recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Smokey Robinson

**William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr.** (born February 19, 1940) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson was the founder and front man of theMotown vocal group The Miracles, for which he also served as the group's chief songwriter and producer. Robinson led the group from its 1955 origins as the Five Chimes until 1972 when he announced a retirement from the group to focus on his role as Motown's vice president.

However, Robinson returned to the music industry as a solo artist the following year, later scoring Top 10 solo hits such as "Cruisin'" (1979), "Being With You" (1981) and "Just to See Her" (1987). Following the sale of Motown Records in 1988, Robinson left the company in 1990. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

In 1987, Robinson was inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.That same year, he was awarded an individual star on the *Hollywood Walk of Fame*.[15] Two years later, in 1989, he was inducted to the Songwriter's Hall of Fame. In 1993, Robinson was awarded a medal at the National Medal of Arts. Two years before, he won the Heritage Award at the Soul Train Music Awards. At its 138th Commencement Convocation in May 2006, Howard University conferred on Robinson the degree of Doctor of Music, *honoris causa*. In December 2006 Robinson was one of five Kennedy Center honorees, along with Dolly Parton, Zubin Mehta, Steven Spielberg and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

On March 20, 2009, the Miracles were finally honored as a *group* with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Smokey was present with original Miracles members Bobby Rogers,Pete Moore, (Bobby's cousin) Claudette Rogers, and Gloria White, accepting for her husband, the late Ronnie White, whose daughter Pamela and granddaughter Maya were there representing him as well. Smokey's replacement, 1970s Miracles lead singer Billy Griffin, was also honored. Controversially, original Miracle Marv Tarplin was not honored, against the wishes of his fellow Miracles, and the group's fans, who felt that he should have also been there to share the honor. However, later, Tarplin did receive his star. He was also finally inducted with the rest of the original Miracles, Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Ronnie White, and Claudette Robinson, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, 25 years after Robinson's controversial solo induction in 1987. He was also awarded Society of Singers Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.[16]

In 2009 Smokey Robinson received an honorary doctorate degree - along with Linda Ronstadt - and gave a commencement speech at Berklee College of Music's commencement ceremony. In 2015 he was given a BET Lifetime Achievement Award .
Talk Talk

## Info

Talk Talk is a new wave band phenomenal in their native Britain. They are best known in the United States for their hit *It's My Life,* later covered by No Doubt. The album nearly made the top forty. Numerous hits across Europe. Producer Colin Thurston had previously worked with Duran Duran. Rhett Davies had previously worked with Roxy Music. Broke up in 1992 after twelve years. Have influenced many bands including contemporary post punk revivalists.
Sammy Hagar

## Info

Metal musician formerly of Van Halen and Montrose. Controversially replaced Van Halen's lead singer David Lee Roth in the eighties. It is disputed which era of Van Halen is better. Hagar would go on to have a successful solo career. The video for his hit *I Can't Drive 55* features him driving a Ferrari GTO. During his solo career Hagar had two platinum albums and two gold albums. Compilation *Unboxed* went gold. Numerous hit singles.
The Fuzztones

## Info

Garage rock revivalists whose name was derived from "fuzz tone", a guitar pedal effect invented in 1962 and popularized by *Satisfaction* by The Rolling Stones. Covered *Gloria* by Them. Performed with Screamin' Jay Hawkins. Performed a 25th anniversary tribute to the LSD era in 2005. They had released an album named *Lysergic Emanations* over a decade earlier. Performed a version of *Have Love Will Travel*, written by Richard Berry (who also wrote *Louie Louie* for the Kingsmen) and popularized by The Sonics. Recorded covers of various other garage hits.

## Genres

Garage Rock

Punk

Psychedelic Rock
The Strangeloves

## Info

The Strangeloves are a rock and roll band best known for performing the original version of *I Want Candy*, later a hit for Bow Wow Wow. The song uses the clave sound popularized by Bo Diddley. They also had top forty hits with *Cara-Lin* and *Night Time*. Their songs have also been covered by David Bowie, Bauhaus, The J. Geils Band, and Aaron Carter.
The Jesus and Mary Chain

## Info

The Jesus and Mary Chain is a psychedelic rock band from the eighties whose music is influenced by The Velvet Underground, The Stooges, and The Shangri-Las. Member Bobby Gillespie had also formed Primal Scream. The band experienced problems with recreational drug use. Also influenced by The Beach Boys and The Ronettes. Covered Bo Diddley. Influenced by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. Toured with My Bloody Valentine, Dinosaur Jr., and Blur. Broke up in 2006. Phenomenal in their native Britain.
Shakira

**Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll** (pronounced: [ʃaˈkiɾa isaˈβel meβaˈɾak riˈpol]; English /ʃəˈkɪərə/;[2] born February 2, 1977)[3] is a Colombian singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, choreographer, and model. Born and raised in Barranquilla, she began performing in school, demonstrating Latin, Arabic, and rock and roll influences and belly dancing abilities. Shakira released her first studio albums, *Magia* and *Peligro*, in the early 1990s, failing to attain commercial success; however, she rose to prominence in Latin America with her major-label debut,*Pies Descalzos* (1996), and her fourth album, *Dónde Están los Ladrones?* (1998).

Shakira entered the English-language market with her fifth album, *Laundry Service*. Its lead single, "Whenever, Wherever", became the best-selling single of 2002. Her success was solidified with her sixth and seventh albums *Fijación Oral, Vol. 1* and *Oral Fixation, Vol. 2* (2005), the latter of which spawned the best-selling song of the 21st century, "Hips Don't Lie". Shakira's eighth and ninth albums, *She Wolf* (2009) and *Sale el Sol* (2010), received critical praise but suffered from limited promotion due to her strained relationship with label Epic Records. Her official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)", became the biggest-selling World Cup song of all time. With over 950 million views, it's one of the most-watched music videos on YouTube. Since 2013, Shakira has served as a coach on the American version of *The Voice*, having appeared in two of its seven seasons—fourth andsixth. Her tenth album, *Shakira* (2014), is preceded by its lead single, "Can't Remember to Forget You".

Shakira has won many awards, including five MTV Video Music Awards, two Grammy Awards, eight Latin Grammy Awards, seven Billboard Music Awards, 28 Billboard Latin Music Awards and has been Golden Globe-nominated. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and sold between 70 and 125 million records worldwide (depending to the source),[4][5]making her one of the best selling Latin artists of all time. She carries out well-known philanthropic activities through charity work and benefit concerts, notably her Pies Descalzos Foundation, her performance at the "Clinton Global Initiative" created by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, and her invitation to the Oval Office by President Barack Obama in February 2010 to discuss early childhood development.[6] In 2014, she was listed as the 58th most powerful woman in the world by *Forbes*.[7] In July 2014, Shakira became the first person to reach 100 million followers on Facebook.[8]
The Marshall Tucker Band

## Info

Southern rock band from Carolina. Their name was inspired by a name they saw on the warehouse of a local piano tuner. They did not know of him at the time. Five gold albums in the mid to late seventies, with *Carolina Dreams* going platinum. Their 1978 *Greatest Hits* went platinum. Several hit singles during this time, with *Heard it in a Love Song* being their biggest at number fourteen. Remained on the country charts throughout the eighties and beyond.
The Incredible String Band

**The Incredible String Band** (sometimes abbreviated as **ISB**) were a psychedelic folk band formed in Scotland in 1966.[1] The band built a considerable following, especially within the British counterculture, before splitting up in 1974. The group's members are musical pioneers in psychedelic folk and, by integrating a wide variety of traditional music forms and instruments, in the development of world music. The group reformed in 1999 and continued to perform with changing lineups until 2006.
The Human League

## Info

The Human League is a new wave band phenomenal in their native Britain. Their album *Dare* went gold in the US. Their single *Don't You Want Me* went gold and was a number one hit. *Human* was also a chart topper. Several other hit singles. Tributed Barry White. Producer Colin Thurston had previously worked with Duran Duran. Influenced by Kraftwerk. Producer Ian Stanley had previously worked with Tears for Fears. Performed at the Hollywood Bowl and on *Jimmy Kimmel Live*. Supported by ABC, Naked Eyes, and A Flock of Seagulls. Influenced Pet Shop Boys and other synthpop groups. Best new artist Grammy nomination.

## Genres

Post punk

Synthpop

New wave
The Jam

## Info

Punk band phenomenal in their native Britain. They are best known in the US for their mainstream rock hit *Town Called Malice*. Their early work included covers of Chuck Berry and Little Richard. Influenced by The Who and The Beatles. Also influenced by The Kinks. Covered Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. Also influenced by Michael Jackson. *That's Entertainment* was labeled as one of the greatest songs of all time by *Rolling Stone Magazine*. Influenced by XTC and Joy Division. *Town Called Malice* boasts a style similar to that of Diana Ross and the Supremes. Broke up in 1982.

## Genres

Punk

Power Pop
Steve Miller

## Info

Steve Miller is a blues rock musician from Wisconsin. His band scored many hits and subsequent classic rock staples in the seventies. Their *Fly Like an Eagle* was covered by R&B musician Seal for the film *Space Jam*. Members included Boz Scaggs. Miller, without his band, was inducted as a member of the class of 2016 for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Song *Space Cowboy* takes its riff from *Lady Madonna* by The Beatles and may have influenced the Smash Mouth hit *Walkin' on the Sun*.

## Genres

Blues Rock

Country Rock

Psychedelic Rock

## Songs

The Joker

Rock'n Me

Take the Money and Run

Fly Like an Eagle

Jet Airliner

Jungle Love

Swingtown

Abracadabra

Space Cowboy

Livin' in the USA
The Del-Vikings

**The Del-Vikings** (also known as **The Dell-Vikings**) are an American doo-wop musical group, who recorded several hit singles in the 1950s, and continued to record and tour with various lineups in later decades. The group was notable for being one of the few racially integrated musical groups to attain success in the 1950s.
Jethro Tull

## Info

Jethro Tull is a popular art rock band whose frontman Ian Anderson is best known for his flute playing while standing on one foot, à la Pan. *Locomotive Breath* features train like percussion. *Aqualung* is about the life of a homeless man. Most of their albums have gone at least gold, including two live and three compilations. Numerous other hit albums. Several hit singles.

## Genres

Progressive Rock

Hard Rock

Baroque Pop

## Songs

Aqualung

Locomotive Breath

Bungle in the Jungle

Living in the Past

Thick as a Brick

Cross-Eyed Mary

Skating Away

A Song for Jeffrey
The Cult

## Info

Post punk band best known for their hits *Fire Woman* and *She Sells Sanctuary*. They combine post punk and goth rock with sounds comparable to those of The Doors and Led Zeppelin. Toured with Bauhaus. Also performed with Soundgarden, Iggy Pop of The Stooges, rapper Ice-T, The Cramps, The Charlatans, Queen Latifah, Indigo Girls, and Public Enemy. Also toured with Aerosmith, Metallica, and Guns N Roses before they were popular. Eric Singer would go on to become a member of Kiss. Michael Lee would go on to perform for T. Rex. Broke up in 1995, but reunited in 1999. Martyn Le Noble had previously played for Porno for Pyros. Performed at the Tibetan Freedom Concert. Recorded a Doors tribute album. Mike Peters had previously worked for the Alarm. In 2002 the group again went on hiatus, but reunited in 2005 and performed on the *Late Show*. The album *Born Into This* was produced by Killing Joke bassist Martin Glover. *Beyond Good and Evil* was originally being worked on by Mick Jones of Foreigner until Jones left the tour. Worked with rapper Flo Rida on a commercial for Super Bowl XLVI. They appeared on *Jimmy Kimmel Live*. Mike Dimkich joined the band Bad Religion. Three platinum albums and one gold. Several rock hits during the eighties to nineties. Phenomenal in the Commonwealth.

## Genres

Post punk

Metal
Ram Jam

## Info

Blues rock band best known for their hit *Black Betty*, originally performed by Lead Belly. There are various theories about the origins of the song, but one theory claims that Black Betty is a musket from the Revolutionary War and the "bam-a-lam" lyrics are onomatopoeic of the gun firing. The Ram Jam version made it to number eighteen on the charts. Member Howard Blauvelt also played with Billy Joel.
The Meters

## Info

Soul group who influenced the likes of Dr. John, Lee Dorsey, Robert Palmer, and other artists. Considered progenitors of funk music. Worked with Dr. John, Paul McCartney and Wings, Palmer, and Patti Labelle. Influenced Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones. Performed on *Saturday Night Live*. Art Neville went on to become a part of the Neville Brothers. Member Zigaboo Modeliste went on to perform with the Stones. The Meters were nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, 2012, and 2013. They have yet to be inducted. Also known as the Funky Meters. Influenced countless funk, soul, rock, and rap artists.

## Genres

Soul

Funk
The Psychedelic Furs

## Info

The Psychedelic Furs are a post punk band and one of the most popular of the eighties and the original indie bands. They were named after The Velvet Underground song *Venus in Furs*. Their music was popularly used in the film *Pretty in Pink*. Album *Forever Now* went gold. *Mirror Moves* also went gold. A few other hit albums. Several hit singles.

## Songs

Love My Way

The Ghost In You (Inside You the Time Moves)

Pretty In Pink

Heartbreak Beat
The Replacements

## Info

Punk band considered pioneers of alternative rock. Influences include The Rolling Stones, Faces, Lou Reed, The Beatles, Ramones, The Clash, and others. Covered Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, and Yes. Influenced by Hüsker Dü and Badfinger. Opened for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, but with disastrous results. Tommy Stinson went on to perform for Guns N Roses. Performed with Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day live. Appeared on *The Tonight Show*. Influenced The Goo Goo Dolls. Nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, but were not chosen. Featured in video games and film. Several rock hits around the year 1989.

## Genres

Punk

Alternative
The Spencer Davis Group

## Info

Blue eyed soul group whose members included Steve Winwood, who founded the band along with his brother. Their *I'm A Man* was covered by Chicago in a proto-metal style. They were also covered by *Three Dog Night*, The Allman Brothers Band, and Grateful Dead as well as soul revival act *The Blues Brothers*.
Ramones

## Info

Punk band who helped popularize the genre. Their song *Sheena is a Punk Rocker* was the first use of the term "punk rock" in music. Their song *I Wanna Be Sedated* was written in response to litterally every establishment being closed for Christmas one day. *Beat on the Brat* was inspired by seeing a woman chasing a kid with a baseball bat.

## Songs

Blitzkrieg Bop

I wanna Be Sedated

Rockaway Beach

Rock N Roll High School

Sheena is a Punk Rocker

The KKK Took My Baby Away

Beat on the Brat

## Parody

On the Nickelodeon animated cartoon series *Doug*, fictional rock band The Beets is mostly a parody of the Ramones despite their name being a reference to The Beatles.
The Jackson 5

## Info

Soul group whose members included pop legend Michael Jackson. Numerous hits throughout their career. It is speculated that being a member of the Jackson Five ruined Michael's childhood, which is what made him so pedophilic as an adult. Bestselling studio, live, compilation, and soundtrack albums throughout their career. Name spelled with or without the number 5, including "five" being spelled "5ive". Name was changed to Jacksons due to legal disputes.
Supertramp

## Info

Supertramp is a a progressive rock band noted for their unique choice of instruments, such as a tuba in *Breakfast in America*. One of their songs uses sound effects from a handheld electronic football game. *Crime of the Century* went gold. *Even in the Quietest Moments...* went gold. *Breakfast in America* went four times platinum. *...Famous Last Words...* went gold. Live album *Paris* went gold. Compilation *The Autobiography* went platinum. Numerous hit singles throughout their career.

## Genres

Progressive Rock

Pop Rock

## Songs

Breakfast in America

Dreamer

The Logical Song

Give a Little Bit

Goodbye Stranger

Take the Long Way Home

Bloody Well Right
T. Rex

## Info

Originally known as Tyrannosaurus Rex. Their song *Bang a Gong (Get it On)* was named to avoid confusion with a Marvin Gaye song of the same name. They are referenced in The Who song *You Better You Bet* with the line "I drunk myself blind to the sound of old T. Rex". Phenomenal in their native Britain. Two hit albums in the US, with *The Slider* being the higher at seventeenth. Broke up after frontman Marc Bolan died in a car accident in 1977. Have influenced The Smiths, David Bowie, Ramones, and R.E.M.
The Stone Roses

## Info

Alternative rock band whose name partially comes from that of The Rolling Stones. Supported an anti-heroin concert hosted by Pete Townshend of The Who. Influenced by The Jesus and Mary Chain. Producer Peter Hook had also worked with New Order. Also influenced by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, The Byrds, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Led Zeppelin, Sonic Youth, Sex Pistols, and The Clash. Phenomenal in their native Britain, with a few alternative hits in the United States.
The Ravens

**The Ravens** were an American R&B vocal group, formed in 1946 by Jimmy Ricks and Warren Suttles. They were one of the most successful and most influential vocal quartets of the period, and had several hits on the R&B chart in the late 1940s and early 1950s. They were one of the "bird groups" which included The Orioles, The Wrens, The Flamingos, The Larks, and The Penguins.
Suzanne Vega

**Suzanne Nadine Vega** (born July 11, 1959) is an American singer-songwriter known for her eclectic folk-inspired music.[1][2]

Two of Vega's songs (both from her second album *Solitude Standing*, 1987) reached the top 10 of various international chart listings: "Luka" and "Tom's Diner". The latter was originally an *a cappella* version on Vega's album, which was then remade in 1990 as a dance track produced by the British dance production team DNA.

Vega has released eight studio albums to date, the latest of which is *Tales from the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles*, released in 2014.
The Standells

**The Standells** are a garage rock band from Los Angeles, California, US, formed in the 1960s, who have been referred to as the "punk band of the 1960s", and said to have inspired such groups as the Sex Pistols and Ramones.[1] They are best known for their 1966 hit "Dirty Water", now the anthem of several Boston sports teams and is played following every Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins win. The song is considered a garage rock classic.

Their music has been used in film.

Member Dewey Martin went on to become a member of Buffalo Springfield.

*Dirty Water* made it to number eleven on the charts. *Some Times Good Guys Don't Wear White* was nearly a top forty hit. *Why Pick On Me* and *Can't Help But Love You* were both minor hits. *The Boy Next Door* nearly made the Hot 100.
Stratovarius

**Stratovarius** is a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1984. Since their formation, they have released 16 studio albums, 4 DVD and 3 live albums. Along with German bandsHelloween, Blind Guardian, and Gamma Ray, Stratovarius is considered one of the leading and most influential groups of the power metal genre.[1][2][3] In its history, the band has gone through many chaotic lineup changes and since 1995 there are no founding members of the band that remain. Currently, the longest standing member is singer Timo Kotipelto, who joined in 1994. Their name is a portmanteau of the Stratocaster guitar and Stradivarius as well as the name of a Kraftwerk song. Jens Johansson also worked for Yngwie Malmsteen. Toured with Helloween. Phenomenal in Europe.
The Blues Project

## Info

Blues rock band from Greenwich Village and one of the first jam bands. They emerged during a time when folk music was coming out of Greenwich Village, making their style unusual for their area. Members Steve Katz and Al Kooper also performed with Blood, Sweat, and Tears. Member Roy Blumenfield has performed with former Country Joe and the Fish member Barry Melton. Fish member David Cohen also performed with the group. Other members included Joe Bouchard of Blue Öyster Cult.
Suicide

## Info

Electronic punk band considered one of the most influential acts of their era. Praised by *Rolling Stone Magazine*. One of the first uses of the term "punk music". Took their name from a Ghost Rider comic. Performed with New York Dolls. Influenced by The Stooges. They have influenced The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Sisters of Mercy, Joy Division, New Order, Nine Inch Nails, Pet Shop Boys, Tears for Fears, The Cars, Depeche Mode, Dead Kennedys, Sonic Youth, R.E.M., Devo, Bruce Springsteen and the E. Street Band, and many more. Covered by Primal Scream.
The Alan Parsons Project

## Info

Progressive rock duo with most of their albums having gone at least gold, some platinum. One compilation went gold. Numerous hits from the mid seventies throughout the eighties. Several of their songs are directly taken from the work of Edgar Allan Poe. Referenced in *Austin Powers, The Simpsons, Grand Theft Auto*, and other forms of pop culture.
The Larks

**The Larks** were an African American vocal group, active in the early 1950s. They were not the same group as the Los Angeles-based Larks (originally The Meadowlarks) featuring Don Julian. They were one of the "bird groups" which included The Orioles, **The Larks**, The Ravens, The Penguins, and The Flamingos.
Savoy Brown

## Info

Blues rock band whose *Looking In* and *Hellbound Train* made the top forty on the album charts. Members included Hughie Flint of John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers and future Yes drummer Bill Bruford. Dave Walker joined Fleetwood Mac and briefly played for Black Sabbath. Andy Pyle played with Mick Abrahams of Jethro Tull and The Kinks. Paul Raymond joined UFO. At one point the group had almost the entire former lineup of Chicken Shack.
Testament

## Info

Thrash metal band and a part of the rise of the Bay Area thrash metal scene. They have sold 1.4 million albums in the US and fourteen million worldwide. Opened for Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Anthrax, Megadeth, Judas Priest, and Slayer. Performed at the Monsters of Rock Festival hosted by Ozzy Osbourne.
The Church

## Info

Post punk band with numerous hit albums and singles throughout the eighties. Album *Starfish* went gold. Initially associated with the indie rock sound of the eighties, they later evolved into a neo-psychedelia dream pop style. Member Jay Dee Daugherty was formerly of The Patti Smith Group.

## Genres

Post Punk

Neo-Psychedelia
Solomon Burke

Born James McDonald. Helped shape rhythm and blues as a founding father of soul. Compared to James Brown, Wilson Pickett, and Otis Redding. He drew from his roots gospel, jazz, country, and blues. Worked with Mahalia Jackson. Covered Pickett. Made the top forty with *Just Out of Reach*. Covered Bob Dylan's *Maggie's Farm,* the first soul artist to cover Dylan. Compared to Dean Martin. Became involved in the desegregation movement. Covered Ike and Tina Turner and performed a version of *In the Ghetto*, best known as an Elvis Presley hit. Covered Creedence Clearwater Revival songs. Nominated for a Grammy. Inspired Mary J. Blige. Was involved in community service and entrepreneurship. Worked as an episcopalian. Influenced Justin Timberlake, Dr. Dre, and several other artists. Struggled with obesity and arthritis.
Stan Getz

## Info

Jazz musician noted for his warm, lyrical tone. His prime influence was Lester Young. Performed with Woody Herman. Originally a big band musician, he later went on to bebop and cool jazz. He helped popularize bossanova with his hit *The Girl From Ipanema.* Worked with Jimmy Dorsey and Benny Goodman before Herman. Also worked for Stan Kenton. His Orchestra featured Dizzy Gillespie and Max Roach.
The Ronettes

## Info

Girl group best known for their hit *Be My Baby*. Several hits during the mid sixties. Influenced by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. Their name comes from the stage name of member Veronica Bennett, Ronnie Spector. Covered Ray Charles. Covered Chubby Checker's hit *The Twist*. Performed on Dick Clark's show. Performed with Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys. Their hit *Be My Baby* was the first Cher recording, who performed backup. Spector became friends with John Lennon after meeting The Beatles. Eventually opened for them. The Beach Boys covered the Ronettes. Influenced Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen. *Be My Baby* was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. When inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Phil Spector and Ronnie were not in good relations and had recently divorced. Referenced in the film *Little Shop of Horrors*. Ronnie Spector reprised part of *Be My Baby* on the Eddie Money hit *Take Me Home Tonight.* Ronnie Spector's husband Phil was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a nonperformer.

## Genres

Soul

Rock and roll
The Flamingos

## Info

Doo wop group best known for their hit *I Only Have Eyes for You*. Universally hailed as one of the finest and most influential vocal groups in pop music history and for defining doo wop at its most elegant and sophisticated. Member Johnny Carter left to join The Dells. The group covered George Gershwin. Vocal Group Hall of Fame. *Nobody Loves Me Like You* was also a top forty hit. Several other hits in the R&B charts.

## Genres

Doo Wop

Soul
The Harptones

**The Harptones** are an American doo-wop group, which formed in Manhattan in 1953.

The group never had a top forty pop hit, or a record on the US *Billboard* R&B chart, yet they are known for both for lead singer Willie Winfield and their pianist/arranger, Raoul Cita. The Harptones recorded for various labels, including Coed Records. The Harptones may have been the first doo-wop group to number a full-time arranger among their members, and Cita knew how to work to Winfield's strengths. Their best-known recordings include "Sunday Kind of Love" (1953), "Why Should I Love You?" (1954), "Life is But a Dream" (1955), and "The Shrine of St. Cecilia" (1956).

In 1956, they recorded some songs for the film *Rockin' the Blues*: "Mambo Boogie", "Ou Wee Baby",[1] and "High Flying Baby".[2]

The song "Life is But a Dream" was featured in the 1990 film *GoodFellas*, and can be found on the film's soundtrack.
Southern Culture on the Skids

Southern Culture on the Skids, or SCOTS (despite not being Scottish themselves), is an alternative rock band from North Carolina. Their musical themes include dancing, sex, and fried chicken. They have also engaged in the surf rock and rockabilly revivals as well as neo-psychedelia and progressive rock. Their concerts are noted for the band throwing fried chicken and banana pudding into the crowd. They performed on *The Tonight Show*. Their work has been used in film and on television. They performed on *Late Night*. Their music has been featured in video gaming.

## Parody

Weird Al Yankovic parodied SCOTS with *Lame Claim to Fame*.
The Motels

## Info

The Motels are an alternative rock band from California. Member Jeff Jourard previously played for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Scott Thurston previously played for The Stooges. Performed on *Saturday Night Live*. Member Martha Davis also performed with The Tubes and worked with Kenny G. Two gold albums in the US, with three being major hits. Several pop hits in the US and even more on the alternative, rock, and dance charts.

## Genres

Post Punk

New Wave
The Move

## Info

The Move was a power pop band who later became Electric Light Orchestra. They performed the original version of ELO hit *Do Ya*. Covered The Byrds. Manager Tony Secunda had previously worked with The Moody Blues and Small Faces. Performed with The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Pink Floyd, and The Nice. The band experienced problems with drug usage. Carl Wayne went on to perform for The Hollies. Tributed Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. Influenced by George Gershwin. *California Man*, with *Do Ya* as the B-Side, was a minor hit in the US.
The Supremes

## Info

Motown group with several hits during the sixties. Their *You Keep Me Hangin' On* was successfully covered by stoner metal band Vanilla Fudge and later by synthpop singer Kim Wilde. The song features a proto-funk style inspired by telegraph machines. Lead singer Diana Ross would on to have a successful solo career.

## Parody

They are referenced in popular internet cartoon Homestar Runner
The Goo Goo Dolls

## Info

Alternative rock band whose album *A Boy Named Goo*, named for the Johnny Cash song *A Boy Named Sue,* went double platinum. *Dizzy Up the Girl* went triple platinum. *Gutterflower* went gold. *Let Love In* went gold. Their greatest hits made the top forty. Hit single *Iris* went platinum. *Slide* went gold. *Give a Little Bit* went gold, and was a cover of a Supertramp song. *Better Days* went gold. *Stay With You* went gold. Numerous other hits throughout their career. Their music has been used in cinema and on television. DVD album *Live in Buffalo* went platinum. Their name came from a True Detective advertisement. *We are the Normal* was written by Paul Westerberg of The Replacements. The band presented an award to Michael Jackson. Numerous awards and honors throughout their career.
Red Hot Chili Peppers

## Info

Alternative rock band whose music features a mix of reggae, rap, funk, and metal. Lead guitarist Josh Klinghoffer is the youngest inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at 32 when inducted. Covered *Higher Ground* by Stevie Wonder in a funk metal style. *The Uplift Mofo Party Plan* went gold. *Mother's Milk* went platinum. *Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik* went seven times platinum. *One Hot Minute* went double platinum. *Californication* went five times platinum. *By the Way* went double platinum. *Stadium Arcadium* went double platinum. *I'm With You* went gold. Compilation album *What Hits?!* went platinum. Their greatest hits went double platinum. Numerous hits throughout their career. *Scar Tissue* went gold. *Californication* went gold. *By the Way* went double platinum. *Dani California* went double platinum. *Tell Me Baby* went gold. *Snow* went platinum.

## Parody

Weird Al Yankovic parodied RHCP with his *Bedrock Anthem*

They are referenced in the commentary to a Homestar Runner cartoon

## Influences

Stevie Wonder

Mountain
The Mothers of Invention

## Info

The Mothers of Invention are an experimental rock group active from 1969 to 1975 best known as the on-and-off backing group for Frank Zappa. They are referenced in the Deep Purple song *Smoke on the Water*.

## Hall of Fame

Frank Zappa was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, without the Mothers of Invention.
The Firm

## Info

Supergroup consisting of Paul Rodgers of Free and Bad Company and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin and The Yardbirds. Drummer Chris Slade formerly played for Uriah Heep and Manfred Mann's Earth Band. Their song *Midnight Moonlight* was originally a Led Zep song called *Swan Song*. The Firm is best known in the US for their top forty hit *Radioactive* (no relation to the much later Imagine Dragons indie rock song).
The Electric Prunes

## Info

Psychedelic rock band best known for their hit *I Had Too Much to Dream*. Members included Kenny Loggins. Producer Dave Hassinger had previously worked for The Rolling Stones. Their hit *Get Me to the World on Time* is a psychedelic rock song using the clave sound popularized by Bo Diddley. Session musicians included Earl Palmer. Supported Steppenwolf, Canned Heat, and Buffalo Springfield. Ron Morgan had previously played for Three Dog Night. Guest musicians included Peter Lewis of Moby Grape. *I Had Too Much to Dream* made it to number eleven. *Get Me to the World on Time* made it to number 27.
The Doobie Brothers

## Info

Almost every album has gone at least gold, with some going multi-platinum. *Best of the Doobies* has gone diamond while other compilations have gone at least gold. Numerous hit singles throughout the seventies to eighties. Their song *China Grove* is about a real suburb of San Antonio, but is given an inaccurate description. The town is not essentially Chinatown. The mention of "Samurai swords" references Japan, not China. The song uses a variant of the clave sound popularized by Bo Diddley. The band's name is a slang term for a marijuana blunt.

## Genres

Country Rock

Soft Rock

Hard Rock

Jazz Rock

## Songs

China Grove

Long Train Runnin' (Without Love)

Rockin' Down the Highway

Listen to the Music

What a Fool Believes

Black Water

Takin' it to the Streets

It Keeps You Runnin'

Jesus is Just Alright

Another Park, Another Sunday

Minute By Minute

You Belong to Me

I Cheat the Hangman
Sammy Davis Jr.

## Info

Musician, actor, and entertainer best known for his impersonations of other celebrities. Has won many different awards, including from the NAACP. Received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Numerous other awards, honors, and tributes. Has been referenced or featured on television and in film. Member of the Rat Pack with Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Opposed to the original Rat Pack name of "The Clan" due to it reminding him of the KKK. Covered *In the Ghetto*, made famous by Elvis Presley. Hosted a highway safety telethon which featured numerous celebrities including boxer Muhammad Ali and Ray Charles. *What Kind of Fool am I* was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

## Genres

Jazz

Traditional Pop
The Benny Goodman Orchestra

## Info

Jazz musician best known as the "King of Swing". Led one of the first integrated orchestras. He is well known for his performance at Carnegie Hall in 1938. His group featured Coleman Hawkins and Billie Holiday. Also featured Charlie Christian. Was able to adapt to jazz evolving and began performing "cool jazz". Influenced by Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie and started playing bebop. Later developed an interest in classical music. His work was featured in several films, including *The Benny Goodman Story*, a sequel to a film about The Glenn Miller Orchestra. Hollywood Walk of Fame inductee. Arrested for violating Jim Crow Laws, leading him to become a major player in the fight for desegregation. Worked with George Benson. Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. His works were donated to Yale after his death. Several honorary doctorates, including Ivy League. Multiple Halls of Fame.

## Genres

Swing

Jazz
Talking Heads

## Info

New wave band whose style helped define pop culture of the seventies to eighties. Their song *Radio Head* was the inspiration for the name of the band Radiohead. Their song *And She Was* is about a woman the band knew who used to do drugs outside a Yoohoo factory. The animator who made the video for the song also made some sketches for children's program *Sesame Street*. Almost all their albums went at least gold. Live album *Stop Making Sense* went double platinum. Numerous hit singles.

## Songs

Take Me to the River

Burning Down the House

Once in a Lifetime

And She Was

Wild Wild Life

Life During Wartime

## Parody

Weird Al Yankovic parodied Talking Heads with his *Dog Eat Dog*. In particular it resembles *And She Was* with a part taken from *Once in a Lifetime*. The song was also referenced in a Homestar Runner cartoon.
The Orioles

## Info

The Orioles are a soul group who helped established the basic pattern for doo wop. Successful during the forties and fifties. First of the "bird groups" of the doo wop era such as The Flamingos, The Larks, The Ravens, and The Penguins. They are also credited as "Sonny Til and the Orioles", but were inducted as just "The Orioles". Their *It's Too Soon to Know* was a chart-topper in 1948.
Spooner Oldham

## Info

Songwriter and session musician who performed organ for Percy Sledge, Wilson Pickett, and Aretha Franklin. Also wrote *Cry Like a Baby* for The Box Tops and *I'm Your Puppet* for James and Bobby Purify. Also performed with Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, The Everly Brothers, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, Dickey Betts of The Allman Brothers Band, and J.J. Cale. He was also a frequent backing musician for Neil Young. He also backed up Crosby, Stills, and Nash when they featured Young. Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

## Genres

Soul

Southern Rock

Blues Rock

Folk Rock

Blue Eyed Soul

Rock and Roll
The 5th Dimension

The 5th Dimension is a pop rock group with numerous hits in the late sixties. They are best known for their counterculture hit *Aquarius*, which topped the charts in 1969. *Wedding Bell Blues* also made number one that year. They continued to have many hits into the mid seventies. The group is also known for covering Laura Nyro, particularly her *Stoned Soul Picnic.*

## Parody

The 5th Dimension hit *Up Up and Away* is referenced in a main page of popular internet cartoon Homestar Runner.
The Icicle Works

## Info

The Icicle Works are a post punk band phenomenal in their native Britain. Their debut album was a top forty hit in the US. They had a top forty single in the US with *Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)*. They also had a rock hit with *High Time*. Signed to the Beggars Banquet label. Influenced by Neil Young and Crazy Horse, The Doors, and Ramones. Member Chris Sharrock would also drum for Eurythmics.
Survivor

## Info

Hard rock band best known for their hit *Eye of the Tiger*, which was used in the film *Rocky III*. Numerous hits throughout the eighties, with *Eye of the Tiger* being their sole chart topper. Two platinum albums. Member Jim Peterik was formerly a member of The Ides of March. The band would go on to record *Burning Heart* for the soundtrack to *Rocky IV*.

## Parody

Weird Al Yankovic parodied Survivor with his song *Rye or the Kaiser.*
The Chantels

**The Chantels** were the second African-American girl group to enjoy nationwide success in the United States, preceded by The Bobbettes. The group was established in the early 1950s by students attending St. Anthony of Padua School in The Bronx. The original five members consisted of Arlene Smith (lead), Sonia Goring, Rene Minus, Jackie Landry Jackson and Lois Harris. They derived their name from that of a rival school, St. Frances de Chantal.

Several hit singles. *Well I Told You* was a response to *Hit the Road Jack* by Ray Charles. *The Chantels On Tour* features no live recordings and only seven songs by the actual group. The album also features Little Anthony and the Imperials.

Vocal Group Hall of Fame
The Last Poets

**The Last Poets** is the name for several groups of poets and musicians who arose from the late 1960s African-American civil rights movement's black nationalist movement. The name is taken from a poem by the South African revolutionary poet Keorapetse Kgositsile, who believed he was in the last era of poetry before guns would take over. The original users of that name were the trio of Felipe Luciano, Gylan Kain, and David Nelson.

However, it is the versions of the group led by Jalaluddin Masur Nuriddin and/or Umar Bin Hassan that have penetrated mass culture to a legendary degree. The Last Poets have been cited as one of the earliest influences on hip-hop music. Critic Jason Ankeny wrote: "With their politically charged raps, taut rhythms, and dedication to raising African-American consciousness, the Last Poets almost single-handedly laid the groundwork for the emergence of hip-hop."[2] The British music magazine *NME* stated, "Serious spokesmen like Gil Scott-Heron, The Last Poets, and later Gary Byrd, paved the way for the many socially committed Black [emcees] a decade later."[3]
The Marvelettes

## Info

Girl group best known for their hit *Please Mr. Postman*. They were the first commercially successful Motown girl group. Vocal Group Hall of Fame. They have been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, but to no avail. Their single *Twistin' Postman* combines their hit with Chubby Checker's *The Twist* to capitalize on the Twist craze. *Beechwood 4-5789* uses the now-defunct telephone exchange name. The song was written by Marvin Gaye. *Don't Mess With Bill* was written by Smokey Robinson. Sampled in a Jay-Z song. R&B Music Hall of Fame. Numerous hits throughout their career. *Postman* was covered by The Beatles.
Stevie Wonder

## Info

Soul musician popular from the sixties to seventies. Numerous hits throughout his career. Born prematurely and given too much oxygen as an infant, leaving him blind. Wonder used this disability to allow him to become skilled at music. He could "feel" the music. He read an Academy Award card, written in Braille, announcing that the film *Ray* had won. The film is about fellow blind soul musician and Hall of Famer Ray Charles. Inducted into the Songwriter Hall of Fame. Originally known as Little Stevie Wonder, but dropped the "Little" as he got older. Awarded a record 25 Grammys. One of the best selling artists of all time. Named a messenger for peace in 2009. Named one of the best artists of the twentieth century by *Billboard Magazine* in 2013. Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama in 2014. Noted and awarded activist for civil rights. Numerous other awards and honors, including *Rolling Stone Magazine* naming him one of the greatest artists of all time. Received the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize from President Obama.

## Parody

Weird Al Yankovic parodied Stevie Nicks with his song *Stop Draggin' My Car Around.*
Sweetwater

**Sweetwater** was an American rock band originally from Los Angeles, California. They were the act scheduled to open the Woodstock Festival in 1969; however, due to being stopped by the police on their way to the festival, folksinger Richie Havens' trio (Daniel Ben Zebulon, percussion, Paul "Deano" Williams, guitar, backing vocals) performed first. Sweetwater performed next, becoming the first band to perform at the festival.[1]

The band originally formed to perform in local coffee houses in Los Angeles until being signed to a major label. Sweetwater were early developers of the psychedelic rock/fusion style that was popularized by Jefferson Airplane to be regarded as the archetype "60s Sound". In 1968-69, the band often toured with The Doors. They were also one of the opening acts for Eric Burdon and the Animals in 1968. One of their best-known recordings is a version of the traditional folk song "Motherless Child". It appeared on their debut album, *Sweetwater*, the band's only album to chart nationally in the U.S.. As the band progressed, they developed music more toward the psychedelic folk genre.[2]

The original members of the band were Nancy "Nansi" Nevins (lead vocals/guitar), August Burns (cello), Albert Moore (flute/backing vocals), Alan Malarowitz (drums), Elpidio Cobian (conga drums), Alex Del Zoppo (keyboards) and Fred Herrera (bass). The band's size was unusual for the period, having eight, but with the additional members, they were able to create a more unique sound in recordings and live performances.

On December 8, 1969, three days after Sweetwater performed on *The Red Skelton Show*, singer Nansi Nevins was severely injured in a car accident, which stopped the progress of the band. Nansi experienced brain damage for some years following the collision, and one of her vocal cords was permanently damaged. Nansi would never again complete a full album with the band, although she still had some recordings prepared for the next two albums.[3][4]

The group reunited for Woodstock '94 in 1994 with three original members - Nevins, Herrera and Del Zoppo. August Burns died in the 1980s, Alan Malarowitz was killed in a car crash in 1981, Albert Moore died of pneumonia in 1994. Elpidio Cobian works as a film statist. In 1999, the band's story was depicted in a VH1 TV-movie called *Sweetwater: A True Rock Story*. Amy Jo Johnson portrayed Nansi Nevins, while Michelle Phillips portrayed an older Nancy.
The Mamas and the Papas

## Info

The Mamas and the Papas were a popular folk rock group from the sixties. *California Dreamin'* was written about a desire to leave Greenwich Village, an epicenter of sixties folk, for California. Despite popular belief and the fact that she was found dead with a ham sandwich in her hand, autopsies found no traces of food in Mama Cass's esophagus. Their song *Creeque Alley* (pronounced "creaky alley") references Barry McGuire, Jim McGuinn of The Byrds, and The Lovin' Spoonful.

## Genres

Folk rock

Psychedelic rock

Pop rock

## Parody

They are referenced in *I Dig Rock and Roll Music* by folk group Peter, Paul, and Mary.

## Songs

California Dreamin'

Monday Monday

Dream a Little Dream of Me

Dedicated to the One I Love

Creeque Alley (Everyone's Gettin' Fat 'Cept Mama Cass)

I Saw Her Again

Go Where You Wanna Go

Words of Love
Ritchie Valens

## Info

Early rock and roll musician whose *La Bamba* is considered the first Latin rock hit. He admitted, despite being of Latin descent, he didn't know any Spanish until recording the song. Valens was killed in a 1959 plane crash alongside Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper in what became immortalized in the folk rock song *American Pie* as "the day the music died". *La Bamba* was successfully covered by Latin rock band Los Lobos. Despite his fame he was not inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame until 2001. Valens was only seventeen at the time of his death.

## Genres

Rock and roll

Latin Rock
Ry Cooder

**Ryland Peter** "**Ry**" **Cooder** (born March 15, 1947)[1] is an American musician, songwriter, film score composer, and record producer. He is a multi-instrumentalist but is best known for hisslide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.

Cooder's solo work has been eclectic, encompassing many genres. He has collaborated with many musicians, notably including Captain Beefheart, Ali Farka Touré, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Randy Newman, David Lindley, The Chieftains, and The Doobie Brothers, Carla Olson & the Textones (both on record and in film). He briefly formed a band named Little Village. He produced the *Buena Vista Social Club* album (1997), which became a worldwide hit. Wim Wenders directed the documentary film of the same name(1999), which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2000.

Cooder was ranked eighth on *Rolling Stone* magazine's 2003 list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time"[2] (David Fricke's Picks). A 2010 ranking by Gibson placed him at number 32.[3]
Skid Row

## Info

Heavy metal band best known for their hit *Youth Gone Wild*. Member Sebastian Bach has had a notable amount of success as a solo artist. Members have included Michael Wagener, who had worked with Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, and White Lion. Performed with Guns N Roses. Experimented with speed metal. Also performed with Pantera. Bach once wore to a concert a T-shirt with an anti-gay slogan. Member Bob Rock had previously worked for Mötley Crüe, Metallica, and the Offspring. Performed on the Kiss farewell tour. Their first two albums went multi-platinum. *B-Side Ourselves* went gold. Several hits around the year 1990, including the top five hit *18 and Life*. The video album *Oh Say Can You Scream* went platinum.