recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Grateful Dead

The **Grateful Dead** was an American rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. The band is known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, country, jazz, bluegrass, blues, gospel, and psychedelic rock; for live performances of lengthy instrumental jams; and for its devoted fan base, known as "Deadheads". "Their music", writes Lenny Kaye, "touches on ground that most other groups don't even know exists." These various influences were distilled into a diverse and psychedelic whole that made the Grateful Dead "the pioneering Godfathers of the jam band world". The band was ranked 57th by *Rolling Stone* magazine in its The Greatest Artists of All Time issue. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and a recording of their May 8, 1977 performance at Cornell University's Barton Hall was added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress in 2012. The Grateful Dead has sold more than 35 million albums worldwide.

The Grateful Dead was founded in the San Francisco Bay Area amid the rise of the counterculture of the 1960s. The founding members were Jerry Garcia (lead guitar, vocals), Bob Weir (rhythm guitar, vocals), Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (keyboards, harmonica, vocals), Phil Lesh (bass, vocals), and Bill Kreutzmann (drums). Members of the Grateful Dead had played together in various San Francisco bands, including Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions and the Warlocks. Lesh was the last member to join the Warlocks before they became the Grateful Dead; he replaced Dana Morgan Jr., who had played bass for a few gigs. Drummer Mickey Hart and non-performing lyricist Robert Hunter joined in 1967. With the exception of McKernan, who died in 1973, and Hart, who took time off from 1971 to 1974, the core of the band stayed together for its entire 30-year history. The other official members of the band are Tom Constanten (keyboards; 1968–1970), John Perry Barlow (nonperforming lyricist; 1971–1995), Keith Godchaux (keyboards; 1971–1979), Donna Godchaux (vocals; 1972–1979), Brent Mydland (keyboards, vocals; 1979–1990), and Vince Welnick (keyboards, vocals; 1990–1995). Bruce Hornsby (accordion, piano, vocals) was a touring member from 1990 to 1992, as well as a guest with the band on occasion before and after the tours.

After the death of Garcia in 1995, former members of the band, along with other musicians, toured as the Other Ones in 1998, 2000, and 2002, and the Dead in 2003, 2004, and 2009. In 2015, the four surviving core members marked the band's 50th anniversary in a series of concerts that were billed as their last performances together. There have also been several spin-offs featuring one or more core members, such as Dead & Company, Furthur, the Rhythm Devils, Phil Lesh and Friends, RatDog, and Billy & the Kids.
Lipps Inc.

**Lipps Inc.** (/lɪp sɪŋk/ *lip-sink*) was an American disco and funk group from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The group was best known for the chart-topping 1980 worldwide hit single "Funkytown" which hit No. 1 in 28 different countries around the world and was certified as double-platinum in sales.

The group originally consisted of lead vocalist Cynthia Johnson and a changing lineup of session musicians including guitarist David Rivkin, guitarist Tom Riopelle and bassist Terry Grant. Steven Greenberg, the creator of the act, wrote and produced most of the group's music.
White Denim

**White Denim** is an American four-piece rock band from Austin, Texas, United States. Their music is influenced by dub, psychedelic rock, blues, punk rock, progressive rock, soul, jazz, experimental rock with home-based recording, jamming approach, intense looping work and unusual song structures.

1. ↑ Interviews - White Denim (2009-01-25). Retrieved on March 27, 2016.
The Pointer Sisters

**The Pointer Sisters** are an American R&B singing group from Oakland, California, that achieved mainstream success during the 1970s and 1980s. Spanning over four decades, their repertoire has included such diverse genres as pop, disco, jazz, electronic music, bebop, blues, soul, funk, dance, country, and rock. The Pointer Sisters have won three Grammy Awards and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994. The group had 13 US top 20 hits between 1973 and 1985.

The group had its origins when sisters June and Bonnie Pointer began performing in clubs in 1969 as 'Pointers, a Pair'. The line-up grew to a trio when sister Anita joined them. They got a record deal with Atlantic Records and released several unsuccessful singles. The trio grew to a quartet when sister Ruth joined in December 1972. They then signed with Blue Thumb Records, recorded their debut album, and began seeing more success, winning a Grammy Award in 1975 for Best Country Vocal Performance for "Fairytale" (1974). Bonnie left the group in 1978 to commence a solo career with modest success.

The group achieved its greatest commercial success as a trio during the 1980s consisting of the line-up of June, Ruth, and Anita, winning two more Grammys for the top 10 hits "Jump (For My Love)" (1984) and "Automatic" (1984). The group's other U.S. top 10 hits are "Fire" (1979), "He's So Shy" (1980), "Slow Hand" (1981), the remixed version of "I'm So Excited" (1984) and "Neutron Dance" (1985).

June Pointer, the youngest sister, struggled with drug addiction for much of her career, leaving the group in April 2004 prior to her death from cancer in April 2006, at the age of 52. She was replaced by Ruth's daughter Issa Pointer. This trio had a number two hit in Belgium in 2005, covering "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" with Belgian singer Natalia. Between 2009 and 2015, the group consisted of Anita, Ruth, Issa, and Ruth's granddaughter Sadako Pointer. While all four women remained in the group, they most often performed as a trio rotating the lineup as needed. In 2015, Anita was forced to retire due to ill health, leaving Ruth the sole member of the original sibling line-up.

In December 2016, *Billboard magazine* ranked them as the 80th most successful dance artists of all-time. In December 2017, *Billboard magazine* ranked them as the 93rd most successful Hot 100 Artist of all-time and as the 32nd most successful Hot 100 Women Artist of all-time.
Sex Pistols

The **Sex Pistols** were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they are regarded as one of the most groundbreaking acts in the history of popular music. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians. Their fashion and hairstyles have been credited as a significant influence on punk image, and they are often associated with anarchism within music.

The Sex Pistols originally comprised vocalist Johnny Rotten, guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook and bassist Glen Matlock. Matlock was replaced by Sid Vicious in early 1977. Under the management of Malcolm McLaren, the band attracted controversies that both captivated and appalled Britain. Through an obscenity-laced television interview in December 1976 and their May 1977 single "God Save the Queen", attacking Britons' social conformity and deference to the Crown, they precipitated the punk rock movement. It was banned not only by the BBC but also by nearly every independent radio station, making it the "most heavily censored record in British history".

The band's only album *Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols* (1977)—a UK number one album—is a staple record of punk rock. In January 1978, at the end of their over-hyped and turbulent tour of the United States, Rotten announced the band's break-up. Over the next few months, the three remaining band members recorded songs for McLaren's film version of the Sex Pistols' story, *The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle*. Vicious died of a heroin overdose in February 1979, following his arrest for the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen. Rotten, Jones, Cook and Matlock briefly reunited for a concert tour in 1996.

The Sex Pistols have been recognised as an influence on various genres, including grunge, indie, thrash metal and rap. In 2004, *Rolling Stone* placed them No. 58 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". On 24 February 2006, the Sex Pistols—the four original members plus Vicious—were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but they refused to attend the ceremony, calling the museum "a piss stain".
Echo & The Bunnymen

**Echo & the Bunnymen** are an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1978. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant and bassist Les Pattinson. By 1980, Pete de Freitas joined as the band's drummer.

Their 1980 debut album, *Crocodiles*, went into the top 20 of the UK Albums Chart. After releasing their second album, *Heaven Up Here* in 1981, the band's cult status was followed by mainstream success in the UK in 1983, when they scored a UK Top 10 hit with "The Cutter", and the album which the song came from, *Porcupine*, hit number 2 in the UK. *Ocean Rain* (1984), continued the band's UK chart success with its lead single "The Killing Moon" entering into the top ten.

After releasing a self-titled album in 1987, McCulloch left the band and was replaced by former St. Vitus Dance singer Noel Burke. In 1989, de Freitas was killed in a motorcycle accident. After working together as Electrafixion, McCulloch and Sergeant regrouped with Pattinson in 1997 and returned as Echo & the Bunnymen, before Pattinson's departure in 1998. The band has done some touring and released several albums since the late 1990s, to varying degrees of success.
Sylvan Esso

**Sylvan Esso** is an American electronic pop duo from Durham, North Carolina, formed in 2013. The band consists of singer Amelia Meath and producer Nick Sanborn. They made their debut with the single "Hey Mami" and released their eponymous debut album on Partisan Records on May 12, 2014, which reached No. 39 on the *Billboard* 200. They released their second album *What Now* with Loma Vista Recordings on April 28, 2017, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album.
Led Zeppelin

**Led Zeppelin** were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group consisted of vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With their heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are regularly cited as one of the progenitors of heavy metal, although their style drew from a variety of influences, including blues and folk music. The band have been credited with majorly impacting the nature of the music industry, particularly in the development of album-orientated rock (AOR) and stadium rock. Many critics consider Led Zeppelin one of the most successful, innovative, and influential rock groups in history.

After changing their name from the New Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin signed a deal with Atlantic Records that afforded them considerable artistic freedom. Although the group were initially unpopular with critics, they achieved significant commercial success with eight studio albums released over ten years, from *Led Zeppelin* (1969) to *In Through the Out Door* (1979). Their untitled fourth studio album, commonly known as *Led Zeppelin IV* (1971), became one of the best-selling albums in history. It featured the song "Stairway to Heaven", which has come to be among the most popular and influential works in rock music, and helped to secure the group's popularity.

Page wrote most of Led Zeppelin's music, particularly early in their career, while Plant generally supplied the lyrics. Jones's keyboard-based compositions later became central to the group's catalogue, which featured increasing experimentation. The latter half of their career saw a series of record-breaking tours that earned the group a reputation for excess and debauchery. Although they remained commercially and critically successful, their output and touring schedule were limited during the late 1970s, and the group disbanded following Bonham's death from alcohol-related asphyxia in 1980. In the decades that followed, the former members sporadically collaborated and participated in one-off Led Zeppelin reunions. The most successful of these was the 2007 Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert in London, with Bonham's son Jason Bonham on drums.

Led Zeppelin are one of the best-selling music artists of all time; various sources estimate the group's record sales at 200 to 300 million units worldwide. With RIAA-certified sales of 111.5 million units, they are the third-best-selling band and fifth-best-selling act in the US. They achieved eight consecutive UK number-one albums, and each of their nine studio albums placed in the top 10 of the *Billboard* album chart and six reached the number-one spot. *Rolling Stone* magazine described them as "the heaviest band of all time", "the biggest band of the Seventies", and "unquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock history". They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995; the museum's biography of the band states that they were "as influential" during the 1970s as the Beatles were during the 1960s.
The Bangles

**The Bangles** are an American pop rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1981. The band recorded several singles that reached the U.S. top 10 during the 1980s, including "Manic Monday" (1986), "Walk Like an Egyptian" (1986), "Hazy Shade of Winter" (1987), "In Your Room" (1989), and "Eternal Flame" (1989).

The band's classic lineup consisted of founding members Susanna Hoffs (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Debbi Peterson (drums and vocals), and Vicki Peterson (lead vocals and lead guitar), together with Michael Steele (bass and vocals). As of June 2018, the band consisted of Hoffs, Debbi and Vicki Peterson, and founding bassist Annette Zilinskas.
Anderson Paak

**Brandon Paak Anderson** (born February 8, 1986), known professionally as **Anderson Paak** (/pæk/ or /pɑːk/; stylized as **Anderson .Paak**), is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer and multi-instrumentalist from Oxnard, California. He released his debut mixtape, *O.B.E. Vol. 1* in 2012 and went on to release *Venice* in 2014. He later followed up with *Malibu*, in 2016, which received a nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the Grammy Awards, followed by *Oxnard*, in 2018 and *Ventura*, in 2019. At the 61st Grammy Awards, Paak won his first Grammy award for Best Rap Performance with the song "Bubblin". He again won a Grammy Award in 2020 for "Best R&B Album" with *Ventura* and one for Best R&B Performance for "Come Home" (feat. André 3000).

Apart from his solo career, Anderson is also one-half of NxWorries, alongside record producer Knxwledge. He is frequently accompanied by the band *The Free Nationals*, who play a variety of instruments such as electric guitar, bass, piano, keyboards and drums and also serve as backing vocalists.
Louis Armstrong

**Louis Daniel Armstrong** (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed "**Satchmo**", "**Satch**", and "**Pops**", was an American trumpeter, composer, vocalist, and actor who was among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades, from the 1920s to the 1960s, and different eras in the history of jazz. In 2017, he was inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.

Armstrong was born and raised in New Orleans. Coming to prominence in the 1920s as an inventive trumpet and cornet player, Armstrong was a foundational influence in jazz, shifting the focus of the music from collective improvisation to solo performance. Around 1922, he followed his mentor, Joe "King" Oliver, to Chicago to play in the Creole Jazz Band. In Chicago, he spent time with other popular jazz musicians, reconnecting with his friend Bix Beiderbecke and spending time with Hoagy Carmichael and Lil Hardin. He earned a reputation at "cutting contests", and relocated to New York in order to join Fletcher Henderson's band.

With his instantly recognizable rich, gravelly voice, Armstrong was also an influential singer and skillful improviser, bending the lyrics and melody of a song. He was also skilled at scat singing. Armstrong is renowned for his charismatic stage presence and voice as well as his trumpet playing. By the end of Armstrong's career in the 1960s, his influence had spread to popular music in general. Armstrong was one of the first popular African-American entertainers to "cross over" to wide popularity with white (and international) audiences. He rarely publicly politicized his race, to the dismay of fellow African Americans, but took a well-publicized stand for desegregation in the Little Rock crisis. He was able to access the upper echelons of American society at a time when this was difficult for black men.

Armstrong appeared in films such as *High Society* (1956) alongside Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, and Frank Sinatra, and *Hello, Dolly!* (1969) starring Barbra Streisand. He received many accolades including three Grammy Award nominations and a win for his vocal performance of *Hello, Dolly!* in 1964.
Iggy Pop

**James Newell Osterberg Jr.** (born April 21, 1947), better known as **Iggy Pop**, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. Designated the "Godfather of Punk", he was the vocalist and lyricist of influential proto-punk band the Stooges, who were formed in 1967 and have disbanded and reunited multiple times since.

Initially playing a raw, primitive style of rock and roll, the Stooges sold few records in their original incarnation and gained a reputation for their confrontational performances, which often involved acts of self-mutilation by Pop. He had a long collaborative and personal friendship with David Bowie over the course of his career, beginning with the Stooges' album *Raw Power* in 1973. With both musicians having relocated to West Berlin to wean themselves off their respective drug addictions, Pop began his solo career by collaborating with Bowie on the 1977 albums *The Idiot* and *Lust for Life* with Pop usually contributing the lyrics. Throughout his career, Pop is well known for his outrageous and unpredictable stage antics, poetic lyrics and distinctive voice. He was one of the first performers to do a stage-dive and popularized the activity. Pop, who traditionally (but not exclusively) performs bare-chested, also performed such stage theatrics as rolling around in broken glass and exposing himself to the crowd.

Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the course of his career, including garage rock, punk rock, hard rock, heavy metal, art rock, new wave, jazz, blues, and electronic. Though his popularity has fluctuated through the years, many of Pop's songs have become well known, including "Search and Destroy" and "I Wanna Be Your Dog" by the Stooges, and his solo hits "Lust for Life", "The Passenger" and "Real Wild Child (Wild One)". In 1990, he recorded his first and only Top 40 U.S. hit, "Candy", a duet with B-52's singer Kate Pierson. Pop's song "China Girl" became more widely known when it was re-recorded by co-writer Bowie, who released it as the second single from his most commercially successful album, *Let's Dance* (1983). The UK single release of Bowie's version reached No. 2 for one week on June 14, 1983, while the US release reached No. 10. Bowie re-recorded and performed many of Pop's songs throughout his career.

Although Pop has had limited commercial success, he has remained both a culture icon and a significant influence on a wide range of musicians in numerous genres. The Stooges' album *Raw Power* has proved an influence on artists such as Sex Pistols, the Smiths, the Sisters of Mercy, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Nirvana. His solo album *The Idiot* has been cited as a major influence on a number of post-punk, electronic and industrial artists including Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails and Joy Division,[*incomplete short citation*] and was described by Siouxsie Sioux as a "re-affirmation that our suspicions were true: the man is a genius." He was inducted as part of the Stooges into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. In January 2020, Pop received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Paul Simon

**Paul Frederic Simon** (born October 13, 1941) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actor. Simon's musical career has spanned over six decades. He reached fame and commercial success as half of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, formed in 1956 with Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote nearly all of their songs, including US number-one singles "The Sound of Silence", "Mrs. Robinson", and "Bridge over Troubled Water".After Simon & Garfunkel split up in 1970, at the height of their popularity, Simon began a successful solo career. He recorded three acclaimed albums over the following five years. In 1986, following a career slump, he released *Graceland*, an album inspired by South African township music, which sold 14 million copies worldwide and remains his most popular solo work. Simon also wrote and starred in the film *One-Trick Pony* (1980) and co-wrote the Broadway musical *The Capeman* (1998) with the poet Derek Walcott. On June 3, 2016, Simon released his 13th solo album, *Stranger to Stranger*, which debuted at number one on the Billboard Album Chart and the UK Albums Chart. He is a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: first in 1990 as a member of Simon & Garfunkel and again in 2001 for his solo career. In 2006 he was selected as one of the "100 People Who Shaped the World" by *Time*. In 2011, *Rolling Stone* named Simon one of the 100 greatest guitarists, and in 2015 he was ranked eighth in their list of the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time. Simon was the first recipient of the Library of Congress's Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2007.Simon has earned sixteen Grammy awards for his solo and collaborative work, including three for Album of the Year (*Bridge Over Troubled Water*, *Still Crazy After All These Years*, and *Graceland*), and a Lifetime Achievement Award.

1. ↑ Bronson p. 428
2. ↑ Episodes: Paul Simon. *American Masters*. PBS. Retrieved on December 6, 2009.
3. ↑ Template:Cite news
4. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. [[[:Template:Allmusic]] Paul Simon: Biography]. AllMusic. Retrieved on December 8, 2009.
5. ↑ Grammy Award Winners. National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on December 9, 2009. Retrieved on December 6, 2009.
6. ↑ Biography and Timeline: Paul Simon. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
7. ↑ Template:Cite news
8. ↑ Template:Cite news
9. ↑ Template:Cite news
10. ↑ Paul Simon: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. PBS. Retrieved on December 6, 2009.
KKXT

**KKXT** (91.7 FM) is a public radio music station broadcasting to the greater Dallas, Fort Worth and Denton metropolitan area and worldwide on kxt.org. KXT has a Triple A (adult album alternative) music format with a mix of acoustic, alt-country, indie rock, alternative and world music. The listener supported station has a weekly audience of up to 300,000 listeners.[*citation needed*] KXT hosts and promotes many musical events including *KXT Sun Sets* and "KXT 91.7 Presents" concerts. KXT regularly brings in local and national artists to their studios for KXT's Live Sessions and contributes video content from the sessions to VuHaus, a non-profit digital music video service that introduces emerging and established artists to new audiences. KXT was named "Best Music Radio Station" by the *Dallas Observer* in 2016
Wilco

**Wilco** is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup changed frequently during its first decade, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John Stirratt remaining from the original incarnation. Since early 2004, the lineup has been unchanged, consisting of Tweedy, Stirratt, guitarist Nels Cline, multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone, keyboard player Mikael Jorgensen, and drummer Glenn Kotche. Wilco has released eleven studio albums, a live double album, and four collaborations: three with Billy Bragg and one with The Minus 5.

Wilco's music has been inspired by a wide variety of artists and styles, including Bill Fay, The Beatles and Television, and has in turn influenced music by a number of modern alternative rock acts. The band continued in the alternative country style of Uncle Tupelo on its debut album *A.M.* (1995), but has since introduced more experimental aspects to their music, including elements of alternative rock and classic pop. Wilco's musical style has evolved from a 1990s country rock sound to a current "eclectic indie rock collective that touches on many eras and genres."

Wilco garnered media attention for their fourth album, *Yankee Hotel Foxtrot* (2001), and the controversy surrounding it. After the recording sessions were complete, Reprise Records rejected the album and dismissed Wilco from the label. As part of a buy-out deal, Reprise gave Wilco the rights to the album for free. After streaming *Foxtrot* on its website, Wilco sold the album to Nonesuch Records in 2002. Both record labels are subsidiaries of Warner Music Group, leading one critic to say the album showed "how screwed up the music business is in the early twenty-first century." *Yankee Hotel Foxtrot* is Wilco's most successful release to date, selling over 670,000 copies. Wilco won two Grammy Awards for their fifth studio album, 2004's *A Ghost Is Born*, including Best Alternative Music Album. Wilco released their eleventh studio album, *Ode to Joy*, in October 2019.
Beck

**Beck Hansen** (born **Bek David Campbell**; July 8, 1970) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He rose to fame in the early 1990s with his experimental and lo-fi style, and became known for creating musical collages of wide-ranging genres. He has musically encompassed folk, funk, soul, hip hop, electronic, alternative rock, country, and psychedelia. He has released 14 studio albums (three of which were released on indie labels), as well as several non-album singles and a book of sheet music.Template:'s sample-based production. *The Information* in 2006 was inspired by electro-funk, hip hop, and psychedelia; 2008's *Modern Guilt* was inspired by '60s pop music; and 2014's folk-infused *Morning Phase* won Album of the Year at the 57th Grammy Awards. His 2017 album, *Colors*, won awards for Best Alternative Album and Best Engineered Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. His fourteenth studio album, *Hyperspace*, was released on November 22, 2019.Born and raised in Los Angeles, Beck grew towards hip-hop and folk in his teens and began to perform locally at coffeehouses and clubs. He moved to New York City in 1989 and became involved in the city's small but fiery anti-folk movement. Returning to Los Angeles in the early 1990s, he cut his breakthrough single "Loser", which became a worldwide hit in 1994, and released his first major album, *Mellow Gold*, the same year. *Odelay*, released in 1996, topped critic polls and won several awards. He released the country-influenced, twangy *Mutations* in 1998, and the funk-infused *Midnite Vultures* in 1999. The soft-acoustic *Sea Change* in 2002 showcased a more serious Beck, and 2005's *Guero* returned to *Odelay.*
Blondie

**Blondie** is an American rock band co-founded by singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band were pioneers in the American punk and then the new wave scene of the mid-1970s in New York. Their first two albums contained strong elements of these genres, and although highly successful in the United Kingdom and Australia, Blondie was regarded as an underground band in the United States until the release of *Parallel Lines* in 1978. Over the next three years, the band achieved several hit singles including "Heart of Glass", "Call Me", "Rapture" and "The Tide Is High". The band became noted for its eclectic mix of musical styles incorporating elements of disco, pop, reggae, and early rap music.

Blondie disbanded after the release of its sixth studio album, *The Hunter*, in 1982. Debbie Harry continued to pursue a solo career with varied results after taking a few years off to care for partner Chris Stein, who was diagnosed with pemphigus, a rare autoimmune disease of the skin. The band re-formed in 1997, achieving renewed success and a number one single in the United Kingdom with "Maria" in 1999, exactly 20 years after their first UK No. 1 single ("Heart of Glass").

The group toured and performed throughout the world during the following years, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Blondie has sold around 40 million records worldwide and is still active. The band's eleventh studio album, *Pollinator*, was released on May 5, 2017.
The War on Drugs

**The War on Drugs** is an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 2005. The band consists of Adam Granduciel (vocals, guitar), David Hartley (bass guitar), Robbie Bennett (keyboards), Charlie Hall (drums), Jon Natchez (saxophone, keyboards) and Anthony LaMarca (guitar).

Founded by close collaborators Adam Granduciel and Kurt Vile, The War on Drugs released their debut studio album, *Wagonwheel Blues*, in 2008. Vile departed shortly after its release to focus on his solo career. The band's second studio album *Slave Ambient* was released in 2011 to favorable reviews and a lengthy tour.

The band's third album, *Lost in the Dream*, was released in 2014 following extensive touring and a period of loneliness and depression for primary songwriter Granduciel. The album was released to widespread critical acclaim and increased exposure. Previous collaborator Hall joined the band as its full-time drummer during the recording process, with saxophonist Natchez and additional guitarist LaMarca accompanying the band for its world tour. Signing to Atlantic Records, the six-piece band released their fourth album, *A Deeper Understanding*, in 2017, which won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.
Thurston Moore

**Thurston Joseph Moore** (born July 25, 1958) is an American musician best known as a member of Sonic Youth. He has also participated in many solo and group collaborations outside Sonic Youth, as well as running the Ecstatic Peace! record label. Moore was ranked 34th in *Rolling Stone*'s 2004 edition of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." In May 2012, *Spin* published a staff-selected list of the top 100 rock guitarists, and ranked Moore and his Sonic Youth bandmate Lee Ranaldo together at number 1.

In 2012, Moore started a new band Chelsea Light Moving, with their first track, "Burroughs", released as a free download. Chelsea Light Moving eponymous debut was released on March 5, 2013. Since 2015, Chelsea Light Moving has disbanded, after 1 studio album release. Moore and the other members of the band continue to make music under his solo project and other bands.
Kim Wilde

**Kim Wilde** (born **Kim Smith**, 18 November 1960) is an English pop singer, author, DJ and television presenter. She first saw success in 1981 with her debut single "Kids in America", which reached number two in the UK. In 1983, she received the Brit Award for Best British Female solo artist. In 1986, she had a UK number two hit with a reworked version of the Supremes' song "You Keep Me Hangin' On", which also topped the US *Billboard* Hot 100 in 1987. Between 1981 and 1996, she had 25 singles reach the Top 50 of the UK singles chart. Her other hits include "Chequered Love" (1981), "You Came" (1988) and "Never Trust a Stranger" (1988). In 2003, she collaborated with Nena on the song "Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime", which topped the Dutch charts.

Worldwide, Wilde has sold over 10 million albums and 20 million singles. She holds the record for being the most-charted British female solo act of the 1980s, with seventeen UK Top 40 hit singles. Starting in 1998, while still active in music, she has branched into an alternative career as a landscape gardener, which has included presenting gardening shows on the BBC and Channel 4. In 2005, she won a Gold award for her courtyard garden at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show.
Fontaines D.C.

**Fontaines D.C.** are an Irish post-punk band formed in Dublin in 2017. The band consists of Grian Chatten (vocals), Carlos O'Connell (guitar), Conor Curley (guitar), Conor Deegan III (bass), and Tom Coll (drums).

After meeting while attending music college, and bonding over a common love of poetry, the band began self-releasing singles and performing live regularly, signing to Partisan Records in 2018. The band's debut album, *Dogrel*, was released on April 12, 2019 to widespread critical acclaim; it was listed as Album of the Year on the record store Rough Trade's website, voted Album of the Year by presenters on BBC Radio 6 Music, and was nominated for both the Mercury Prize and the Choice Music Prize.

The band's second studio album, *A Hero's Death*, was written and recorded in the midst of extensive touring for their debut, and was released on July 31, 2020.

1. ↑ Template:Cite news
2. ↑ Template:Cite news
3. ↑ Template:Cite news
4. ↑ Albums of the Year - 2019.
5. ↑ BBC - BBC Radio 6 Music announces its Albums of the Year 2019 - Media Centre.
6. ↑ https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/choice-music-prize-irish-album-of-the-year-revealed-1.4194533?mode=amp
Pavement

**Pavement** was an American indie rock band that formed in Stockton, California in 1989. For most of their career, the group 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, and will perform two 30th anniversary shows in 2021.

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, called them the best band of the 1990s. In their career, they also achieved a significant cult following.
Depeche Mode

**Depeche Mode** (/dɪˌpɛʃ -/ *dih-PESH -⁠*) are an English electronic music band formed in Basildon in 1980. The group consists of a trio of Dave Gahan (lead vocals and co-songwriting), Martin Gore (keyboards, guitar, co-lead vocals and main songwriting), and Andy Fletcher (keyboards).

Depeche Mode released their debut album *Speak & Spell* in 1981, bringing the band onto the British new wave scene. Founding member Vince Clarke left after the release of the album; they recorded *A Broken Frame* as a trio. Gore took over as main songwriter and, later in 1982, Alan Wilder replaced Clarke, establishing a lineup that continued for 13 years.

The band's last albums of the 1980s, *Black Celebration* and *Music for the Masses*, established them as a dominant force within the electronic music scene. A highlight of this era was the band's June 1988 concert at the Pasadena Rose Bowl, where they drew a crowd in excess of 60,000 people. In early 1990, they released *Violator*, an international mainstream success. The following album, *Songs of Faith and Devotion,* released in 1993, was also a success, though internal struggles within the band during recording and touring resulted in Wilder's departure in 1995.

Depeche Mode have had 54 songs in the UK Singles Chart and 17 top 10 albums in the UK chart; they have sold more than 100 million records worldwide. *Q* included the band in the list of the "50 Bands That Changed the World!". Depeche Mode also ranks number 98 on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". In December 2016, *Billboard* named Depeche Mode the 10th most successful dance club artist of all time. They were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 and 2018, and were inducted as part of the Class of 2020.
Lonely Boy (The Black Keys song)

"**Lonely Boy**" is a song by American rock band The Black Keys. It is the opening track from their 2011 studio album *El Camino* and was released as the record's lead single on October 26, 2011. The song is also the A-side of a promotional 12-inch single that was released in commemoration of Record Store Day's "Back to Black" Friday event. The single was accompanied by a popular one-shot music video of a man dancing and lip-synching the lyrics.

"Lonely Boy" became one of the group's most successful singles. It topped several rock radio charts, including the Alternative Songs and Rock Songs charts in the US, and the Alternative Rock and Active Rock charts in Canada. On the singles charts, "Lonely Boy" was the group's highest-charting song in several countries, peaking at number 64 on the *Billboard* Hot 100, number two on the Australian Singles Chart, and number 33 on the Canadian Hot 100. At the 55th Annual Grammy Awards, the song won awards for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song, while also receiving a nomination for Record of the Year.

1. ↑ "Lonely Boy" Record Store Day Limited Edition 12". *theblackkeys.com* (October 20, 2011). Retrieved on February 26, 2012.
2. ↑ Childers, Chad (2012-12-06). THE BLACK KEYS + JACK WHITE LEAD 2013 ROCK GRAMMY NOMINATIONS. *Loudwire*. Townsquare Media. Retrieved on December 6, 2012.
Bad Decisions

"**Bad Decisions**" is a song by American rock band The Strokes. The song was released on February 18, 2020, as the second single from their sixth studio album, *The New Abnormal* (2020). An accompanying music video was released on the same day. It incorporates elements of the song "Dancing with Myself" by British musician Billy Idol, who is credited as a co-writer along with his former band member Tony James
Funkytown

"**Funkytown**" is a song by American disco act Lipps Inc. from their debut album *Mouth to Mouth* (1979). It was released as the album's lead single in 1980.

"Funkytown" reached the top spot in the United States, West Germany, Canada, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, the Netherlands, and Australia, among many others.
The Police

**The Police** were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For most of their history the line-up consisted of primary songwriter Sting (lead vocals, bass guitar), Andy Summers (guitar), and Stewart Copeland (drums, percussion). The Police became globally popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Emerging in the British new wave scene, they played a style of rock influenced by punk, reggae, and jazz.

Their 1978 debut album, *Outlandos d'Amour*, reached No. 6 in the UK Albums Chart. Their second album *Reggatta de Blanc* (1979), became the first of four consecutive No. 1 studio albums in the UK and Australia with its lead single, "Message in a Bottle", their first UK number one. Their next two albums, *Zenyatta Mondatta* (1980) and *Ghost in the Machine* (1981), featuring "Don't Stand So Close to Me" and "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic", both UK number one singles, saw further critical and commercial success.

Their final studio album, *Synchronicity* (1983), was No. 1 in both the UK and the US, selling over 8 million copies in the US alone. Its lead single, "Every Breath You Take", became their fifth UK number one, and first in the US. During this time, the band were considered one of the leaders of the Second British Invasion of the US; in 1983 *Rolling Stone* labelled them "the first British New Wave act to break through in America on a grand scale, and possibly the biggest band in the world." The Police disbanded in 1986, but reunited in early 2007 for a one-off world tour that ended in August 2008. They were the world's highest-earning musicians in 2008, due to their reunion tour.

The Police have sold over 75 million records, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time. The band won a number of music awards, including six Grammy Awards, two Brit Awards—winning Best British Group once, and an MTV Video Music Award. In 2003, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Four of their five studio albums appeared on *Rolling Stone*Template:'s list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". The band were included among both *Rolling Stone*Template:'s and VH1's lists of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".

1. ↑ Template:Cite news
2. ↑ Template:Cite news
3. ↑ "When Video Killed Radio Stars". *New York Times*. Retrieved 30 March 2013
4. ↑ Madonna News  – The Police Are Considerably Richer Than You. idiomag (26 September 2008).
5. ↑ Template:Cite news
6. ↑ Template:Cite news
7. ↑ Template:Cite news
8. ↑ "The Police: Timeline". Rock on the Net. Retrieved 16 October 2012
9. ↑ "The Greatest Artists of All Time". VH1/Stereogum. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
10. ↑ Flowers, Brandon. "The Police: 100 Greatest Artists of All Time". *Rolling Stone*. Retrieved 11 January 2015
Drake

**Aubrey Drake Graham** (born October 24, 1986) is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, and entrepreneur. A prominent figure in popular music, Drake is credited for popularizing the Toronto sound. He first gained recognition as an actor on the teen drama television series *Degrassi: The Next Generation* (2001-2007); intent on pursuing a career in music, he left the series after releasing his debut mixtape *Room for Improvement*. He released two more independent projects, *Comeback Season* and *So Far Gone*, before signing to Young Money Entertainment.

Drake released his debut studio album *Thank Me Later* in 2010, which debuted at number one on the US *Billboard* 200. He achieved major critical success with *Take Care* (2011), and commercial success with *Nothing Was the Same* (2013) and his first commercial mixtape *If You're Reading This It's Too Late* (2015); the later two were certified multi-platinum in the US. Drake's fourth album *Views* (2016) sat atop the *Billboard* 200 for 13 nonconsecutive weeks, becoming the first album by a male solo artist to do so in over a decade. Marketed as a playlist, Drake's second solo commercial mixtape *More Life* (2017) set multiple streaming records. In 2018, he released the double album *Scorpion*, which produced three number-one singles on the *Billboard* Hot 100. Drake's third commercial mixtape *Dark Lane Demo Tapes* (2020) featured the Hot 100 number-one lead single "Toosie Slide".

As an entrepreneur, Drake founded the OVO Sound record label with longtime collaborator 40 in 2012. In 2013, Drake was announced as the new "global ambassador" of the Toronto Raptors, thereby joining the executive committee of the NBA franchise. In 2016, Drake announced his development with American entrepreneur Brent Hocking of the bourbon whiskey Virginia Black; it eventually broke sale records in Canada. In 2018, Drake was reportedly responsible for 5% (CAD$440 million) of Toronto's CAD$8.8 billion total annual tourism income.

Among the world's best-selling music artists, with over 170 million records sold, Drake is ranked as the world's highest-certified digital singles artist by the RIAA. He has won four Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards, a record 27 *Billboard* Music Awards, two Brit Awards and three Juno Awards. Drake also holds several *Billboard* chart records; he has the most top 10 hits on the *Billboard* Hot 100, the most charted songs (209) of any artists ever on the *Billboard* Hot 100, the most simultaneously charted Hot 100 songs in a single week (27), the most continuous time on the Hot 100 (431 weeks), and the most Hot 100 debuts in a week (22). He also has the most number-one singles on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Rap Songs, R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Rhythmic Airplay.
A Tribe Called Quest

**A Tribe Called Quest** was an American hip hop group formed in St. Albans, Queens, New York in 1985, originally composed of rapper and main producer Q-Tip, rapper Phife Dawg, DJ and co-producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and rapper Jarobi White. The group is regarded as a pioneer of alternative hip hop music.

In 1991, the group released its jazz-influenced second album, *The Low End Theory*, regarded for helping shape alternative hip hop in the 1990s. In 1998, the group broke up shortly before releasing its fifth album, *The Love Movement*, but in 2006, the group's original members reunited and toured the United States. In 2016, the group released its sixth and final album, *We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service*, which was still incomplete when Phife Dawg died suddenly in March 2016, and was completed by the other members after his death. A Tribe Called Quest was the most commercially successful act in the Native Tongues collective, with all six of its albums certified either gold or platinum.

John Bush of AllMusic called them "the most intelligent, artistic rap group during the 1990s." *The Source* gave the group's debut album, *People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm* (1990), a perfect rating of five 'mics,' marking the first time that the magazine awarded the rating. In 2005, A Tribe Called Quest received the Founders Award at the *Billboard* R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, and two years later, the group was honored at the 4th VH1 Hip Hop Honors. In 2017, the group was awarded the Brit Award for International Group.
Trampled by Turtles

**Trampled By Turtles** is an American bluegrass/folk-rock band from Duluth, Minnesota. They have released eight full albums, three of which have reached US Billboard bluegrass chart number one spots. Their fifth release, *Palomino*, maintained a position in the Top 10 on the bluegrass charts for 52 straight weeks. Their latest album, *Life is Good on the Open Road,* was released on May 4, 2018.
Solomon Burke

**Solomon Vincent McDonald Burke** (born **James Solomon McDonald**, March 21, 1936 or 1940 – October 10, 2010) was an American preacher and singer who shaped the sound of rhythm and blues as one of the founding fathers of soul music in the 1960s. He has been called "a key transitional figure bridging R&B and soul", and was known for his "prodigious output".

He had a string of hits including "Cry to Me", "If You Need Me", "Got to Get You Off My Mind", "Down in the Valley", and "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love". Burke was referred to honorifically as "King Solomon", the "King of Rock 'n' Soul", "Bishop of Soul", and the "Muhammad Ali of soul". Due to his minimal chart success in comparison to other soul music greats such as James Brown, Wilson Pickett, and Otis Redding, Burke has been described as the genre's "most unfairly overlooked singer" of its golden age. Atlantic Records executive Jerry Wexler referred to Burke as "the greatest male soul singer of all time".

Burke's most famous recordings, which spanned five years in the early 1960s, bridged the gap between mainstream R&B and grittier R&B. Burke was "a singer whose smooth, powerful articulation and mingling of sacred and profane themes helped define soul music in the early 1960s." He drew from his roots—gospel, jazz, country, and blues—as well as developing his own style at a time when R&B, and rock were both still in their infancy. Described as both "Rabelaisian" and also as a "spiritual enigma," "perhaps more than any other artist, the ample figure of Solomon Burke symbolized the ways that spirituality and commerce, ecstasy and entertainment, sex and salvation, individualism and brotherhood, could blend in the world of 1960s soul music."

During the 55 years that he performed professionally, Burke released 38 studio albums on at least 17 record labels and had 35 singles that charted in the US, including 26 singles that made the *Billboard* R&B charts. In 2001, Burke was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a performer. His album *Don't Give Up on Me* won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards in 2003. By 2005 Burke was credited with selling 17 million albums. *Rolling Stone* ranked Burke as No. 89 on its 2008 list of "100 Greatest Singers of All Time".