Meat Loaf -

Meat Loaf (Sept. 27, 1948 — Jan. 20, 2022) was an American vocalist and actor with a career in entertainment that spanned more than half a century, starting in the late 1960s. In 1971, he released an album as part of the soul-rock duo Stoney and Meatloaf.

During the mid-1970s, he played the role of Eddie (ex-delivery boy) in the film adaptation of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and formed a musical partnership with pianist/composer Jim Steinman.

In late 1975, the pair recorded an album of theatrical soul-rockers with Todd Rundgren in the producer’s chair. After shopping the recordings to numerous labels, the album was finally released as Bat Out of Hell on Epic in 1977. Propelled by the epics “Paradise By the Dashboard Light,” “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth,” and “All Revved Up and Nowhere to Go,” it became one of the biggest selling albums of all time.

Also in 1977, he sang “Keeper, Keep Us,” the epic closing number on the all-star sci-fi concept album Intergalactic Touring Band.

Meat Loaf was born Marvin Lee Aday on September 27, 1948, in Dallas, Texas. He was the only child of Orvis Wesley Aday, a cop-turned-cough-remedy entrepreneur, and Wilma Artie (née Hukel), a school teacher who sang in the Vo-di-o-do Girls gospel quartet. Due to Orval’s alcoholism, Marvin often stayed with his grandmother.

As a student at Thomas Jefferson High School, Aday acted in productions of Where’s Charley? and The Music Man. He got the nickname Meat Loaf, a reference to his weight, by his football coach.

After a period of grief over his mother’s death, he moved to Los Angeles, where he formed the band Meat Loaf Soul with (future Sabu) bassist Rick Bozzo. After a string of regional opening slots for Them and Renaissance, they changed their name to Floating Circus. In 1968, they issued the single “Once Upon a Time” (b/w “Hello”) under the name Popcorn Blizzard (not to be confused with the band on De-Lite Records).

Meat Loaf joined the Los Angeles production of the musical Hair, which brought him to the attention of Motown Records. They suggested he form a duo with his co-star, actress Shaun “Stoney” Murphy, for release on the label’s Rare Earth division.

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