Male Musicians

Dire Straits were a British rock band, formed by Mark Knopfler (vocals and lead guitar), his younger brother David Knopfler (rhythm guitar and vocals), John Illsley (bass guitar and vocals), and Pick Withers (drums and percussion), and managed by Ed Bicknell, active between 1977 and 1995. Although the band was formed in an era when punk rock was at the forefront, Dire Straits played a more bluesy style, albeit with a stripped-down sound that appealed to audiences weary of the overproduced stadium rock of the 1970s. In their early days, Mark and David requested that pub owners turn down their sound so that patrons could converse while the band played, an indication of thei…

The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in Forest Hills, Queens, New York in 1974 and are often cited as the first punk rock group.Despite achieving only limited commercial success, the band was a major influence on the punk rock movement both in the United States and the United Kingdom. All of the band members adopted pseudonyms ending with the surname "Ramone", though none of them were actually related. They performed 2,263 concerts, touring virtually nonstop for 22 years. In 1996, after a tour with the Lollapalooza music festival, the band played a farewell show and disbanded. By a little more than eight years after the breakup, the band's three founding me…

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. A prominent figure in the history of jazz, Ellington's music stretched into various other genres, including blues, gospel, film scores, popular, and classical. His career spanned more than 50 years and included leading his orchestra, composing an inexhaustible songbook, scoring for movies, and world tours. Due to his inventive use of the orchestra, or big band, and thanks to his eloquence and extraordinary charisma, he is generally considered to have elevated the perception of jazz to an art form on a par with other traditional genres of music. His repu…

The Misfits are an American rock band often recognized as the progenitors of the horror punk subgenre, blending punk rock and other musical influences with horror film themes and imagery. Founded in 1977 in Lodi, New Jersey by singer and songwriter Glenn Danzig, the group had a fluctuating lineup during its first six years with Danzig and bassist Jerry Only as the only consistent members. During this time they released several EPs and singles and, with Only's brother Doyle as guitarist, the albums Walk Among Us (1982) and Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood (1983), both considered touchstones of the early-1980s hardcore punk movement. The Misfits disbanded in 1983 and Danzig went on t…

The Eagles is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1971 by Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner. With five number one singles and six number one albums, the Eagles were one of the most successful recording artists of the 1970s. At the end of the 20th century, two of their albums, Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) and Hotel California, ranked among the 20 best-selling albums in the U.S. according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Hotel California is ranked 37th in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and the band was ranked #75 on the magazine's 2004 list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. They also …

The Sex Pistols were an iconic and highly influential English punk rock band, formed in London in 1975. The band originally comprised vocalist Johnny Rotten, guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook and bassist Glen Matlock (later replaced by Sid Vicious). Although their initial career lasted only three years and produced only four singles and one studio album, the Sex Pistols have been described by the BBC as "the definitive English punk rock band." The Pistols are widely credited with initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and creating the first generation gap within rock and roll. The Sex Pistols emerged as a response to what was perceived to be the "increa…

Ronnie James Dio (July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010) was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter of Italian descent. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser Hear 'n Aid. He was widely hailed as one of the most powerful singers in heavy metal, renowned for his consistently powerful voice and for popularizing the "devil horns" hand gesture in metal culture. Prior to his death, he was collaborating on a project with former Black Sabbath bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice, under the moniker Heaven & Hell, whose first studio album,…

Glenn Danzig (born June 23, 1955) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, author, entrepreneur, and a progenitor of the horror punk subgenre of music. He is the founder of bands the Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig. He also owns the Evilive record label and Verotik, an adult-oriented comic book publishing company. Danzig's musical career, beginning in the mid-1970s, encompasses genres such as punk rock, heavy metal, industrial, blues and classical music. He has written songs for other musicians, including Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison. As a singer, he is noted for his baritone vocal range and distinctive style, which has been compared to that of Elvis Presley, Jim Morris…

Vicente Fernández Gómez,Born February 17, 1940,simply known as Vicente Fernández, is a Mexican singer, producer and actor. Known as "Chente" or el "El Charro de Mexico" (The Charro of Mexico) and "El Rey" (The King) throughout the Latin world, Vicente Fernandez, who started his career singing for tips on the street, has become a Mexican cultural icon, recording more than 50 albums and contributing to many movies. He is the father of the popular singer Alejandro Fernández. Although less well known to English-speaking audiences, he has consistently filled stadiums and venues throughout his 35-plus years of performing. His repertoire is pure ranchera, a style described by Da…

George Harvey Strait (born May 18, 1952) is an American country music singer. Strait is referred to as the "King of Country," and critics call Strait a living legend. He is known for his unique style of western swing music, bar-room ballads, honky-tonk style, and fresh yet traditional country western music. George Strait holds the world record for more #1 hit singles than any other artist in the history of music on any chart or in any genre. As of 2010 he has amassed 57 #1 hits. Strait rocketed to success after his debut single "Unwound" in 1981. While contributing to the neo-traditional movement of the 1980s, he amassed 18 number one singles and seven number one albums …

Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band, formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1964. The band became prominent in the Southern United States in 1973, and rose to worldwide recognition before three members and one road crew member died in an airplane crash in 1977. The band reformed in 1987 for a reunion tour with lead singer Ronnie Van Zant's younger brother Johnny as the frontman. Lynyrd Skynyrd continues to tour and record. Of its original members, only Gary Rossington remains with the band as of 2010. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 13, 2006. Early years In the summer of 1964, teenage friends Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, and Gary…

Pablo Montero (born August 23, 1974) is a popular Mexican singer and actor. Montero is better known for his singing career; in fact, it was his career as a singer that has led him towards becoming an actor. Montero was born Oscar Daniel Hernandez in Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico. Known for his use of "charro" hats and black clothing during his concerts, he is considered to be a teen idol and paparazzi favorite in Mexico. He is also well known in the rest of Latin America, Australia, Europe, and the Hispanic community of the United States. When Montero was a teenager, he had his first professional singing job as the lead singer of a group named "Trébol", which had a number o…

Toby Keith Covel (born July 8, 1961), best known as Toby Keith, is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer and actor. Keith released his first four studio albums — 1993's Toby Keith, 1994's Boomtown, 1996's Blue Moon and 1997's Dream Walkin', plus a Greatest Hits package for various divisions of Mercury Records before exiting in 1998. These albums all earned gold or higher certification, and produced several chart singles, including his debut "Should've Been a Cowboy", which topped the country charts and was the most played country song of the 1990's. The song has received 3 million spins since then, according to Broadcast Music Incorporated. Signed t…

Ozzy http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/s56378.jpg Ozzy Osbourne (born John Michael Osbourne, December 3, 1948 in Aston, Birmingham, England) is the lead vocalist of the pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, a popular solo artist, and the star of the reality show, The Osbournes. As a solo artist, Osbourne has sold over 30 million albums in the US, and 75 million albums worldwide. Two albums, Blizzard of Ozz (1980) and No More Tears (1991), are certified quadruple platinum, for sales of over 4 million copies in the US. Early life Osbourne spent most of his early life in Birmingham, England. He was born on December 3, 1948 in abject poverty into a family o…

Bryan Adams OC, OBC, (born 5 November 1959) is a Canadian rock singer, guitarist and songwriter. Some of his best-known albums are Reckless, 18 til I Die, and Waking Up the Neighbours. Adams was awarded the Order of Canada [1] and the Order of British Columbia [2] for his contribution to popular music and his philanthropic work. He was also inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 1998 [3], and more recently inducted into the Music Hall of Fame at Canada's Juno Awards in April 2006. [4] He has been nominated for three Academy Awards[5] for songwriting, and was recently nominated for his fifth Golden Globe (2007) [6] for his songwriting in the film Bobby". Contents Born…

Santana is the primary exponent of Latin-tinged rock, particularly due to its combination of Latin percussion (congas, timbales, etc.) with bandleader Carlos Santana's distinctive, high-pitched lead guitar playing. The group was the last major act to emerge from the psychedelic San Francisco music scene of the 1960s and it enjoyed massive success at the end of the decade and into the early '70s. The musical direction then changed to a more contemplative and jazzy style as the band's early personnel gradually departed, leaving the name in the hands of Carlos Santana, who guided the group to consistent commercial success over the next quarter-century. By the mid-'90s, Santa…

Beastie Boys is an American hip-hop group from Brooklyn, New York. The group comprises Michael "Mike D" Diamond, Adam "MCA" Yauch, and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz and John Jacobs who left the band to join the Navy shortly after their big break. Since around the time of the Hello Nasty album, the DJ for the group has been Michael "Mix Master Mike" Schwartz, who was first featured in the song "Three MCs and One DJ".[1]. Beastie Boys began as a hardcore punk group in 1979, appeared on the compilation cassette New York Thrash with Riot Fight and Beastie, and released their debut EP in 1982. After achieving moderate local success with the 1983 release of experimental hip-hop 12" …

Members Scott Weiland Slash Duff McKagan Dave Kushner Matt Sorum Velvet Revolver is a Grammy Award-winning hard rock supergroup consisting of former Guns N' Roses members: Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum, alongside Dave Kushner formerly of Wasted Youth. In 2004, the band achieved commercial success with their debut album, Contraband. Critics initially described Velvet Revolver as a mere combination of Stone Temple Pilots and Guns N' Roses, and have criticized the band for a "disconnection" between Scott Weiland and the rest of the band. However, the band went with a different approach for their second album Libertad), and received some acclaim. With their hit sin…

Red Hot Chili Peppers The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983. For most of their career, the group's lineup has consisted of vocalist Anthony Kiedis, guitarist John Frusciante, bassist Michael "Flea" Balzary, and drummer Chad Smith. The band's varied musical style has fused traditional rock with various elements of funk, punk rock, alternative rock, rap, heavy metal and psychedelic rock. They hold the record for the most number one singles on the Billboard Modern Rock Chart, with eleven, and a record of 81 weeks at #1 on the chart. In addition to Kiedis and Flea, the group originally featured guitarist Hillel …

The Shins are an American indie rock band founded and fronted by singer and guitar player James Mercer. The Shins were formed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but are now based in Portland, Oregon. From Flake Music to The Shins (1992–2000) The Shins began in 1996 as a side project for singer/songwriter James Mercer, whose primary band was Flake Music in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mercer formed Flake Music in 1992 with Neal Langford on guitar, Phil Higgs and then Marty Crandall on bass, and Jesse Sandoval on drums. During the next 5 years Flake Music released several singles, a full-length album, and began touring largely due to the help of other bands like Modest Mouse. In 1996,…

Cold War Kids are an American indie rock band from Long Beach, California. Band members are Nathan Willett (vocals, piano, guitar), Dann Gallucci, Matt Maust (bass guitar), and Matt Aveiro (drums, percussion). Jonnie Russell was previously with the band (guitar, vocals, keyboards). History Cold War Kids started in 2004 in downtown Fullerton in guitarist/vocalist Jonnie Russell's apartment above a restaurant called Mulberry Street, whose name they would eventually use as the title of their first EP. The band relocated to Whittier, California and began recording their first demos, which Monarchy Music released as the Mulberry Street EP in spring 2005. Between tours, the ban…

Members Tyson Ritter – vocals, bass Nick Wheeler – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Mike Kennerty – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Chris Gaylor – drums, percussion The All-American Rejects are an American power pop band that formed in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Their most recent album Move Along was released in 2005 while their latest single "It Ends Tonight" reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 2007. When formed, The All-American Rejects consisted of members of two Oklahoma bands who came together as one. One band was known as the Drowning Fish and included the future All-American Reject Nick Wheeler. At the time, Wheeler was his…

PITBULL Name : Armando Christian Perez Alias : Pitbull D.O.B : January 15, 1981 Age : 24 Home : Miami Origin : Cuba Occupation : Entertainer Signed : TVT Records Debut : M.I.A.M.I - Money Is A Major Issue Charted : Oye, Welcome to Miami, Culo, Dammit Man, M.I.A.M.I If you ask most outsiders about the origins of crunk, they usually point to Atlanta, thanks to the pioneering efforts of artists like Lil Jon and DJ Smurf. Close, says up & coming Southern Rapper Pitbbul, but no dice. Crunk really started down at the bottom. "Crunk really got started in Miami, with thte bass music," he said "Crunk aint nothing but base music slowed down. And bass music got…

Biography from The Neville Brothers offical website Throughout their long careers as both solo performers and as members of the group that bore their family name, The Neville Brothers have proudly carried the torch of their native New Orleans' rich R&B legacy. Although the four siblings - Arthur, Charles, Aaron, and Cyril - did not officially unite under The Neville Brothers aegis until 1977, all had crossed musical paths in the past, while also enjoying success with other unrelated projects: Eldest brother Art was the first to tackle a recording career, when in 1954 his high school band the Hawketts cut "Mardi Gras Mambo," a song that later became the annual carniva…

Keith Richards (born 18 December 1943) is an English guitarist, songwriter, singer, record producer and a founding member of The Rolling Stones. As a guitarist, Richards is mostly known for his innovative rhythm playing, with his ability to develop and play catchy chord sequences earning him the nickname "The Human Riff". In 2003 he ranked 10th on Rolling Stone magazine's "Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". With songwriting partner and Rolling Stones lead vocalist Mick Jagger, Richards has written and recorded hundreds of songs, fourteen of which are listed by Rolling Stone magazine among the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Richards also starred in t…