Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow, the renowned American singer-songwriter, has left an indelible mark on the music industry with her exceptional talents and versatile artistry. Born on February 11, 1962, in Kennett, Missouri, Sheryl began her musical journey at a young age, exploring various genres such as rock, country, and pop. With a career spanning over three decades, Sheryl Crow has captivated audiences worldwide with her soulful vocals, poignant lyrics, and captivating performances. Her Grammy-winning discography is a testament to her enduring influence and creative brilliance.
Sheryl’s unique style blends elements of rock, folk, and blues, creating a sound that is distinctly her own. She has not only achieved commercial success with hit songs like ‘All I Wanna Do,’ ‘Soak Up the Sun,’ and ‘If It Makes You Happy’ but has also garnered critical acclaim for her songwriting prowess and musicianship. Beyond her musical accomplishments, Sheryl Crow is also known for her activism and philanthropy, using her platform to advocate for various social and environmental causes. Her contributions to both music and society have earned her admiration and respect from fans and peers alike, solidifying her legacy as a true icon in the music world.
Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks, the iconic artist, provided a mystical and elusive counterweight to the sweet, frenetic pop and baseline blues of Fleetwood Mac. Her presence added spirituality and spookiness to the group’s most tender moments, shining brightly outside the confines of Fleetwood Mac. After stepping away from the group post-Tusk, tensions heightened within an already raw band from Rumours. Nicks showcased her tougher side on Bella Donna, collaborating with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Don Henley while delivering a steely adolescent anthem with ‘Edge of Seventeen.’ Her solo career flourished throughout the ’80s, marked by hits like ‘Stand Back’ and ‘Talk to Me.’
Born Stephanie Lynn Nicks in Phoenix, Arizona, on May 26, 1948, Stevie Nicks earned her name as a toddler when she couldn’t quite pronounce her own name. Gravitating towards dance and music from an early age, she sang country music with her grandfather and wrote her first song, ‘I’ve Loved and Lost,’ on her 16th birthday. Nicks’ journey into music continued as she met Lindsey Buckingham at a church social and joined Fritz, a psychedelic band that played alongside legends like Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. Their partnership led to recording demos and eventually joining Fleetwood Mac, where their debut album marked a turning point in the band’s commercial success.
Stevie Nicks’ individuality shone brighter as she ventured into her solo career, producing hits like ‘Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around,’ ‘Leather and Lace,’ and ‘Edge of Seventeen.’ Throughout the years, Nicks released solo albums, navigated through personal struggles, and reunited with Fleetwood Mac, contributing to the band’s reformation and enduring success. Her influence on rock music and her relentless spirit were evident in her iconic performances and timeless songs, solidifying her legacy as a trailblazer in the music industry. Nicks’ dedication to her craft, resilience through challenges, and unwavering passion for music have made her an unparalleled artist and a true legend in the world of rock and roll.
Alannah Myles
Toronto rocker / singer / songwriter / producer, Alannah Myles spent several years struggling unsuccessfully to secure a Canadian record deal so she and songwriting partner Christopher Ward set their sights south of the border. Myles recorded a demo and video for the song “Just One Kiss,” with Canadian renown cinematographer, Deborah Samuel that got the attention of several US recording companies including Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records and along with top 40 hits she chose for her self-titled 1989 debut album. “Love Is” established her in her home country. Black Velvet and Lover Of Mine helped to make Alannah Myles the highest-selling debut recording artist in Canadian history, but it was the smoky, sensual “Black Velvet” that became a worldwide classic hit, reaching number one in the U.S. Myles thus far remains something of a one-hit wonder to most U.S. audiences. She released a follow-up album, Rockinghorse, in 1992 followed by ‘Alannah’ as her final Atlantic release in 1995 and 2 more independently recoded albums, A Rval and 85bpm.
Read MoreModern English
Formed in Colchester, England, the band self-released its first single on its own Limp Records label prior to signing to 4AD, home to such like-minded acts as Bauhaus, Cocteau Twins, and Dead Can Dance. Laying the foundation for future musical movements such as goth and industrial, Modern English would gain the attention of renowned BBC DJ John Peel, who featured the band twice on his program.
On 1982’s After the Snow — produced by the acclaimed Hugh Jones whose credits include albums by Echo and the Bunnymen, Simple Minds, The Damned, and many more — the band’s sound evolved from the dark, moody, and challenging post-punk found on its debut, Mesh & Lace, to a more commercial and radio-friendly mix of synthesizers, guitars, catchy drum beats, and singer Robbie Grey’s unmistakable vocals. As the title suggests, the icy sound featured on Mesh & Lace melted away on After the Snow to reveal more concise and potent songs, highlighted by ‘I Melt With You’ which brought the band up from the underground to the mainstream. ‘I Melt With You’ is one of the most iconic songs of the New Wave era. The song has been one of the most played songs on radio with well over 8 million plays and will be honored again at the 2024 BMI London Awards. The band is currently on tour in the US and making their way to Australia, New Zealand, Shanghai, and the UK in late 2024.
The original members are active creating & touring new music. Visit www.modernenglish.me for tour dates and Vinyl!
Duran Duran
Duran Duran, the iconic UK quartet, has always thrived in the shadows, exploring artistic, aesthetic, and emotional boundaries. Their music, epitomized by hits like ‘Hungry Like the Wolf,’ ‘Ordinary World,’ and ‘Rio,’ beckons one to dance and sing passionately, preferably under the veil of night. Inducted into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® in 2022, Duran Duran boasts over 100 million album sales worldwide, along with 18 chart-topping hits in the US and 21 Top 20 singles in the UK. The band’s accolades include two GRAMMY® Awards, two Ivor Novellos, and two BRIT Awards, with a notable honor for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Music’ in 2004. Additionally, they hold a star on the illustrious Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Renowned for their groundbreaking James Bond theme that topped the US charts and the David Lynch-directed concert film, Duran Duran continues to redefine the music industry with their innovative approach. Their influence extends beyond music, reshaping the fashion scene with their distinctive style. The release of 2021’s ‘FUTURE PAST’ garnered critical acclaim from esteemed publications like Salon and Rolling Stone, solidifying their status as trailblazers in the industry. Today, Duran Duran delves into the depths of darkness to create vibrant melodies, weaving a tapestry of new tracks, covers, and revamped classics on their latest album, ‘DANSE MACABRE,’ marking their 16th studio album under the Tape Modern/BMG label.
Vanessa Carlton
“Always building up, falling apart. Love is an art,” sings Vanessa Carlton on the title track of her sixth album, Love Is An Art. Like the record itself, the song is a meditation on the eternal seesaw that is human connection: the push, the pull, the balance, the bottoming out. It’s that constantly evolving nature of love, expectations and compassion that Carlton analyzes from all angles on Love Is An Art, from romantic, to parental, to the friends that hold us up and the leaders that repeatedly let us down. And on tracks like the album’s opener, “I Can’t Stay the Same,” that also includes the relationship with the person staring back at us in the mirror, each and every morning.
Produced by Dave Fridmann (MGMT, Flaming Lips), Love Is An Art finds Carlton reckoning with toxic relationships (the confessional “Miner’s Canary”), eternal partnership (“Companion Star”) and the children who fill the world with love and grace while politicians fill their pockets (the passionate “Die, Dinosaur,” written after the shootings in Parkland, Florida). And true to Carlton’s skill as both a lyricist and an instrumentalist, the arrangements on Love Is An Art tell these tales as vibrantly as the words themselves: piano parts that speak of rage and tenderness, synths that burst and glow like dawn.
Blondie
Blondie is an iconic new wave band that transitioned from punk to Top 40 fame, expanding their musical style to include disco, reggae, and hip-hop. Led by the charismatic Debbie Harry, the band rose to stardom with hits like “Heart of Glass” and “Call Me,” collaborating with producers like Mike Chapman and Giorgio Moroder. Despite a sudden fall in the 1980s, Blondie reunited in 1999 with the successful album No Exit, followed by a string of acclaimed releases including Panic of Girls and Pollinator.
At the core of Blondie’s success is the partnership between Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein, who initially bonded while playing in the Stilettoes before forming Blondie. With a unique blend of girl-group pop and garage rock, the band quickly gained popularity in the New York punk scene, attracting attention from producers like Richard Gottehrer and labels like Chrysalis Records. Their breakthrough album, Parallel Lines, catapulted Blondie to international fame, with hits like “Heart of Glass” and “Rapture” setting new standards for blending genres and styles.
Colbie Caillat
To date, Colbie Caillat has been honored with two GRAMMY Awards and five nominations and has accumulated more than 15 billion streams. Her debut album Coco hit #5 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart and is certified 3x Platinum, while her Platinum-selling follow-up album Breakthrough landed at #1 on the Billboard album chart. Starting with her breakthrough hit “Bubbly” which is certified 6x Platinum, her radio career features eight #1 and/or top 10 singles including “Realize”, “Try” and her GRAMMY-winning duet with Jason Mraz, “Lucky”. Her live show is personal and engaging in any setting and she has become an expert storyteller. Recorded in Nashville, TN, her debut solo country album, Along The Way, is out now including singles “I’ll Be Here” featuring Sheryl Crow, “Worth It,” and “Still Gonna Miss You.”
Throughout her career, Colbie Caillat has been an avowed spokesperson and supporter for ASPCA, the Surfrider Foundation, Save The Music, Farm Sanctuary, and The Humane Society of the United States.
Matthew Wilder
Matthew Wilder is a three-time Grammy nominee and an Oscar and Golden Globe Nominated Writer and Producer. With his versatile talents as a songwriter and award-winning producer, Matthew Wilder has left a significant mark on contemporary music and films. He kickstarted his recording career as a songwriter and performer, achieving global success with his single, ‘Break My Stride’ from the album ‘I Don’t Speak The Language’. As a top record producer, Wilder has worked with renowned artists like No Doubt, producing the hit album ‘Tragic Kingdom’, which sold over twenty million copies worldwide and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album.
Matthew Wilder’s contributions extend to the realm of animation as well. He served as the composer, producer, singer, and instrumentalist for Disney’s 36th animated feature, ‘Mulan (Original Soundtrack)’, winning the Annie Award for Best Music in an Animated Feature. His work on the soundtrack also earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Song and Best Score, as well as Academy Award nominations for Best Score in a Comedy or Musical and Best Original Song. Wilder’s collaboration with Disney continued with writing, producing, performing, and engineering multi-platinum albums for artists like Miley Cyrus and achieving gold status with Selena Gomez’s debut album, ‘Kiss and Tell’. Additionally, Wilder contributed to Miley Cyrus’s films, ‘Hannah Montana: Best Of Both Worlds’ and ‘Hannah Montana: The Movie’.
Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart, an iconic and legendary British singer-songwriter, is widely recognized for his distinctive raspy voice and timeless music. With a career spanning over five decades, Rod Stewart has made significant contributions to the rock and pop music genres, earning him numerous accolades and a devoted global fan base. Born in London, England, Rod Stewart initially gained fame as a member of the Jeff Beck Group and Faces before launching a successful solo career. Known for his dynamic stage presence and charismatic persona, Rod Stewart continues to captivate audiences with his electrifying performances and heartfelt lyrics. His hit songs like “Maggie May,” “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy,” and “Forever Young” have solidified his status as a music icon.
Beyond his musical talents, Rod Stewart is also a philanthropist and a proud father. He has supported various charities over the years, focusing on causes related to cancer research, children’s education, and veterans’ welfare. With a passion for giving back to society, Rod Stewart uses his platform and resources to make a positive impact on the world. As a father, he values family above all else and cherishes moments spent with his children and grandchildren. Rod Stewart’s enduring legacy not only includes his musical achievements but also his humanitarian deeds and commitment to his loved ones, making him a respected figure in both the entertainment industry and philanthropic circles.
Cher
Cherilyn Sarkasian, known famously as Cher, embarked on a remarkable artistic journey that spanned decades. Initially rising to fame as part of the ’60s pop duo Sonny & Cher, she quickly transitioned into a successful solo career with iconic hits like ‘Half Breed’ and ‘Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves’ in the ’70s. Cher then ventured into disco music, captivating audiences with songs like ‘Take Me Home.’ Transitioning seamlessly, she delved into acting in the ’80s, starring in critically acclaimed films such as Mask, Mermaids, and Moonstruck, for which she earned an Oscar.
Born in California in 1946, Cher’s early encounters with Salvatore ‘Sonny’ Bono, a protege of renowned producer Phil Spector, marked the beginning of her musical legacy. Together, they formed the duo Sonny & Cher, releasing hits like ‘The Letter’ and ‘Do You Wanna Dance.’ Cher’s solo career flourished, producing chart-topping singles under Sonny’s guidance. Hits like ‘I Got You Babe’ became anthems of the mid-’60s, solidifying their place in music history.
Despite facing financial challenges and creative hurdles in the late ’60s, Cher’s resilience led to a remarkable revival in the ’70s. Her solo endeavors, including the chart-topping ‘Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves,’ showcased her evolving artistry. Noteworthy achievements like her acclaimed acting roles and subsequent musical successes, highlighted by the global hit ‘Believe’ in 1998, cemented Cher’s status as an enduring icon in the entertainment industry.
Corey Hart
Corey Hart has a remarkable music career, with a staggering record of selling over 16 million records worldwide. He achieved this milestone by securing 9 consecutive US Billboard Top 40 Hits and an impressive total of 31 top 40 singles in his home country, Canada, including 12 top 10 hits. The Grammy Nominated artist has also been honored with ASCAP, multiple Juno, and Quebec ADISQ awards for his outstanding contributions to the music industry.
Corey Hart’s iconic debut single, “Sunglasses At Night,” catapulted him to international fame, establishing his presence at the pinnacle of the pop world. His captivating appearance and James Dean persona captivated audiences in the 80s, leading to immense popularity and adoration from fans. His second album, “Boy In The Box,” achieved Diamond status certification with over 1 million sales, making him the fastest Canadian artist to reach this milestone. The album featured four hit singles, including the chart-topping classic, “Never Surrender,” which earned him the prestigious “Single of the Year” award at the Juno Awards in 1985.
In 1999, after welcoming his third daughter, Corey Hart decided to take a hiatus from his recording and touring commitments to focus on raising his four children with his wife, Quebec chanteuse Julie Masse. In 2016, Corey received the esteemed honor of being inducted into Canada’s Walk Of Fame. His return to the music scene in 2019 with the release of “Dreaming Time Again” marked his comeback with his first studio album in over two decades, showcasing his enduring talent and creativity.