recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Queen Latifah

**Dana Elaine Owens** (born March 18, 1970),[2] professionally known by her stage name **Queen Latifah**, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, model, television producer, record producer, comedienne, and talk show host. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1989. In November 1989, she had released her debut album *All Hail the Queen* (1989), featuring the hit single "Ladies First" with Monie Love. Latifah released her second album *Nature of a Sista* (1991), which was her final album with Tommy Boy Records.

In 1993, Latifah starred as Khadijah James on the FOX sitcom *Living Single*, from 1993 to 1998. Her third album *Black Reign* (1993), which went gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and peaked at number 60 on the *Billboard 200* chart. The album also includes the hit single "U.N.I.T.Y." which won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1994 and hit the *Billboard* Hot 100. Latifah starred in the lead role of *Set It Off* (1996) as Cleopatra "Cleo" Sims, alongside Jada Pinkett-Smith. Between 1996 and 2000, controversy between Latifah and Foxy Brown received widespread media attention. She released her fourth album in 1998 *Order in the Court* (1998) with Motown Records. Queen Latifah gained mainstream success after appearing in *Chicago* (2002) as Matron "Mama" Morton and she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, losing to Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Latifah released her fifth album *The Dana Owens Album* (2004), which peaked number 16 on the *Billboard 200* chart. She had appeared in a number of films after *Chicago* such as, *Bringing Down the House* (2003), *Taxi* (2004), *Barbershop 2: Back in Business* (2005), *Beauty Shop* (2005), *Last Holiday* (2006), and *Hairspray* (2007). In 2007 to 2009, she released two more studio albums, *Trav'lin' Light* (2007), which received a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, and *Persona* (2009). In 2012, Latifah co-starred in *Joyful Noise* (2012) as Vi Rose Hill, with Dolly Parton and Keke Palmer. Queen Latifah created *The Queen Latifah Show* which ran from late 2013 to early 2015. Latifah played blues singer Bessie Smith in the HBOfilm *Bessie* (2015).

She has long been considered one of hip-hop's pioneer feminists.[3] Queen Latifah has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006. Her work in music, film, and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two NAACP Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, three Emmy Award nominations (with one win as producer) and an Academy Award nomination.

## Parody

In popular internet cartoon Homestar Runner, character Coach Z dresses as Queen Latifah for Halloween in their 2006 special.
Lesley Gore

**Lesley Sue Goldstein** (May 2, 1946 – February 16, 2015), better known as **Lesley Gore**, was an American singer, songwriter, actress, and activist. At the age of 16, in 1963, she recorded thepop hit "It's My Party", and followed it up with other hits including "Judy's Turn to Cry", "You Don't Own Me", and "California Nights".

Gore also worked as an actress and composed songs with her brother Michael Gore for the 1980 film *Fame*, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award.[1] She hosted an LGBT-oriented public television show, *In the Life*, on American TV in the 2000s, and was active until 2014.
Peter and Gordon

**Peter and Gordon** were a British pop duo, comprising Peter Asher (b. 1944) and Gordon Waller (1945–2009), who achieved international fame in 1964 with their first single, the million-selling transatlantic No.1 smash "A World Without Love." The duo had several subsequent hits in the so-called British Invasion-era.

Ten top forty hits, with several more making the Hot 100. Asher went on to work with James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt as well as 10,000 Maniacs and Diana Ross.

Peter and Gordon participated in a tribute concert to Mike Smith of The Dave Clark Five. Also commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper.
Guns N' Roses

## Info

Guns N Roses is a legendary sleaze metal band formed by a merger of metal acts Axl Rose and L.A. Guns. Responsible for reviving the "dirty" style of metal after many years of party rock. Member Slash co-performed at Super Bowl XLV. All of their studio albums have gone at least platinum, with *Appetite for Destruction* going diamond. Their only live album went gold. Both compilation albums went platinum. Numerous hit singles, several going at least gold. Covered Bob Dylan. Performed the theme song to James Bond film *Live and Let Die.* Several characters in the Capcom *Mega Man* series were named after members of Guns N Roses.

## Songs

Sweet Child O' Mine

November Rain

Welcome to the Jungle

Paradise City

Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Live and Let Die

## Parody

Popular internet cartoon Homestar Runner has referenced Guns N Roses several times.

## Influences

Bob Dylan

Paul McCartney
Kid Rock

**Robert James Ritchie** (born January 17, 1971), known by his stage name **Kid Rock**, is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor. His 1998 studio album *Devil Without a Cause* sold 13 million copies worldwide. He is a five-time Grammy Award nominee and has sold 25 million albums in the U.S. according to Nielsen SoundScan. The RIAA certified him selling 23.5 million albums. He was Soundscan's number-one selling male solo musician of the 2000s, selling 17.6 million albums; he was 17th overall for the decade, and he has sold over 35 Million Records Worldwide.

Rock performed rap and hip hop with five releases between 1990 and 1997, including a reissue and an EP. After signing a recording contract with Atlantic Records in 1998, he gained commercial success in the rap rock genre behind the singles "Bawitdaba", "Cowboy" and "Only God Knows Why" (the latter foreshadowing his move into country rock). After the success of*Devil Without a Cause* in 2000, he released *The History of Rock,* a compilation of remixed and remastered versions of songs from previous albums as well as the hit rock single, "American Bad Ass".

Rock's follow-up records became more rock-, country-, and blues-oriented, starting with 2001's *Cocky*. His collaboration with Sheryl Crow on the song "Picture" was his first country hit and biggest pop hit in the US to date charting at No. 4 on the Hot 100.[1] After 2003's *Kid Rock* and 2006's *Live Trucker* sales declined from the previous releases, he then released *Rock n Roll Jesus* in 2007. The album featured the song "All Summer Long", which charted at No. 1 in eight countries across Europe and Australia.[2][3] In 2010, he released *Born Free*, which featured an eponymous song that became the political campaign theme of Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee for President of the United States in the 2012 election.

Rock released *Rebel Soul* on November 19, 2012 behind the rock hit "Let's Ride". The album was certified gold in April 2013. Kid Rock released "First Kiss" on February 24, 2015 behind the hit title track.
Johnny Cash

## Info

Legendary country musician considered to be one of the greatest of all time. His *Folsom Prison Blues* references an actual state penitentiary near Sacramento, California, and was even performed live there. His *Ring of Fire* uses a Latin horn sound and was successfully covered by punk band Social Distortion. The film *Walk the Line* was based on his life. His birth name was J.R. Cash, but had to adopt a real name in order to join the military. He has been inducted into many halls of fame. A Broadway musical based on his life named *Ring of Fire* debuted in 2006, but was a failure.
Leon Russell

## Info

Leon Russell is an American singer-songwriter best known for his work as a sideman and session musician. Worked for Elton John. Songwriters Hall of Fame. Played with Jan and Dean, George Harrison, Gram Parsons, Ringo Starr, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, The Byrds, The Beach Boys, The Ventures, Willie Nelson, Badfinger, Frank Sinatra, The Band, Bob Dylan, J.J. Cale, B.B. King, Glen Campbell, Joe Cocker, and The Rolling Stones. Co-wrote the song *Superstar*, later a hit for Sonic Youth. The Temptations named an album after one of his songs. Participated in the Concert for Bangladesh. Collaborated with Freddie King. Wrote other songs which became hits for other artists. Covered several artists he worked with. Some covered him. Appeared on the *David Letterman Show*. Influenced Pixies. Five gold albums, with several others being hits. His *Best of* went gold. Several hit singles. First inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to receive the Award for Musical Excellence, which replaced the sidemen category.

## Genres

Country

Folk Rock

R&B
Jimmie Rodgers

## Info

Country musician known as "The Father of Country". Inducted into several halls of fame even up to recent years. Has been honored, covered, and tributed many times. Noted for his yodeling. Influenced countless artists and became the first Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee in the Early Influence category.
Pat Boone

**Charles Eugene "Pat" Boone**[1] (born June 1, 1934) is an American singer, composer, actor, writer, television personality, motivational speaker, and spokesman. He was a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He sold over 45 million albums, had 38 Top 40 hits and appeared in more than 12 Hollywood films.

According to *Billboard*, Boone was the second biggest charting artist of the late 1950s, behind only Elvis Presley but ahead of Ricky Nelson and the Platters, and was ranked at No. 9—behind the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney but ahead of artists such as Aretha Franklin and the Beach Boys—in its listing of the Top 100 Top 40 Artists 1955–1995.[2] Boone still holds the *Billboard* record for spending 220 consecutive weeks on the charts with one or more songs each week.

At the age of twenty-three, he began hosting a half-hour ABC variety television series, *The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom,* which aired for 115 episodes (1957–1960). Many musical performers, including Edie Adams, Andy Williams, Pearl Bailey and Johnny Mathis made appearances on the show. His cover versions of rhythm and blues hits had a noticeable effect on the development of the broad popularity of rock and roll. In 1955 Elvis Presley was the opening act for a show in Cleveland starring Pat Boone.[3]

As an author, Boone had a No. 1 bestseller in the 1950s (*Twixt Twelve and Twenty*, Prentice-Hall). In the 1960s, he focused on gospel music and is a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. He continues to perform and speak as a motivational speaker, a television personality, and a conservative political commentator.
Iron Butterfly

## Info

Psychedelic rock band known for their hit *In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida*. During the initial recordings, the lyric was "In the garden of eden", but the line changed due to the frontman's slurred speech. The album and live versions are over ten minutes long. They are credited with inventing "stoner metal", a fusion of hard rock and psychedelic rock considered the original heavy metal. Their name being *Iron* Butterfly is considered related to this. Despite their significance they have yet to even be nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

## Genres

Psychedelic rock

Stoner Metal
Joe Satriani

**Joseph** "**Joe**" **Satriani** (born July 15, 1956) is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. Early in his career, Satriani worked as a guitar instructor, with many of his former students achieving fame, such as Steve Vai, Larry LaLonde, Rick Hunolt, Kirk Hammett, Andy Timmons, Charlie Hunter, Kevin Cadogan, and Alex Skolnick; he then went on to have a successful solo music career. He is a 15-time Grammy Award nominee and has sold over 10 million albums, making him the biggest-selling instrumental rock guitarist of all time.

In 1988, Satriani was recruited by Mick Jagger as lead guitarist for his first solo tour. Satriani briefly toured with Deep Purple as the lead guitarist, joining shortly after the departure of Ritchie Blackmore in November 1993. He has worked with a range of guitarists during the G3 tour, which he founded in 1995. His G3 collaborators have included Vai, LaLonde, Timmons, Steve Lukather, John Petrucci, Eric Johnson, Yngwie Malmsteen, Brian May, Patrick Rondat, Paul Gilbert, Adrian Legg, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Steve Morse and Robert Fripp. Satriani has been the guitarist for the supergroup Chickenfoot since joining the band in 2008.

## Parody

He is referenced twice in popular internet cartoon Homestar Runner
Kajagoogoo

**Kajagoogoo** /kædʒəˈɡuːɡuː/ are a British new wave band, best known for their hit single, "Too Shy", which reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart,[1] No. 5 on the US *Billboard* Hot 100 in 1983, and No. 8 on the Canadian RPM Magazine charts. Their name comes from baby talk. Phenomenal in Europe, although their album *White Flowers* made the top forty in the US.
AC/DC

## Info

AC/DC is an Australian hard rock band having its origins in blues rock. Originally led by Bon Scott until he died in 1980. Scott was replaced by Brian Johnson. They refuse to refer to themselves as metal. The name was inspired by a label they saw on a sewing machine. Their "For Those About to Rock" was based on a quote expressed by Roman soldiers to Julius Caesar before they went off to combat. Modern hard rock band Airbourne takes heavy influence from AC/DC, and even originate in Australia themselves. Most of their albums have gone at least gold. *Back in Black* went double diamond. Their extended play *'74 Jailbreak* went platinum. Most of their live albums went platinum. Soundtrack album *Who Made Who* went five times platinum while *Iron Man 2* went gold. Box set *Bonfire* went platinum. Numerous hit singles. *Who Made Who* video album went gold. *Live at Donington* went six times platinum. *No Bull* went five times platinum. *Stiff Upper Lip Live* went gold. *Family Jewels* went diamond. *Plug Me In* went five times platinum.

## Genres

Hard Rock

Blues Rock

## Songs

Thunderstruck

Highway to Hell

Back in Black

You Shook Me All Night Long

Hells Bells

TNT

Shoot to Thrill

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

For Those About to Rock

It's a Long Way to the Top

Who Made Who

Moneytalks

The Jack

Touch Too Much

If You Want Blood

Shot Down in Flames

Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution

Have a Drink on Me

## Parody

Popular internet cartoon Homestar Runner has parodied AC/DC several times.
Molly Hatchet

## Info

Molly Hatchet is a Southern metal band from the seventies who provided a major contribution to the development of heavy metal. Their album art often features Norse mythology, despite being from the Southern United States. They were named after a prostitute who murdered her customers. Their song *Gator Country* mentions fellow Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd.

## Genres

Heavy Metal

Southern Rock

## Songs

Flirtin' With Disaster

Whiskey Man

Gator Country
Peter Tosh

**Peter Tosh**, OM (born **Winston Hubert McIntosh**; 19 October[1] 1944 – 11 September 1987) was a Jamaican reggae musician. Along with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer he was one of the core members of the band The Wailers (1963–1974), after which he established himself as a successful solo artist and a promoter of Rastafari. He was murdered in 1987 during a home invasion.
Kansas

## Info

Kansas is a progressive rock band who combined art rock with folk and heartland rock. Several of their albums have gone at least gold, with two even reaching multi-platinum and even a live and a compilation doing just as well. Several hits in the seventies and even going into the eighties.

## Genres

Progressive Rock

Folk Rock

Hard Rock

Heartland Rock

Pop Rock

## Songs

Play the Game Tonight

Dust in the Wind

Carry On Wayward Son

Point of Know Return

Hold On

Fight Fire With Fire

## Pop Culture

*Dust in the Wind* is referenced in an episode of Disney animated cartoon series *Recess*.
Lionel Richie

**Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr.** (born June 20, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and actor. Beginning in 1968, he was a member of the musical groupCommodores signed to Motown Records. Richie made his solo debut in 1982 with the album *Lionel Richie* and the number-one hit "Truly". He has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling artists of all time.[2]

## Parody

He has been referenced twice in Homestar Runner cartoons.
Golden Earring

## Info

Hard rock band phenomenal in their native Netherlands. Best known for their hits *Radar Love* and *Twilight Zone*. Originally called the Tornados. Their original name of The Golden Earrings was taken from an instrumental by a group called The Hunters, whom they performed with. Covered the psychedelic hit *Eight Miles High* by The Byrds. Golden Earring's 45-minute version was a highlight of their first two American tours. Performed with The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Led Zeppelin, Procol Harum, and Eric Clapton. Also performed with King Crimson, Santana, The Doobie Brothers, Rush, and .38 Special. When *Radar Love* became a hit, Aerosmith and Kiss were their opening act.

*Radar Love* mentions Brenda Lee.
Men Without Hats

**Men Without Hats** is a Canadian new wave group from Montreal, Quebec. Their music is characterized by the distinctive baritone voice of their lead singer Ivan Doroschuk as well as their elaborate use of synthesizers and electronic processing. They achieved their greatest popularity in the 1980s with "The Safety Dance", a worldwide Top Ten hit (#3 in the United States) and "Pop Goes the World".
LL Cool J

## Info

LL Cool J is a rapper whose name means Ladies Love Cool James. Most of his albums have gone at least gold, including his greatest hits album *All World*. Numerous hit singles, several of them going at least gold. These include as a featured artist. Has made numerous guest appearances with many artists, including Michael Jackson. Participated in the 25th anniversary edition of charity supergroup USA for Africa, re-created to raise money for a devastating 2010 hurricane.

## Parody

LL Cool J is referenced in popular internet cartoon Homestar Runner
Linda Ronstadt

## Info

Rock musician who has influenced Frank Zappa, Dolly Parton, Neil Young, Johnny Cash, and others. Over a hundred million records sold, making her one of the best selling artists of all time. Over twenty top forty hits, with ten in the top ten, three at number two, and *You're No Good* being her sole chart topper. Several Grammy Awards and numerous others. Multiple halls of fame. Has appeared on television and in film many times, including on Cash's show and *Saturday Night Live*.

## Genres

Country Rock

Folk Rock

Jazz
Living Colour

## Info

Hard rock band whose music combines funk, rap, and metal. Best known for their hit *Cult of Personality*. Performed with Queen Latifah, Doug E. Fresh, and Little Richard. VH1 considered them one of the greatest artists of hard rock. Featured in video games. They were called funk metal pioneers by *Rolling Stone Magazine.* Professional wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin uses *Cult of Personality* as his entrance song. Four Grammys and three MTV music video awards. Debut album *Vivid* went platinum. *Time's Up* went gold. Several other rock hits during the nineties. Performed on a tribute to Jimi Hendrix. Video album *Primer* went gold.
Harry Chapin

**Harry Forster Chapin** (December 7, 1942 – July 16, 1981) was an American singer-songwriter best known for his folk rock songs including "Taxi," "W\*O\*L\*D," "Sniper", "Flowers Are Red," and the No. 1 hit "Cat's in the Cradle." Chapin was also a dedicated humanitarian who fought to end world hunger; he was a key participant in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger in 1977.[1] In 1987, Chapin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his humanitarian work.
Hanoi Rocks

**Hanoi Rocks** was a Finnish rock band formed in 1979, whose most successful period came in the early 1980s. The band broke up in 1985, a year after their drummer Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley had died in a car accident. Original members vocalist Michael Monroe and guitarist Andy McCoy reunited in 2001 and were active with the new line-up of Hanoi Rocks until 2009.

According to Finnish radio and TV personality Jone Nikula (who was also Hanoi Rocks' tour manager in the 2000s), Hanoi Rocks' albums have sold between 780,000 and 1,000,000 copies around the world, but mostly in Scandinavia and Japan.[1]
Mountain

## Info

Blues rock band whose style helped develop heavy metal. Best known for their hit *Mississippi Queen*, a song about a steamship. Members included former Cream member Leslie West. They took their name from an album West had recorded without Cream. Their first two albums went gold. Radio personality Howard Stern has said that Mountain is one of his favorite bands. Other fans of Mountain include Johnny Ramone, John Frusciante of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Martin Barre of Jethro Tull. Their work has been sampled in hip hop songs, including work by The Beastie Boys.

## Genres

Blues Rock

Hard Rock
Luther Vandross

## Info

Luther Vandross was a soul musician originally a backing musician for Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, Bette Midler, David Bowie, Barbara Streisand, Ben E. King, and Donna Summer. He suffered from diabetes and hypertension, which led to him suffering a stroke at age 54 which left him in a coma. He died in 2005. Also performed with Chic and Utopia as well as Stevie Wonder. Covered Frank Sinatra. Performed the National Anthem at Super Bowl XXXI. Covered Michael Jackson and Marvin Gaye. *Rolling Stone Magazine* labeled him one of the greatest singers of all time. Performed with Elton John and Teddy Pendergrass. Also performed with Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle. All of his albums have gone platinum except for *I Know*, which went gold. His *Best of* went triple platinum. *One Night With You* went gold. His *Greatest Hits* went platinum. *The Essential* went gold. *The Ultimate* went gold. His only Holiday album went platinum. His only live album was a hit. Numerous hit singles throughout his career. Soul Music Hall of Fame. Numerous honors, awards, and tributes.
Iggy Pop

## Info

Iggy Pop is the stage name of James Osterberg, best known as the frontman for garage rock band The Stooges. Influenced by The Doors. Covered Jerry Lee Lewis. Influenced by Bo Diddley, MC5, and The Sonics. Performed with a former member of The Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Also influenced by The Rolling Stones and James Brown and the Famous Flames. Experienced problems with drug use. Iggy Pop had a good relationship with David Bowie and even performed with him. Featured Steve Jones of Sex Pistols and former members of Blondie. Performed a song written by Alice Cooper with Cooper as the backing vocal. Also performed with members of Guns N Roses and The B-52's. Collaborated with White Zombie. Appeared on *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine*. Attended the Hall of Fame induction of Madonna, who invited Iggy to perform at her house as a protest for the continued neglect of the Stooges by the Hall (they had been nominated six times with no luck). The Stooges were eventually inducted, and Iggy was very grateful. His music has been used on television and in video gaming. Influenced by Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong. Performed with Slash of Guns N Roses. Also performed with The Replacements. Collaborated with New Order. Iggy has appeared in sixteen films, featured in documentaries, and seen on television. Influenced The Sisters of Mercy. The character Iggy Koopa, first seen in video game Super Mario Bros. 3, is named for him. Also influenced The Damned, The Birthday Party, Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Slayer, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. College rock band R.E.M. covered *I Wanna Be Your Dog* when inducting Patti Smith into the Hall of Fame. Also influenced Rage Against the Machine. *Rolling Stone Magazine* listed them as one of the most influential artists of the last fifty years in 2004. Phenomenal in Britain. Several rock hits in the US. A cover of Lewis *Real Wild Child* is his biggest hit at number 27. Performed with The Cult and Debbie Harry of Blondie.

## Genres

Punk

Garage Rock

Power Pop

## Parody

Iggy Pop has been referenced in popular internet cartoon Homestar Runner, specifically the Strong Bad Email series

## Influences

Alice Cooper

The Rolling Stones

James Brown

Jerry Lee Lewis

The Doors

Bo Diddley

MC5

The Sonics
Gordon Lightfoot

## Info

Folk musician best known for his hit *The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald*, about an actual shipwreck many years earlier. Renowned as a folk rock legend and as Canada's greatest songwriter. He has been covered by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Jr., The Kingston Trio, Jerry Lee Lewis, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Barbara Streisand, Marty Robbins, Johnny Mathis, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Harry Belafonte, Eric Clapton, John Mellencamp, Bobby Vee, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Glen Campbell, Nico from The Velvet Underground, and Olivia Newton-John among others. Performed at the opening ceremony for the 1988 Calgary Olympics. Honored by the lieutenant governor of Ontario. Songwriters Hall of Fame. Influenced by Pete Seeger. Also covered by Richie Havens. Performed on *The Tonight Show*. Tributed by The Guess Who. Toronto Maple Leafs 75th anniversary celebrity captain. Five Grammy nominations. Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. Canada's Walk of Fame. Companion of the Order of Canada. 2007 honorary postage stamp. Phenomenal in his native Canada. His album *Sit Down Young Stranger* went gold in the United States. *Sundown* went platinum. *Summertime Dream* went platinum. *Endless Wire* went gold. Compilation *Gord's Gold* went double platinum. Volume 2 went gold. His *Complete Greatest Hits* went gold. Numerous hits throughout his career even in the United States. His biggest hit was the chart topping *Sundown*.

## Parody

Gordon Lightfoot is referenced on popular internet cartoon Homestar Runner
Nazz

**Nazz** was an American rock band from the 1960s. The band was formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1967 by Todd Rundgren (lead guitar) and Carson Van Osten (bass guitar). Thom Mooney (drums, formerly of the Munchkins), and Robert "Stewkey" Antoni (vocals, keyboards) joined before their first concert, opening for The Doors in 1967. The group's musical style primarily consisted of psychedelic rock,[1] garage rock[1] and power pop.[2
Lester Young

## Info

Jazz clarinetist credited with inventing or popularizing the hipster jargon of the thirties. Noted for his relaxed, "free floating style". His "diving like a gull" banked with funky riffs made his music popular with dancers and listeners alike. Worked with the The Count Basie Orchestra. Also worked with Coleman Hawkins. Numerous honors and tributes, even posthumously.
Jimmy Cliff

## Info

Reggae musician popular in France. Covered Cat Stevens. Also covered Johnny Nash's *I Can See Clearly Now* for the film *Cool Runnings*. Performed *Hakuna Matata* for the film *The Lion King*. He helped popularize reggae by starring in the film *The Harder They Come*. Covered Bob Dylan. A performer on the first season of *Saturday Night Live*. Recorded with Kool and the Gang. Also performed with Bruce Springsteen and the E. Street Band. Joined the fight against the South African Apartheid. Provided backing vocals for The Rolling Stones. Co-vocalist for Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Collaborated with Annie Lennox of Eurythmics, Joe Strummer of The Clash, and Sting of The Police. His music has been featured in many other films. Worked with producer Tim Armstrong of Rancid. His most recent albums have done well in the United States. Numerous hits throughout his career. Covered Jackie Wilson.
Mötley Crüe

## Info

American glam metal band and one of the most popular of all time, with almost every album going at least gold. *Carnival of Sins Live* went platinum and almost every compilation has gone at least gold. Their name uses a heavy metal umlaut which tries to make them look Germanic or Nordic. Numerous hits throughout the late eighties to early nineties and even more mainstream rock hits throughout the nineties and beyond. Most of their video albums have gone at least gold. Their *Kickstart My Heart* was inspired by a moment when frontman Nikki Sixx was revived via CPR after nearly dying of a drug overdose.

## Songs

Girls Girls Girls

Kickstart My Heart

Home Sweet Home

Smokin' in the Boys Room

Dr. Feelgood

Looks that Kill

Don't Go Away Mad
Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs

**Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs** were an American doo-wop/R&B vocal group in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Originally the ('*Royal**)**Charms**, the band changed its name to the**Gladiolas**in 1957 and the**Excellos**in 1958, before finally settling on the Zodiacs in 1959. They are best known for their hit*** **Stay*, also popularly covered by The Four Seasons. They also had a minor hit with* Little Darlin**, more famously and successfully covered by The Diamonds. The band went through several names before settling on Zodiacs, after a British Ford.

## Genres

Doo Wop

Rock and Roll
Pavement

**Pavement** was an American indie rock band that formed in Stockton, California in 1989. The group mainly consisted of Stephen Malkmus (vocals and guitar), Scott Kannberg(guitar and vocals), Mark Ibold (bass), Steve West (drums) and Bob Nastanovich (percussion and vocals). Initially conceived as a recording project, the band at first avoided press or live performances, while attracting considerable underground attention with their early releases. Gradually evolving into a more polished band, Pavement recorded five full-length albums and nine EPs over the course of their decade-long career, though they disbanded with some acrimony in 1999 as the members moved on to other projects. In 2010, they undertook a well-received reunion tour.[1]

Though only briefly brushing the mainstream with the single "Cut Your Hair" in 1994, Pavement was a successful indie rock band. Rather than signing with a major label as many of their 1980s forebears had done, they remained signed to independent labels throughout their career and have often been described as one of the most influential bands to emerge from the American underground in the '90s. Some prominent music critics, such as Robert Christgau and Stephen Thomas Erlewine, went so far as to call them the best band of the 1990s.[2][3] In their career, they also achieved a significant cult following.[4][5]
Hank Williams Jr.

## Info

Country musician best known for performing the theme song to Monday Night Football until a political statement caused the NFL to remove all references to his work. His father Hank Sr. is already in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For awhile he also performed a variant of the theme song on Thursday Night Football. Has won numerous awards. Many gold or platinum albums, especially in the eighties to early nineties. Numerous hit singles throughout his career.

## Genres

Country

Southern Rock
Pink Floyd

## Info

Pink Floyd is a British rock band who created a creepy, psychedelic style known as "space rock". Their album *The Wall* was made into a film. Several of their albums, including *The Wall*, were designed to have each track segue into the next. They were named after blues musicians Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Began as a band similar to The Beatles before slowly finding their style, first as an acid rock band but later adopting the creepy style which made them phenomenal. The eighties saw them adopt a more spacey style. Each era featured a different lead vocalist: Syd Barrett during the acid rock era, David Gilmour during the psychedelic rock era, and Roger Waters during the space rock era. Album *Dark Side of the Moon* depicts a prism. The album *Wish You Were Here* has a picture of Mono Lake, California. The lake features odd rock formations known as tufa. *Shine On You Crazy Diamond* is divided into nine parts which combine into 26 minutes worth of music.

XM Radio is currently commemorating Gilmour's seventieth birthday.

## Genres

Space rock

Psychedelic rock

Progressive rock

Hard Rock

Pop Rock

Blues Rock

Jazz Rock

## Songs

Comfortably Numb

Another Brick in the Wall

Run Like Hell

The Nile Song

On the Turning Away

Money

Shine On You Crazy Diamond

Wish You Were Here (Do You Think You Can Tell)

Hey You

Time (Ticking Away the Moments that Make Up the Dull Days)

Learning to Fly (Into the Distance a Ribbon of Black)

Us and Them

Speak to Me/Breathe

Brain Damage/Eclipse (The Lunatic is on the Grass)

High Hopes (The Grass Was Greener)

Goodbye Blue Sky (Did You Hear the Frightened Ones?)

## Influences

Pink Anderson

Floyd Council

## Parody

They are referenced in popular internet cartoon Homestar Runner, specificially the Baddest of the Bands WiiWare game
Metallica

## Info

Originally a speed metal band, they evolved into one of the most popular thrash metal bands of all time. Their debut album had its artwork rejected due to it being too disturbing, so they changed the name of the album in response. The original image has since been put on merchandise. Every album has gone platinum, with 1991's *Metallica* going diamond. Live album *S&M* went six times platinum. Cover album *Garage, Inc.* went five times platinum. A collaboration with Lou Reed was a top forty hit. A soundtrack album made the top ten. Their first extended play went platinum. Numerous hit singles, especially on the rock charts, with many of them going at least gold. Most of their video albums went platinum. The band has claimed they will never perform the Super Bowl halftime show, claiming it is for pop artists only.

## Genres

Thrash Metal

Speed Metal

## Parody

Metallica has been referenced on popular internet cartoon Homestar Runner
Lou Rawls

## Info

Soul musician praised even by Frank Sinatra. Noted for his smooth, deep voice. Numerous hits throughout the sixties and seventies. Hollywood Walk of Fame inductee. Has participated in charity work. Performed the Star Spangled Banner at a Muhammad Ali match. Has been honored and tributed multiple times. Featured in children's program *Action League Now*, where he "saves" the Action League from hypnotized citizens by bringing the people to their senses through singing.
Mahalia Jackson

## Info

Influential gospel singer and civil rights activist. Made major contributions to the blues. Influenced Sammy Davis Jr. and Ella Fitzgerald along with Aretha Franklin and Lou Rawls. Her work is played commonly on gospel radio. A theatre for performing arts in her native New Orleans was named in her honor. Inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Three songs inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Multiple halls of fame. Numerous references in popular culture. Influenced Elvis Presley and Duke Ellington. Performed with Diana Ross and the Supremes. Featured in the film *Selma*.

## Genres

Gospel

Blues
Germs

## Info

Punk band from California active in the late seventies. Member Pat Smear went on to perform for Nirvana and Foo Fighters. A documentary about the Germs, *What We Do is Secret*, debuted in 2007. The film was named after a Germs song and starred Shane West. Member Dottie Danger later became famous as Belinda Carlisle of The Go-Go's. Her tenure with the band was very brief. Performed at the Whiskey A-Go-Go. Carlisle left the band due to the band's heroin use. The band's first concert was at the Orpheum. Influenced by Iggy Pop of The Stooges, David Bowie, Ramones, The Runaways, Sex Pistols, and New York Dolls. Recorded at the Roxy Theatre. Their music has been used in film. Album *(GI)* is considered one of the first hardcore punk albums. It was produced by Joan Jett of the Runaways. Darby Crash committed suicide via heroin in 1980.
Hoodoo Gurus

## Info

College rock band phenomenal in their native Australia and on American college campuses in the eighties. Best known for their hits *Come Anytime* and *Miss Freelove '69*. Kimble Rendall went on to work on the Matrix movies. The band fuses pop, punk, and American trash ethic in their style. Tributed The Replacements. Performed with The Sonics and Blue Öyster Cult. Inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
Men at Work

**Men at Work** were an Australian rock band, which formed in 1978. Their founding mainstay was Colin Hay on lead vocals; he formed the group with Jerry Speiser on drums and Ron Strykert on lead guitar. They were joined by Greg Ham on flute and keyboards and then John Rees on bass guitar. This line-up achieved national and international success in the early 1980s. In January 1983, they were the first Australian artists to have a simultaneous No. 1 album and No. 1 single in the United States *Billboard* charts – *Business as Usual* (released on 9 November 1981) and "Down Under" (1981), respectively. With the same works, they achieved the same distinction of a simultaneous No. 1 album and No. 1 single on the Australian, New Zealand and United Kingdom charts. Their second album, *Cargo* (2 May 1983) was also No. 1 in Australia, No. 2 in New Zealand, No. 3 in the US, and No. 8 in the UK. Their third album, *Two Hearts* (3 April 1985), reached the top 20 in Australia and top 50 in the US.

At the Grammy Awards of 1983 they won the Best New Artist category; while at the ARIA Music Awards of 1994 they were inducted into the related Hall of Fame. Men at Work have sold over 30 million albums worldwide. According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, "[i]rrespective of the band's fairytale rise to prominence, [their] phenomenal success inextricably created worldwide interest in Australia and Australian music ... [they] simply opened the floodgates with little more than a clutch of great songs" The group disbanded in 1986 and reformed in 1996 to disband again by 2002.

In May 2001 "Down Under" was listed at No. 4 on the APRA Top 30 Australian songs and *Business as Usual* appeared in the book, *100 Best Australian Albums* (October 2010). In February 2010 Larrikin Music Publishing won a case against Hay and Strykert, their record label (Sony BMG Music Entertainment) and music publishing company (EMI Songs Australia) arising from the uncredited appropriation of "Kookaburra" for the flute line in "Down Under". On 19 April 2012 Greg Ham was found dead at his home of an apparent heart attack.[6]
Jefferson Airplane

## Info

Jefferson Airplane is a very popular San Francisco sound band originating out of The Great! Society. Their song *White Rabbit* is about the concerns of parents that the works of Lewis Carroll would lead their children into taking acid. *Wooden Ships*, also performed by Crosby, Stills, and Nash, is about a post-apocolyptic world. Their version provides an additional verse. The song *We Can Be Together* caused controversy due to its use of an obscenity. A remix partially obscured it, but the word was still audible. The word was replaced on the lyrics sheet with the word "fred". The title of the song *3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds* equates to 216 miles per hour. The album *Surrealistic Pillow* is considered one of the greatest of all time. The song *Volunteers* has become a counterculture staple. One of the "big five" of the San Francisco sound. Member Paul Kantner, who co-wrote *Wooden Ships* and *Volunteers*, died January 2016.

## Genres

Psychedelic Rock

Folk Rock

Hard Rock

## Songs

Volunteers

White Rabbit

Somebody to Love

Plastic Fantastic Lover

3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds (Do Away With People)

It's No Secret

Wooden Ships
Head East

## Info

Country rock band from Illinois. Their biggest hit is *Since You Been Gone* at number 46, a cover of former Argent singer Russ Ballard. Their most popular album is *A Different Kind of Crazy* at number 65. Iowa Rock and Roll Music Hall of Fame. The group broke up in 1980 after over a decade together, including lead singer John Schlitt having drug problems. Their music has been featured in film and on television. *Never Been Any Reason* made it to number 68, while *Love Me Tonight* made it to number 54. Album *Head East* made it to number 78 while their live album made it to 96.

## Genres

Country Rock

Heartland Rock
George Jones

**George Glenn Jones** (September 12, 1931 – April 26, 2013) was an American musician, singer and songwriter who achieved international fame for his long list of hit records, including his most well known song "He Stopped Loving Her Today", as well as his distinctive voice and phrasing. For the last 20 years of his life, Jones was frequently referred to as the greatest living country singer.[1][2] 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." Waylon Jennings expressed a similar opinion in his song "It's Alright": "If we all could sound like we wanted to, we'd all sound like George Jones." The shape of his nose and facial features earned Jones the nickname "The Possum."

Born in Texas, Jones first heard country music when he was seven and was given a guitar at the age of nine. He married his first wife, Dorothy Bonvillion, in 1950, and was divorced in 1951. He served in the United States Marine Corps until his discharge in 1953. He married Shirley Ann Corley in 1954. In 1959, Jones released a cover version of "White Lightning" by J. P. Richardson, which launched his career as a singer. His second marriage ended in divorce in 1968; he married fellow country music singer Tammy Wynette a year later. Many years of alcoholism caused his health to deteriorate severely and led to his missing many performances, earning him the nickname "No Show Jones."[3] After his divorce from Wynette in 1975, Jones married his fourth wife, Nancy Sepulvado, in 1983 and became mostly sober. Jones died in 2013, aged 81, from hypoxic respiratory failure. During his career, Jones had more than 150 hits, both as a solo artist and in duets with other artists.
King Curtis

## Info

King Curtis was an American saxophonist who played with Aretha Franklin, The Coasters, John Lennon, and The Shirelles. Also performed with Ornette Coleman. Inspired by Louis Jordan and Lester Young. Was a backing musician for LaVern Baker. Opened for The Beatles famous performance at Shea Stadium. Performed with Duane Allman of The Allman Brothers Band. Performed at the Fillmore West. His *Games People Play* won a Grammy shortly before he was killed over a fight with a drug dealer. Also performed with Ruth Brown.

## Genres

Soul

Jazz

Blues
Quicksilver Messenger Service

## Info

San Francisco band and a part of the Haight-Ashbury sound of the sixties. Best known for their hit *Fresh Air*. Influenced by jazz, classical, and folk. Member David Freiberg had previously worked with David Crosby of The Byrds. Both he and John Cipollina had both been arrested for marijuana possession. Performed at the Monterey Pop Festival. Also performed at the Avalon Ballroom and Fillmore West. Their sound engineer was also an LSD chemist. Worked with The Steve Miller Band. Influenced by Bo Diddley. Member Gary Duncan left the band due to drug problems. Member Nicky Hopkins had also performed with The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who, and Steve Miller. Also performed at Winterland. Have had several reunion concerts. Hopkins went on to play with Jefferson Airplane at Woodstock.

## Songs

Fresh Air

Pride of Man
Joy Division

## Info

Post punk band who are named after a type of Nazi concentration camp where they would make it look like the prisoners were happy when on camera. They were the inspiration for the song *Let's Dance to Joy Division*, which references their song *Love Will Tear Us Apart*. They have influenced many post punk revival bands including Editors and Interpol. The band broke up after lead vocalist Ian Curtis committed suicide after suffering for years from epilepsy. Their song *Shadowplay* was covered by indie pop band The Killers, which has been criticized as The Killers are a sellout band popular amongst millennials whereas Joy Division was a dark, underground band. The Killers version has also been criticized for being less moody and too upbeat. Their breakup came shortly before their scheduled debut in the United States, which was canceled.

## Songs

Love Will Tear Us Apart

She's Lost Control

Transmission

Shadowplay
Paul Anka

**Paul Albert Anka**, OC (born July 30, 1941) is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and actor. Anka became famous in the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s with hit songs like "Diana", "Lonely Boy", "Put Your Head on My Shoulder", and "(You're) Having My Baby". He wrote such well-known music as the theme for *The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson* and one ofTom Jones's biggest hits, "She's a Lady", as well as the English lyrics for Frank Sinatra's signature song, "My Way", which has been covered by many including Elvis Presley. He was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2005.

In 1983, he co-wrote the song "I Never Heard" with Michael Jackson. It was retitled and released in 2009 under the name "This Is It".[1] An additional song that Jackson co-wrote with Anka from this 1983 session, "Love Never Felt So Good", was since discovered and was released on Jackson's posthumous album *Xscape* in 2014. The song was also released by Johnny Mathis in 1984.

Anka became a naturalized US citizen in 1990.
Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels

## Info

Blue eyed soul band best known for their hit *Devil With a Blue Dress On*, which is usually paired as a medley with a cover of Little Richard's *Good Golly Miss Molly*. Influenced Bob Seger, John Mellencamp, and Bruce Springsteen. He has also been cited as a major influence on Ted Nugent. Springsteen still plays covers of the Detroit Wheels live. Winona Ryder took her stage name from Mitch. *Allmusic* calls Ryder an "unsung hero" of Michigan rock and roll. Five hits in the mid sixties for the group, two as a solo artist. Inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.
Hal Blaine

## Info

Drummer and session musician for Jan and Dean, Elvis Presley, John Denver, The Ronettes, Simon and Garfunkel, The Beach Boys, The 5th Dimension, The Monkees, Steely Dan, and others. Played on forty number one hit singles and 150 top tens. Widely regarded as one of the most prolific drummers in rock and roll history. Multiple halls of fame.

## Genres

Rock and Roll

Surf Rock

Folk Rock

Soul

Country
Manfred Mann

## Info

Pop rock musician best known for his hit *The Mighty Quinn*, a cover of a Bob Dylan song. They would also have hits with *Doo Wah Diddy* and *Sha La La* (a cover of The Shirelles). Phenomenal in their native Britain. Manfred Mann would go on to establish the progressive rock band Manfred Mann's Earth Band, best known for their cover of Bruce Springsteen and the E. Street Band song *Blinded By the Light*. Manfred Mann also covered Howlin' Wolf. Members of his band included Jack Bruce of Cream. Covered Randy Newman. Also performed other Dylan covers.
Otis Rush

**Otis Rush** (born April 29, 1935) is a blues musician, singer and guitarist. His distinctive guitar style features a slow-burning sound and long bent notes. With similar qualities to Magic Samand Buddy Guy, his sound became known as West Side Chicago blues and was an influence on many musicians including Michael Bloomfield, Peter Green and Eric Clapton.

Rush is left-handed and, unlike many other left-handed guitarists, plays a left-handed instrument strung upside-down with the low E string at the bottom. He has played often with the little finger of his pick hand curled under the low E for positioning. It is widely believed that this contributes to his distinctive sound. He has a wide-ranging, powerful tenor voice.[1]