Category: Heaven & Earth

Elvis Presley, often referred to as the “King of Rock and Roll,” was an American singer whose impact on the music industry was profound in many ways. His energetic performances and charismatic stage presence,helped him achieve unprecedented success. His early recordings at Sun Studio in Memphis, included songs like “That’s Alright Mama” and “Blue Moon of Kentucky” (which marked the beginning of his rise to fame). In the 1950s, Elvis became a cultural phenomenon, influencing the entire continent with music, fashion, and culture. Some of his most famous songs from…

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Kenny Loggins is an American singer and songwriter who initially gained fame as part of the duo, LOGGINS & MESSINA, which he formed with Jim Messina (a former member of Buffalo Springfield and Poco). As a duo, they released a series of successful albums in the early 1970s, producing hits like “Your Mama Don’t Dance” and “Danny’s Song.” In the late 1970s (and early 1980s), Kenny Loggins achieved even greater solo success. He contributed to numerous soundtracks, including “Footloose,” for which he received an Academy Award nomination for “Best Original…

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Lou Rawls was an American singer and songwriter who was primarily known for his smooth and versatile voice. Born on December 1st, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois, he enjoyed a long and successful career that spanned multiple decades. Throughout this timespan, he made significant contributions to many genres including Jazz, R&B, and Soul. Some of Lou Rawls’ most well-known songs include “Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing,” “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine,” and “Lady Love.” His rich baritone voice and sophisticated phrasing made him a distinctive and celebrated singer. In…

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Born in Detroit, Michigan on February 16th 1935, Salvatore Philip Bono, better known as Sonny Bono, was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and politician. He initially gained fame as part of the musical duo “Sonny & Cher”, alongside his then-wife, Cherilyn Sarkisian. Together, they rose to prominence (in the mid-1960s) with hits like “I Got You Babe,” “The Beat Goes On,” and “Baby Don’t Go.” After the duo divorced and disbanded (in 1975), he continued his career in the entertainment industry, and eventually ventured into politics, where he went…

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Michael Stipe is an American musician, singer, and songwriter, best known as lead vocalist of the alternative rock band, R.E.M. During their career (that spanned over three decades), he played a crucial role in shaping the band’s distinctive sound and lyrical style. R.E.M. was formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980, and Michael Stipe, along with bandmates Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Bill Berry, achieved widespread success during the 1980s and 1990s. Their music often featured Stipe’s enigmatic and poetic lyrics, and their albums, such as “Automatic for the People” and…

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Born in Chicago, Illinois on January 19th 1939, Phil Everly was one-half of the influential rock and country duo, the Everly Brothers. Alongside his older brother Don Everly, he helped contribute to their distinctive sound, characterized by the duos’ close harmonies and skilled guitar work. Together, they achieved significant success in the late 1950s and early 1960s with hits like “Bye Bye Love”, “Wake Up Little Susie”, and “All I Have to Do Is Dream”. Their unique blend of rock, country, and folk elements had a profound impact on the…

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Daryl Dragon, born August 27th, 1942, was an American musician and songwriter who gained fame as the “Captain” in the musical duo, Captain & Tennille. His musical partner was his then-wife, Toni Tennille. The duo was best known for their pop and soft rock hits during the 1970s and early 1980s. Before forming Captain & Tennille, Daryl Dragon worked as a keyboardist for the Beach Boys in the late 1960s. Alongside Toni Tennille, the duo produced two very popular songs including “Do That to Me One More Time”, and “Love…

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Hiram King Williams (aka Hank Williams) was born on September 17th, 1923, in Mount Olive, Alabama. An influential singer-songwriter, and one of the pioneers of country music, he had a profound impact on the genre, earning him the nickname, “The Hillbilly Shakespeare”, for his poignant and often poetic lyrics. Unfortunately, his career was tragically short-lived as he struggled with health issues and alcoholism. Despite a relatively brief time in the spotlight, he left a lasting legacy with his timeless classics and distinctive singing style. Some of his most famous and…

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Ricky Nelson was an American singer and musician who was born in Teaneck, New Jersey on May 8th, 1940. His entertainment career began when he joined his family’s TV show, “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” (in 1952). This platform eventually catapulted him as one of America’s first teen idols. As a musician, Ricky Nelson recorded many popular songs, including “Travelin’ Man”, “Poor Little Fool”, “Lonesome Town”, “Garden Party”, and today’s song choice (that can be listened to by clicking on the provided link). On this very day, December 31st…

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Jeff Lynne is an English singer, songwriter, and musician who is best known as frontman (and co-founder) of the rock band, Electric Light Orchestra. Some of the group’s best-know tracks include “Mr. Blue Sky”, “Don’t Bring Me Down”, “Evil Woman”, “Telephone Line”, and today’s song choice (that can be listened to by clicking on the provided link). Jeff Lynne was also a member of The Traveling Wilburys, a supergroup (formed in the late 1980s) that included music legends, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Roy Orbison. In the year…

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Dexter Holland is an American singer and songwriter who provides lead vocals for alternative rock band, The Offspring. Formed in 1984, this group had success with songs like “Come Out and Play”, “Pretty Fly for a White Guy”, “Hit That”, and today’s song choice (that can be listened to by clicking on the provided link). As their primary songwriter, Dexter Holland helped the band record a total of 10 albums between the years 1989 and 2021. On this very day, December 29th 1965, Dexter Holland was born in Garden Grove,…

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John Legend is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer who (throughout his career) has won a total of 12 Grammy Awards. In 2015, he won an Academy Award for “Best Original Song” with his passionate anthem, “Glory”, which he performed with rapper, Common. Recorded for the film, “Selma”, this song also won a Golden Globe Award. Among his many accolades, in 2007, he received the Hal David Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. On this very day, December 28th 1978, John Roger Stephens (known professionally as John…

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Mick Jones is an English musician, songwriter, and record producer who is best known as co-founder and lead guitarist of the rock band, Foreigner. With worldwide sales topping 80 million records, some of their most popular hits include songs like “Feels Like the First Time”, “Cold as Ice”, “Urgent”, “I Want to Know What Love Is”, and today’s song choice (that can be listened to by clicking on the provided link). Throughout Foreigner’s career, there were several lineup changes, but Mick Jones remained a constant and integral part of the…

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Curtis Mayfield was an American singer, songwriter, and musician who played a significant role in the development of soul and funk music. He began his music career as a member of The Impressions (in the late 1950s). With Mayfield’s distinct falsetto vocals at the forefront, this group achieved success with hits like “People Get Ready” and “It’s All Right”. Throughout his career, he was inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, (once as a member of The Impressions, and again as a solo artist). He was also…

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George Michael was a British singer, songwriter, and record producer who rose to fame as a member of the pop group, Wham. Alongside his childhood friend, Andrew Ridgely, this duo recorded many hits like “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”, “Careless Whisper”, “Everything She Wants”, “Freedom”, and today’s song choice (that can be listened to by clicking on the provided link). As a solo artist, George Michael continued his success by releasing many more popular singles, including “Faith”, “I Want Your Sex”, “Father Figure”, and “One More Try” (to name…

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