The Man In Black. Johnny Cash was one of the most influential figures in the history of country music. With his unmistakable deep voice and rebellious image, he not only left a lasting mark on the music world, but also on pop culture in general. With over 90 million records sold worldwide, Cash is one of the best-selling artists of all time. His cross-genre music encompassed country, rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, folk and gospel. This crossover appeal earned him the rare honor of being...
Maestro of Swing. Count Basie is considered an outstanding figure in the world of jazz. Born William James Basie in New Jersey in 1904, he rose to become a titan of the genre. His legendary Count Basie Orchestra, with its incisive rhythm section and minimalist piano style, set new standards. He led the group for almost 50 years and created innovations such as the use of two "split" tenor saxophones, the emphasis on the rhythm section, riffing with a big band, the use of arrangers, always to...
Queen Of Soul. Aretha Louise Franklin was born on March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, and grew up in Detroit, Michigan. With her powerful voice and gospel roots, she gained early recognition. In the 1960s, she moved to Atlantic Records and became a legend under the direction of Jerry Wexler. In 1967, the hit ”Respect“ brought her worldwide fame and became an anthem for civil rights and women‘s movements. Aretha was known for her emotional depth and incomparable live performances. Her...
Prince Of Soul. Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. born April 2, 1939 in Washington, D.C., was more than just a musician; he was a pioneer who left an indelible mark on the world of music. With a career that spanned decades, Marvin Gaye is celebrated as one of the greatest soul singers and songwriters of all time. His contributions to the Motown sound, his social consciousness, and his timeless music inspire audiences around the world. In the 1960s, he became a soulful crooner on Tamla-Motown Records, where...
Big Hits & Superstars Of Country Music. Country music is closely tied to American culture as it tells the stories and experiences of rural people. It‘s about love, heartbreak, family, work and nature, which are familiar to many people around the world. In the U.S., country continues to be the most popular musical genre of all. Country Greatest is an extraordinary compilation with timeless classics that will enchant every lover. All the great US stars are included: Dolly Parton, Dave...
The Sparrow of Paris. Èdith Piaf, the sparrow of Paris, stands like hardly any other artist for the French chanson. She has carried the chanson into the wide world. Piaf sings as if it were always the last time, as if she gave her whole soul for the song. That‘s why her interpretations are unmatched to this day. The mission statement of her unfortunately much too short life can be found again in her biggest hit Je ne regrette rien [I regret nothing!], which, like many other great songs of...
The Magic 80‘s. Like Rubik‘s Cubes and Walkmans, pop songs in the garb of orchestral arrangements are among the style-defining features of the 80s. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra co-invented the incomparable „Pop Goes Classic Sound“. We remember this magical decade with 12 unique songs: „Every Breath You Take“ written by Sting, the most played song in radio history. „Time After Time,“ Cindy Lauper‘s first No. 1 hit in the U.S. „Eye Of The Tiger,“ theme from „Rocky...
It Was Time For Soul. Soul music has its roots in the rhythm and blues of the 1950s, when African-American musicians in the USA began to combine traditional blues with elements of jazz and gospel. The first song in soul history is considered to be »What‘D I Say« by Ray Charles, who paved the way for other soul artists with this new creation. In the early 1960s, soul music began to develop into an independent genre. The record labels Stax from Memphis and Motown from Detroit played an...
King Of Calypso. Harry Belafonte left his mark on American culture as a musician, actor and social activist. His career spanned seven decades and earned him numerous awards. He is one of the few artists to have received an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony (EGOT). Harry Belafonte is best known for his groundbreaking music, which blended elements of folk, calypso and pop, and for his contributions to the civil rights movement. Belafonte released his first album, Calypso, in 1956, which was a huge...
A Star Is Born. Johnny Cash With His Hot And Blue Guitar! is the debut album by American music legend Johnny Cash, released on October 11, 1957, and was the first album released on the Sun Records label. With His Hot And Blue Guitar! contains four of his hit singles: „I Walk the Line“, „Cry, Cry, Cry“, „So Doggone Lonesome“ and „Folsom Prison Blues“. Cash applied to the Sun Records music label in 1955, but failed to impress its founder Sam Philips as a gospel singer. Cash was...