The Beatles were an English rock band from Liverpool that released twelve albums between 1963 and 1970. They had seventeen No. 1 hits on the UK Singles Chart and twenty No. 1’s on the US Billboard Hot 100. With global estimated sales of 600 million units, they are the biggest-selling musical act of all time. […]
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in 1962 by guitarist Brian Jones with singer Mick Jagger and rhythm guitarist Keith Richards. They emerged in London’s R&B–beat boom with bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts. In November 1963, they scored their first UK hit with The Beatles cover “I Wanna Be Your […]
Cream was an English rock trio that was active for 28 months between July 1966 and November 1968. They released three proper albums — Fresh Cream, Disraeli Gears, and Wheels of Fire — and the leftovers roundup Goodbye. Their most recognized songs include the much-covered “Badge” and the FM evergreens “I Feel Free,” “Sunshine of […]
The Who are an English rock band that released ten studio albums between 1965 and 1982, including the rock operas Tommy and Quadrophenia. They started during the early sixties beat boom when singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist–songwriter Pete Townshend, and bassist John Entwistle evolved from West London hopefuls The Detours. In 1964, drummer Keith Moon joined […]
David Bowie (January 8, 1947 – January 10, 2016) was an English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actor with a career in music and the performing arts that spanned more than fifty years. He played in a sequence of mid-sixties beat groups and released two self-titled albums, charting first with the 1969 opus “Space Oddity.” Between […]
The Kinks were an English rock band that released twenty-four studio albums between 1964 and 1993. Singer–guitarist and songwriter Ray Davies formed the band with his guitarist–singer brother Dave Davies. The original lineup featured bassist Pete Quaife and drummer Mick Avory. They burst on the scene with the twin hits “You Really Got Me” and […]
The Moody Blues were an English rock band active from 1964 to 2018. The original lineup included singer–guitarist Denny Laine and three mainstays: keyboardist Mike Pinder, flutist–harpist Ray Thomas, and drummer Graeme Edge. Their second single, “Go Now!” (UK No. 1), made them part of the British Invasion. After the 1965 album The Magnificent Moodies […]
Pink Floyd was an English rock band that released twelve studio albums and two soundtracks between 1967 and 1994. They emerged in the psychedelic era with the album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, a showcase for the writing, singing, and guitar talents of original frontman Syd Barrett. His replacement, David Gilmour, headed the […]
Van der Graaf Generator are an English rock band, formed at Manchester University in 1967 by singer–songwriter Peter Hammill. On their 1969 debut album, The Aerosol Grey Machine, they crossed psychedelia with darker, haunted sounds, which they codeified on the 1970 albums The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other and H to […]
The Animals were an English R&B/beat quintet that was initially active during the 1960’s. Hailing from Newcastle, the band played a key role in the British Invasion that swept America in 1964. The original lineup splintered in 1966, but frontman Eric Burdon led a stateside iteration — The New Animals — through several albums as […]
Procol Harum was an English symphonic-rock band that released nine studio albums between 1967 and 1977. Functioning for most of its existence as a quintet with a non-performing lyricist, the band played a pivotal role in rock’s maximalist trajectory by recording the world’s first side-long multi-movement suite, “In Held ‘Twas in I,” in 1968. Members: […]
The Small Faces were an English mod-psych band that placed ten singles on the UK Top 20 between 1965 and 1968, including “All or Nothing,” “Tin Soldier,” “Lazy Sunday,” and the transatlantic pop-psych evergreen “Itchycoo Park.” Despite their relative late arrival on the beat-boom timeline, their quick maturity culminated in the 1968 concept album Ogdens’ […]
Soft Machine was an English jazz-rock band that was active between the late 1960s and early 1980s. They were among the first rock acts to make use of asymmetric and compound meters. Due to numerous lineup changes, the first and final Soft Machine albums feature none of the same members. Nonetheless, the nameplate was passed […]
Traffic was an English rock band fronted by singer–keyboardist Steve Winwood. They appeared with the 1967 psychedelic album Mr. Fantasy and the hits “Paper Sun,” “Hole In My Shoe,” and “Coloured Rain.” Songwriter Dave Mason, an on-off early member, contributed four songs to their 1968 second album Traffic, including the much-covered “Feeling Alright?” In 1969, […]
The Graham Bond Organization was an English R&B–beat combo that released the 1965 Columbia albums The Sound of ’65 and There’s a Bond Between Us. The members, distinguished by their jazz-crossover pedigrees, achieved virtuoso status on their respective instruments. Bassist Jack Bruce went over to Manfred Mann and relinked with drummer Ginger Baker in the […]
The Idle Race was an English pop-psych band from Birmingham, best known for the 1967 single “Imposters of Life’s Magazine” and the 1968/69 albums The Birthday Party and Idle Race. Singer Jeff Lynne joined Roy Wood in The Move, which morphed into the Electric Light Orchestra. Members: Greg Masters (bass, vocals, 1966-72), Roger Spencer (drums, […]
Nirvana was an English orchestral-pop duo comprised of Patrick Campbell-Lyons and Alex Spyropoulos. They debuted with the 1967 rock opera, The Story of Simon Simopath, recorded with the four-piece Nirvana Ensemble. After their 1968 psych hit “Rainbow Chaser,” they released All of Us and the string-laden opus Dedicated to Markos III. Campbell-Lyons continued the name […]
Eyes of Blue were a Welsh psych-rock-soul band that released two singles as “The Eyes of Blue” on Deram, followed by the 1968/69 Mercury albums Crossroads of Time and In Fields of Ardath. A name-change to Big Sleep produced the 1971 Pegasus release Bluebell Wood. Keyboardist Phil Ryan became an on/off member of Man and its […]
The Masters Apprentices were an Australian rock band from Adelaide that emerged as one of the nation’s premiere beat groups. They issued five singles and one album on Astor between 1966 and 1968, including the Aussie rock classics “Undecided,” “Wars or Hands of Time,” and “Elevator Driver.” After a change in lineup, they advanced into […]
Blossom Toes were an English psych-rock/pop band from London that released the album We Are Ever So Clean on Marmalade in 1967, followed by If Only for a Moment in 1969. During the band’s three-year existence, their music evolved from the toy-town style (The Move, The Idle Race) to a gruffer approach in line with […]
Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera was an English psych-rock band that released multiple singles and a 1968 self-titled album on Direction. After Gantry’s departure, singer/guitarist Paul Brett led them on the 1969 release Ride a Hustler’s Dream. The rhythm section joined the Strawbs and later recorded as Hudson–Ford. Gantry surfaced in funk-rockers Stretch. Members: Colin Forster […]
The James Taylor Move were an Australian pop-psych band from Adelaide that issued two singles on Festival Records in 1967, followed by a stint as the backing act for blues singer Wendy Saddington. Guitarist Kevin Peek and rhythm players Alan Tarney (bass) and Trevor Spencor (drums) moved to the UK where they teamed with fellow […]
The Nice was an English psychedelic rock band with keyboardist Keith Emerson. In 1968, they scored a UK hit with “America” and released two albums on Immediate Records: The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack and Ars Longa Vita Brevis. In 1969, The Nice released a self-titled third album (aka Everything as Nice as Mother Makes It) […]
Skip Bifferty was an English pop-psych band from Newcastle that released three singles on RCA, culminating with a popular 1968 self-titled album. They moonlighted as Heavy Jelly for the 1969 Island single “I Keep Singing That Same Old Song,” a record-breaker for longest a-side. Select members also recorded with Every Which Way, ARC, and Glencoe. […]
Ike & Tina Turner were the R&B/soul-rock duo of American guitarist/bandleader Ike Turner and his then-wife, singer Tina Turner. They came together in the late 1950s when Ike hired Tina as a backing vocalist for his band, the Kings of Rhythm. She first sang lead on the 1960 Sue Records single “A Fool In Love,” […]
The Dave Clark Five were an English beat group from Tottenham, named after drummer/businessman Dave Clark and fronted by keyboardist/singer Mike Smith. As part of the 1964–1966 British Invasion, they scored 13 Billboard Top 20 hits, including “Glad All Over,” “Bits and Pieces,” “Can’t You See That She’s Mine,” “Because,” “Over and Over,” and “Catch […]
The Spencer Davis Group was an English R&B/beat band from Birmingham, fronted by teenage singer–keyboardist Steve Winwood. Signed to Fontana, they released three albums during 1965–66 comprised mostly of blues and soul covers. Though the band was democratic, they made guitarist/singer Spencer Davis their namesake because he was the only member willing to field journalists. […]
The Hollies were an English pop-rock band from Manchester, formed in 1962 at the dawn of the British beat boom. Between 1963 and 1965, they placed seven singles in the UK Top 10, including “Just One Look” “Here I Go Again,” and the chart-topper “I’m Alive.” They broke the US market with their 1965 single […]
Rainbow Ffolly were an English popsike quartet that was briefly active during the late 1960s. The band demoed an embryonic concept LP that they had hoped to rerecord in a lavish studio setting. EMI, however, found the demos fit for release. Members: Johnathon Dunsterville (vocals, guitar), Richard K. Dunsterville (vocals, guitar), Roger Newell (bass), Stewart […]
Golden Earring was a Dutch rock band that started life in 1961 as The Tornadoes. The band released two Nederbeat albums on Polydor between 1965 and 1967 under variations of the pluralized “Golden Earrings” banner before the arrival of vocalist Barry Hay. Between 1968 and 1981, the band recorded 16 albums for the label before […]
Donovan (born May 10, 1946) is a Scottish folk-rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter who premiered with a pair of albums on Pye in 1965, followed by a prolific run of titles on Epic between 1966 and 1976. After a self-titled one-off on RAK in 1977, he released a further round of albums on RCA during […]
The Twilights were an Australian beat combo from Elizabeth that released numerous singles and two albums on Columbia (EMI) between 1965 and 1968. Their second album, Once Upon a Twilight, is one of rock’s pioneering concept albums. The band included future Axiom/Little River Band vocalist Glenn Shorrock and songwriter Terry Britten, who later penned global […]
Them was an Irish R&B–beat group from Belfast fronted by Van Morrison. Between 1964 and 1966, they released eight singles and the Decca albums The Angry Young Them and Them Again. Their popular songs include “Baby Please Don’t Go,” “Here Comes the Night,” “Mystic Eyes,” and the much-covered “Gloria.” When Morrison launched his solo career, […]
Roy Haynes (born March 13, 1925) is an American jazz drummer and bandleader from Roxbury, Mass. Discography: Busman’s Holiday (1954) We Three (1959 • Roy Haynes, Phineas Newborn, Paul Chambers) Just Us (1961 • The Roy Haynes Trio) Out of the Afternoon (1962 • Roy Haynes Quartet) Cracklin’ (1963 • Roy Haynes With Booker Ervin) […]
Tom Scott (born May 19, 1948) is an American jazz-funk saxophonist from Los Angeles. Discography: Rural Still Life (1968) The Honeysuckle Breeze (1968 • Tom Scott & The California Dreamers) Light My Fire (1968 • Bob Thiele and His New Happy Times Orchestra / Gabor Szabo With The California Dreamers and Tom Scott & Bill […]
The Supremes were an American soul-pop trio from Detroit, formed in 1961. Their classic lineup featured singers Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard, and frontwoman Diana Ross, who all grew up on the city’s east side. Signed to Motown, The Supremes were part of that label’s classic roster of chart-topping sixties artists, along with the Four Tops, […]
The Spinners were an American soul group from Ferndale, Mich., formed in 1954. The group released a string of singles on Tri-Phi during the early 1960s, followed by another run of singles on Motown, which issued the Spinners’ debut album in 1967. After a second album on V.I.P. at the turn of the 1970s, the […]
The Miracles were an American soul group from Detroit, formed in 1955. The band released a round of singles on End and Chess during the late 1950s, followed by a high-volume run of albums on Tamla between 1961 and 1976. Between 1965 and 1972, the nameplate was affixed with that of featured vocalist/songwriter Smokey Robinson. […]
The Impressions were an American soul group from Chicago, formed in 1958 and initially a singles act for Abner. Between 1963 and 1968, the band released a string of albums on ABC-Paramount, followed by a run of titles on Curtom over the subsequent eight-year period. Members: Sam Gooden (vocals), Jerry Butler (vocals, 1958-60), Curtis Mayfield […]
The Delfonics were an American soul group from Philadelphia, formed in 1965 and initially a singles act on Moon Shot and Cameo. Between 1968 and 1974, the group released five albums on Philly Groove Records. Members: William Hart (lead vocals, guitar), Wilbert Hart (vocals, 1965-75, 1980-85), Randy Cain (vocals, 1965-71, 1980-95), Ritchie Daniels (vocals, 1965-68), […]
Sylvia Robinson (March 6, 1936 — Sept. 29, 2011) was an American singer, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur from N.Y.C. who first emerged in the R&B duo Mickey and Sylvia during the mid-1950s. In 1973, she reemerged as a solo artist with the album Pillow Talk, followed by a self-titled album in 1976 and two further […]
Stevie Wonder is an American R&B musician, vocalist, songwriter, and producer who began recording for Tamla/Motown in 1962 at age 12. During the mid-to-late 1960s, he scored a string of pop hits for the label, culminating with the decade-ending ballad “My Cherie Amour” and 1970’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours.” Upon turning 21, he gained […]
Nancy Wilson (Feb. 20, 1937 — Dec. 13, 2018) was an American soul and jazz singer from Chillicothe, Ohio., who released numerous albums on Capitol Records between 1960 and 1980, followed by titles on Columbia and other labels in the decades that followed. She was born Nancy Sue Wilson on February 20, 1937, in Chillicothe, […]
Marvin Gaye (April 2, 1939 — April 1, 1984) was an American R&B vocalist, songwriter, and producer from Washington, D.C., who was musically active for a quarter-century, achieving worldwide renown as one of Tamla/Motown’s leading performers. He first rose to fame with a string of duets, first with Kim Weston and then with Tammi Terrell, […]
Lou Rawls (Dec. 1, 1933 — Jan. 6, 2006) was an American soul singer from Chicago who began in gospel groups in the early 1950s. He released numerous albums on Capitol during the 1960s, scoring hits with “Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing,” “Dead End Street,” “Show Business,” and “Your Good Thing (Is About to End).” […]
Leon Haywood (Feb. 11, 1942 — April 5, 2016) was an American soul singer from Houston who initially emerged as a singles artist for Fantasy, Imperial, and Fat Fish during the mid-1960s. Early in the following decade, he re-emerged as a soul-funk album artist with four longplayers on 20th Century between 1973 and 1977, followed […]
Johnnie Taylor (May 5, 1934 — May 31, 2000) was an American soul singer from Crawfordsville, Ark., who issued a string of singles on SAR and Derby between 1961 and 1964, followed by a run of seven albums and assorted shortplayers on Stax between 1966 and 1974. His next round of longplayers appeared on Columbia […]
Jerry Butler (born Dec. 8, 1939) is an American soul singer from Sunflower, Miss., who initially emerged as a founding member of Chicago soulsters The Impressions during the late 1950s. Discography: Jerry Butler, Esq. (1959) He Will Break Your Heart (1960) Aware of Love (1961) Moon River (1962) Folk Songs (1963) Need to Belong (1963) […]
Freda Payne (born Sept. 19, 1942) is an American soul-pop/jazz singer from Detroit. She started with a sting of vocal jazz releases on ABC/Impulse! during the early 1960s. In 1970, she started a three-album stint on Invictus, charting with the Stax-influenced soul-pop number “Band of Gold.” Between 1974 and 1979, she cut a pair of […]
The Four Tops were an American soul group from Detroit, formed in 1953. Members: Abdul “Duke” Fakir (first tenor vocals), Renaldo “Obie” Benson (baritone, bass vocals, 1953-2005), Levi Stubbs (lead vocals, 1953-2000), Lawrence Payton (second tenor vocals, lead vocals, 1953-97) The Four Tops assembled in 1953 Detroit when two students at Pershing High, Levi Stubbs […]
Dionne Warwick (born Dec. 12, 1940) is an American soul-pop singer from East Orange, N.J., who rose to fame in the early 1960s with a string of ballads composed by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Her most popular songs from the period include “Walk On By,” “Don’t Make Me Over,” “Wishin’ and Hopin’,” “Make It […]
Barbara Mason (born Aug. 9, 1947) is an American soul singer from Philadelphia. Discography: Yes, I’m Ready (1965) Oh How It Hurts (1968) If You Knew Him Like I Do (1970) Give Me Your Love (1972) Lady Love (1973) Transition (1974) Love’s the Thing (1975) Locked in This Position (1977 • Barbara Mason & Bunny […]
Yusef Lateef — aka William Emanuel Huddleston (Oct. 9, 1920 — Dec. 23, 2013) — was an American woodwindist and composer from Chattanooga, Tenn. Discography: Jazz Mood (1957) Jazz for the Thinker (1957 • Yusef Lateef and His Men) Prayer to the East (1958) Before Dawn: The Music of Yusef Lateef (1958) Jazz and the […]
