu gang - vissero per sempre felici e ammazzati.
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Tracey Emin
Tracey Karima Emin RA (born 3 July 1963 in Croydon) is a British artist of English, British Romani and Turkish Cypriot origin. She is part of the group known as Britartists or YBAs (Young British Artists).
In 1997 her work Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963–1995, a tent appliquéd with names, was shown at Charles Saatchi's Sensation exhibition held at the Royal Academy in London. The same year, she gained considerable media exposure when she appeared drunk and swearing on a live Channel 4 TV discussion.
In 1999 she was a Turner Prize nominee and exhibited My Bed — an installation, consisting of her own unmade dirty bed with used condoms and blood-stained underwear
In 2004 her tent artwork was destroyed in the Momart warehouse fire. In March 2007 Emin was chosen to join the Royal Academy of Arts in London as a Royal Academician. She represented Britain at the 2007 Venice Biennale. Her first major retrospective 20 Years was held in Edinburgh 2008, and toured Europe until 2009.
Tracey opened the Turner Contemporary art gallery in Margate with Jools Holland in April 2011. She has been a major supporter of the project from its inception and it has been suggested she will exhibit there in the future. In May 2011 Emin's largest major solo exhibition in a public space was held at Hayward Gallery, London titled Love Is What You Want.
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Twyla Tharp
Twyla Tharp (born July 1, 1941) is an American dancer and choreographer, who lives and works in New York City.
Tharp was born in 1941 on a farm in Portland, Indiana, and was named after Twila Thornburg, the "Pig Princess" of the 89th Annual Muncie Fair in Indiana.
When Tharp was a young child she spent a few months each year living with her Quaker grandparents on their farm in Indiana. In 1950 Tharp's family—younger sister Twanette, twin brothers Stanley and Stanford, mother Lecile and father William—moved to Rialto, California. Her parents opened a drive-in movie theater, where Tharp worked from the time she was 8 years old. The drive-in was on the corner of Acacia and Foothill, the major east–west artery in Rialto and the path of Route 66. She attended Pacific High School in San Bernardino and studied at the Vera Lynn School of Dance. Tharp, a "devoted bookworm," admits that this schedule left little time for a social life. Tharp attended Pomona College in California but later transferred to Barnard College in New York City, where she graduated with a degree in Art History in 1963. It was in New York that she studied with Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham. In 1963 Tharp joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company.
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Valery Gergiev
Valery Abisalovich Gergiev PAR (Russian: Валерий Абисалович Гергиев, Ossetic: Гергиты Абисалы фырт Валери/Gergity Abisaly Fyrt Valeri; born 2 May 1953) is a Russian conductor and opera company director. He is general director and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre, principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, and artistic director of the White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg.
Gergiev, born in Moscow, is the son of Tamara Tatarkanovna and Abisal Zaurbekovich. He and his siblings were raised in Vladikavkaz in their native North Ossetia in the Caucasus. He began piano at secondary school, before going on to study at the St. Petersburg Conservatory in Leningrad from 1972 to 1977. His principal conducting teacher was Prof. Ilya Musin (Илья Мусин), one of the greatest conductor-makers in Russian musical history. His sister, Larissa Gergieva, is a pianist and director of the Mariinsky's singers' academy.
In 1978, he became assistant conductor at the Kirov Opera, now the Mariinsky Opera, under Yuri Temirkanov, where he made his debut conducting Sergei Prokofiev's War and Peace. He was chief conductor of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra from 1981 until 1985 – the year he made his debut in the United Kingdom, along with pianist Evgeny Kissin, and violinists Maxim Vengerov and Vadim Repin, at The Lichfield Festival.
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Van Cliburn
Harvey Lavan "Van" Cliburn, Jr. (born July 12, 1934), is an American pianist who achieved worldwide recognition in 1958 at the age of twenty-three, when he won the first quadrennial International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow, at the height of the Cold War.
Van Cliburn was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and began taking piano lessons at the age of three from his mother, the former Rildia Bee O'Bryan, who herself had been instructed by Arthur Friedheim, a pupil of Franz Liszt. At six years old, Cliburn moved with his family to Kilgore, Texas, and at twelve he won a statewide piano competition which enabled him to debut with the Houston Symphony Orchestra. He entered the Juilliard School at the age of seventeen, and studied under Rosina Lhévinne, who trained him in the tradition of the great Russian romantics. At twenty, Cliburn won the Leventritt Award, and made his Carnegie Hall debut.
It was his recognition in Moscow that propelled Cliburn to international fame. The first International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1958 was an event designed to demonstrate Soviet cultural superiority during the Cold War, on the heels of their technological victory with the Sputnik launch in October 1957. Cliburn's performance at the competition finale of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 and Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 earned him a standing ovation lasting eight minutes. When it was time to announce a winner, the judges were obliged to ask permission of the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev to give first prize to an American. "Is he the best?" Khrushchev asked. "Then give him the prize!" Cliburn returned home to a ticker-tape parade in New York City, the only time the honor has been accorded a classical musician. His cover story in Time proclaimed him "The Texan Who Conquered Russia."
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Victoria Beckham
Victoria Caroline Beckham (née Adams; born 17 April 1974) is an English fashion designer, businesswoman and former singer. In the late 1990s, Beckham rose to fame with the all-female pop group Spice Girls and was dubbed Posh Spice by the July 1996 issue of the British pop music magazine Top of the Pops. Since the Spice Girls split, she has had a solo pop music career, scoring four UK Top 10 singles. Her first single to be released, "Out of Your Mind", reached Number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and is her highest chart entry to date. During her solo career, she has been signed to Virgin Records and Telstar Records.
Beckham has found more success as an internationally recognised and photographed style icon. Her career in fashion includes designing a line of jeans for Rock & Republic and later designing her own denim brand, dVb Style. Beckham has brought out her own range of sunglasses and fragrance, entitled Intimately Beckham, which has been released in the UK and the US. In association with the Japanese store Samantha Thavasa and Shiatzy Chen, she has produced a range of handbags and jewellery. In addition, Beckham has released two best-selling books; one her autobiography, the other a fashion guide.
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Warren Beatty
Warren Beatty ( /ˈbeɪti/ BAY-tee; born March 30, 1937) is an American actor, producer, screenwriter and director. He has been nominated for 15 Academy Awards, including winning the Best Director Award and its highest honor, the Irving G. Thalberg Award. He has been nominated for 16 Golden Globe Awards and won six, including the Cecil B. DeMille Award, which he received in 2007. Only Beatty and Orson Welles have been nominated for producer, director, writer and actor in the same film. Welles did it once (for Citizen Kane), Beatty did it twice (for Heaven Can Wait and Reds).
Beatty was born Henry Warren Beaty in Richmond, Virginia. His mother, Kathlyn Corinne (née MacLean), was a Nova Scotia-born teacher, and his father, Ira Owens Beaty, was a Ph.D. of educational psychology, a public school administrator, and dealt in real estate. Beatty's grandparents were also educators. The family was Baptist. In 1945, the family moved from Richmond to Arlington, Virginia. Beatty's sister is the multi-award winning actress and writer Shirley MacLaine.
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Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American recording artist, actress, producer, and model. In 2009, the Guinness World Records cited her as the most-awarded female act of all-time. Houston was one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 170 million albums, singles and videos worldwide. She released seven studio albums and three movie soundtrack albums, all of which have diamond, multi-platinum, platinum or gold certification. Houston's crossover appeal on the popular music charts, as well as her prominence on MTV, starting with her video for "How Will I Know", influenced several African American female artists to follow in her footsteps.
Houston is the only artist to chart seven consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits. She is the second artist behind Elton John and the only female artist to have two number-one Billboard 200 Album awards (formerly "Top Pop Album") on the Billboard magazine year-end charts. Houston's 1985 debut album Whitney Houston became the best-selling debut album by a female act at the time of its release. The album was named Rolling Stone's best album of 1986, and was ranked at number 254 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Her second studio album Whitney (1987) became the first album by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
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Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg ( /ˈhwʊpi/, born Caryn Elaine Johnson; November 13, 1955) is an American comedienne, actress, singer-songwriter, political activist, author and talk show host.
Goldberg made her film debut in The Color Purple (1985) playing Celie, a mistreated black woman in the Deep South. She received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress and won her first Golden Globe Award for her role in the film. In 1990, she starred as Oda Mae Brown, a psychic helping a slain man (Patrick Swayze) find his killer in the blockbuster film Ghost. This performance won her a second Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Notable later films include Sister Act and Sister Act 2, The Lion King, Made in America, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Girl, Interrupted and Rat Race. She is also acclaimed for her roles as the bartender Guinan in Star Trek: The Next Generation and as Terry Doolittle in Jumpin' Jack Flash. More recently, she had performed the voice of Stretch in Toy Story 3 and made an appearance in Glee as Carmen Tibideaux.
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Wikipedia Persondata
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Will Jennings
Wilbur H. "Will" Jennings (born June 27, 1944, in Kilgore, Texas) is an American songwriter who is popularly known for writing the lyrics for My Heart Will Go On, the theme for the film Titanic. He has been inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame and has won several awards including a Grammy, two Golden Globe awards, and two Academy Awards.
Jennings attended school just outside Tyler, Texas, in the nearby Chapel Hill Independent School District. In 1967, Jennings earned his B.A. from Stephen F. Austin State University, located in Nacogdoches, Texas. He then taught at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire for three years and eventually attended the same institution in 1982.
Throughout his career, Jennings has written for a wide variety of artists including Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Joe Sample, Rodney Crowell, Mariah Carey, Jimmy Buffett, Barry Manilow and Roy Orbison.
With Steve Winwood, Jennings wrote a series albums including While You See A Chance, Arc of a Diver and Back in the High Life, an album which contained the hits Higher Love, The Finer Things, and Back in the High Life Again. Winwood won the Record Of The Year and Outstanding Male Vocal Performance. Both Jennings and Winwood were nominated for the Song of the Year award for "Higher Love."
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Will Young
William Robert "Will" Young (born 20 January 1979) is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominence after winning the 2002 inaugural series of the British music contest Pop Idol, making him the first winner of the now-worldwide Idols-format franchise. His debut single, "Anything is Possible", was released two weeks after the show's finale and became the fastest-selling debut single in the United Kingdom.
As a teenager, Young studied politics at the University of Exeter before moving to London, where he pursued a musical theatre degree at the Arts Educational School. Although enrolled in a three-year programme, Young put his studies on hold in late 2001 to become a contestant on Pop Idol. After winning the competition the following year, he released his debut album From Now On (2002) which went to straight to number one. Friday's Child (2003) followed one year later and enjoyed greater popularity, eventually going platinum five times in the UK and spawning three top five singles. Achieving similar success, the album's successors include the multi-platinum Keep On (2005) and platinum Let It Go (2008) with his most recent release Echoes (2011) becoming his third UK number-one album.
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William Finn
William Alan Finn (b. February 28, 1952, Boston, Massachusetts) is an American composer and lyricist of musicals. His musical Falsettos received the 1992 Tony Awards for Best Music and Lyrics and for Best Book.
Finn, who is Jewish, grew up in Natick, Massachusetts with his parents and siblings, Michael and Nancy. He majored in music at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. When he graduated, he received the Hutchinson Fellowship (a musical composition award). He is also Adjunct Faculty Composer/Lyricist at New York University.
In 1992, Finn suffered deteriorating vision, dizziness and partial paralysis and was rushed to the hospital. He had arteriovenous malformation, or AVM, in his brain stem. In September, 1992, he had Gamma Knife surgery, which obliterated the AVM. After the surgery, Finn experienced a year of humbled serenity and constantly felt like he had a "new brain." Finn's 2002 musical A New Brain is based on his experience with AVM and his subsequent successful surgery. He lives with his life partner in New York City and Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where he is a composer and writer. Besides composing for the stage and screen, Finn is member of the NYU Tisch Graduate Program in Musical Theater Writing faculty and he has been the Artistic Head of the Musical Theater Lab at the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Massachusetts for the past four years.
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Winifred Atwell
Una Winifred Atwell (27 February or April 1910 or 1914 – 28 February 1983) was a Trinidad-born British pianist who enjoyed great popularity in Britain and other countries (including Australia) from the 1950s with a series of boogie woogie and ragtime hits. She was the first black person to have a number one hit in the UK Singles Chart, and still the only female instrumentalist to do so.
Atwell was born in Tunapuna in Trinidad and Tobago. She and her parents lived in Jubilee Street. Her family owned a pharmacy, and she trained as a pharmacist, and was expected to join the family business. Winifred, however, had played the piano from a young age, and achieved considerable popularity locally. She used to play for American servicemen at the air force base (which is now the main airport). It was whilst playing at the Servicemen's Club at Piarco that someone bet her she could not play something in the boogie-woogie style that was popular back home in the United States. She went away and wrote "Piarco Boogie" which was later renamed "Five Finger Boogie".
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Witold Lutosławski
Witold Lutosławski (Polish pronunciation: [ˈvitɔld lutɔsˈwafski]; January 25, 1913 – February 7, 1994) was one of the major European composers of the 20th century, and one of the preeminent Polish musicians during his last three decades. He earned many international awards and prizes, including the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest honour.
During his youth, Lutosławski studied piano and composition in Warsaw. His early works were influenced by Polish folk music. His style demonstrates a wide range of rich atmospheric textures. He began to develop his own characteristic composition techniques in the late 1950s. His music from this period onwards incorporates his own methods of building harmonies from small groups of musical intervals. It also uses aleatoric processes, in which the rhythmic coordination of parts is subject to an element of chance. His compositions (of which he was a notable conductor) include four symphonies, a Concerto for Orchestra, a string quartet, several instrumental concertos and orchestral song cycles.
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Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono (オノ・ヨーコ（小野 洋子）, Ono Yōko?, born February 18, 1933) is a Japanese artist, author, and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon. Ono brought feminism to the forefront in her music which prefigured New Wave music and is known for her philanthropic contributions to the arts, peace and AIDS outreach programs.
Yoko Ono was born in Tokyo in 1933 to mother Isoko Ono, the great-granddaughter of Zenjiro Yasuda of the Yasuda banking family, and to father Yeisuke Ono, a banker and one-time classical pianist who was a descendant of an Emperor of Japan. The name "Yoko" means "ocean child". Two weeks before she was born, her father was transferred to San Francisco by his employer, the Yokohama Specie Bank. The rest of the family followed soon after and Yoko met her father when she was two. Her younger brother Keisuke was born in December 1936. In 1937, her father was transferred back to Japan and Ono was enrolled at Tokyo's Gakushuin (also known as the Peers School), one of the most exclusive schools in Japan.
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Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta (ज़ुबिन मेहता); pronounced [ˈzuːbɪn ˈmeːɦt̪aː] (born 29 April 1936) is an Indian conductor of western classical music. He is the Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
Zubin Mehta was born into a Parsi family in Bombay, British India, the son of Mehli and Tehmina Mehta. His father Mehli Mehta was a violinist and founding conductor of the Bombay Symphony Orchestra. Mehta is an alumnus of St. Mary's School, Mumbai, and St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. Mehta initially intended to study medicine, but eventually became a music student in Vienna at the age of 18, under Hans Swarowsky. Also at the same academy along with Mehta were conductor Claudio Abbado and conductor–pianist Daniel Barenboim.
Mehta's first marriage was to Canadian soprano Carmen Lasky in 1958. They have a son, Mervon and a daughter, Zarina. In 1964, they divorced. Two years after the divorce, Carmen married Zubin's brother, Zarin Mehta, now the Executive Director of the New York Philharmonic. In July 1969, Mehta married Nancy Kovack, a former American film and television actress. Mehta is a permanent resident of the United States, but retains his Indian citizenship.
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John, Elton Filmography
- Rocketman (2013)
- The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2012)
- The One and Only Des O'Connor (2012)
- Kids-R (2012)
- Top of the Pops: The Story of 1977 (2012)
- Finding Billy (2012)
- $ellebrity (2012)
- David Bowie & the Story of Ziggy Stardust (2012)
- The Diamond Jubilee Concert (2012)
- Don Cornelius: Visionary, Trailblazer & Cultural Icon (2012)
- The Love We Make (2011)
- Troubadours (2011)
- 2011 Soul Train Awards (2011)
- The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (2011)
- The 37th Annual People's Choice Awards (2011)
- The 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (2011)
- A Decade of Difference: A Concert Celebrating 10 Years of the William J. Clinton Foundation (2011)
- Gnomeo & Juliet (2011)
- Gnomeo & Juliet (2011)
- The Nation's Favourite Bee Gees Song (2011)
- The Royal Wedding (2011)
- The Union (2011)
- Elton's Cafe (2010)
- The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards (2010)
- NRJ 12 Grammys Awards 2010 (2010)
- Elton John & Leon Russell Live from the Beacon Theatre (2010)
- Olive shou 2011 (2010)
- The Making of Elton John: Madman Across the Water (2010)
- Take That: Look Back, Don't Stare (2010)
- Pride and Predator (2010)
- The 63rd Annual Tony Awards (2009)
- Starsuckers (2009)
- Waking Sleeping Beauty (2009)
- Brüno (2009)
- Dreams Come True: A Celebration of Disney Animation (2009)
- ...Sings The Beatles (2009)
- The National Television Awards 2008 (2008)
- The 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008)
- New Year's Eve with Carson Daly (2008)
- Elton's New Year Party: Live from The O2 (2008)
- Pam: Girl on the Loose (2008)
- Larry King Live: The Greatest Interviews (2007)
- Movies Rock (2007)
- Concert for Diana (2007)
- Michael Parkinson's Greatest Entertainers (2007)
- My Night at the Grammys (2007)
- Happy Birthday Elton! From Madison Square Garden, New York (2007)
- Elton John: Me, Myself & I (2007)
- Comic Relief 2007: The Big One (2007)
- Tony Bennett: An American Classic (2006)
- Joe Does the Oscars (2006)
- Hooray for Broadway: A Springtime Celebration (2006)
- Freddie Mercury Himself (2006)
- Forbes Celebrity 100: Who Made Bank? (2006)
- From the Big Apple to the Big Easy: The Concert for New Orleans (2006)
- Him and Us (2006)
- The Queen (2006)
- The Art of Football from A to Z (2006)
- Rock Legends: Platinum Weird (2006)
- It's a Boy Girl Thing (2006)
- Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic (2006)
- Brit Awards 2005 (2005)
- Comic Relief: Red Nose Night Live 05 (2005)
- Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope (2005)
- Tommy and Quadrophenia Live: The Who (2005)
- 39th Annual Country Music Association Awards (2005)
- Elton John: The Red Piano (2005)
- Elton John: The Red Piano (2005)
- The Real 'Billy Elliot' Diaries (2005)
- Fashion Rocks (2005)
- George Michael: A Different Story (2005)
- The Most Shocking Celebrity Moments of 2004 (2005)
- Inside Elton's World (2005)
- All We Are Saying (2005)
- All I Want: A Portrait of Rufus Wainwright (2005)
- Live 8 (2005)
- The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (2005)
- 77th Annual Academy Awards - UK (2005)
- Bambi Verleihung 2004 (2004)
- The Evolution of Eminem (2004)
- 2004 Radio Music Awards (2004)
- Who Killed Saturday Night TV? (2004)
- The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (2004)
- The Best of 'So Graham Norton' (2004)
- The Royal Variety Performance 2004 (2004)
- Last Laugh '04 (2004)
- Genius: A Night for Ray Charles (2004)
- The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (2004)
- George Harrison: The Dark Horse Years 1976-1992 (2004)
- What'd I Say?: A Tribute to Ray Charles (2004)
- 2003 Radio Music Awards (2003)
- The Eurovision Song Contest (2003)
- Nina Simone: A Tribute (2003)
- World Idol (2003)
- The 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2003)
- Cher: The Farewell Tour (2003)
- Diva Graham Norton (2003)
- Holiday Voices (2003)
- Pandemic: Facing AIDS (2003)
- Naqoyqatsi (2002)
- 2002 Top of the Pops Awards (2002)
- Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace (2002)
- 2002 Top of the Pops Awards (2002)
- One World Jam: A Concert for Global Harmony (2002)
- One World Jam (2002)
- The Country Bears (2002)
- Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember (2001)
- 50 Years of NBC Late Night (2001)
- An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson (2001)
- An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence (2001)
- Being Mick (2001)
- Brit Awards 2001 (2001)
- Classic Albums: Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (2001)
- Elton John: One Night Only - Greatest Hits Live (2001)
- Gala de presentación de la programación 2001 (2001)
- Live by Request: Elton John (2001)
- Neil Sedaka: The Show Must Go On (2001)
- Rockin' New Year's Eve 2002 (2001)
- Sandra Bernhard: Giving Them Lip (2001)
- The 43rd Annual Grammy Awards (2001)
- The Concert for New York City (2001)
- The Orange British Academy Film Awards (2001)
- The Royal Variety Performance 2001 (2001)
- Top of the Pops: The True Story (2001)
- Wingspan (2001)
- Star Academy (2001)
- Stars and Bras (2000)
- The Road to El Dorado (2000)
- La gran vida (2000)
- Victoria's Secrets (2000)
- Film-Fest DVD: Issue 3 - Toronto (2000)
- Elton John - Greatest Hits Live (2000)
- An All-Star Tribute to Joni Mitchell (2000)
- Behind the Scenes: Road to El Dorado (2000)
- 47º edición de los premios Ondas (2000)
- Elton John: The Road to El Dorado (2000)
- Party in the Park 2000 (2000)
- The 5th Annual GQ Men of the Year Awards (2000)
- VH1 Divas Live 2 (1999)
- Comic Relief: The Record Breaker (1999)
- Women Talking Dirty (1999)
- The Muse (1999)
- Concertos Xacobeo 1999 (1999)
- Elton John: With a Little Help from My Friends (1999)
- The 25th Annual People's Choice Awards (1999)
- Desert Flower (1999)
- ABC 2000: The Millennium (1999)
- Winter Break (1999)
- Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (1999)
- Journey to a Hate Free Millennium (1999)
- Definitely Dusty (1999)
- Jarl og Elton John (1999)
- Twentieth Century Blues: The Songs of Noël Coward (1998)
- Music for Montserrat (1997)
- Elton John: Tantrums & Tiaras (1997)
- Spice World (1997)
- An Audience with Elton John (1997)
- MTV Video Music Awards 1997 (1997)
- BBC Perfect Day (1997)
- Diana: The Nation's Farewell (1997)
- Pavarotti & Friends for War Child (1996)
- The Queen Phenomenon (1995)
- Queen: Champions of the World (1995)
- The 52nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1995)
- Sex with Paula (1995)
- The 67th Annual Academy Awards (1995)
- MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special (1995)
- A Special Evening with Elton John (1995)
- The History of Rock 'N' Roll, Vol. 8 (1995)
- VH1 Fashion and Music Awards (1995)
- Brit Awards 1995 (1995)
- The Making of 'The Lion King' (1994)
- The Lion King: A Musical Journey with Elton John (1994)
- The Brit Awards 1994 (1994)
- American Bandstand's Teen Idol (1994)
- The Wonderful World of Disney: 40 Years of Television Magic (1994)
- Especial Nochevieja 1993: Este año cruz y raya... seguro (1993)
- The 52nd Presidential Inaugural Gala (1993)
- The Who's Tommy, the Amazing Journey (1993)
- Tina Turner: Girl from Nutbush (1993)
- Aretha Franklin: Duets (1993)
- America Comes to Graceland (1993)
- RuPaul's Christmas Ball (1993)
- The Very Best of Elton John (1992)
- The Freddie Mercury Tribute: Concert for AIDS Awareness (1992)
- Elton John: Live in Barcelona (1992)
- MTV Video Music Awards 1992 (1992)
- Two Rooms: A Tribute to Elton John & Bernie Taupin (1991)
- Queen: The Days of Our Lives (1991)
- Live at Knebworth (1990)
- The Songwriter's Hall of Fame 20th Anniversary... The Magic of Music (1989)
- The Ryan White Story (1989)
- MTV Rockumentary (1989)
- The Who Live, Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy (1989)
- Totally Minnie (1988)
- La última cena... del 88 (1988)
- ABC Presents: A Royal Gala (1988)
- Imagine: John Lennon (1988)
- The Prince's Trust Rock Gala (1988)
- Rolling Stone Presents Twenty Years of Rock & Roll (1987)
- Queen: Magic Years, Volume Two - A Visual Anthology (1987)
- Queen: Magic Years, Volume One - A Visual Anthology (1987)
- The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1987)
- Queen: Magic Years, Volume Three - A Visual Anthology (1987)
- The Return of Bruno (1987)
- Stand by Me: AIDS Day Benefit (1987)
- The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years (1986)
- The Prince's Trust Rock Gala: 10th Birthday (1986)
- Live Aid (1985)
- Album Flash (1984)
- Album Flash (1984)
- The Roots of Rock 'n' Roll (1981)
- Elton John in Central Park New York (1981)
- Eric Clapton and His Rolling Hotel (1980)
- Olivia Newton-John: Hollywood Nights (1980)
- The Music for UNICEF Concert: A Gift of Song (1979)
- To Russia... With Elton (1979)
- Night Lunch (1975)
- Tommy (1975)
- Born to Boogie (1972)
- Monsanto Presents Mancini (1971)
- Monsanto Presents Mancini (1971)
- Disco 2 (1970)
- Zomercarroussel (1970)
Elton, John Filmography
karaoke
Elton John
Take a look at me now
And take a taste of the money
I'm not in it for the bread
I'm in it for the gravy honey
Step on the thin ice lightly
And check out the show twice nightly
Oh cause I'm, I'm on the stage tonight
And if the price is right
I'll, I will amaze before the light
I crave the light mmm blinding white
I need the light tonight
Take a look at me now
And take a look at my billing
I'm not in it as an extra
I'm in it for the killing
Inflate my ego gently
Tell them heaven sent me
Oh 'cause I'm, I'm so expressive
And I'm so obsessed
With my ego, my ego
And it's message oo inform the press
Invite the guests I need the press tonight
Do you remember acting out your youth
A romeo resplendent on an orange case
Do you remember how I would recite
And how I'd blow my lines
And hide my face
Well maybe it was childish, foolish
Before schoolish, immaturish, lose your coolish
Well I had to grow and prove my ego
Take a look at me now
And take a taste of the money
I'm not in it for the bread
I'm in it for the gravy honey
Inflate my ego gently
Go tell them heaven sent me
Oh cause I'm, I'm so expressive
And I'm so obsessed
With my ego, my ego
And it's message oo inform the press
invite the guests I need the press tonight
Do you remember how I would recite
And how I'd blow my lines
And hide my face
Well maybe it was childish, foolish
Before schoolish, immaturish, lose your coolish
Well I had to grow and prove my ego
I can't light no more of your darkness
All my pictures seem to fade to black and white
I'm growing tired and time stands still before me
Frozen here on the ladder of my life
Too late to save myself from falling
I took a chance and changed your way of life
But you misread my meaning when I met you
Closed the door and left me blinded by the light
Don't let the sun go down on me
Although I search myself, it's always someone else I see
I'd just allow a fragment of your life to wander free
But losing everything is like the sun going down on me
I can't find the right romantic line
But see me once and see the way I feel
Don't discard me just because you think I mean you harm
Famous quotes by Elton John:
"I'm the Connie Francis of rock 'n' roll"
"The great thing about rock and roll is that someone like me can be a star."
"An agent is a person who is sore because an actor gets 90% of what they make."
"People in England are so bloody nosy"
"So shine on through these days we have to fill."
"Don't be afraid to let her into your heart and when your down, don't try to carry the whole world on your shoulders."
"So excuse me forgetting, but these things I do/ You see I've forgotten, if they're green or they're blue/ Anyway, the thing is, what I really mean/ Yours are the sweetest eyes, I've ever seen."
"It's the circle of life, and it moves us all, through despair and hope, through faith and love, 'till we find our place, on the path unwinding"
"I think people should be free to engage in any sexual practices they choose; they should draw the line at goats though."
"There is nothing wrong with going to bed with someone of your own sex. People should be very free with sex, they should draw the line at goats."
RELEASE
ALBUMS
- Your Song
- I Need You to Turn To
- Take Me to the Pilot
- No Shoe Strings on Louise
- First Episode at Hienton
- Sixty Years On
- Border Song
- The Greatest Discovery
- The Cage
- The King Must Die
- Bad Side of the Moon
- Grey Seal
- Rock and Roll Madonna
- Your Song
- Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
- Angry Young Man
- The Stranger
- Just the Way You Are
- Allentown
- I Go to Extremes
- My Life
- The River of Dreams
- Candle in the Wind
- It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
- Big Shot
- The Bitch Is Back
- You May Be Right
- Piano Man
- Bennie and the Jets
- Philadelphia Freedom
- Believe
- Daniel
- Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)
- I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues
- Answer in the Sky
- Tiny Dancer
- Le Cercle de la vie - Nants' Ingonyama
- La Savane
- L'Écho du matin
- La Chasse des mionnes
- Moi, j'veux super vite être roi
- Bon app'
- Ils vivent en toi
- Soyez prêts
- La Ruée des animaux
- Rafiki est en deuil
- Hakuna Matata
- One by One
- La Folie du Roi Scar
- Terre d'ombre
- Nuit sans fin
- Quand soudain l'amour est là
- Il vit en toi (reprise)
- Simba se confronte à Scar
- Le Roi du rocher des lions - Le Cercle de la Vie (reprise)
- Sixty Years On
- Ballad of a Well Known Gun
- Where to Now St. Peter?
- Holiday Inn
- Madman Across the Water
- Levon
- Hercules
- Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
- Roy Rogers
- High Flying Bird
- Better Off Dead
- Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)
- Something About the Way You Look Tonight
- The Bridge
- Burn Down the Mission
- Cotton Fields
- Lady D'Arbanville
- Natural Sinner
- Spirit in the Sky
- Travellin' Band
- I Can't Tell the Bottom From the Top
- Good Morning Freedom
- Young, Gifted and Black
- In the Summertime
- Up Around the Bend
- She Sold Me Magic
- Come and Get It
- Love of the Common People
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered
- It's All in the Game
- Yellow River
- Weight of the World
- Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
- Blue Eyes
- Candle in the Wind
- Blessed
- I Stop and I Breathe
- Sacrifice
- A Word in Spanish
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight
- Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)
- Your Song
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
- Idol
- Daniel
- Nikita
- The One
- Circle of Life
- Believe
- Bennie and the Jets
- Philadelphia Freedom
- Daniel
- Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)
- I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues
- Tiny Dancer
- Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
- I Want Love
- Candle in the Wind
- Crocodile Rock
- I'm Still Standing
- Saturday Night's Alright (for Fighting)
- Your Song
- Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
- Sacrifice
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
- Tinderbox
- Are You Ready for Love
- Just Like Belgium
- Candle in the Wind
- Blue Eyes
- I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues
- I'm Still Standing
- Crocodile Rock
- Don't Go Breaking My Heart
- Your Song
- Nikita
- Sacrifice
- Daniel
- Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
- Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
- Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)
- Song for Guy
- Circle of Life
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight?
- Tinderbox
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
- Bennie and the Jets
- Daniel
- Crocodile Rock
- Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
- Philadelphia Freedom
- Island Girl
- Don't Go Breaking My Heart
- Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
- Sacrifice
- Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight
- Your Song
- Tiny Dancer
- Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)
- Candle in the Wind
- Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
- Postcards From Richard Nixon
- Just Like Noah's Ark
- Wouldn't Have You Any Other Way (NYC)
- Tinderbox
- And the House Fell Down
- Blues Never Fade Away
- The Bridge
- I Must Have Lost It on the Wind
- Old '67
- The Captain and the Kid
- The Stars Look Down
- Shine
- Grandma's Song
- Solidarity
- Expressing Yourself
- The Letter
- Born To Boogie
- Angry Dance
- Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher
- Deep Into The Ground
- He Could Be A Star
- Electricity
- Once We Were Kings
- The Letter (Reprise)
- Finale
- Bennie and The Jets
- Philadelphia Freedom
- Believe
- Daniel
- Rocketman
- I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues
- Answer in the Sky
- Tiny Dancer
- Alles ademt en Leeft / Nants ingonyama
- Lied van de savanne
- Het nieuws van de dag
- Jacht van de leeuwinnen
- Dan den ik de baas van het land
- Kauwauw
- Zij leven voort
- Sta paraat
- Op hol geslagen
- Rafiki rouwt
- Hakuna matata
- One by one
- De waanzin van koning Scar
- Arm land
- Lang is de nacht
- Voel je hoe de liefde groeit
- Hij leeft in jou (reprise)
- Simba tegenover scar
- Koning van de hoge rots / Alles ademt en leeft (reprise)
- L'histoire de la vie
- Je voudrais déjà être roi
- Soyez prêtes
- Hakuna Matata
- L'amour brille sous les étoiles
- Le rapport du matin
- Terres interdites
- La tentation de Simba
- Les Hyènes
- Sous les étoiles
- Sur le rocher des lions
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight? (End Title)
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight? (remix)
- Circle of Life
- Der ewige Kreis
- Grasland Chant
- Der Morgenreport
- Jagd der Löwinnen
- Ich will jetzt gleich König sein
- Putz weg
- Sie leben hier
- Seid bereit
- Die Schlucht
- Rafikis Totenklage
- Hakuna Matata
- One by One
- Der Wahnsinn von König Scar
- Schattenland
- Endlose Nacht
- Kann es wirklich Liebe sein
- Er lebt in dir
- Kampf um den Königsfelsen
- Der König kehrt zurück / Der ewige Kreis (Reprise)
- El Dorado
- Spain 1519/Tulio & Miguel
- The Brig
- We Are Safe
- The Trail We Blaze
- The Gods are Here!!!
- Chelorado
- It's Tough to Be a God
- To Shibala
- Without Question
- The Ball Game
- Friends Never Say Goodbye
- Save El Dorado
- The Panic in Me
- Someday Out of the Blue (End Credits)
- It's Tough to Be a God
- El Dorado (Short Version)
- Hey Armadillo
- El Dorado
- Spain 1519/Tulio & Miguel
- The Brig/Altivo
- We Are Safe
- The Trail We Blaze
- The Gods are Here!!!
- Chelorado
- It's Tough to Be a God
- To Shibala
- Without Question
- The Ball Game
- Friends Never Say Goodbye
- Save El Dorado
- Someday Out of the Blue (End Credits)
- Daniel
- Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
- Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
- Something About the Way You Look Tonight
- Take Me to the Pilot
- The Last Song
- Skyline Pigeon
- Border Song
- Take Me to the Pilot
- Country Comfort
- Love Song
- Bad Side of the Moon
- Burn Down the Mission
- Honky Cat
- Crocodile Rock
- Candle in the Wind
- Your Song
- Satuday Night's Alright (for Fighting)
- Skyline Pigeon
- Border Song
- Take Me to the Pilot
- Country Comfort
- Love Song (feat. Leslie Duncan)
- Bad Side of the Moon
- Burn Down the Mission
- Honky Cat
- Crocodile Rock
- Candle in the Wind
- Your Song
- Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
- My Baby Loves Lovin'
- Cottonfields
- Lady D'Arbanville
- Natural Sinner
- United We Stand
- Spirit in the Sky
- Travellin' Band
- I Can't Tell the Bottom From the Top
- Good Morning Freedom
- Young, Gifted and Black
- In the Summertime
- Up Around the Bend
- Snake in the Grass
- Neanderthal Man
- She Sold Me Magic
- Come and Get It
- Love of the Common People
- Signed Sealed Delivered
- It's All in the Game
- Yellow River
- Saturday Sun
- Sweet Honesty
- Stormbringer
- Way to Blue
- Go Out and Get It
- The Day Is Done
- Time Has Told Me
- You Get Brighter
- This Moment
- I Don't Mind
- Pied Piper
- I Heard It Through the Grapevine
- I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)
- Bennie and the Jets
- Tonight
- Better Off Dead
- Idol
- I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself
- Natural Sinner
- United We Stand
- Spirit in the Sky
- Travellin' Band
- I Can't Tell the Bottom From the Top
- Good Morning Freedom
- Up Around the Bend
- She Sold Me Magic
- Come and Get It
- Love of the Common People
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered
- It's All in the Game
- Yellow River
- My Baby Lobes Lovin'
- Cotton Fields
- Lady D'Arbanville
- White Room
- I Shot the Sheriff
- Tearing Us Apart
- Candle in the Wind
- I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues
- Daniel
- Crossroads
- Wonderful Tonight
- Motherless Children
- Tangled in Love
- Blues Power
- Crocodile Rock
- Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
- Your Song
- Bennie and the Jets
- No Shoe Strings on Louise
- The Cage
- Daniel
- Border Song
- The King Must Be
- I Need You to Turn To
- Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
- Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
- Pinball Wizard
- Bennie and the Jets
- I'm Still Standing
- Sad Songs
- Rocket Man
- Philadelphia Freedom
- Candle In the Wind
- Daniel
- Nikita
- Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
- Your Song
- I Don't Want To Go On Like That
- Funeral For a Friend
- Love Lies Bleeding
- Your Song
- Part Time Love
- Bennie and the Jets
- Someone Saved My Life Tonight
- Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance)
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
- Don't Go Breaking My Heart
- The Bitch Is Back
- Candle in the Wind
- Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
- Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
- Daniel
- Are You Ready for Love
- Little Jeannie
- I've Seen That Movie Too
- High Flying Bird
- Heartache All Over the World
- Warm Love in a Cold World
- Cry to Heaven
- Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
- I Need You to Turn To
- Harmony
- Never Gonna Fall in Love Again
- Candle in the Wind
- It's Me That You Need
- Give Me the Love
- We All Fall in Love Sometimes / Curtains
- Crocodile Rock
- Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me
- Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)
- It’s Me That You Need
- Someone Saved My Life Tonight
- Whatever Gets You Through the Night / Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds (live)
- The Bitch Is Back
- High Flying Bird
- Elderberry Wine
- Candle in the Wind
- Your Sister Can’t Twist (But She Can Rock ’n’ Roll)
- Daniel
- Don't Go Breaking My Heart
- Island Girl
- The Bitch Is Back
- Honky Cat
- Bennie and the Jets
- Someone Saved My Life Tonight
- Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
- Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
- Mama Can't Buy You Love
- Philadelphia Freedom
- Crocodile Rock
- Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)
- Daniel
- Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
- Your Song
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
- Blue Eyes
- Song For Guy
- Don't Go Breaking My Heart
- Daniel
- Candle In The Wind
- Part Time Love
- Rocket Man
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
- Crocodile Rock
- Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding
- Your Song
- Tiny Dancer
- Nobody Wins
- Little Jeannie
- Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
- Your Song
- Daniel
- Honky Cat
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
- Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
- Rocket Man
- Bennie and the Jets
- Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
- Border Song
- Crocodile Rock
- [introduction]
- Your Song
- Honesty
- Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
- We Didn't Start the Fire
- Pressure
- Just the Way You Are
- I Go to Extremes
- My Life
- Candle in the Wind
- River of Dreams
- It's Still Rock & Roll to Me
- Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
- Prologue
- The Thirst, Part 1
- The Crimson Kiss
- Welcome to the New World
- I Want More
- Sail Me Away
- After All This Time
- The Thirst, Part 2
- Island Girl
- Made In England
- The One
- Someone Saved My Life Tonight
- Don't Go Breaking My Heart
- Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
- Blue Eyes
- Believe
- Tiny Dancer
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
- Circle Of Life
- Are You Ready For Love
- Bennie And The Jets [Live]
- This Train Don't Stop There Anymore
- Saturday Night's Alright
- Nikita
- Honky Cat
- Three Way Love Affair
- Crocodile Rock
- I'm Still Standing
- The Bitch Is Back
- Rocket Man
- Kiss The Bride
- I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
- Sad Songs
- Daniel
- Candle In The Wind
- Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
- Written In The Stars
- Song For Guy
- Philadelphia Freedom
- Your Song
- Sacrifice
- Something About The Way You Look Tonight
- Can You Feel The Love Tonight
- I Want Love
- Candle in the Wind
- Sweet Painted Lady
- Your Sister Can't Twist
- Harmony
- Crocodile Rock
- Daniel
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
- Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
- Have Mercy on the Criminal
- Bennie and the Jets
- Grey Seal
- I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself
- Mellow
- Mona Lisa & Mad Haters
- Honky Cat
- Rocket Man
- Your Song
- If It Wasn't for Bad
- Eight Hundred Dollar Shoes
- Hey Ahab
- Gone to Shiloh
- Jimmie Rodgers' Dream
- There's No Tomorrow
- Monkey Suit
- The Best Part of the Day
- A Dream Come True
- When Love Is Dying
- I Should Have Sent Roses
- Hearts Have Turned to Stone
- Never Too Old (to Hold Somebody)
- In the Hands of Angels
- Rocket Man
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
- Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
- Honky Cat
- Your Song
- Crocodile Rock
- Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
- Candle in the Wind
- Border Song
- Daniel
- Funeral for a Friend
- It's Me That You Need
- Your Song
- Rock Me When He's Gone
- Come Down In Time
- Skyline Pigeon
- Rotten Peaches
- Indian Sunset
- Balad of a Well-Known Gun
- Friends
- The King Must Die
- Holiday Inn [with missing lyric]
- Can I Put You On
- Country Comfort
- Your Song
- The Greatest Discovery
- Border Song
- Daniel
- Sweet Painted Lady
- Rocket Man
- I Heard It Through the Grapevine
- Candle in the Wind
- Roy Rogers
- Dan Dare (Pilot of the Future)
- Cage the Songbird
- Where to Now St. Peter
- Ticking
- Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
- Scene: Dance Tutoring
- Born to Boogie
- Scene: Billy & Debbie / The Plan
- Scene: Billy is Caught
- Angry Dance
- Scene: Christmas Party
- Merry Christmas Mrs Thatcher
- Deep Into the Ground
- Scene: Billy & Michael
- Scene: Billy & Older Billy Dance / Fly
- Scene: Dad & Mrs Wilkinson
- He Could Be a Star
- Scene: The Collection
- Stars Look Down (reprise)
- Scene: Royal Ballet School
- Electricity
- Act 1: Newsreel
- Act 1: The Stars Look Down
- Act 1: Scene: Breakfast at Billy's
- Act 1: Scene: Billy & Grandma
- Act 1: Scene: Boxing Class
- Act 1: Scene: Ballet Class
- Act 1: Shine
- Act 1: Scene: After Ballet
- Act 1: Scene: Billy & Grandma
- Act 1: Grandma's Song
- Act 1: Scene: Back From Ballet
- Act 1: Solidarity
- Act 1: Scene: Dad Finds Out
- Act 1: Scene: Billy & Mrs Wilkinson
- Act 1: Scene: Michael's House
- Act 1: Expressing Yourself
- Act 1: Scene: Billy House
- Act 1: The Letter
- Act 1: Scene: Dance Tutoring
- Act 1: Born to Boogie
- Act 1: Scene: Billy & Debbie
- Act 1: Scene: The Plan
- Act 1: Scene: Billy's Caught
- Act 1: Angry Dance
- Act 1: Scene: Christmas Party
- Act 2: Merry Chirstmas Mrs Thatcher
- Act 2: Deep Into the Ground
- Act 2: Scene: Billy & Michael
- Act 2: Scene: Billy & Older Billy Dance & Fly
- Act 2: Scene: Dad & The Dance Class
- Act 2: He Could Be a Star
- Act 2: Scene: The Collection
- Act 2: Stars Look Down (reprise)
- Act 2: Scene: Royal Ballet School
- Act 2: Electricity
- Annabella Umberella
- Reminds Me of You
- I Love You and That's All That Matters
- Last to Arrive
- There Is Still a Little Love
- There's Still Time for Me
- Sara's Coming Back
- Lady What's Tomorrow
- I Need You to Turn To
- Son of Your Father
- The Tide Will Turn for Rebecca
- Rock and Roll Madonna
- Grey Seal
- The Cage
- Rock Me When He's Gone
- Holiday Inn
- I Get a Little Bit Lonely
- Scarecrow
- Velvet Fountain
- The Tide Will Turn for Rebecca
- Sitting Doing Nothing
- When the First Tear Shows
- Thank You for Your Loving
- Get Out (Of This Town)
- Tartan Coloured Lady
- Angel Tree
- Turn to Me
- I Can't Go on Living Without You
- 71-75 New Oxford Street
- When I Was Tealby Abbey
- And the Clock Goes Round
- Regimental Sgt. Zippo
- A Dandelion Dies in the Wind
- You'll Be Sorry to See Me Go
- Come Down in Time
- Amoreena (demo)
- Burn Down the Mission (demo)
- Madman Across the Water (demo)
- Rolling Western Union (demo)
- My Father's Gun (demo)
- Where to Now St. Peter (demo)
- Country Comfort (demo)
- Day Is Done
- Saturday Sun
- Sweet Honesty
- Way to Blue
- Stormbringer
- Time Has Told Me
- Go Out and Get It
- Tiny Dancer
- All the Nasties
- Rock Me When He's Gone
- Your Song
- Someone Saved My Life Tonight
- Philadelphia Freedom
- Come Down in Time
- Rocket Man
- Honkey Cat
- I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues
- Sad Songs (Say So Much)
- Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
- I'm Still Standing
- The Bitch Is Back
- Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
- Bennie and the Jets
- Border Song
- Candle in the Wind
- Crocodile Rock
- Empty Sky
- Honky Cat
- Rock and Roll Madonna
- Skyline Pigeon
- Son of Your Father
- Take Me to the Pilot
- The Scanffold
- This Song Has No Title
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Elton John - Your song
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:06
- Updated: 09 Jan 2013
It's a little bit funny this feeling inside I'm not one of those who can easily hide I don't have much money but boy if I did I'd buy a big house where we both could live If I was a sculptor, but then again, no Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show I know it's not much but it's the best I can do My gift is my song and this one's for you And you can tell everybody this is your song It may be quite simple but now that it's done I hope you don't mind I hope you don't mind that I put down in words How wonderful life is while you're in the world I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song It's for people like you that keep it turned on So excuse me forgetting but these things I do You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue Anyway the thing is what I really mean Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Your_song
It's a little bit funny this feeling inside I'm not one of those who can easily hide I don't have much money but boy if I did I'd buy a big house where we both could live If I was a sculptor, but then again, no Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show I know it's not much but it's the best I can do My gift is my song and this one's for you And you can tell everybody this is your song It may be quite simple but now that it's done I hope you don't mind I hope you don't mind that I put down in words How wonderful life is while you're in the world I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song It's for people like you that keep it turned on So excuse me forgetting but these things I do You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue Anyway the thing is what I really mean Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen
Elton John - Sacrifice
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:50
- Updated: 09 Jan 2013
Music video by Elton John performing Sacrifice. (C) 1989 Mercury Records Limited
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Sacrifice
Music video by Elton John performing Sacrifice. (C) 1989 Mercury Records Limited
- published: 01 Sep 2010
- views: 9721331
- author: EltonJohnVEVO
Elton John - Circle Of Life (High Quality)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:46
- Updated: 08 Jan 2013
Elton John - Circle Of Life Elton John - Kruh Zivota -Lyrics- From the day we arrive on the planet And blinking, step into the sun Theres more to be seen than can ever be seen More to do than can ever be done Some say eat or be eaten Some say live and let live But all are agreed as they join the stampede You should never take more than you give In the circle of life Its the wheel of fortune Its the leap of faith Its the band of hope Till we find our place On the path unwinding In the circle, the circle of life Some of us fall by the wayside And some of us soar to the stars And some of us sail through our troubles And some have to live with the scars Theres far too much to take in here More to find than can ever be found But the sun rolling high through the sapphire sky Keeps great and small on the endless round
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Circle_Of_Life_High_Quality
Elton John - Circle Of Life Elton John - Kruh Zivota -Lyrics- From the day we arrive on the planet And blinking, step into the sun Theres more to be seen than can ever be seen More to do than can ever be done Some say eat or be eaten Some say live and let live But all are agreed as they join the stampede You should never take more than you give In the circle of life Its the wheel of fortune Its the leap of faith Its the band of hope Till we find our place On the path unwinding In the circle, the circle of life Some of us fall by the wayside And some of us soar to the stars And some of us sail through our troubles And some have to live with the scars Theres far too much to take in here More to find than can ever be found But the sun rolling high through the sapphire sky Keeps great and small on the endless round
- published: 25 Oct 2008
- views: 7323357
- author: Frenky121212
Elton John - I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:43
- Updated: 09 Jan 2013
Music video by Elton John performing I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues. (C) 1983 Mercury Records Limited
http://wn.com/Elton_John_I_Guess_That's_Why_They_Call_It_The_Blues
Music video by Elton John performing I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues. (C) 1983 Mercury Records Limited
- published: 01 Sep 2010
- views: 2364047
- author: EltonJohnVEVO
Elton John - I'm Still Standing
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:05
- Updated: 08 Jan 2013
Music video by Elton John performing I'm Still Standing. (C) 1983 Mercury Records Limited
http://wn.com/Elton_John_I'm_Still_Standing
Music video by Elton John performing I'm Still Standing. (C) 1983 Mercury Records Limited
- published: 01 Sep 2010
- views: 3088593
- author: EltonJohnVEVO
Elton John - Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word - 1976
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:31
- Updated: 08 Jan 2013
Elton John In BBC 1976
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Sorry_Seems_To_Be_The_Hardest_Word_1976
Elton John - Are You Ready For Love
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:48
- Updated: 08 Jan 2013
Music video by Elton John performing Are You Ready For Love. (C) 2003 Mercury Records Limited
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Are_You_Ready_For_Love
Music video by Elton John performing Are You Ready For Love. (C) 2003 Mercury Records Limited
- published: 12 Dec 2012
- views: 33169
- author: EltonJohnVEVO
Elton John - Candle In The Wind
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:26
- Updated: 09 Jan 2013
Music video by Elton John performing Candle In The Wind Live in Australia. (C) 2007 Mercury Records Limited
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Candle_In_The_Wind
Music video by Elton John performing Candle In The Wind Live in Australia. (C) 2007 Mercury Records Limited
- published: 01 Sep 2010
- views: 3369283
- author: EltonJohnVEVO
Elton John - Something About The Way You Look Tonight
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:07
- Updated: 08 Jan 2013
Music video by Elton John performing Something About The Way You Look Tonight. (C) 2007 Mercury Records Limited
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Something_About_The_Way_You_Look_Tonight
Music video by Elton John performing Something About The Way You Look Tonight. (C) 2007 Mercury Records Limited
- published: 01 Sep 2010
- views: 1980723
- author: EltonJohnVEVO
Elton John-Crocodile Rock
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:03
- Updated: 08 Jan 2013
Elton john sings crocodile rock live
http://wn.com/Elton_John-Crocodile_Rock
Elton John Live london 1974 Full Concert !
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 61:40
- Updated: 07 Jan 2013
Live at Hammersmith apolo
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Live_london_1974_Full_Concert_!
Your Song - Elton John
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:58
- Updated: 09 Jan 2013
Minha música favorita... linda, linda e linda!! My favorite song... just beautiful!! "Your Song" by Elton Jonh *DISCLAIMER* Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. I DO NOT OWN THE SONG OR THE LYRICS. IT'S JUST A TRIBUTE TO THIS AMAZING ARTIST!
http://wn.com/Your_Song_Elton_John
Minha música favorita... linda, linda e linda!! My favorite song... just beautiful!! "Your Song" by Elton Jonh *DISCLAIMER* Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. I DO NOT OWN THE SONG OR THE LYRICS. IT'S JUST A TRIBUTE TO THIS AMAZING ARTIST!
- published: 12 Sep 2007
- views: 9769840
- author: mariassantiago
Elton John - Tiny Dancer
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 6:01
- Updated: 08 Jan 2013
Elton John in '71.
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Tiny_Dancer
ELTON JOHN - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (TOTP 1973)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:00
- Updated: 08 Jan 2013
Elton John - "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (TOTP 1973)
http://wn.com/ELTON_JOHN_Goodbye_Yellow_Brick_Road_TOTP_1973
Elton John - "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (TOTP 1973)
- published: 07 Nov 2007
- views: 1848712
- author: nyrainbow
Elton John vs Pnau - Sad
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:26
- Updated: 08 Jan 2013
Taken from the forthcoming album Elton John vs Pnau -- Good Morning To The Night Out 16th July. Pre-order at www.eltonjohnversuspnau.com Sign up bit.ly Music video by Elton John vs Pnau performing Sad. (C) 2012 Mercury Records Limited
http://wn.com/Elton_John_vs_Pnau_Sad
Taken from the forthcoming album Elton John vs Pnau -- Good Morning To The Night Out 16th July. Pre-order at www.eltonjohnversuspnau.com Sign up bit.ly Music video by Elton John vs Pnau performing Sad. (C) 2012 Mercury Records Limited
- published: 25 Jun 2012
- views: 385748
- author: EltonJohnVEVO
Elton John - Can you feel the love tonight Live (Rare Video)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:36
- Updated: 08 Jan 2013
Elton John - Can you feel the love tonight Live (Rare Video)
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Can_you_feel_the_love_tonight_Live_Rare_Video
Elton John - Can you feel the love tonight Live (Rare Video)
- published: 07 Feb 2009
- views: 7137598
- author: EltonJ0hn
Can you feel the love tonight - Elton John (Lyrics)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:59
- Updated: 09 Jan 2013
This is my first video on youtube, so it is not too good :) But i hope you enjoy it.
http://wn.com/Can_you_feel_the_love_tonight_Elton_John_Lyrics
This is my first video on youtube, so it is not too good :) But i hope you enjoy it.
- published: 13 Nov 2008
- views: 6742815
- author: Ravnen95
Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (Live)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:47
- Updated: 08 Jan 2013
Music video by George Michael;Elton John performing Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me. (c) 1991 Sony BMG Music Entertainment (UK) Limited
http://wn.com/Don't_Let_The_Sun_Go_Down_On_Me_Live
Music video by George Michael;Elton John performing Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me. (c) 1991 Sony BMG Music Entertainment (UK) Limited
- published: 03 Oct 2009
- views: 3707295
- author: georgemichaelVEVO
Elton John - Rocket Man
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:44
- Updated: 07 Jan 2013
My video for Rocket Man. I'll disable comments if there is any homophobic people, religious fanatics, cheap philosophers and people who dont appreciate good, genuine music and video.
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Rocket_Man
My video for Rocket Man. I'll disable comments if there is any homophobic people, religious fanatics, cheap philosophers and people who dont appreciate good, genuine music and video.
- published: 10 Jun 2007
- views: 6038964
- author: wilcobr
Elton John - Rocket Man
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 7:43
- Updated: 09 Jan 2013
Music video by Elton John performing Rocket Man. (C) 2005 HST Management Limited Under Exclusive License to Mercury Records Limited
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Rocket_Man
Music video by Elton John performing Rocket Man. (C) 2005 HST Management Limited Under Exclusive License to Mercury Records Limited
- published: 01 Sep 2010
- views: 2650436
- author: EltonJohnVEVO
Elton John - Imagine
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:19
- Updated: 08 Jan 2013
Elton John covered John Lennnon's Imagine at Central Park in September, 1980. Yes John was still alive when this concert happened. This concert was played on September 13, 1980. docs.google.com Check out September 13 if you don't believe me (document is made by eltonfan.net)
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Imagine
Elton John covered John Lennnon's Imagine at Central Park in September, 1980. Yes John was still alive when this concert happened. This concert was played on September 13, 1980. docs.google.com Check out September 13 if you don't believe me (document is made by eltonfan.net)
- published: 07 Apr 2006
- views: 5541129
- author: reginaldkenneth47
Elton John - Believe
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:51
- Updated: 08 Jan 2013
Music video by Elton John performing Believe. (C) 2007 Mercury Records Limited
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Believe
Music video by Elton John performing Believe. (C) 2007 Mercury Records Limited
- published: 01 Sep 2010
- views: 1256317
- author: EltonJohnVEVO
Elton John - Your Song
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:51
- Updated: 09 Jan 2013
Music video by Elton John performing Your Song. (C) 2007 Mercury Records Limited
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Your_Song
Music video by Elton John performing Your Song. (C) 2007 Mercury Records Limited
- published: 01 Sep 2010
- views: 7059931
- author: EltonJohnVEVO
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Elton John Live london 1974 Full Concert !
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 61:40
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
Live at Hammersmith apolo
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Live_london_1974_Full_Concert_!
ELTON JOHN | Live in Rome (Italy, 2005)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 77:05
- Updated: 25 Dec 2012
Tracklist: 1 - Pinball Wizard 2 - Daniel 3 - Rocket Man 4 - Sacrifice 5 - Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word 6 - Candle in the Wind 7 - They Call Her the Cat 8 - Sad Songs 9 - Don´t Let the Sun Go Down on Me 10 - I´m Still Standing 11 - Bitch is Back 12 - Saturday Night is Alright 13 - Crocodrile Rock 14 - Your Song
http://wn.com/ELTON_JOHN_|_Live_in_Rome_Italy,_2005
Tracklist: 1 - Pinball Wizard 2 - Daniel 3 - Rocket Man 4 - Sacrifice 5 - Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word 6 - Candle in the Wind 7 - They Call Her the Cat 8 - Sad Songs 9 - Don´t Let the Sun Go Down on Me 10 - I´m Still Standing 11 - Bitch is Back 12 - Saturday Night is Alright 13 - Crocodrile Rock 14 - Your Song
- published: 23 Jun 2012
- views: 10266
- author: MrSameEverynight
Elton John - Your Song (live)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:48
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
Elton John playing Your Song live at the Royal Opera House
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Your_Song_live
Elton John playing Your Song live at the Royal Opera House
- published: 03 Mar 2008
- views: 2481940
- author: WhisperLady023
Elton John - LIVE in Kiev, Ukraine 30th June 2012
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 25:23
- Updated: 23 Dec 2012
http://wn.com/Elton_John_LIVE_in_Kiev,_Ukraine_30th_June_2012
Rocket Man by Elton John Live at Ephesus
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 10:33
- Updated: 20 Dec 2012
title says it all
http://wn.com/Rocket_Man_by_Elton_John_Live_at_Ephesus
Elton John - Can you feel the love tonight Live (Rare Video)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:36
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
Elton John - Can you feel the love tonight Live (Rare Video)
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Can_you_feel_the_love_tonight_Live_Rare_Video
Elton John - Can you feel the love tonight Live (Rare Video)
- published: 07 Feb 2009
- views: 7080082
- author: EltonJ0hn
2. Elton John (Live In Sydney: 12/14/1986) (Part 2: With The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 108:50
- Updated: 26 Dec 2012
Here's a little treat for you all! I will be uploading the COMPLETE Sydney 1986 concert on Youtube. Due to Youtube's generous lift of the time limit, I have divided the concert in two separate videos: One video is part 1 of the concert (the band), and the second video is part 2 of the concert (with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra). Also, in the future, I will upload the concert with just the audio (if you don't want to "watch" the concert). The video quality is pretty good, and I remastered the sound (EQ'ing and turning it from mono to stereo). The concert is epic: With over three hours of music, awesome showmanship, excellent musical performances, and Elton having a blast, this concert ranks highly among Elton John fans, and is generally considered one of Elton's best concerts! The only negative? Elton's voice is COMPLETELY FUCKING SHOT! The whole first part of the concert has him in terrible voice, and his vocal nodules cause him to inadvertently hit whistle notes, and hit as many as 20 notes at the same time (vocal nodules emit frequencies when struck). Some of Elton's worst-ever vocal performances are in the first part of the show. By the second part, his voice does improve slightly, and the roughness actually works on some songs ("The King Must Die," "Take Me To The Pilot," and "Your Song" are examples). PART 1: www.youtube.com Since the videos are so long, I will provide the set-list, and time-stamp every song: 0:00 = Cheering 1:30 = Sixty Years On 6:19 = Elton's ...
http://wn.com/2_Elton_John_Live_In_Sydney_12_14_1986_Part_2_With_The_Melbourne_Symphony_Orchestra
Here's a little treat for you all! I will be uploading the COMPLETE Sydney 1986 concert on Youtube. Due to Youtube's generous lift of the time limit, I have divided the concert in two separate videos: One video is part 1 of the concert (the band), and the second video is part 2 of the concert (with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra). Also, in the future, I will upload the concert with just the audio (if you don't want to "watch" the concert). The video quality is pretty good, and I remastered the sound (EQ'ing and turning it from mono to stereo). The concert is epic: With over three hours of music, awesome showmanship, excellent musical performances, and Elton having a blast, this concert ranks highly among Elton John fans, and is generally considered one of Elton's best concerts! The only negative? Elton's voice is COMPLETELY FUCKING SHOT! The whole first part of the concert has him in terrible voice, and his vocal nodules cause him to inadvertently hit whistle notes, and hit as many as 20 notes at the same time (vocal nodules emit frequencies when struck). Some of Elton's worst-ever vocal performances are in the first part of the show. By the second part, his voice does improve slightly, and the roughness actually works on some songs ("The King Must Die," "Take Me To The Pilot," and "Your Song" are examples). PART 1: www.youtube.com Since the videos are so long, I will provide the set-list, and time-stamp every song: 0:00 = Cheering 1:30 = Sixty Years On 6:19 = Elton's ...
- published: 01 Apr 2011
- views: 31606
- author: GregsynthWizard
Elton John - Daniel - Live Edinburgh 1976
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:09
- Updated: 26 Dec 2012
Elton John live at the Playhouse Theatre in Edinburgh Scotland 1976. Solo Piano Show.
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Daniel_Live_Edinburgh_1976
Elton John live at the Playhouse Theatre in Edinburgh Scotland 1976. Solo Piano Show.
- published: 13 Feb 2009
- views: 421815
- author: godwhyisthistaken
Elton John Levon Live 1971
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:53
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
Elton John Levon Live 1971 I do not own this video
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Levon_Live_1971
Elton John Levon Live 1971 I do not own this video
- published: 11 Oct 2010
- views: 137809
- author: katelibby88
1. Elton John (Live In Sydney: 12/14/1986) (Part 1: With The Band)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 73:46
- Updated: 23 Dec 2012
Here's a little treat for you all! I will be uploading the COMPLETE Sydney 1986 concert on Youtube. Due to Youtube's generous lift of the time limit, I have divided the concert in two separate videos: One video is part 1 of the concert (the band), and the second video is part 2 of the concert (with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra). Also, in the future, I will upload the concert with just the audio (if you don't want to "watch" the concert). The video quality is pretty good, and I remastered the sound (EQ'ing and turning it from mono to stereo). The concert is epic: With over three hours of music, awesome showmanship, excellent musical performances, and Elton having a blast, this concert ranks highly among Elton John fans, and is generally considered one of Elton's best concerts! The only negative? Elton's voice is COMPLETELY FUCKING SHOT! The whole first part of the concert has him in terrible voice, and his vocal nodules cause him to inadvertently hit whistle notes, and hit as many as 20 notes at the same time (vocal nodules emit frequencies when struck). Some of Elton's worst-ever vocal performances are in the first part of the show. By the second part, his voice does improve slightly, and the roughness actually works on some songs ("The King Must Die," "Take Me To The Pilot," and "Your Song" are examples). PART 2: www.youtube.com Since the videos are so long, I will provide the set-list, and time-stamp every song: 0:00 = Funeral For A Friend 1:22 = One Horse Town (AKA ...
http://wn.com/1_Elton_John_Live_In_Sydney_12_14_1986_Part_1_With_The_Band
Here's a little treat for you all! I will be uploading the COMPLETE Sydney 1986 concert on Youtube. Due to Youtube's generous lift of the time limit, I have divided the concert in two separate videos: One video is part 1 of the concert (the band), and the second video is part 2 of the concert (with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra). Also, in the future, I will upload the concert with just the audio (if you don't want to "watch" the concert). The video quality is pretty good, and I remastered the sound (EQ'ing and turning it from mono to stereo). The concert is epic: With over three hours of music, awesome showmanship, excellent musical performances, and Elton having a blast, this concert ranks highly among Elton John fans, and is generally considered one of Elton's best concerts! The only negative? Elton's voice is COMPLETELY FUCKING SHOT! The whole first part of the concert has him in terrible voice, and his vocal nodules cause him to inadvertently hit whistle notes, and hit as many as 20 notes at the same time (vocal nodules emit frequencies when struck). Some of Elton's worst-ever vocal performances are in the first part of the show. By the second part, his voice does improve slightly, and the roughness actually works on some songs ("The King Must Die," "Take Me To The Pilot," and "Your Song" are examples). PART 2: www.youtube.com Since the videos are so long, I will provide the set-list, and time-stamp every song: 0:00 = Funeral For A Friend 1:22 = One Horse Town (AKA ...
- published: 31 Mar 2011
- views: 12205
- author: GregsynthWizard
Elton John - Levon (Live in New York 2004)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 6:57
- Updated: 26 Dec 2012
Live at Radio City Music Hall New York City 2004
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Levon_Live_in_New_York_2004
Live at Radio City Music Hall New York City 2004
- published: 18 Jan 2008
- views: 449350
- author: Jimmy Rogers
Elton John - Your song
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:06
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
It's a little bit funny this feeling inside I'm not one of those who can easily hide I don't have much money but boy if I did I'd buy a big house where we both could live If I was a sculptor, but then again, no Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show I know it's not much but it's the best I can do My gift is my song and this one's for you And you can tell everybody this is your song It may be quite simple but now that it's done I hope you don't mind I hope you don't mind that I put down in words How wonderful life is while you're in the world I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song It's for people like you that keep it turned on So excuse me forgetting but these things I do You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue Anyway the thing is what I really mean Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Your_song
It's a little bit funny this feeling inside I'm not one of those who can easily hide I don't have much money but boy if I did I'd buy a big house where we both could live If I was a sculptor, but then again, no Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show I know it's not much but it's the best I can do My gift is my song and this one's for you And you can tell everybody this is your song It may be quite simple but now that it's done I hope you don't mind I hope you don't mind that I put down in words How wonderful life is while you're in the world I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song It's for people like you that keep it turned on So excuse me forgetting but these things I do You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue Anyway the thing is what I really mean Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen
- published: 25 Jan 2007
- views: 36937956
- author: Lnaa
Elton John - Bennie and the Jets (Live in Edinburgh, 1976)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:22
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
from the solo concert in Edinburgh
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Bennie_and_the_Jets_Live_in_Edinburgh,_1976
Elton John - Are You Ready For Love
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:48
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
Music video by Elton John performing Are You Ready For Love. (C) 2003 Mercury Records Limited
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Are_You_Ready_For_Love
Music video by Elton John performing Are You Ready For Love. (C) 2003 Mercury Records Limited
- published: 12 Dec 2012
- views: 25228
- author: EltonJohnVEVO
Elton John - Honky Cat (Live 1972)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:57
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
Live from the Honky Chateau debut concert in London, Elton performs Honky Cat.
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Honky_Cat_Live_1972
Live from the Honky Chateau debut concert in London, Elton performs Honky Cat.
- published: 10 Dec 2007
- views: 448365
- author: jinzoAgain
Elton John and Billy Joel - Piano Man live
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 6:17
- Updated: 26 Dec 2012
on the tonight show with jay leno
http://wn.com/Elton_John_and_Billy_Joel_Piano_Man_live
Elton John -- Someone Saved My Life Tonight (Live in Central Park)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 8:05
- Updated: 26 Dec 2012
From 1980 concert in Central Park New York.
http://wn.com/Elton_John_-_Someone_Saved_My_Life_Tonight_Live_in_Central_Park
From 1980 concert in Central Park New York.
- published: 16 Aug 2009
- views: 207274
- author: davidincal1969
Elton John - Sacrifice
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:08
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
Sir Elton John live
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Sacrifice
Elton John vs Pnau - Sad
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:26
- Updated: 26 Dec 2012
Taken from the forthcoming album Elton John vs Pnau -- Good Morning To The Night Out 16th July. Pre-order at www.eltonjohnversuspnau.com Sign up bit.ly Music video by Elton John vs Pnau performing Sad. (C) 2012 Mercury Records Limited
http://wn.com/Elton_John_vs_Pnau_Sad
Taken from the forthcoming album Elton John vs Pnau -- Good Morning To The Night Out 16th July. Pre-order at www.eltonjohnversuspnau.com Sign up bit.ly Music video by Elton John vs Pnau performing Sad. (C) 2012 Mercury Records Limited
- published: 25 Jun 2012
- views: 380235
- author: EltonJohnVEVO
ELTON JOHN - LITTLE JEANNIE - LIVE AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN (HQ-856X480)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:40
- Updated: 26 Dec 2012
ELTON JOHN - LITTLE JEANNIE - LIVE AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN Oh little Jeannie, you got so much love, little Jeannie And you take it where it strikes and give it to the likes of me Oh little Jeannie, she got so much love, little Jeannie So I see you when I can, you make me all a man can be And I want you to be my acrobat, I want you to be my lover Oh there were others who would treat you cruel And oh little Jeannie, you were always someone's fool Little Jeannie, you got so much time, little Jeannie Though you've grown beyond your years, you still retain the fears of youth Oh little Jeannie, you got so much time, little Jeannie But you're burning it up so fast, searching for some lasting truth And I want you to be my acrobat, I want you to be my lover Oh there were others who would treat you cruel But oh Jeannie, I will always be your fool And I want you to be my acrobat, I want you to be my lover Oh there were others, and I've known quite a few But oh oh Jeannie, I'm still in love with you Stepped into my life from a bad dream Making the life that I had seem suddenly shiny and new Oh Jeannie I'm so in love with you Stepped into my life from a bad dream
http://wn.com/ELTON_JOHN_LITTLE_JEANNIE_LIVE_AT_MADISON_SQUARE_GARDEN_HQ-856X480
ELTON JOHN - LITTLE JEANNIE - LIVE AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN Oh little Jeannie, you got so much love, little Jeannie And you take it where it strikes and give it to the likes of me Oh little Jeannie, she got so much love, little Jeannie So I see you when I can, you make me all a man can be And I want you to be my acrobat, I want you to be my lover Oh there were others who would treat you cruel And oh little Jeannie, you were always someone's fool Little Jeannie, you got so much time, little Jeannie Though you've grown beyond your years, you still retain the fears of youth Oh little Jeannie, you got so much time, little Jeannie But you're burning it up so fast, searching for some lasting truth And I want you to be my acrobat, I want you to be my lover Oh there were others who would treat you cruel But oh Jeannie, I will always be your fool And I want you to be my acrobat, I want you to be my lover Oh there were others, and I've known quite a few But oh oh Jeannie, I'm still in love with you Stepped into my life from a bad dream Making the life that I had seem suddenly shiny and new Oh Jeannie I'm so in love with you Stepped into my life from a bad dream
- published: 22 Apr 2012
- views: 35495
- author: pauloget
Elton John - Live Like Horses
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 6:15
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
On Pavarotti and Friends For War Child
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Live_Like_Horses
Elton John - Song for Guy - Live in Pontevedra
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 6:01
- Updated: 26 Dec 2012
An instrumental song by Elton John, performed live in Pontevedra, Spain, 1999.
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Song_for_Guy_Live_in_Pontevedra
An instrumental song by Elton John, performed live in Pontevedra, Spain, 1999.
- published: 03 Nov 2008
- views: 121069
- author: bennieandthejets80
John Lennon & Elton John Live 1974 - MSG
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:41
- Updated: 25 Dec 2012
Whatever Gets You Through The Night Live at MSG! Elton John invites John Lennon To Play with him and this is the result!
http://wn.com/John_Lennon_Elton_John_Live_1974_MSG
Whatever Gets You Through The Night Live at MSG! Elton John invites John Lennon To Play with him and this is the result!
- published: 12 Dec 2008
- views: 347001
- author: piggies1
Send this Playlist by SMS
Email this Page
Elton John Live london 1974 Full Concert !
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 61:40
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
Live at Hammersmith apolo
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Live_london_1974_Full_Concert_!
ELTON JOHN - (COMPLETE) KENNEDY CENTER HONORS, 2004
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 21:01
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. introduces ELTON JOHN at the 27th Kennedy Center Honors awards ceremony. Performers paying tribute to Elton are BILLY JOEL, FANTASIA, KID ROCK, and HEATHER HEADLEY. The other honorees this evening are Warren Beatty, Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee, Joan Sutherland, and John Williams. I have posted the other honorees separately. This is the year that Walter Cronkite relinquished his position as "Master of Ceremonies". See my video "Walter Cronkite 'surrenders' his position at Kennedy Center Honors to Caroline Kennedy".
http://wn.com/ELTON_JOHN_COMPLETE_KENNEDY_CENTER_HONORS,_2004
ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. introduces ELTON JOHN at the 27th Kennedy Center Honors awards ceremony. Performers paying tribute to Elton are BILLY JOEL, FANTASIA, KID ROCK, and HEATHER HEADLEY. The other honorees this evening are Warren Beatty, Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee, Joan Sutherland, and John Williams. I have posted the other honorees separately. This is the year that Walter Cronkite relinquished his position as "Master of Ceremonies". See my video "Walter Cronkite 'surrenders' his position at Kennedy Center Honors to Caroline Kennedy".
- published: 18 Dec 2012
- views: 678
- author: westlinngirl
Elton John Live in Columbia September 20, 1992
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 141:26
- Updated: 25 Dec 2012
Hey guys!! Here is brand new gig to go on YouTube, South Carolina on the 20th of September 1992. The one Tour was Elton's first tour after rehabilitation in 1990, and this show is great! Unfortunately both the visual and audio quality is a little shaky, but I do hope you like this!! ENJOY!!!
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Live_in_Columbia_September_20,_1992
Hey guys!! Here is brand new gig to go on YouTube, South Carolina on the 20th of September 1992. The one Tour was Elton's first tour after rehabilitation in 1990, and this show is great! Unfortunately both the visual and audio quality is a little shaky, but I do hope you like this!! ENJOY!!!
- published: 06 Dec 2012
- views: 388
- author: EltonStuff
Elton John Elton 60 Live At Madison Square Garden 2007
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 198:01
- Updated: 25 Dec 2012
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Elton_60_Live_At_Madison_Square_Garden_2007
Elton John on The Tube - Interview and Performance 1985
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 21:19
- Updated: 01 Dec 2012
Hi! This is an awesome interview, one of only two or three available from 1985, and then followed by three and a half songs- This Town, Sad Songs (Say So Much), Nikita and about two minutes of Burn Down The Mission! ENJOY!!
http://wn.com/Elton_John_on_The_Tube_Interview_and_Performance_1985
Hi! This is an awesome interview, one of only two or three available from 1985, and then followed by three and a half songs- This Town, Sad Songs (Say So Much), Nikita and about two minutes of Burn Down The Mission! ENJOY!!
- published: 09 Nov 2012
- views: 564
- author: EltonStuff
Elton John. Basel 18 November 2006.
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 114:41
- Updated: 26 Dec 2012
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Basel_18_November_2006
Elton John Love Songs Full Album
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 70:57
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
Sir Elton John's 1996 release, a compilation. I enjoy this album immensely, so I decided to back up this timeless classic here. I figured there was no use in keeping the pictures continuous throughout the video, as it would only detract from focusing on what's important - the music. I apologize for the video skipping at the beginning, as I apparently set either the frame rate or the bitrate wrong; this does not affect the music at all. My goal is to keep the upload file small, and the music as close to 320kbps as possible. The music was downverted to 256 from 320 @ 44.1 kHtz, 23.98 fps, and 1280x720 resolution. ______________________________________ Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. ______________________________________ 01. Can You Feel The Love Tonight 00:00 - 04:00 02. The One 04:01 03. Sacrifice 09:57 04. Daniel 15:04 05. Someone Saved My Life Tonight 19:01 06. Your Song 25:47 07. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (Duet With George Michael) 29:51 08. Believe 35:40 09. Blue Eyes 40:23 10. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word 43:54 11. Blessed 47:44 12. Candle In The Wind 52:46 13. You Can Make History (Young Again) 56:48 14. No Valentines 01:01:44 15. Circle Of Life 01:05:55 ...
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Love_Songs_Full_Album
Sir Elton John's 1996 release, a compilation. I enjoy this album immensely, so I decided to back up this timeless classic here. I figured there was no use in keeping the pictures continuous throughout the video, as it would only detract from focusing on what's important - the music. I apologize for the video skipping at the beginning, as I apparently set either the frame rate or the bitrate wrong; this does not affect the music at all. My goal is to keep the upload file small, and the music as close to 320kbps as possible. The music was downverted to 256 from 320 @ 44.1 kHtz, 23.98 fps, and 1280x720 resolution. ______________________________________ Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. ______________________________________ 01. Can You Feel The Love Tonight 00:00 - 04:00 02. The One 04:01 03. Sacrifice 09:57 04. Daniel 15:04 05. Someone Saved My Life Tonight 19:01 06. Your Song 25:47 07. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (Duet With George Michael) 29:51 08. Believe 35:40 09. Blue Eyes 40:23 10. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word 43:54 11. Blessed 47:44 12. Candle In The Wind 52:46 13. You Can Make History (Young Again) 56:48 14. No Valentines 01:01:44 15. Circle Of Life 01:05:55 ...
- published: 22 Sep 2012
- views: 31747
- author: JohnnysMusicLounge
Elton John - LIVE in Kiev, Ukraine 30th June 2012
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 25:23
- Updated: 23 Dec 2012
http://wn.com/Elton_John_LIVE_in_Kiev,_Ukraine_30th_June_2012
![Elton John- Live at Central Park (9.13.1980) [Full Concert]](http://web.archive.org./web/20130109015834im_/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6tVQgnJkTRU/default.jpg "Elton John- Live at Central Park (9.13.1980) [Full Concert]")
Elton John- Live at Central Park (9.13.1980) [Full Concert]
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 108:45
- Updated: 20 Dec 2012
1. Radio Intro- 0:00 2. Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting- 1:45 3. Little Jeannie- 8:30 4. Bennie and the Jets- 14:24 5. Harmony- 24:14 6. White Lady White Powder- 27:01 7. Imagine- 30:55 8. Ego- 36:48 9. Someone Saved My Life Tonight- 40:32 10. Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding- 48:42 11. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word- 59:12 12. Satorial Eloquence- 1:03:05 13. Philadelphia Freedom- 1:07:53 14. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road- 1:13:09 15. Tiny Dancer- 1:16:18 16. Your Song- 1:23:20 17. Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance)- 1:28:43 18. All The Young Girls Love Alice- 1:34:46 19. Rocket Man- 1:39:42
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Live_at_Central_Park_9131980_Full_Concert_
1. Radio Intro- 0:00 2. Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting- 1:45 3. Little Jeannie- 8:30 4. Bennie and the Jets- 14:24 5. Harmony- 24:14 6. White Lady White Powder- 27:01 7. Imagine- 30:55 8. Ego- 36:48 9. Someone Saved My Life Tonight- 40:32 10. Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding- 48:42 11. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word- 59:12 12. Satorial Eloquence- 1:03:05 13. Philadelphia Freedom- 1:07:53 14. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road- 1:13:09 15. Tiny Dancer- 1:16:18 16. Your Song- 1:23:20 17. Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance)- 1:28:43 18. All The Young Girls Love Alice- 1:34:46 19. Rocket Man- 1:39:42
- published: 01 Dec 2012
- views: 662
- author: SuperDiamondDogs2
Elton John Live by Requestt
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 91:56
- Updated: 24 Dec 2012
"I WANT LOVE", composición musical administrado por: ©Warner Chappell One or more music publishing rights collecting societies "DON'T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME", composición musical administrado por: One or more music publishing rights collecting societies © UMPG Publishing
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Live_by_Requestt
"I WANT LOVE", composición musical administrado por: ©Warner Chappell One or more music publishing rights collecting societies "DON'T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME", composición musical administrado por: One or more music publishing rights collecting societies © UMPG Publishing
- published: 28 Nov 2012
- views: 600
- author: alyanni
Elton John - Countdown to Elton John Australia 1986
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 38:24
- Updated: 08 Dec 2012
This is an interesting upload, The Countdown to Elton's last concert of the Tour de Force in Australia in 1986. Molly interviews some of the band members, and there is a great playback of Elton's career, containing some great footage! (my favorite is the one with the 2 foot high wobbly hat!) ENJOY!
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Countdown_to_Elton_John_Australia_1986
This is an interesting upload, The Countdown to Elton's last concert of the Tour de Force in Australia in 1986. Molly interviews some of the band members, and there is a great playback of Elton's career, containing some great footage! (my favorite is the one with the 2 foot high wobbly hat!) ENJOY!
- published: 28 Oct 2012
- views: 569
- author: EltonStuff
Elton John Countdown December 10th 1978
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 24:18
- Updated: 12 Dec 2012
Hi! Here are some new interviews to YouTube - Countdown, a music show hosted by well known Aussie TV personality Molly Meldrum. For each of these videos, Elton hosted the show and played a few numbers, there are many featured music videos in between, and so as not to have YouTube block the video, I have just cut out all the music videos and just put together Elton's parts - him in conversation with Molly and him performing tracks from his latest album. This show highlights the Single Man Album, and Elton plays a few tracks, such as Georgia (backed by Watford), Madness and Song for Guy. This is an an amusing interview, and Elton is in a fun mood! This is dedicated to Tate, who i hope will appreciate this upload! ENJOY!!!!
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Countdown_December_10th_1978
Hi! Here are some new interviews to YouTube - Countdown, a music show hosted by well known Aussie TV personality Molly Meldrum. For each of these videos, Elton hosted the show and played a few numbers, there are many featured music videos in between, and so as not to have YouTube block the video, I have just cut out all the music videos and just put together Elton's parts - him in conversation with Molly and him performing tracks from his latest album. This show highlights the Single Man Album, and Elton plays a few tracks, such as Georgia (backed by Watford), Madness and Song for Guy. This is an an amusing interview, and Elton is in a fun mood! This is dedicated to Tate, who i hope will appreciate this upload! ENJOY!!!!
- published: 12 Dec 2012
- views: 104
- author: EltonStuff
Elton John - Le jeu de la vérité - The Truth Game 1986
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 89:04
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
Hi! This is another great interview from February 1986, on a show called the 'Truth Game'. Elton gets asked questions by callers and he answers them in English, but his words are being translated, so you really have to listen to try and catch the English!! Elton performs Nikita (lip synch) Candle in the Wind, lip synchs and dances to I'm Still Standing, and plays Song for Guy. ENJOY!!!
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Le_jeu_de_la_vérité_The_Truth_Game_1986
Hi! This is another great interview from February 1986, on a show called the 'Truth Game'. Elton gets asked questions by callers and he answers them in English, but his words are being translated, so you really have to listen to try and catch the English!! Elton performs Nikita (lip synch) Candle in the Wind, lip synchs and dances to I'm Still Standing, and plays Song for Guy. ENJOY!!!
- published: 31 Oct 2012
- views: 496
- author: EltonStuff
FULL LP: Tumbleweed Connection by Elton John (1970) (BLOCKED IN GERMANY)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 45:59
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
My favorite Elton John LP! Check out the excellent review at www.allmusic.com For lyrics go to www.sing365.com My favorite songs on here are "Son Of Your Father", "Ballad Of A Well Known Gun" (Check out the cover by James Taylor's sister Kate Taylor), "Talking Old Soldiers", and "Country Comfort". Enjoy! 1. Ballad Of A Well-Known Gun (0:00) 2. Come Down In Time (4:52) 3. Country Comfort (8:12) 4. Son Of Your Father (13:14) 5. My Father's Gun (16:56) 6. Where To Now, St. Peter? (23:07) 7. Love Song (w/Lesley Duncan) (27:18) 8. Amoreena (30:52) 9. Talking Old Soldiers (35:43) 10. Burn Down The Mission (39:42)
http://wn.com/FULL_LP_Tumbleweed_Connection_by_Elton_John_1970_BLOCKED_IN_GERMANY
My favorite Elton John LP! Check out the excellent review at www.allmusic.com For lyrics go to www.sing365.com My favorite songs on here are "Son Of Your Father", "Ballad Of A Well Known Gun" (Check out the cover by James Taylor's sister Kate Taylor), "Talking Old Soldiers", and "Country Comfort". Enjoy! 1. Ballad Of A Well-Known Gun (0:00) 2. Come Down In Time (4:52) 3. Country Comfort (8:12) 4. Son Of Your Father (13:14) 5. My Father's Gun (16:56) 6. Where To Now, St. Peter? (23:07) 7. Love Song (w/Lesley Duncan) (27:18) 8. Amoreena (30:52) 9. Talking Old Soldiers (35:43) 10. Burn Down The Mission (39:42)
- published: 05 Oct 2012
- views: 5857
- author: TheVinylBird
Elton John Parkinson Interview September 22 2001
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 20:37
- Updated: 22 Dec 2012
Hi! Here is a chain of all of the Parkinson interviews with Elton over the years. These uploads are dedicated to napchier who requested that they were uploaded! ENJOY!!!
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Parkinson_Interview_September_22_2001
Hi! Here is a chain of all of the Parkinson interviews with Elton over the years. These uploads are dedicated to napchier who requested that they were uploaded! ENJOY!!!
- published: 15 Oct 2012
- views: 1017
- author: EltonStuff
Elton John - Liquid Assets (documentary)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 57:03
- Updated: 23 Dec 2012
Elton's millions - lots of clips and interviews (BBC 2003)
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Liquid_Assets_documentary
Elton's millions - lots of clips and interviews (BBC 2003)
- published: 18 Sep 2012
- views: 2339
- author: 1967ngre
Elton John & Billy Joel: Face to Face in Tokyo, Japan 1998
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 130:43
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
Visit "Billy Joel: Completely Retold" on Facebook! www.facebook.com
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Billy_Joel_Face_to_Face_in_Tokyo,_Japan_1998
Visit "Billy Joel: Completely Retold" on Facebook! www.facebook.com
- published: 18 Aug 2012
- views: 10092
- author: stoots24
Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) Full Album
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 75:21
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
www.facebook.com Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) Re Uploading September 17, 2012 Track Listing 01 00:00 "Funeral for a Friend (Love Lies Bleeding)" 02 10:41 "Candle in the Wind" 03 14:29 "Bennie and the Jets" 04 19:50 "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" 05 23:04 "This Song Has No Title" 06 25:27 "Grey Seal" 07 29:25 "Jamaica Jerk-Off" 08 33:00 "I've Seen That Movie Too" 09 38:57 "Sweet Painted Lady" 10 42:48 "The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909--34)" 11 47:08 "Dirty Little Girl" 12 52:08 "All the Girls Love Alice" 13 57:13 "Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n' Roll)" 14 59:56 "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" 15 01:04:27 "Roy Rogers" 16 01:08:52 "Social Disease" 17 01:12:33 "Harmony" All Music Review (Rating: 4.5/5) www.allmusic.com Wiki en.wikipedia.org RateYourMusic (Rating: 3.94/5) rateyourmusic.com
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Goodbye_Yellow_Brick_Road_1973_Full_Album
www.facebook.com Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) Re Uploading September 17, 2012 Track Listing 01 00:00 "Funeral for a Friend (Love Lies Bleeding)" 02 10:41 "Candle in the Wind" 03 14:29 "Bennie and the Jets" 04 19:50 "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" 05 23:04 "This Song Has No Title" 06 25:27 "Grey Seal" 07 29:25 "Jamaica Jerk-Off" 08 33:00 "I've Seen That Movie Too" 09 38:57 "Sweet Painted Lady" 10 42:48 "The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909--34)" 11 47:08 "Dirty Little Girl" 12 52:08 "All the Girls Love Alice" 13 57:13 "Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n' Roll)" 14 59:56 "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" 15 01:04:27 "Roy Rogers" 16 01:08:52 "Social Disease" 17 01:12:33 "Harmony" All Music Review (Rating: 4.5/5) www.allmusic.com Wiki en.wikipedia.org RateYourMusic (Rating: 3.94/5) rateyourmusic.com
- published: 17 Sep 2012
- views: 68067
- author: kritikospa10
Elton John - MTV Unplugged 1990
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 41:10
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
http://wn.com/Elton_John_MTV_Unplugged_1990
Billy Joel & Elton John: Live in St. Paul, MN 4-17-03
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 186:53
- Updated: 24 Dec 2012
Visit "Billy Joel: Completely Retold" on Facebook! www.facebook.com
http://wn.com/Billy_Joel_Elton_John_Live_in_St_Paul,_MN_4-17-03
Visit "Billy Joel: Completely Retold" on Facebook! www.facebook.com
- published: 20 Aug 2012
- views: 3035
- author: stoots24
Elton John Live at Wembley 1984 Part 1
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 58:00
- Updated: 15 Dec 2012
Hi again!! Here is a two-part show - the famous Wembley 1984 gig! This concert is in good quality and ALMOST complete, just missing out Tiny Dancer, Philadelphia Freedom and One More Arrow. I think its a GREAT show, the band is on fire, Elton does great renditions of the songs, and one audience member during Bennie and the Jets is rather revealing!! I hope you like the show!!! ENJOY!!!! Note 1: Before the show starts, there is an advert for the Beach Boys
http://wn.com/Elton_John_Live_at_Wembley_1984_Part_1
Hi again!! Here is a two-part show - the famous Wembley 1984 gig! This concert is in good quality and ALMOST complete, just missing out Tiny Dancer, Philadelphia Freedom and One More Arrow. I think its a GREAT show, the band is on fire, Elton does great renditions of the songs, and one audience member during Bennie and the Jets is rather revealing!! I hope you like the show!!! ENJOY!!!! Note 1: Before the show starts, there is an advert for the Beach Boys
- published: 08 Dec 2012
- views: 246
- author: EltonStuff
The Elton John Story - 2002 documentary (circa Songs From the West Coast)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 49:09
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
This was a BBC documentary I recorded around the time of the release of the Songs From the West Coast album. Basically it's another documentary on Elton's life and it has interviews with Elton, various band members and celebrities. For instance, Princess Diana's brother speaks about Elton at Diana's funeral and Gus Dudgeon is also interviewed, talking about the mid eighties and the drug problems... It goes right up to the impending release of Songs From the West Coast.
http://wn.com/The_Elton_John_Story_2002_documentary_circa_Songs_From_the_West_Coast
This was a BBC documentary I recorded around the time of the release of the Songs From the West Coast album. Basically it's another documentary on Elton's life and it has interviews with Elton, various band members and celebrities. For instance, Princess Diana's brother speaks about Elton at Diana's funeral and Gus Dudgeon is also interviewed, talking about the mid eighties and the drug problems... It goes right up to the impending release of Songs From the West Coast.
- published: 13 Aug 2012
- views: 4805
- author: inkimufftelevision
Elton John UK TV appearances 1983-1990 - Songs
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 55:06
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
Hey! Here is another find! Elton's appearances singing songs on UK TV from 1983-1990. There are no interviews on this upload, but some to follow there will be! Just to give you an idea, there will be Elton on the Shazam! show in 1984 with some footage of him in China in 1983, having a Maori welcome to NZ in 1984 and much more! In this upload there is Elton performing Breaking Hearts on the Wogan show in 1985/1986, Too Low for Zero in 1983, Princes Trust Concerts 1986/1987 and a FANTASTIC NEVER SEEN BEFORE performance of Saturday Nights Alright (For Fighting) from 1988 plus more! Anyway, ENJOY!
http://wn.com/Elton_John_UK_TV_appearances_1983-1990_Songs
Hey! Here is another find! Elton's appearances singing songs on UK TV from 1983-1990. There are no interviews on this upload, but some to follow there will be! Just to give you an idea, there will be Elton on the Shazam! show in 1984 with some footage of him in China in 1983, having a Maori welcome to NZ in 1984 and much more! In this upload there is Elton performing Breaking Hearts on the Wogan show in 1985/1986, Too Low for Zero in 1983, Princes Trust Concerts 1986/1987 and a FANTASTIC NEVER SEEN BEFORE performance of Saturday Nights Alright (For Fighting) from 1988 plus more! Anyway, ENJOY!
- published: 06 Jul 2012
- views: 1436
- author: EltonStuff
61:40
Elton John Live london 1974 Full Concert !
Live at Hammersmith apolo...
published: 13 Sep 2012
author: Michael Jakson
Elton John Live london 1974 Full Concert !
Live at Hammersmith apolo
- published: 13 Sep 2012
- views: 22217
- author: Michael Jakson
77:05
ELTON JOHN | Live in Rome (Italy, 2005)
Tracklist: 1 - Pinball Wizard 2 - Daniel 3 - Rocket Man 4 - Sacrifice 5 - Sorry Seems to b...
published: 23 Jun 2012
author: MrSameEverynight
ELTON JOHN | Live in Rome (Italy, 2005)
Tracklist: 1 - Pinball Wizard 2 - Daniel 3 - Rocket Man 4 - Sacrifice 5 - Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word 6 - Candle in the Wind 7 - They Call Her the Cat 8 - Sad Songs 9 - Don´t Let the Sun Go Down on Me 10 - I´m Still Standing 11 - Bitch is Back 12 - Saturday Night is Alright 13 - Crocodrile Rock 14 - Your Song
- published: 23 Jun 2012
- views: 10266
- author: MrSameEverynight
4:48
Elton John - Your Song (live)
Elton John playing Your Song live at the Royal Opera House...
published: 03 Mar 2008
author: WhisperLady023
Elton John - Your Song (live)
Elton John playing Your Song live at the Royal Opera House
- published: 03 Mar 2008
- views: 2481940
- author: WhisperLady023
10:33
Rocket Man by Elton John Live at Ephesus
title says it all...
published: 25 Mar 2009
author: woicykinator
Rocket Man by Elton John Live at Ephesus
title says it all
- published: 25 Mar 2009
- views: 84446
- author: woicykinator
3:36
Elton John - Can you feel the love tonight Live (Rare Video)
Elton John - Can you feel the love tonight Live (Rare Video)...
published: 07 Feb 2009
author: EltonJ0hn
Elton John - Can you feel the love tonight Live (Rare Video)
Elton John - Can you feel the love tonight Live (Rare Video)
- published: 07 Feb 2009
- views: 7080082
- author: EltonJ0hn
108:50
2. Elton John (Live In Sydney: 12/14/1986) (Part 2: With The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra)
Here's a little treat for you all! I will be uploading the COMPLETE Sydney 1986 concert on...
published: 01 Apr 2011
author: GregsynthWizard
2. Elton John (Live In Sydney: 12/14/1986) (Part 2: With The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra)
Here's a little treat for you all! I will be uploading the COMPLETE Sydney 1986 concert on Youtube. Due to Youtube's generous lift of the time limit, I have divided the concert in two separate videos: One video is part 1 of the concert (the band), and the second video is part 2 of the concert (with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra). Also, in the future, I will upload the concert with just the audio (if you don't want to "watch" the concert). The video quality is pretty good, and I remastered the sound (EQ'ing and turning it from mono to stereo). The concert is epic: With over three hours of music, awesome showmanship, excellent musical performances, and Elton having a blast, this concert ranks highly among Elton John fans, and is generally considered one of Elton's best concerts! The only negative? Elton's voice is COMPLETELY FUCKING SHOT! The whole first part of the concert has him in terrible voice, and his vocal nodules cause him to inadvertently hit whistle notes, and hit as many as 20 notes at the same time (vocal nodules emit frequencies when struck). Some of Elton's worst-ever vocal performances are in the first part of the show. By the second part, his voice does improve slightly, and the roughness actually works on some songs ("The King Must Die," "Take Me To The Pilot," and "Your Song" are examples). PART 1: www.youtube.com Since the videos are so long, I will provide the set-list, and time-stamp every song: 0:00 = Cheering 1:30 = Sixty Years On 6:19 = Elton's ...
- published: 01 Apr 2011
- views: 31606
- author: GregsynthWizard
4:09
Elton John - Daniel - Live Edinburgh 1976
Elton John live at the Playhouse Theatre in Edinburgh Scotland 1976. Solo Piano Show....
published: 13 Feb 2009
author: godwhyisthistaken
Elton John - Daniel - Live Edinburgh 1976
Elton John live at the Playhouse Theatre in Edinburgh Scotland 1976. Solo Piano Show.
- published: 13 Feb 2009
- views: 421815
- author: godwhyisthistaken
4:53
Elton John Levon Live 1971
Elton John Levon Live 1971 I do not own this video...
published: 11 Oct 2010
author: katelibby88
Elton John Levon Live 1971
Elton John Levon Live 1971 I do not own this video
- published: 11 Oct 2010
- views: 137809
- author: katelibby88
73:46
1. Elton John (Live In Sydney: 12/14/1986) (Part 1: With The Band)
Here's a little treat for you all! I will be uploading the COMPLETE Sydney 1986 concert on...
published: 31 Mar 2011
author: GregsynthWizard
1. Elton John (Live In Sydney: 12/14/1986) (Part 1: With The Band)
Here's a little treat for you all! I will be uploading the COMPLETE Sydney 1986 concert on Youtube. Due to Youtube's generous lift of the time limit, I have divided the concert in two separate videos: One video is part 1 of the concert (the band), and the second video is part 2 of the concert (with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra). Also, in the future, I will upload the concert with just the audio (if you don't want to "watch" the concert). The video quality is pretty good, and I remastered the sound (EQ'ing and turning it from mono to stereo). The concert is epic: With over three hours of music, awesome showmanship, excellent musical performances, and Elton having a blast, this concert ranks highly among Elton John fans, and is generally considered one of Elton's best concerts! The only negative? Elton's voice is COMPLETELY FUCKING SHOT! The whole first part of the concert has him in terrible voice, and his vocal nodules cause him to inadvertently hit whistle notes, and hit as many as 20 notes at the same time (vocal nodules emit frequencies when struck). Some of Elton's worst-ever vocal performances are in the first part of the show. By the second part, his voice does improve slightly, and the roughness actually works on some songs ("The King Must Die," "Take Me To The Pilot," and "Your Song" are examples). PART 2: www.youtube.com Since the videos are so long, I will provide the set-list, and time-stamp every song: 0:00 = Funeral For A Friend 1:22 = One Horse Town (AKA ...
- published: 31 Mar 2011
- views: 12205
- author: GregsynthWizard
6:57
Elton John - Levon (Live in New York 2004)
Live at Radio City Music Hall New York City 2004...
published: 18 Jan 2008
author: Jimmy Rogers
Elton John - Levon (Live in New York 2004)
Live at Radio City Music Hall New York City 2004
- published: 18 Jan 2008
- views: 449350
- author: Jimmy Rogers
4:06
Elton John - Your song
It's a little bit funny this feeling inside I'm not one of those who can easily hide I don...
published: 25 Jan 2007
author: Lnaa
Elton John - Your song
It's a little bit funny this feeling inside I'm not one of those who can easily hide I don't have much money but boy if I did I'd buy a big house where we both could live If I was a sculptor, but then again, no Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show I know it's not much but it's the best I can do My gift is my song and this one's for you And you can tell everybody this is your song It may be quite simple but now that it's done I hope you don't mind I hope you don't mind that I put down in words How wonderful life is while you're in the world I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song It's for people like you that keep it turned on So excuse me forgetting but these things I do You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue Anyway the thing is what I really mean Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen
- published: 25 Jan 2007
- views: 36937956
- author: Lnaa
3:48
Elton John - Are You Ready For Love
Music video by Elton John performing Are You Ready For Love. (C) 2003 Mercury Records Limi...
published: 12 Dec 2012
author: EltonJohnVEVO
Elton John - Are You Ready For Love
Music video by Elton John performing Are You Ready For Love. (C) 2003 Mercury Records Limited
- published: 12 Dec 2012
- views: 25228
- author: EltonJohnVEVO
Vimeo results:
5:22
All Of The Lights
WARNING: This video has been identified by Epilepsy Action to potentially trigger
seizure...
published: 19 Feb 2011
author: Hadaya Turner
All Of The Lights
WARNING: This video has been identified by Epilepsy Action to potentially trigger
seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
Features: Kanye West (Rihanna, Elton John, Fergie, John Legend, The-Dream, Ryan Leslie,
Tony Williams, Charlie Wilson, La Roux’s Elly Jackson, Alicia Keys and Kid Cudi)
Director: Hype Williams
Lead Editor & MoGFX: Hadaya Turner
Release: 02.19.2011
2011 VMA Nominations:
**Best Editing**
Best Hip-Hop Video
Best Male Video
Best Collaboration
47:26
Megalightning
ENTIRELY NEW FORMS OF LIGHTNING HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED UP TO 1000 TIMES BIGGER THAN ANY BOLT...
published: 07 Jul 2011
author: dmptv
Megalightning
ENTIRELY NEW FORMS OF LIGHTNING HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED UP TO 1000 TIMES BIGGER THAN ANY BOLT PREVIOUSLY SEEN. WHILE NORMAL LIGHTNING FIRES DOWN BELOW CLOUDS, THESE GIANT BOLTS SHOOT UP, STUNNING EXPERTS WITH IMAGES OF LIGHTNING 80 KILOMETRES HIGH.
THIS LIGHTNING, SIX TIMES MORE POWERFUL THAN PASSENGER PLANES ARE DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND, MAY BE THE REAL KILLER IN A SPATE OF BAFFLING AIR DISASTERS.
Camera takes photo.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME WE CAN REVEAL THE PHOTOGRAPH THAT SPARKED A SECRET NASA ENQUIRY.
WAS THIS THE PROOF THAT A HIGH ALTITUDE LIGHTNING STRIKE CAUSED THE CRASH OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA?
Title card:
MEGA-LIGHTNING
NARRATOR:
EACH DAY, THE EARTH IS SHAKEN BY 8 MILLION BOLTS OF THE SKY'S MOST POWERFUL FORCE: LIGHTNING.
Bolt of lightning.
NARRATOR:
ENERGY FROM ONE BOLT EXPLODES IN SPLIT SECOND, BUT COULD POWER A HOUSEHOLD FOR HALF A YEAR. AT ANY TIME, 1800 STORMS PUMMEL OUR PLANET. EACH ONE IS A GIANT BATTERY. INSIDE A STORM, WATER TURNS TO HAIL. FAILLING ICE CRASHES ON RISING DROPLET, CREATING STATIC ELECTRICITY. CHARGES OF UP TO 100 MILLION VOLTS BUILD UP. ARCS OF ELECTRICITY FIRE OUT. THIS IS LIGHTNING. MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF ALL BOLTS FIRE WITHIN CLOUDS. BUT A HIGHLY CHARGED STORM WILL FIRE A CASCADE OF ELECTRICAL CHARGE TO EARTH, DRAWN TO THE HIGHEST POINT. A TREE OR A BLADE OF GRASS CAN TRIGGER LIGHTNING, OR EVEN A PERSON. EACH YEAR, 100O PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD DIE FROM DIRECT HIT. A LIGHTNING BOLT IS ONLY 3 CM WIDE. BUT AT 33,000 DEGREES CELCIUS, IT IS HOTTER THAN THE SURFACE OF THE SUN.
CGI lightning.
NARRATOR:
THIS HEAT EXPANDS THE SURROUNDING AIR, WHICH EXPLODES OUTWARDS AS THUNDER, THE SOUND OF LIGHTNING.
CGI lightning strike.
NARRATOR:
A LIGHTNING FLASH TRAVELS AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT; IT'S THUNDER TRAVELS MUCH SLOWER. THE SHORTER THE TIME BETWEEN THE FLASH AND THE THUNDER, THE CLOSER THE LIGHTNING BOLT. FEW CLOUD TO GROUND STRIKES ARE LONGER THAN THREE KILOMETRES. AND TEXTBOOKS SAID NO LIGHTNING COULD EXIST ABOVE THE CLOUDS.
Cloud to ground lighting with measuring rod.
Walt Lyons on balcony.
NARRATOR:
BUT THEN WEATHERMAN WALT LYONS AIMED HIS CAMERA ACROSS THE COLORADO PLAINS ON JULY 6, 1993.
Mountains through Walt's eye glasses
NARRATOR:
WHAT HE SAW OVERTURNED 200 YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC CERTAINTY IN AN INSTANT.
Green sprites images.
NARRATOR:
HE FILMED THESE VIDEO IMAGES. THEY SHOW LIGHTNING 80 KILOMETRES HIGH AND 40 KILOMETRES WIDE FIRING ABOVE THE CLOUDS. THEIR EXISTENCE HAD BEEN DISMISSED AS FANTASY. THEIR DISCOVERY SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON WHAT HAS BEEN CAUSING AIRPLANES TO FALL FROM THE SKY.
Sunrise.
Stuart Beecher lights a pipe.
NARRATOR:
THE DISCOVERY OF MEGA-LIGHTNING BEGAN WITH ORDINARY PEOPLE SEEING EXTRAORDINARY THINGS.
Stills of Beecher in name separated by light flashes.
NARRATOR:
IN 1969 STUART BEECHER WAS DEFENDING A MORTAR PIT OUTSIDE SAIGON IN SOUTH VIETNAM, WHEN A STORM BROKE.
Stuart Beecher:
There was this giant flash of lighting that reached from the ground through the base of the cloud, completed illuminated the cloud, and out the top from the ground, in this beautiful double helix pattern, that seemed to just go on forever. It was just like it was going straight into space.
Amateur photo of above cloud lightning.
STRAPLINE:
Photograph: Tudor Williams
NARRATOR:
THERE HAD EVEN BEEN PHOTOGRAPHS. THIS WAS TAKEN AT MT ISA IN AUSTRALIA, IN 1968. SCIENTISTS HAD IGNORED THE SIGHTINGS.
Skeet Vaughan flying.
NARRATOR:
SKEET VAUGHAN, A SENIOR NASA ENGINEER, MET A WITNESS WHO HAD SEEN GIANT LIGHTNING IN 1981. AS A TRAINED PILOT, VAUGHAN TOOK THE SIGHTING SERIOUSLY.
STRAPLINE:
Skeet Vaughan - NASA Engineer 1959-96
Skeet Vaughan:
I wrote an article in one of the flying magazines, and asked pilots to tell me if they'd seen any unusual lightning, or anything out of the ordinary. A number of pilots, about 19 of them, sent me letters telling me about this kind of a thing.
Pilot walks to letterbox.
NARRATOR:
PILOT LARRY PARTRIDGE WAS ONE OF THOSE WHO WROTE TO VAUGHN, REVEALING THAT HE'D SEEN GIANT LIGHTNING ABOVE THE CLOUDS GOING UP, AND NOT DOWN.
STRAPLINE:
Larry Partridge, pilot.
Larry Partridge:
All of a sudden, POW! Just a split second, this huge bolt of lightning came out of the top and disappeared into deep blue space. The captain turned to me and said, wide eyed, and said did you see that? And so I said yes, and so we turned and told the flight engineer, and he said, that's impossible. Lightning doesn't go up.
CGI blue jet.
Pilot Robin May flying.
STRAPLINE:
Robin May - pilot
Robin May:
A Strike of lightning appeared to come from the top of the cloud, went straight up, bright white, for ten or 15 thousand feet, then broke up into a lot of little fingers that went through the different colours of the spectrum, and disappeared off into space.
CGI of sprite to show what Larry sees through window of plane.
Skeet Vaughn:
But most of the pilots had said they'd never talk to people about this, they were somewhat reluctant to, in the case that they
4:26
Elton John - Rocket Man
Elton John - Rocket Man...
published: 22 Dec 2009
author: Background Noise
Elton John - Rocket Man
Elton John - Rocket Man
2:57
Jeremy Ball Deluxe Edit
Jeremy Ball Deluxe Edit. Filmed between 2010-2011.
Filmed By:
Jay Simmons
Jared Ball
Mik...
published: 22 Feb 2011
author: Tyler Deschaine
Jeremy Ball Deluxe Edit
Jeremy Ball Deluxe Edit. Filmed between 2010-2011.
Filmed By:
Jay Simmons
Jared Ball
Mike Lawless
Tyler Deschaine
Edited By:
Tyler Deschaine
Song:
Elton John - "The Cage"
Youtube results:
4:57
Elton John - Honky Cat (Live 1972)
Live from the Honky Chateau debut concert in London, Elton performs Honky Cat....
published: 10 Dec 2007
author: jinzoAgain
Elton John - Honky Cat (Live 1972)
Live from the Honky Chateau debut concert in London, Elton performs Honky Cat.
- published: 10 Dec 2007
- views: 448365
- author: jinzoAgain
6:17
Elton John and Billy Joel - Piano Man live
on the tonight show with jay leno...
published: 02 May 2010
author: eltonj4ever
Elton John and Billy Joel - Piano Man live
on the tonight show with jay leno
- published: 02 May 2010
- views: 1117384
- author: eltonj4ever
8:05
Elton John -- Someone Saved My Life Tonight (Live in Central Park)
From 1980 concert in Central Park New York....
published: 16 Aug 2009
author: davidincal1969
Elton John -- Someone Saved My Life Tonight (Live in Central Park)
From 1980 concert in Central Park New York.
- published: 16 Aug 2009
- views: 207274
- author: davidincal1969
61:40
Elton John Live london 1974 Full Concert !
Live at Hammersmith apolo...
published: 13 Sep 2012
author: Michael Jakson
Elton John Live london 1974 Full Concert !
Live at Hammersmith apolo
- published: 13 Sep 2012
- views: 22503
- author: Michael Jakson
21:01
ELTON JOHN - (COMPLETE) KENNEDY CENTER HONORS, 2004
ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. introduces ELTON JOHN at the 27th Kennedy Center Honors awards ceremony...
published: 18 Dec 2012
author: westlinngirl
ELTON JOHN - (COMPLETE) KENNEDY CENTER HONORS, 2004
ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. introduces ELTON JOHN at the 27th Kennedy Center Honors awards ceremony. Performers paying tribute to Elton are BILLY JOEL, FANTASIA, KID ROCK, and HEATHER HEADLEY. The other honorees this evening are Warren Beatty, Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee, Joan Sutherland, and John Williams. I have posted the other honorees separately. This is the year that Walter Cronkite relinquished his position as "Master of Ceremonies". See my video "Walter Cronkite 'surrenders' his position at Kennedy Center Honors to Caroline Kennedy".
- published: 18 Dec 2012
- views: 678
- author: westlinngirl
141:26
Elton John Live in Columbia September 20, 1992
Hey guys!! Here is brand new gig to go on YouTube, South Carolina on the 20th of September...
published: 06 Dec 2012
author: EltonStuff
Elton John Live in Columbia September 20, 1992
Hey guys!! Here is brand new gig to go on YouTube, South Carolina on the 20th of September 1992. The one Tour was Elton's first tour after rehabilitation in 1990, and this show is great! Unfortunately both the visual and audio quality is a little shaky, but I do hope you like this!! ENJOY!!!
- published: 06 Dec 2012
- views: 388
- author: EltonStuff
21:19
Elton John on The Tube - Interview and Performance 1985
Hi! This is an awesome interview, one of only two or three available from 1985, and then f...
published: 09 Nov 2012
author: EltonStuff
Elton John on The Tube - Interview and Performance 1985
Hi! This is an awesome interview, one of only two or three available from 1985, and then followed by three and a half songs- This Town, Sad Songs (Say So Much), Nikita and about two minutes of Burn Down The Mission! ENJOY!!
- published: 09 Nov 2012
- views: 564
- author: EltonStuff
114:41
Elton John. Basel 18 November 2006.
...
published: 22 Nov 2012
author: EltonJohnRussia EJR
Elton John. Basel 18 November 2006.
- published: 22 Nov 2012
- views: 1405
- author: EltonJohnRussia EJR
70:57
Elton John Love Songs Full Album
Sir Elton John's 1996 release, a compilation. I enjoy this album immensely, so I decided t...
published: 22 Sep 2012
author: JohnnysMusicLounge
Elton John Love Songs Full Album
Sir Elton John's 1996 release, a compilation. I enjoy this album immensely, so I decided to back up this timeless classic here. I figured there was no use in keeping the pictures continuous throughout the video, as it would only detract from focusing on what's important - the music. I apologize for the video skipping at the beginning, as I apparently set either the frame rate or the bitrate wrong; this does not affect the music at all. My goal is to keep the upload file small, and the music as close to 320kbps as possible. The music was downverted to 256 from 320 @ 44.1 kHtz, 23.98 fps, and 1280x720 resolution. ______________________________________ Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. ______________________________________ 01. Can You Feel The Love Tonight 00:00 - 04:00 02. The One 04:01 03. Sacrifice 09:57 04. Daniel 15:04 05. Someone Saved My Life Tonight 19:01 06. Your Song 25:47 07. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (Duet With George Michael) 29:51 08. Believe 35:40 09. Blue Eyes 40:23 10. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word 43:54 11. Blessed 47:44 12. Candle In The Wind 52:46 13. You Can Make History (Young Again) 56:48 14. No Valentines 01:01:44 15. Circle Of Life 01:05:55 ...
- published: 22 Sep 2012
- views: 31747
- author: JohnnysMusicLounge
108:45
Elton John- Live at Central Park (9.13.1980) [Full Concert]
1. Radio Intro- 0:00 2. Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting- 1:45 3. Little Jeannie- 8:3...
published: 01 Dec 2012
author: SuperDiamondDogs2
Elton John- Live at Central Park (9.13.1980) [Full Concert]
1. Radio Intro- 0:00 2. Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting- 1:45 3. Little Jeannie- 8:30 4. Bennie and the Jets- 14:24 5. Harmony- 24:14 6. White Lady White Powder- 27:01 7. Imagine- 30:55 8. Ego- 36:48 9. Someone Saved My Life Tonight- 40:32 10. Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding- 48:42 11. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word- 59:12 12. Satorial Eloquence- 1:03:05 13. Philadelphia Freedom- 1:07:53 14. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road- 1:13:09 15. Tiny Dancer- 1:16:18 16. Your Song- 1:23:20 17. Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance)- 1:28:43 18. All The Young Girls Love Alice- 1:34:46 19. Rocket Man- 1:39:42
- published: 01 Dec 2012
- views: 662
- author: SuperDiamondDogs2
91:56
Elton John Live by Requestt
"I WANT LOVE", composición musical administrado por: ©Warner Chappell One or more music pu...
published: 28 Nov 2012
author: alyanni
Elton John Live by Requestt
"I WANT LOVE", composición musical administrado por: ©Warner Chappell One or more music publishing rights collecting societies "DON'T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME", composición musical administrado por: One or more music publishing rights collecting societies © UMPG Publishing
- published: 28 Nov 2012
- views: 600
- author: alyanni
38:24
Elton John - Countdown to Elton John Australia 1986
This is an interesting upload, The Countdown to Elton's last concert of the Tour de Force ...
published: 28 Oct 2012
author: EltonStuff
Elton John - Countdown to Elton John Australia 1986
This is an interesting upload, The Countdown to Elton's last concert of the Tour de Force in Australia in 1986. Molly interviews some of the band members, and there is a great playback of Elton's career, containing some great footage! (my favorite is the one with the 2 foot high wobbly hat!) ENJOY!
- published: 28 Oct 2012
- views: 569
- author: EltonStuff
24:18
Elton John Countdown December 10th 1978
Hi! Here are some new interviews to YouTube - Countdown, a music show hosted by well known...
published: 12 Dec 2012
author: EltonStuff
Elton John Countdown December 10th 1978
Hi! Here are some new interviews to YouTube - Countdown, a music show hosted by well known Aussie TV personality Molly Meldrum. For each of these videos, Elton hosted the show and played a few numbers, there are many featured music videos in between, and so as not to have YouTube block the video, I have just cut out all the music videos and just put together Elton's parts - him in conversation with Molly and him performing tracks from his latest album. This show highlights the Single Man Album, and Elton plays a few tracks, such as Georgia (backed by Watford), Madness and Song for Guy. This is an an amusing interview, and Elton is in a fun mood! This is dedicated to Tate, who i hope will appreciate this upload! ENJOY!!!!
- published: 12 Dec 2012
- views: 104
- author: EltonStuff
89:04
Elton John - Le jeu de la vérité - The Truth Game 1986
Hi! This is another great interview from February 1986, on a show called the 'Truth Game'....
published: 31 Oct 2012
author: EltonStuff
Elton John - Le jeu de la vérité - The Truth Game 1986
Hi! This is another great interview from February 1986, on a show called the 'Truth Game'. Elton gets asked questions by callers and he answers them in English, but his words are being translated, so you really have to listen to try and catch the English!! Elton performs Nikita (lip synch) Candle in the Wind, lip synchs and dances to I'm Still Standing, and plays Song for Guy. ENJOY!!!
- published: 31 Oct 2012
- views: 496
- author: EltonStuff
45:59
FULL LP: Tumbleweed Connection by Elton John (1970) (BLOCKED IN GERMANY)
My favorite Elton John LP! Check out the excellent review at www.allmusic.com For lyrics g...
published: 05 Oct 2012
author: TheVinylBird
FULL LP: Tumbleweed Connection by Elton John (1970) (BLOCKED IN GERMANY)
My favorite Elton John LP! Check out the excellent review at www.allmusic.com For lyrics go to www.sing365.com My favorite songs on here are "Son Of Your Father", "Ballad Of A Well Known Gun" (Check out the cover by James Taylor's sister Kate Taylor), "Talking Old Soldiers", and "Country Comfort". Enjoy! 1. Ballad Of A Well-Known Gun (0:00) 2. Come Down In Time (4:52) 3. Country Comfort (8:12) 4. Son Of Your Father (13:14) 5. My Father's Gun (16:56) 6. Where To Now, St. Peter? (23:07) 7. Love Song (w/Lesley Duncan) (27:18) 8. Amoreena (30:52) 9. Talking Old Soldiers (35:43) 10. Burn Down The Mission (39:42)
- published: 05 Oct 2012
- views: 5857
- author: TheVinylBird
Vimeo results:
5:22
All Of The Lights
WARNING: This video has been identified by Epilepsy Action to potentially trigger
seizure...
published: 19 Feb 2011
author: Hadaya Turner
All Of The Lights
WARNING: This video has been identified by Epilepsy Action to potentially trigger
seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
Features: Kanye West (Rihanna, Elton John, Fergie, John Legend, The-Dream, Ryan Leslie,
Tony Williams, Charlie Wilson, La Roux’s Elly Jackson, Alicia Keys and Kid Cudi)
Director: Hype Williams
Lead Editor & MoGFX: Hadaya Turner
Release: 02.19.2011
2011 VMA Nominations:
**Best Editing**
Best Hip-Hop Video
Best Male Video
Best Collaboration
47:26
Megalightning
ENTIRELY NEW FORMS OF LIGHTNING HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED UP TO 1000 TIMES BIGGER THAN ANY BOLT...
published: 07 Jul 2011
author: dmptv
Megalightning
ENTIRELY NEW FORMS OF LIGHTNING HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED UP TO 1000 TIMES BIGGER THAN ANY BOLT PREVIOUSLY SEEN. WHILE NORMAL LIGHTNING FIRES DOWN BELOW CLOUDS, THESE GIANT BOLTS SHOOT UP, STUNNING EXPERTS WITH IMAGES OF LIGHTNING 80 KILOMETRES HIGH.
THIS LIGHTNING, SIX TIMES MORE POWERFUL THAN PASSENGER PLANES ARE DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND, MAY BE THE REAL KILLER IN A SPATE OF BAFFLING AIR DISASTERS.
Camera takes photo.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME WE CAN REVEAL THE PHOTOGRAPH THAT SPARKED A SECRET NASA ENQUIRY.
WAS THIS THE PROOF THAT A HIGH ALTITUDE LIGHTNING STRIKE CAUSED THE CRASH OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA?
Title card:
MEGA-LIGHTNING
NARRATOR:
EACH DAY, THE EARTH IS SHAKEN BY 8 MILLION BOLTS OF THE SKY'S MOST POWERFUL FORCE: LIGHTNING.
Bolt of lightning.
NARRATOR:
ENERGY FROM ONE BOLT EXPLODES IN SPLIT SECOND, BUT COULD POWER A HOUSEHOLD FOR HALF A YEAR. AT ANY TIME, 1800 STORMS PUMMEL OUR PLANET. EACH ONE IS A GIANT BATTERY. INSIDE A STORM, WATER TURNS TO HAIL. FAILLING ICE CRASHES ON RISING DROPLET, CREATING STATIC ELECTRICITY. CHARGES OF UP TO 100 MILLION VOLTS BUILD UP. ARCS OF ELECTRICITY FIRE OUT. THIS IS LIGHTNING. MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF ALL BOLTS FIRE WITHIN CLOUDS. BUT A HIGHLY CHARGED STORM WILL FIRE A CASCADE OF ELECTRICAL CHARGE TO EARTH, DRAWN TO THE HIGHEST POINT. A TREE OR A BLADE OF GRASS CAN TRIGGER LIGHTNING, OR EVEN A PERSON. EACH YEAR, 100O PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD DIE FROM DIRECT HIT. A LIGHTNING BOLT IS ONLY 3 CM WIDE. BUT AT 33,000 DEGREES CELCIUS, IT IS HOTTER THAN THE SURFACE OF THE SUN.
CGI lightning.
NARRATOR:
THIS HEAT EXPANDS THE SURROUNDING AIR, WHICH EXPLODES OUTWARDS AS THUNDER, THE SOUND OF LIGHTNING.
CGI lightning strike.
NARRATOR:
A LIGHTNING FLASH TRAVELS AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT; IT'S THUNDER TRAVELS MUCH SLOWER. THE SHORTER THE TIME BETWEEN THE FLASH AND THE THUNDER, THE CLOSER THE LIGHTNING BOLT. FEW CLOUD TO GROUND STRIKES ARE LONGER THAN THREE KILOMETRES. AND TEXTBOOKS SAID NO LIGHTNING COULD EXIST ABOVE THE CLOUDS.
Cloud to ground lighting with measuring rod.
Walt Lyons on balcony.
NARRATOR:
BUT THEN WEATHERMAN WALT LYONS AIMED HIS CAMERA ACROSS THE COLORADO PLAINS ON JULY 6, 1993.
Mountains through Walt's eye glasses
NARRATOR:
WHAT HE SAW OVERTURNED 200 YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC CERTAINTY IN AN INSTANT.
Green sprites images.
NARRATOR:
HE FILMED THESE VIDEO IMAGES. THEY SHOW LIGHTNING 80 KILOMETRES HIGH AND 40 KILOMETRES WIDE FIRING ABOVE THE CLOUDS. THEIR EXISTENCE HAD BEEN DISMISSED AS FANTASY. THEIR DISCOVERY SHEDS NEW LIGHT ON WHAT HAS BEEN CAUSING AIRPLANES TO FALL FROM THE SKY.
Sunrise.
Stuart Beecher lights a pipe.
NARRATOR:
THE DISCOVERY OF MEGA-LIGHTNING BEGAN WITH ORDINARY PEOPLE SEEING EXTRAORDINARY THINGS.
Stills of Beecher in name separated by light flashes.
NARRATOR:
IN 1969 STUART BEECHER WAS DEFENDING A MORTAR PIT OUTSIDE SAIGON IN SOUTH VIETNAM, WHEN A STORM BROKE.
Stuart Beecher:
There was this giant flash of lighting that reached from the ground through the base of the cloud, completed illuminated the cloud, and out the top from the ground, in this beautiful double helix pattern, that seemed to just go on forever. It was just like it was going straight into space.
Amateur photo of above cloud lightning.
STRAPLINE:
Photograph: Tudor Williams
NARRATOR:
THERE HAD EVEN BEEN PHOTOGRAPHS. THIS WAS TAKEN AT MT ISA IN AUSTRALIA, IN 1968. SCIENTISTS HAD IGNORED THE SIGHTINGS.
Skeet Vaughan flying.
NARRATOR:
SKEET VAUGHAN, A SENIOR NASA ENGINEER, MET A WITNESS WHO HAD SEEN GIANT LIGHTNING IN 1981. AS A TRAINED PILOT, VAUGHAN TOOK THE SIGHTING SERIOUSLY.
STRAPLINE:
Skeet Vaughan - NASA Engineer 1959-96
Skeet Vaughan:
I wrote an article in one of the flying magazines, and asked pilots to tell me if they'd seen any unusual lightning, or anything out of the ordinary. A number of pilots, about 19 of them, sent me letters telling me about this kind of a thing.
Pilot walks to letterbox.
NARRATOR:
PILOT LARRY PARTRIDGE WAS ONE OF THOSE WHO WROTE TO VAUGHN, REVEALING THAT HE'D SEEN GIANT LIGHTNING ABOVE THE CLOUDS GOING UP, AND NOT DOWN.
STRAPLINE:
Larry Partridge, pilot.
Larry Partridge:
All of a sudden, POW! Just a split second, this huge bolt of lightning came out of the top and disappeared into deep blue space. The captain turned to me and said, wide eyed, and said did you see that? And so I said yes, and so we turned and told the flight engineer, and he said, that's impossible. Lightning doesn't go up.
CGI blue jet.
Pilot Robin May flying.
STRAPLINE:
Robin May - pilot
Robin May:
A Strike of lightning appeared to come from the top of the cloud, went straight up, bright white, for ten or 15 thousand feet, then broke up into a lot of little fingers that went through the different colours of the spectrum, and disappeared off into space.
CGI of sprite to show what Larry sees through window of plane.
Skeet Vaughn:
But most of the pilots had said they'd never talk to people about this, they were somewhat reluctant to, in the case that they
4:26
Elton John - Rocket Man
Elton John - Rocket Man...
published: 22 Dec 2009
author: Background Noise
Elton John - Rocket Man
Elton John - Rocket Man
2:57
Jeremy Ball Deluxe Edit
Jeremy Ball Deluxe Edit. Filmed between 2010-2011.
Filmed By:
Jay Simmons
Jared Ball
Mik...
published: 22 Feb 2011
author: Tyler Deschaine
Jeremy Ball Deluxe Edit
Jeremy Ball Deluxe Edit. Filmed between 2010-2011.
Filmed By:
Jay Simmons
Jared Ball
Mike Lawless
Tyler Deschaine
Edited By:
Tyler Deschaine
Song:
Elton John - "The Cage"
Youtube results:
20:37
Elton John Parkinson Interview September 22 2001
Hi! Here is a chain of all of the Parkinson interviews with Elton over the years. These up...
published: 15 Oct 2012
author: EltonStuff
Elton John Parkinson Interview September 22 2001
Hi! Here is a chain of all of the Parkinson interviews with Elton over the years. These uploads are dedicated to napchier who requested that they were uploaded! ENJOY!!!
- published: 15 Oct 2012
- views: 1017
- author: EltonStuff
57:03
Elton John - Liquid Assets (documentary)
Elton's millions - lots of clips and interviews (BBC 2003)...
published: 18 Sep 2012
author: 1967ngre
Elton John - Liquid Assets (documentary)
Elton's millions - lots of clips and interviews (BBC 2003)
- published: 18 Sep 2012
- views: 2339
- author: 1967ngre
130:43
Elton John & Billy Joel: Face to Face in Tokyo, Japan 1998
Visit "Billy Joel: Completely Retold" on Facebook! www.facebook.com...
published: 18 Aug 2012
author: stoots24
Elton John & Billy Joel: Face to Face in Tokyo, Japan 1998
Visit "Billy Joel: Completely Retold" on Facebook! www.facebook.com
- published: 18 Aug 2012
- views: 10092
- author: stoots24
75:21
Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) Full Album
www.facebook.com Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) Re Uploading September 17, ...
published: 17 Sep 2012
author: kritikospa10
Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) Full Album
www.facebook.com Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) Re Uploading September 17, 2012 Track Listing 01 00:00 "Funeral for a Friend (Love Lies Bleeding)" 02 10:41 "Candle in the Wind" 03 14:29 "Bennie and the Jets" 04 19:50 "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" 05 23:04 "This Song Has No Title" 06 25:27 "Grey Seal" 07 29:25 "Jamaica Jerk-Off" 08 33:00 "I've Seen That Movie Too" 09 38:57 "Sweet Painted Lady" 10 42:48 "The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909--34)" 11 47:08 "Dirty Little Girl" 12 52:08 "All the Girls Love Alice" 13 57:13 "Your Sister Can't Twist (But She Can Rock 'n' Roll)" 14 59:56 "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" 15 01:04:27 "Roy Rogers" 16 01:08:52 "Social Disease" 17 01:12:33 "Harmony" All Music Review (Rating: 4.5/5) www.allmusic.com Wiki en.wikipedia.org RateYourMusic (Rating: 3.94/5) rateyourmusic.com
- published: 17 Sep 2012
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- author: kritikospa10
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Elton John, the quintessential rock keyboardist of the last five decades, will celebrate Yamaha's 125th anniversary by participating in a historical concert for its dealers on Friday, January 25th 2013 at Disneyland’s Hyperion Theater in Anaheim, California.View slideshow. Elton John on tour ... Elton John at the Senate Office Building on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC ... Michael Kovac/Getty Images for the Elton John AIDS Foundation....(size: 4.1Kb)
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What's coming in season 12 of "American Idol"? The judges, host and producers of the hit reality show presented a panel at the TCA winter press tour to let us know exactly what we can expect in the next few months of singing sensations and judge arguments ... 1 ... They will only come together when the top 10 are chosen. 2 ... 3 ... 4 ... 5 ... 6 ... 7 ... Keith Urban preferred American country music and performers like Elton John, Glenn Campbell and Alan Jennings ... ....(size: 3.6Kb)
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(PRWEB) January 08, 2013 Elton John, the marquee performer of our generation, will join Yamaha in celebrating its 125th anniversary by participating in an historic concert for its dealers on Friday, January 25, 2013 at Disneyland’s Hyperion Theater in Anaheim, California ... In 1992, he created the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and in February 1998, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II....(size: 5.7Kb)
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| Sir Elton John CBE |
|
|---|---|
 Elton John attending the premiere of The Union at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Reginald Kenneth Dwight |
| Born | (1947-03-25) 25 March 1947 (age 65) Pinner, Middlesex, England |
| Genres | Rock, R&B, pop rock, glam rock, soft rock |
| Occupations | Musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, composer |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano, keyboards, guitar |
| Years active | 1964–68 (Bluesology) 1969–present (Solo) |
| Labels | DJM, Uni, MCA, Geffen, Rocket/Island, Universal, Interscope, Mercury, UMG |
| Associated acts | Bernie Taupin, Tim Rice, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Kiki Dee, Billy Joel, George Michael, Eminem, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Neil Sedaka |
| Website | eltonjohn.com |
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor. He has worked with lyricist Bernie Taupin as his songwriter partner since 1967; they have collaborated on more than 30 albums to date.
In his four-decade career John has sold more than 250 million records, making him one of the most successful artists of all time.[1] His single "Candle in the Wind 1997" has sold over 33 million copies worldwide, and is the best selling single in Billboard history.[2] He has more than 50 Top 40 hits, including seven consecutive No. 1 US albums, 56 Top 40 singles, 16 Top 10, four No. 2 hits, and nine No. 1 hits. He has won six Grammy Awards, four Brit Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Tony Award. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him Number 49 on its list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.[3]
John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.[4] Having been named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1996, John received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for "services to music and charitable services" in 1998.[5]
He has been heavily involved in the fight against AIDS since the late 1980s.[6] In 1992, he established the Elton John AIDS Foundation and a year later began hosting the annual Academy Award Party, which has since become one of the most high-profile Oscar parties in the Hollywood film industry. Since its inception, the foundation has raised over $200 million.[7]
John entered into a civil partnership with David Furnish[8] on 21 December 2005 and continues to be a champion for LGBT social movements. In 2008, Billboard magazine ranked him as the most successful male solo artist on "The Billboard Hot 100 Top All-Time Artists" (third overall, behind only The Beatles and Madonna).[9]
Contents |
Life and career[link]
Early life[link]
John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947, the eldest child of Stanley and only child of Sheila Eileen Dwight (née Harris)[10][11][12] and was raised in Pinner, Middlesex in a council house of his maternal grandparents. His parents did not marry until he was 6 years old, when the family moved to a nearby semi-detached house.[13][14][15] He was educated at Pinner Wood Junior School, Reddiford School and Pinner County Grammar School, until age 17, when he left just prior to his A Level examinations to pursue a career in the music industry.[16][17][18]
When John began to seriously consider a career in music, his father, who served as a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, tried to steer him toward a more conventional career, such as banking.[16] John has stated that his wild stage costumes and performances were his way of letting go after such a restrictive childhood.[18] Both of John's parents were musically inclined, his father having been a trumpet player with the Bob Millar Band, a semi-professional big band that played at military dances.[18] The Dwights were keen record buyers, exposing John to the popular singers and musicians of the day, and John remembers being immediately hooked on rock and roll when his mother brought home records by Elvis Presley and Bill Haley & His Comets in 1956.[16][17]
John started playing the piano at the age of 3, and within a year, his mother heard him picking out Winifred Atwell's "The Skater's Waltz" by ear.[16][17] After performing at parties and family gatherings, at the age of 7 he took up formal piano lessons. He showed musical aptitude at school, including the ability to compose melodies, and gained some notoriety by playing like Jerry Lee Lewis at school functions. At the age of 11, he won a junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. According to one of his instructors, John promptly played back, like a "gramophone record", a four-page piece by Handel that he heard for the first time.[17]
For the next five years he attended Saturday classes at the Academy in central London, and has stated that he enjoyed playing Chopin and Bach and singing in the choir during Saturday classes, but that he was not otherwise a diligent classical student.[17] "I kind of resented going to the Academy", he says. "I was one of those children who could just about get away without practising and still pass, scrape through the grades."[17] He even claims that he would sometimes skip classes and just ride around on the Tube.[17] However, several instructors have testified that he was a "model student", and during the last few years he was taking lessons from a private tutor in addition to his classes at the Academy.[17]
John's mother, though also strict with her son, was more vivacious than her husband, and something of a free spirit. With Stanley Dwight uninterested in his son and often physically absent, John was raised primarily by his mother and maternal grandmother. When his father was home, the Dwights would have terrible arguments that greatly distressed their son.[17] When John was 14, they divorced.[19] His mother then married a local painter, Fred Farebrother, a caring and supportive stepfather whom John affectionately referred to as "Derf", his first name in reverse.[17] They moved into flat No. 1A in an eight-unit apartment building called Frome Court, not far from both previous homes. It was there that John would write the songs that would launch his career as a rock star; he would live there until he had four albums simultaneously in the American Top 40.[20]
Pub pianist to staff songwriter (1962–1969)[link]
See also: Bluesology
At the age of 15, with the help of his mother and stepfather, Reginald Dwight became a weekend pianist at a nearby pub, the Northwood Hills Hotel, playing Thursday to Sunday nights for £35 a week and tips.[21][22] Known simply as "Reggie", he played a range of popular standards, including songs by Jim Reeves and Ray Charles, as well as songs he had written himself.[23][24] A stint with a short-lived group called the Corvettes rounded out his time.[17]
In 1964, Dwight and his friends formed a band called Bluesology. By day, he ran errands for a music publishing company; he divided his nights between solo gigs at a London hotel bar and working with Bluesology. By the mid-1960s, Bluesology was backing touring American soul and R&B musicians like The Isley Brothers, Major Lance, Billy Stewart, Doris Troy and Patti LaBelle and The Bluebelles. In 1966, the band became musician Long John Baldry's supporting band and played 16 times at The Marquee Club.[25]
After failing lead vocalist auditions for King Crimson and Gentle Giant, Dwight answered an advertisement in the New Musical Express placed by Ray Williams, then the A&R manager for Liberty Records.[26] At their first meeting, Williams gave Dwight a stack of lyrics written by Bernie Taupin, who had answered the same ad. Dwight wrote music for the lyrics, and then mailed it to Taupin, beginning a partnership that still continues[update]. When the two first met in 1967 they recorded what would become the first Elton John/Bernie Taupin song: "Scarecrow". Six months later Dwight was going by the name "Elton John" in homage to Bluesology saxophonist Elton Dean and Long John Baldry.[23]
The team of John and Taupin joined Dick James's DJM Records as staff songwriters in 1968, and over the next two years wrote material for various artists, like Roger Cook and Lulu.[27] Taupin would write a batch of lyrics in under an hour and give it to John, who would write music for them in half an hour, disposing of the lyrics if he couldn't come up with anything quickly.[27] For two years, they wrote easy-listening tunes for James to peddle to singers. Their early output included a contender for the British entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1969, for Lulu, called "Can't Go On (Living Without You)". It came sixth of six songs. In 1969, John provided piano for Roger Hodgson on his first released recording, the single "Mr. Boyd" by Argosy, a quartet that was completed by Caleb Quaye and Nigel Olsson.[28][29]
During this period, John was also a session musician for other artists including playing piano on The Hollies' "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" and singing backing vocals for The Scaffold.[30]
[edit] Debut album to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1969–1973)
On the advice of music publisher Steve Brown, John and Taupin started writing more complex songs for John to record for DJM. The first was the single "I've Been Loving You" (1968), produced by Caleb Quaye, former Bluesology guitarist. In 1969, with Quaye, drummer Roger Pope, and bassist Tony Murray, John recorded another single, "Lady Samantha", and an album, Empty Sky.
For their follow-up album, Elton John, John and Taupin enlisted Gus Dudgeon as producer and Paul Buckmaster as musical arranger. Elton John was released in April 1970 on DJM Records/Pye Records in the UK and Uni Records in the USA, and established the formula for subsequent albums; gospel-chorded rockers and poignant ballads. The first single from the album, "Border Song", made into the US Top 100, peaking at Number 92. The second single "Your Song" made the US Top Ten, peaking at number eight and becoming John's first hit single as a singer. The album soon became his first hit album, reaching number four on the Billboard 200 album chart.[31]
Backed by ex-Spencer Davis Group drummer Nigel Olsson and bassist Dee Murray, John's first American concert took place at The Troubadour in Los Angeles in August 1970, and was a success.[32]
The concept album Tumbleweed Connection was released in October 1970, and reached the Top Ten on the Billboard 200. The live album 17-11-70 (11–17–70 in the US) was recorded at a live show aired from A&R Studios on WABC-FM in New York City. Sales of the live album were heavily hit in the US when an east coast bootlegger released the performance several weeks before the official album, including all 60 minutes of the aircast, not just the 40 minutes selected by Dick James Music.[33]
John and Taupin then wrote the soundtrack to the obscure film Friends and then the album Madman Across the Water, the latter reaching the Top Ten and producing the hit "Levon", while the soundtrack album produced the hit "Friends". In 1972, Davey Johnstone joined the Elton John Band on guitar and backing vocals. The band released Honky Chateau, which became John's first American number 1 album, spending five weeks at the top of the charts and spawning the hit singles "Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time)" (which is often compared to David Bowie's "Space Oddity") and "Honky Cat".[34]
The pop album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player came out at the start of 1973, and produced the hits "Crocodile Rock" and "Daniel"; the former became his first US Billboard Hot 100 number one hit.[35] Both the album and "Crocodile Rock" were the first album and single, respectively on the consolidated MCA Records label in the USA, replacing MCA's other labels including Uni.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road gained instant critical acclaim and topped the chart on both sides of the Atlantic, remaining at Number 1 for two months.[36] It also temporarily established John as a glam rock star. It contained the number 1 hit "Bennie and the Jets", along with the popular and praised "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Candle in the Wind", "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting", "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" and "Grey Seal" (originally recorded and released in 1970 as the B-side to the UK-only single, "Rock and Roll Madonna"). There is also a VHS and DVD as part of the Classic Albums series, discussing the making, recording, and popularity of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" through concert and home video footage including interviews.
[edit] Rocket Records to 21 at 33 (1974–1979)
John formed his own MCA-distributed label Rocket Records and signed acts to it – notably Neil Sedaka ("Bad Blood", on which he sang background vocals) and Kiki Dee – in which he took a personal interest. Instead of releasing his own records on Rocket, he opted for $8 million offered by MCA. When the contract was signed in 1974, MCA reportedly took out a $25 million insurance policy on John's life.[37]
In 1974 a collaboration with John Lennon took place, resulting in Elton John covering The Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and Lennon's "One Day at a Time", and in return Elton John and band being featured on Lennon's "Whatever Gets You thru the Night". In what would be Lennon's last live performance, the pair performed these two number 1 hits along with the Beatles classic "I Saw Her Standing There" at Madison Square Garden. Lennon made the rare stage appearance to keep the promise he made that he would appear on stage with Elton if "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" became a number 1 single.[38]
Caribou was released in 1974, and although it reached number 1, it was widely considered[39] a lesser quality album. Reportedly recorded in a scant two weeks between live appearances, it featured "The Bitch Is Back"[39] and the lushly orchestrated "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me".[39]
Pete Townshend of The Who asked John to play a character called the "Local Lad" in the film of the rock opera Tommy, and to perform the song "Pinball Wizard". Drawing on power chords, John's version was recorded and used for the movie release in 1975 and the single came out in 1976 (1975 in the US). The song charted at number 7 in England. Bally subsequently released a "Captain Fantastic" pinball machine featuring an illustration of John in his movie guise.
In the 1975 autobiographical album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, John revealed his previously ambiguous personality, with Taupin's lyrics describing their early days as struggling songwriters and musicians in London. The lyrics and accompanying photo booklet are infused with a specific sense of place and time that is otherwise rare in John's music. "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" was the hit single from this album and captured an early turning point in John's life.
The album's release signalled the end of the Elton John Band, as an unhappy and overworked John dismissed Olsson and Murray, two people who had contributed much of the band's signature sound and who had helped build his live following since the beginning.
According to Circus Magazine[40] a spokesman for John Reid (Connie Papas) said the decision was reached mutually via phone while Elton was in Australia promoting Tommy. She said there was no way John Reid could have fired them "because the band are not employed by John Reid, they're employed by Elton John."[40] She went on to say Nigel would be going back to his solo work and Dee would do session work "and possibly cut a solo album".[40]
Davey Johnstone and Ray Cooper were retained, Quaye and Roger Pope returned, and the new bassist was Kenny Passarelli; this rhythm section provided a heavier-sounding backbeat. James Newton-Howard joined to arrange in the studio and to play keyboards. John introduced the line-up before a crowd of 75,000 in London's Wembley Stadium.
The rock-oriented Rock of the Westies entered the US albums chart at number 1 like Captain Fantastic, a previously unattained feat. Elton John's stage wardrobe now included ostrich feathers, $5,000 spectacles that spelled his name in lights, and dressing up like the Statue of Liberty, Donald Duck, or Mozart, among others, at his concerts.[41][42]
To celebrate five years since he first appeared at the venue, in 1975 John played a two-night, four-show stand at The Troubadour. With seating limited to under 500 per show, the chance to purchase tickets was determined by a postcard lottery, with each winner allowed two tickets. Everyone who attended the performances received a hardbound "yearbook" of the band's history. That year he also played piano on Kevin Ayers' Sweet Deceiver, and was among the first and few white artists to appear on the black music series Soul Train on American television.[36] On 9 August 1975, John was named the outstanding rock personality of the year at the first annual Rock Music Awards at ceremonies held in Santa Monica, California.[43]
In 1976, the live album Here and There was released in May, followed by the Blue Moves album in October, which contained the single "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word". His biggest success in 1976 was "Don't Go Breaking My Heart", a duet with Kiki Dee that topped both the American and British charts. Finally, in an interview with Rolling Stone that year entitled "Elton's Frank Talk", John stated that he was bisexual.[44]
Besides being the most commercially successful period, 1970–1976 is also held in the most regard critically. Within only a three year span, between 1972 and 1975 John saw seven consecutive albums reach Number 1 in the charts, which had not been accomplished before.[36] Of the six Elton John albums to make the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in Rolling Stone'in 2003, all are from this period, with Goodbye Yellow Brick Road ranked highest at number 91; similarly, the three Elton John albums given five stars by Allmusic (Tumbleweed Connection, Honky Château, and Captain Fantastic) are all from this period too.
During the same period, John made a guest appearance on the popular Morecambe and Wise Show on the BBC. The two comics spent the episode pointing him in the direction of everywhere except the stage in order to prevent him singing.[45]
In November 1977 John announced he was retiring from performing; Taupin began collaborating with others. Now only producing one album a year, John issued A Single Man in 1978, employing a new lyricist, Gary Osborne; the album produced no singles that made the Top 20 in the US but the two singles from the album released in the UK, Part-Time Love and Song for Guy, both made the Top 20 in the UK with the latter reaching the Top 5. In 1979, accompanied by Ray Cooper, John became one of the first Western solo artists to tour the Soviet Union (as well as one of the first in Israel), then mounted a two-man comeback tour of the US in small halls. John returned to the singles chart with "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (number 9, 1979), a song originally rejected in 1977 by MCA before being released, recorded in 1977 with Philadelphia soul producer Thom Bell.[46] Elton reported that Thom Bell was the first person to give him voice lessons; Bell encouraged John to sing in a lower register. A disco-influenced album, Victim of Love, was poorly received. In 1979, John and Taupin reunited, though they did not collaborate on a full album until 1983's Too Low For Zero. 21 at 33, released the following year, was a significant career boost, aided by his biggest hit in four years, "Little Jeannie" (number 3 US), although the lyrics were written by Gary Osborne.
[edit] The 80s: The Fox to Sleeping with the Past (1981–1989)
His 1981 album, The Fox, was recorded in part during the same sessions as 21 at 33, and also included collaborations with Tom Robinson and Judie Tzuke. On 13 September 1980, John, with Olsson and Murray back in the Elton John Band, performed a free concert to an estimated 400,000 fans on The Great Lawn in Central Park in New York City. His 1982 hit "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)", came from his Jump Up! album, his second under a new US recording contract with Geffen Records.
He married his close friend and sound engineer, Renate Blauel on Valentine's Day 1984 – the marriage lasted three years.[47] The Biography Channel Special detailed the loss of Elton's voice in 1986 while on tour in Australia. Shortly thereafter he underwent throat surgery, which permanently altered his voice. Several non-cancerous polyps were removed from his vocal cords, resulting in a change in his singing voice.[48] In 1987 he won a libel case against The Sun which published allegations of sex with rent boys.[49]
With original band members Johnstone, Murray and Olsson together again, John was able to return to the charts with the 1983 hit album Too Low for Zero, which included "I'm Still Standing" and "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues", the latter of which featured Stevie Wonder on harmonica and reached number 4 in the US, giving John his biggest hit there since "Little Jeannie". He placed hits in the US Top Ten throughout the 1980s – "Little Jeannie" (number 3, 1980), "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (number 5, 1984), "Nikita" boosted by a mini-movie pop video directed by Ken Russell (number 7, 1986), a live orchestral version of "Candle in the Wind" (number 6, 1987), and "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" (number 2, 1988). His highest-charting single was a collaboration with Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder on "That's What Friends Are For" (number 1, 1985); credited as Dionne and Friends, the song raised funds for AIDS research. His albums continued to sell, but of the six released in the latter half of the 1980s, only Reg Strikes Back (number 16, 1988) placed in the Top 20 in the United States.
In 1985, Elton John was one of the many performers at Live Aid held at Wembley Stadium.[50] John played "Bennie and the Jets" and "Rocket Man"; then "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" with Kiki Dee for the first time in years; and introduced his friend George Michael, still then of Wham!, to sing "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me".[50] He enlisted Michael to sing backing vocals on his single "Wrap Her Up", and also recruited teen idol Nik Kershaw as an instrumentalist on "Nikita". John also recorded material with Millie Jackson in 1985. In 1986, he played the piano on two tracks on the heavy metal band Saxon's album Rock the Nations.
In 1988, he performed five sold-out shows at New York's Madison Square Garden,[51] giving him 26 for his career. Netting over $20 million, 2,000 items of John's memorabilia were auctioned off at Sotheby's in London.[52]
[edit] The 90s: "Sacrifice" to Aida (1990–1999)
In 1990, John finally achieved his first UK number one hit on his own, with "Sacrifice" (coupled with "Healing Hands") from the previous year's album Sleeping with the Past; it would stay at the top spot for six weeks.[53] The following year, John's "Basque" won the Grammy for Best Instrumental, and a guest concert appearance he had made on George Michael's cover of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" was released as a single and topped the charts in both the US and UK.[54] At the 1991 Brit Awards in London, Elton John won the award for Best British Male.[55]
In 1992 he released the US number 8 album The One, featuring the hit song "The One".[56][57] John and Taupin then signed a music publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music for an estimated $39 million over 12 years, giving them the largest cash advance in music publishing history.[58] In April 1992, John appeared at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium, performing "The Show Must Go On" with the remaining members of Queen, and "Bohemian Rhapsody" with Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses and Queen.[59] In September, John performed "The One" at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, and also closed the ceremony performing "November Rain" with Guns N' Roses.[60] The following year, he released Duets, a collaboration with 15 artists including Tammy Wynette and RuPaul. This also included a new collaboration with Kiki Dee, entitled "True Love", which reached the Top 10 of the UK charts.[61]
Along with Tim Rice, Elton John wrote the songs for the 1994 Disney animated film The Lion King, which became the 3rd highest-grossing animated feature of all time.[62] At the 67th Academy Awards ceremony, The Lion King provided three of the five nominees for the Academy Award for Best Song, which John won with "Can You Feel the Love Tonight".[63] Both that and "Circle of Life" became hit songs for John.[64][65] "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" would also win Elton John the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 37th Grammy Awards.[63] After the release of the The Lion King soundtrack, the album remained at the top of Billboard's charts for nine weeks. On 10 November 1999, the RIAA certified The Lion King "Diamond" for selling 15 million copies.[2]
In 1995 John released Made in England (number 3, 1995), which featured the single "Believe".[66] John performed "Believe" at the 1995 Brit Awards, and picked up the prize for Outstanding Contribution to Music.[67] A compilation called Love Songs was released in 1996.[68]
Early in 1997 John held a 50th birthday party, costumed as Louis XIV, for 500 friends. John also performed with the surviving members of Queen in Paris at the opening night (17 January 1997) of Le Presbytère N'a Rien Perdu De Son Charme Ni Le Jardin De Son Éclat, a work by French ballet legend Maurice Béjart which draws upon AIDS and the deaths of Freddie Mercury and the company's principal dancer Jorge Donn. Later in 1997, two close friends died: designer Gianni Versace was murdered; Diana, Princess of Wales died in a Paris car crash on 31 August.[69]
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Most of the lyrics of "Candle in the Wind 1997" were written to suit the circumstances of Diana, Princess of Wales' life and death
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In early September, John contacted his writing partner Bernie Taupin, asking him to revise the lyrics of his 1973 song "Candle in the Wind" to honour Diana, and Taupin rewrote the song accordingly.[70] On 6 September 1997, John performed "Candle in the Wind 1997" at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in Westminster Abbey.[71] The song became the fastest, and biggest-selling single of all time, eventually selling over 33 million copies worldwide.[2][72][73] The best-selling single in UK Chart history, it sold 4.86 million copies in the UK.[74] The best-selling single in Billboard history, and the only single ever certified Diamond in the United States, the single sold over 11 million copies in the U.S.[75][76] The song proceeds of approximately £55 million were donated to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. It would win John the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 40th Grammy Awards ceremony in 1998.[73] John has publicly performed "Candle in the Wind 1997" only once, at Diana's funeral, vowing never to perform it again unless asked by Diana's sons.[77]
In the musical theatre world, in addition to a 1998 adaptation of The Lion King for Broadway, John also composed music for a Disney production of Aida in 1999 with lyricist Tim Rice, for which they received the Tony Award for Best Original Score at the 54th Tony Awards,[78] and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album at the 43rd Grammy Awards.[79][80] The musical was given its world premiere in the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. It went on to Chicago and eventually Broadway. He also released a live compilation album called Elton John One Night Only – The Greatest Hits from the show he did at Madison Square Garden in New York City that same year.
2000 to present[link]
In 2000, John and Tim Rice teamed again to create songs for DreamWorks' animated film The Road to El Dorado. In August 2003, John scored his fifth UK number one single when "Are You Ready for Love" topped the UK Charts.[81] Returning again to musical theatre, John composed music for a West End Theatre production of Billy Elliot the Musical in 2005 with playwright Lee Hall. John's only theatrical project with Bernie Taupin so far is Lestat: The Musical, based on the Anne Rice vampire novels. However it was slammed by the critics and closed in May 2006 after 39 performances.[82]
John was named a Disney Legend for his numerous outstanding contributions to Disney's films and theatrical works on 9 October 2006, by The Walt Disney Company.[83] In 2006 he told Rolling Stone magazine that he plans for his next record to be in the R&B/hip-hop genre. "I want to work with Pharrell {Williams}, Timbaland, Snoop {Dogg}, Kanye {West}, Eminem and just see what happens."[84]
In March 2007 he performed at Madison Square Garden for a record breaking 60th time for his 60th birthday, the concert was broadcast live and a DVD recording was released as Elton 60 - Live at Madison Square Garden;[85] a greatest-hits compilation CD, Rocket Man – Number Ones, was released in 17 different versions worldwide, including a CD/DVD combo; and his back catalogue – almost 500 songs from 32 albums – became available for legal download.[86]
On 1 July 2007, Elton John appeared at the Concert for Diana held at Wembley Stadium in London, in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales, on what would have been her 46th birthday.[87] John opened the concert with "Your Song", and then closed the concert with his second performance, with "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting", "Tiny Dancer", and "Are You Ready For Love".[87]
In a September 2008 interview with GQ magazine, John said: "I’m going on the road again with Billy Joel again next year," referring to "Face to Face," a series of concerts featuring both musicians. The tour began in March and will continue for at least two more years.[88]
In October 2003, John announced that he had signed an exclusive agreement to perform 75 shows over three years at Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip. The show, entitled The Red Piano, was a multimedia concert featuring massive props and video montages created by David LaChapelle. Effectively, he and Celine Dion share performances at Caesars Palace throughout the year – while one performs, one rests. The first of these shows took place on 13 February 2004.[89] On 21 June 2008, he performed his 200th show in Caesars Palace. A DVD/CD package of The Red Piano was released through Best Buy in November 2008. A two year global tour was sandwiched between commitments in Las Vegas, Nevada, some of the venues of which were new to John. The Red Piano Tour closed in Las Vegas in April 2009.
Elton John performed a piano duet with Lady Gaga at the 52nd Grammy Awards.[90] On 6 June 2010, John performed at the fourth wedding of conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh for a reported US$1 million fee.[91] Eleven days later, and 17 years to the day after his last previous performance in Israel, he performed at the Ramat Gan Stadium; this was significant because of other then-recent cancellations by other performers in the fallout surrounding an Israeli raid on Gaza Flotilla the month before. In his introduction to that concert, Elton John noted he and other musicians should not "cherry-pick our conscience", in reference to Elvis Costello, who was to have performed in Israel two weeks after Elton did, but cancelled in the wake of the aforementioned raid, citing his [Costello's] conscience.[92][93]
John's latest studio album is entitled The Union and was released on 19 October 2010. John says his collaboration with American singer-songwriter and sideman Leon Russell marks a new chapter in his recording career, saying: "I don't have to make pop records any more."[94]
Elton John began his new show "The Million Dollar Piano" at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas on 28 September 2011.[95] John will be performing the show at Caesars for the next three years. John performed his 3000th concert on Saturday 8 October 2011 at Caesars.[96][97] In 2011, John performed vocals on Snowed in at Wheeler Street with Kate Bush for her 50 Words for Snow album.[98]
It was announced in March 2012 that Elton had recently completed work on his thirty-first album entitled The Diving Board. The album was produced by T-Bone Burnett and is set for release in the fall of 2012.[99][100] The album's release will be delayed until February 2013 for promotional reasons.[101]
Artistry[link]
Songwriting[link]
John has written with his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin since 1967 when he answered an advertisement for talent placed in the popular UK music publication, New Musical Express, by Liberty records A&R man Ray Williams.[102] The pair have collaborated on more than 30 albums to date.[103]
The 1991 film documentary Two Rooms described the writing style that John and Taupin use, which involves Taupin writing the lyrics on his own, and John then putting them to music, with the two never in the same room during the process. Taupin would write a set of lyrics, then mail them to John, wherever he was in the world, who would then lay down the music, arrange it, and record.[104] John is a fellow of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA).[105]
Music style[link]
John's voice was once classed as tenor; it is now baritone.[17] His piano playing is influenced by classical and gospel music.[106] He used Paul Buckmaster to arrange the music on his studio albums during the 1970s.[107]
Personal life[link]
Family[link]
In the late 1960s, John was engaged to be married to his first lover, secretary Linda Woodrow, who is mentioned in the song "Someone Saved My Life Tonight".[108][109] He married German recording engineer Renate Blauel on 14 February 1984, in Darling Point, Sydney, with speculation that the marriage was a cover for his homosexuality. John had come out as bisexual in a 1976 interview with Rolling Stone,[108][109] but after his divorce from Blauel in 1988 he told the magazine that he was "comfortable" being gay.[110]
In 1993, John began a relationship with David Furnish, a former advertising executive and now filmmaker. John and Furnish entered a civil partnership on 21 December 2005. They held a low-key ceremony at the Windsor Guildhall, followed by a lavish party at their Berkshire mansion,[111] thought to have cost £1 million.[112] Their son, Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, was born to a surrogate mother on 25 December 2010 in California.[113][114] John and Furnish chose Lady Gaga, magazine editor Ingrid Sischy, and Sichy's partner Sandy Brant as Zachary's godmothers.[115]
In September 2009, John announced his intention to adopt a 14-month-old boy, Lev, from an AIDS orphanage in Ukraine, but he was denied due to his age and marital status.[116] Furnish stated they would continue to financially support Lev and his brother and would campaign for a change in Ukrainian law.[117] John has ten known godchildren, including Sean Lennon, David and Victoria Beckham's sons Brooklyn and Romeo, Elizabeth Hurley's son Damian Charles, and the daughter of Seymour Stein.[118][119][120]
Wealth[link]
In April 2009, the Sunday Times Rich List estimated John's wealth to be £175 million (US$265 million), and ranked him as the 322nd richest person in Britain.[121] John was estimated to have a fortune of £195 million in the Sunday Times Rich List of 2011, making him one of the 10 richest people in the British music industry.[122] Aside from his main home "Woodside" in Old Windsor, Berkshire, John owns residences in Atlanta, Nice, London's Holland Park, and Venice. John is an art collector, and is believed to have one of the largest private photography collections in the world.[123]
In 2000, John admitted to spending £30 million in just under two years—an average of £1.5 million a month. Between January 1996 and September 1997, he spent more than £9.6m on property and £293,000 on flowers.[124] In June 2001 John sold 20 of his cars at Christie's, saying he didn't get the chance to drive them because he was out of the country so often.[125] The sale, which included a 1993 Jaguar XJ220, the most expensive at £234,750, and several Ferraris, Rolls-Royces, and Bentleys, raised nearly £2 million.[126] In 2003, John sold the contents of his Holland Park home—expected to fetch £800,000 at Sotheby's—in a bid to create more room for his collection of contemporary art which includes many works of art by Young British Artists such as Sam Taylor-Wood and Tracy Emin.[127] Every year since 2004, John has opened a shop called "Elton's Closet" in which he sells his second-hand clothes.[128]
Other[link]
Throughout his career, John has battled addictions to alcohol and cocaine. By 1975, the pressures of stardom had begun to take a serious toll on him. During "Elton Week" in Los Angeles that year, John suffered a drug overdose.[129] He also battled the eating disorder bulimia. In a CNN interview with Larry King in 2002, King asked if John knew of Diana, Princess of Wales' eating disorder. John replied, "Yes, I did. We were both bulimic."[130]
A longtime tennis enthusiast, John wrote the song "Philadelphia Freedom" in tribute to long-time friend Billie Jean King and her World Team Tennis franchise of the same name. John and King also co-host an annual pro-am event to benefit AIDS charities, most notably John's own Elton John AIDS Foundation, for which King is a chairwoman. John was coached by Donald Watt, who often toured with him during the 1980s & early 90's. Watt was a coach at David Lloyd Leisure and then operations director for it, then Next Generation Clubs[131] (now merged with David Lloyd). Watt was also close friends with Tim Henman,[132] and also David and John Lloyd. John, who maintains a part-time residence in Atlanta, Georgia, became a fan of the Atlanta Braves baseball team when he moved there in 1991.[133]
Watford Football Club[link]
John became chairman and director of Watford Football Club in 1976, appointing Graham Taylor as manager and investing large sums of money as the club rose three divisions into the First Division.[134] The pinnacle of the club's success was finishing runners up in the First Division in 1983 and reaching the FA Cup Final a year later. He sold the club to Jack Petchey in 1987, but remained their life-long president.[135] In 1997 he re-purchased the club from Petchey and once again became chairman. He stepped down in 2002 when the club needed a full-time chairman although he continued as president of the club.[135] Although no longer the majority shareholder, he still holds a significant financial interest. In June 2005 he held a concert at Watford's Vicarage Road ground, donating the funds to the club, and another concert in May 2010.[135] For a time[when?] he was also a part-owner of the Los Angeles Aztecs of the North American Soccer League.
AIDS Foundation[link]
Main article: Elton John AIDS Foundation
John has been associated with AIDS charities since the deaths of his friends Ryan White and Freddie Mercury, raising large amounts of money and using his public profile to raise awareness of the disease. For example, in 1986 he joined with Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder to record the single "That's What Friends Are For", with all profits being donated to the American Foundation for AIDS Research. The song won John and the others the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (as well as Song of the Year for its writers, Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager). In April 1990, John performed "Skyline Pigeon" at the funeral of White, a teenage haemophiliac he had befriended.
John founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992 as a charity to fund programmes for HIV/AIDS prevention, for the elimination of prejudice and discrimination against HIV/AIDS-affected individuals, and for providing services to people living with or at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. This cause continues to be one of his personal passions. In early 2006, John donated the smaller of two bright-red Yamaha pianos from his Las Vegas, Nevada show to auction on eBay to raise public awareness and funds for the foundation.
To raise money for his AIDS charity, John hosts annually a glamorous White Tie & Tiara Ball, to which many famous celebrities are invited. On 28 June 2007, the 9th annual White Tie & Tiara Ball took place. The menu consisted of a truffle soufflé followed by Surf and Turf (filet mignon with Maine lobster tail) and a giant Knickerbocker glory ice cream. An auction followed the dinner held by Stephen Fry. A Rolls Royce ‘Phantom’ drophead coupe and a piece of Tracey Emin's artwork both raised £800,000 for the charity fund, with the total amount raised reaching £3.5 million.[136] Later on in the event, John sang "Delilah" with Tom Jones and "Big Spender" with Shirley Bassey.[137] Tickets for the Ball cost £1,000 a head. The event raised £4.6 million for his AIDS Foundation in 2006.[138]
Activism[link]
On 1 April 2010, John joined Cyndi Lauper in the launch of her Give a Damn campaign to bring a wider awareness of discrimination of the LGBT community as part of her True Colors Fund.[139] In the advertisement, John states: "Imagine walking down the street and wondering if this is the day you'll get beaten up, or even killed, simply because of who you are".[139] The campaign is to bring straight people to stand up with the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered community and stop the discrimination. Other names included in the campaign are Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Mraz, Judith Light, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Kardashian, Clay Aiken, Sharon Osbourne, Kelly Osbourne, and Anna Paquin.[139]
He is an occasional columnist in The Guardian.[140]
Honours and awards[link]
John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1994. He and Bernie Taupin had previously been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992. John was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1995.[141] For his charitable work, John was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II on 24 February 1998. In October 1975, John became the 1,662nd person to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[142]
He became a recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor in 2004, and a Disney Legends Award in 2006. In 2010, Elton John was awarded with the PRS for Music Heritage Award, which was erected, on The Namaste Lounge Pub in Watford, where Elton performed his first ever gig.[143]
Music awards include the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from The Lion King (award shared with Tim Rice); the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song in 1994 for "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from The Lion King (award shared with Tim Rice); and the Tony Award for Best Original Score in 2000 for Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida (award shared with Tim Rice).
John has six Grammy Awards:
- 1987: Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "That's What Friends Are For", performed by Dionne Warwick & Friends (award shared with Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder)
- 1991: Best Instrumental Composition for "Basque", performed by James Galway
- 1994: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Can You Feel The Love Tonight"
- 1997: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Candle In The Wind" 1997
- 1999: Grammy Legend Award
- 2001: Best Musical Show Album for Elton John & Tim Rice's Aida (award shared with Guy Babylon, Paul Bogaev & Chris Montan (producers), Tim Rice (lyricist) and the original Broadway cast with Heather Headley, Adam Pascal, and Sherie Rene Scott)
Elton John Band[link]
Elton John Band members
- Current members
- Elton John – lead vocals, piano
- Nigel Olsson – drums, vocals
- Bob Birch – bass guitar, vocals
- Davey Johnstone – guitar, musical director, vocals
- John Mahon – percussion, vocals
- Kim Bullard – keyboards
- Tata Vega – lead backing vocals
- Rose Stone – backing vocals
- Lisa Stone – backing vocals
- Jean Witherspoon – backing vocals
- Ray Cooper – percussion
- Previous band members
- Guy Babylon – keyboards
- Tom Costello – drums
- David Hentschel – synthesizer
- Tony Murray – bass
- Roger Pope – drums, percussion
- Fred Mandel – keyboards, guitars
- Dee Murray – bass guitar, vocals
- James Newton Howard – conductor, keyboards, orchestrations
- Caleb Quaye – guitar, drums, percussion
- Kenny Passarelli – bass, background vocals
- Charlie Morgan – drums
- John Jorgenson – guitars, saxophone, pedal steel, mandolin, vocals
- David Paton – bass guitar, vocals
- Other notable contributors and guests
- Leon Russell – piano, vocals
- Gus Dudgeon – production
- Paul Buckmaster – orchestrations
- Lesley Duncan – acoustic guitar, vocals, background vocals
- Dusty Springfield – background vocals
- Rick Wakeman – organ
- Jean-Luc Ponty – electric violin
- Luther Vandross – vocals
- Kiki Dee – background vocals
- Bruce Johnston – vocals, background vocals
- Carl Wilson – vocals, background vocals
- Toni Tennille – vocals, background vocals
- Tower of Power – horns
- John Lennon (credited as Dr. Winston O' Boogie) – guitar
- Labelle – vocals, background vocals
- David Crosby – vocals, background vocals
- Graham Nash – vocals, background vocals
- London Symphony Orchestra
- London Philharmonic Orchestra
- Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- David Sanborn – saxophone
- David Paich – organ
- Jeff Porcaro – drums
- Pete Townshend – guitar
- Stevie Wonder – harmonica
- John Deacon – bass
- Nik Kershaw – electric guitar
- Freddie Hubbard – trumpet, flugelhorn
- Eric Clapton – vocals
- David Gilmour – guitar
- k.d. Lang – vocals
- P.M. Dawn – vocals
- Little Richard – vocals
- Don Henley – vocals
- Chris Rea – vocals
- Tammy Wynette – vocals
- Gladys Knight – vocals
- Paul Young – vocals
- Bonnie Raitt – vocals
- Leonard Cohen – vocals
- George Michael – vocals
- Deon Estus – bass
- Paul Carrack – organ
- Ricky Molina – drums, percussion
Since 1970, John's band, of which he is the pianist and lead singer, has been known as the Elton John Band.[144][145] The band has had multiple line-up changes, but Nigel Olsson, Davey Johnstone, and Ray Cooper have been members (albeit non-consecutively) since 1970 (Olsson) and 1972 (Johnstone and Cooper). Ray Cooper is on and off with the Elton John Band because he works with other musicians as a session and road-tour percussionist. Furthermore, John has also used a number of session musicians in the time of his career.
Discography[link]
Main article: Elton John discography
- Studio albums
- Empty Sky (1969)
- Elton John (1970)
- Tumbleweed Connection (1970)
- Madman Across the Water (1971)
- Honky Château (1972)
- Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973)
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)
- Caribou (1974)
- Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)
- Rock of the Westies (1975)
- Blue Moves (1976)
- A Single Man (1978)
- Victim of Love (1979)
- 21 at 33 (1980)
- The Fox (1981)
- Jump Up! (1982)
- Too Low for Zero (1983)
- Breaking Hearts (1984)
- Ice on Fire (1985)
- Leather Jackets (1986)
- Reg Strikes Back (1988)
- Sleeping with the Past (1989)
- The One (1992)
- Duets (1993)
- Made in England (1995)
- The Big Picture (1997)
- Songs from the West Coast (2001)
- Peachtree Road (2004)
- The Captain & the Kid (2006)
- The Union (with Leon Russell) (2010)
- The Diving Board (2013)
- Soundtracks, scores & theatre albums
- Friends (1971)
- The Lion King (1994)
- Aida (1998)
- The Muse (1999)
- The Road to El Dorado (2000)
- Billy Elliot (2005)
- Lestat (2005)
- Gnomeo & Juliet (2011)
- Films
- Elton John: Me, Myself & I (2007) autobiography as himself
- The Country Bears, US (2002) as himself
- Spice World, UK (1997) as himself
- Tommy, UK (1975) as Pinball Wizard
- Born to Boogie, US playing as himself with Marc Bolan and Ringo Starr
References[link]
- ^ "Elton John News on Yahoo! Music". Music.yahoo.com. http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/18137562. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
- ^ a b c "The American Recording Industry Announces its Artists of the Century". RIAA. http://www.riaa.com/newsitem.php?news_year_filter=1999&resultpage=2&id=3abf3ec8-ef5b-58f9-e949-3b57f5e313df. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
- ^ "The Immortals: The First Fifty". Rolling Stone Issue 946. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty.
- ^ "Elton John: inducted in 1994 | The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum". Rockhall.com. 25 March 1947. http://rockhall.com/inductees/elton-john. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
- ^ "About: All About Elton: Bio". Elton John. http://www.eltonjohn.com/about/bio.jsp. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
- ^ "Elton John AIDS Foundation". Ejaf.org. http://www.ejaf.org/. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
- ^ "Elton John on his idol, Leon Russell". Reuters. Retrieved 30 May 2012
- ^ Bachelor, Blane (18 February 2010). "Elton John and Partner David Furnish Fell in Love 'Very Quickly' – Couples, Elton John". People. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20345467,00.html. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
- ^ "Billboard Hot 100 Chart 50th Anniversary". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/specials/hot100/charts/top100-artists-20.shtml. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
- ^ "'I Have So Much More To Do'". Parade. 21 February 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
- ^ "Elton John Rock's Captain Fantastic". 7 July 1975. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
- ^ "Sir Elton John's Hollywood Pad". omg! 21 December 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
- ^ "55 Pinner Hill Road – On This Very Spot". On This Very Spot. 25 March 1947. http://www.onthisveryspot.com/spot/Elton_John_Birthplace. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
- ^ Barratt, Nick (24 November 2006). "Family detective: Elton John – Telegraph". London: Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/exclusions/familyhistory/fheltonjohn.xml. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
- ^ "111 Potter Street – On This Very Spot". On This Very Spot. 15 July 2007. http://www.onthisveryspot.com/spot/111_Potter_Street. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
- ^ a b c d Elton John, Philip Norman, Fireside, 1991
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l His Song: The Musical Journey of Elton John, Elizabeth Rosenthal, Billboard Books, 2001
- ^ a b c Goodall, Nigel (1993). Elton John: The Visual Documentary. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-3078-3.
- ^ Sir Elton John: From football clubs and drug addiction to Princess Diana's funeral Daily Mail. Retrieved 25 August 2011
- ^ "Frome Court – On This Very Spot". On This Very Spot. 3 April 2007. http://www.onthisveryspot.com/spot/EJ_Frome_Court. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
- ^ Atlanta Magazine. Google Books. 2003-06. http://books.google.com/?id=qOECAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA76&dq=%22Northwood+Hills+Hotel%22&cd=4#v=onepage&q=%22Northwood%20Hills%20Hotel%22. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
- ^ "Northwood Hills Pub – On This Very Spot". onthisveryspot.com. http://www.onthisveryspot.com/find/spot.php?spot_web_name=Northwood_Hills_Pub. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
- ^ a b "Elton John". Spectacle. episode 1. season 1. 2008. http://www.sundancechannel.com/films/500328605.
- ^ Claude Bernardin, Tom Stanton, Rocket man: Elton John from A-Z, page 70. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1996, ISBN 0-275-95698-9. 1996-01. ISBN 978-0-275-95698-1. http://books.google.com/?id=udJV_IQ86GgC&pg=PA70&dq=%22Northwood+Hills+Pub%22&cd=1#v=onepage&q=%22Northwood%20Hills%20Pub%22. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
- ^ "The Marquee Club: Long John Baldry – Biography". themarqueeclub.net. http://www.themarqueeclub.net/long-john-baldry. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
- ^ "King Crimson FAQ". Elephant Talk (archived page from elephant-talk.com). Archived from the original on 28 August 2005. http://web.archive.org/web/20050828134638/www.elephant-talk.com/faq/et-faq.txt. Retrieved 20 September 2007.
- ^ a b Vinita (2005). Profiles in Popular Music. Sura Books. p. 79. ISBN 978-81-7478-638-8.
- ^ Joynson, Vernon (1995). The Tapestry of Delights. London: Borderline Books. See entry on "Argosy".
- ^ Roger Hodgson of Supertramp. CTV News. 11 June 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
- ^ In his 1981 book "Thank U Very Much – Mike McCartney's Family Album" Scaffold singer Mike McGear (McCartney) describes a meeting with John during which John advises him he used to sing background vocals for the group.
- ^ Claude Bernardin, Tom Stanton (1996) Rocket man: Elton John from A-Z Greenwood Publishing Group, 1996
- ^ Rocket man: Elton John from A-Z. Google Books. 1996-01. ISBN 978-0-275-95698-1. http://books.google.com/?id=udJV_IQ86GgC&pg=PA152&dq=elton+john+first+American+concert+The+Troubadour&q=elton%20john%20first%20American%20concert%20The%20Troubadour. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
- ^ Heylin, Clinton (1996). Bootleg: The Secret History of the Other Recording Industry. New York: St. Martin's Griffin. p. 66. ISBN 0-312-14289-7.
- ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine Honky Chateau (Bonus Track) – Elton John All Music
- ^ Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. p. 46. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
- ^ a b c Redbeard (2009). "Elton John –Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". In the Studio With Redbeard, Interviews With Famous Musicians. Barbarosa Ltd. Production. pp. Studio Interview with Elton John. http://www.inthestudio.net/. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
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- ^ John, Elton (23 July 2008). "<img class="contributor-pic" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/11/3/1320345420185/Elton_John.jpg" alt="Picture of Elton John" title="Elton John" />". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/eltonjohn.
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- ^ Mike Clifford, Pete Frame (1992). The Harmony Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock. p. 88. Harmony Books, 1992
- Bibliography
- Goodall, Nigel. Elton John: A Visual Documentary, Omnibus Press, 1993. ISBN 0-7119-3078-3
- Rosenthal, Elizabeth. His Song: The Musical Journey of Elton John, Billboard Books, 2001. ISBN 0-8230-8892-8
External links[link]
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Book: Elton John |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Elton John |
Quotations related to Elton John at Wikiquote
- Elton John's official website
- Elton John at the Internet Movie Database
- Commentary by Elton John (The Guardian)
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | John, Elton |
| Alternative names | Reginald Kenneth Dwight |
| Short description | English musician |
| Date of birth | 25 March 1947 |
| Place of birth | Pinner, Middlesex, UK |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
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Wiki Summary
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor. He has worked with lyricist Bernie Taupin as his songwriter partner since 1967; they have collaborated on more than 30 albums to date.
In his four-decade career John has sold more than 250 million records, making him one of the most successful artists of all time. His single "Candle in the Wind 1997" has sold over 33 million copies worldwide, and is the best selling single in Billboard history. He has more than 50 Top 40 hits, including seven consecutive No. 1 US albums, 56 Top 40 singles, 16 Top 10, four No. 2 hits, and nine No. 1 hits. He has won six Grammy Awards, four Brit Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Tony Award. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him Number 49 on its list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.
John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Having been named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1996, John received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for "services to music and charitable services" in 1998.
