Category: Heaven & Earth

Waylon Jennings was an American singer, songwriter, and musician, who was born on June 15th, 1937. His distinctive voice (and rebellious spirit) made him a legendary figure in country music. In the early 1970s, alongside Willie Nelson, he helped spearhead the “outlaw country movement”. Some of Jennings’ most popular songs include “Good Hearted Woman”, “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?”, and today’s song choice. Throughout his career, he received multiple Grammy Awards, and in 2001, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. On this very…

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Michael McDonald was an American singer and songwriter who is best known for his work with the Doobie Brothers. During his time with the band, he contributed primarily with hits like “Takin’ It to the Streets”, “Minute by Minute”, and “What a Fool Believes”. In the 1980s, he embarked on a successful solo career, recording hit singles such as “Sweet Freedom” and today’s song choice. Often associated with the blue-eyed soul genre, he has been recognized with multiple Grammy Awards throughout his career, and in 2021, he was inducted into…

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Whitney Houston (born August 9th, 1963) was an American singer who was one of the most celebrated vocalists in the history of popular music. She came from a very musical family that included her cousin, Dionne Warwick, and her godmother, Aretha Franklin. Some of her most popular singles include “Saving All My Love for You”, “How Will I Know”, “The Greatest Love of All”, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”, and the song I chose for today. Considered one of the best-selling artists of all time, she received numerous awards throughout…

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Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician, who is known for her angelic voice and contributions to various genres, including Soul, R&B, and Pop. Some of her most well-known hits include “Killing Me Softly”, “Feel Like Making Love”, “The Closer I get to You”, and today’s song choice. Throughout her amazing career, she has received multiple Grammy Awards, including four consecutive wins for “Best Female Pop Vocal Performance”. In the year 2020, she also won the “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award” (in recognition of all her contributions to music).…

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Bill Haley (often referred to as the “father of rock and roll”), was an American musician who was born on July 6th, 1925. He is best known as leader of Bill Haley & the Comets, a band that played a crucial role in the early development of rock music. Formed in 1952, this group became known for hits like “Shake, Rattle and Roll”, “See You Later Alligator”, “Razzle Dazzle”, and today’s song choice. In 1987, he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On this very…

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Del Shannon was an American musician, singer, and songwriter who was born in Coopersville, Michigan on December 30th, 1934. His music was known for its innovative use of instruments, and his experimentation with various sounds. His most popular hits include “Hats Off to Larry”, “Hey Little Girl”, “Little Town Flirt”, “Keep Searchin’”, and today’s song choice. In the year 1999, he was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. On this very day, February 8th, 1990, Charles Weedon Westover (better known as Del Shannon) died by suicide,…

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Garth Brooks is an American singer and songwriter, who’s had a profound impact on the country music genre. He is considered as one of the best-selling all-time music artists in the U.S. Some of his most popular singles include “The Dance”, “Thunder Rolls”, “If Tomorrow Never Comes”, “Shameless”, and today’s song choice. Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy, CMA, and ACM Awards. On this very day, February 7th, 1962, he was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In celebration of his birthday, I have chosen the song…

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Axl Rose is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is best known as lead vocalist of the hard rock band, Guns N’ Roses. His unique vocal style is characterized by his wide vocal range and ability to switch between registers. Founded in 1985, Guns N Roses went on to release many popular tracks like “Sweet Child o’ Mine”, “Welcome to the Jungle”, “November Rain”, “Don’t Cry”, and “Patience”. In the year 2012, Guns N’ Roses was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a ceremony Axl Rose…

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Bobby Brown is an American singer and songwriter who rose to fame as lead vocalist of the R&B group, New Edition. In 2017, this unique boy band was honored with a BET “Lifetime Achievement Award”. By the late 1980s, Bobby Brown decided to embark on a solo career, and produced hits like “My Prerogative”, Humpin’ Around”, and today’s song choice. His marriage to singer Whitney Houston (in 1992) garnered significant media attention throughout the couples’ tumultuous relationship (that would last for many years). On this very day, February 5th, 1969,…

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Alice Cooper, is an American singer and songwriter who became a prominent figure in the rock music scene during the 1970s. He is credited for being one of the pioneers of shock rock, with his on-stage persona being characterized by dark and macabre themes (often featuring guillotines, fake blood, and other theatrical elements). Some of the songs that made Alice Cooper famous include “I’m Eighteen”, “School’s Out”, “Only Women Bleed”, “No More Mr. Nice Guy”, and “Poison” (to name just a few). Known for his unique impact in the hard…

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Buddy Holly, a central figure in the early development of rock and roll, was born in Lubbock, Texas on September 7th, 1936. His music and style influenced many legendary artists, including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan. In 1957, he formed the Crickets, and (together) they went on to release their breakthrough hit, “That’ll Be the Day”. His song catalog also includes many other hits, such as “Everyday”, “Peggy Sue”, “Not Fade Away”, “Rave On”, and the song I chose for today. On this very day, February 3rd, 1959,…

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Shakira is a Colombian singer, songwriter, and record producer who is known for her distinctive voice, unique dance style, and a fusion of various musical influences, including Pop, Rock, and Latin. Often referred to as the “Queen of Latin Music”, some of her most popular songs include “Whenever, Wherever”, “La Tortura”, “Underneath Your Clothes”, “Waka Waka”, “Chantaje”, and today’s song choice. On this very day, February 2nd, 1977, she was born in Barranquilla, Colombia as Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll. In celebration of her birthday, I’ve chosen the song she is…

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Harry Styles is an English singer and songwriter who initially gained fame as a member of the boy band, One Direction. Originally formed (in 2010) on the British music competition, “The X Factor”, this group went on to become one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. After One Direction went on hiatus (in 2016), Harry Styles decided to launch a solo career by releasing hit singles like “Sign of the Times”, “Adore You”, and the song I chose for today. Known for his distinctive fashion sense, he often…

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Justin Timberlake is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer who rose to fame (in the late 1990s) as a member of the boy band, NSYNC. This group achieved immense success with hits like “Bye Bye Bye”, “It’s Gonna Be Me”, “Tearin’ Up My Heart”, and “This I Promise You”. After the hiatus of NSYNC in the early 2000s, Justin Timberlake pursued a solo career. Some of his most popular hit singles include “Cry Me a River”, “Rock Your Body”, “Sexyback”, “My Love”, and “Can’t Stop the Feeling” (to name…

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Phil Collins is an English singer and musician, who gained fame (in 1970) after becoming drummer for the progressive rock band, Genesis. Over time, he took over as lead vocalist, and would go on to play a key role in the band’s transition from progressive rock to a more pop-oriented sound. In the 1980s, he embarked on a successful solo career producing multiple chart-topping hits like “Against All Odds”, “One More Night”, “Another Day in Paradise”, and today’s song choice. Throughout his career, he has won numerous awards, including several…

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