Showing results for "Icons" in Composers & Musicians

Marvin Pentz Gaye Jr. (April 2, 1939-April 1, 1984) was an American R&B and soul singer, musician, and songwriter. He helped shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist, which earned him the nicknames "Prince of Motown" and "Prince of Soul." With hits like, "How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)," "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "What's Going On," "Let's Get It On" and "Sexual Healing," Gaye is often considered one of the greatest singers of all time. The following recording is from a 1983 TV interview.

Carson Wayne Newton, born April 3, 1943, in Norfolk, Virginia, also known as "Mr. Las Vegas," "The Midnight Idol," and "Mr. Entertainment," is an American singer and actor. One of the most popular singers in the United States from the mid-to-late 20th century, Newton remains one of the best-known entertainers in Las Vegas and has headlined there since 1963. Newton has also appeared in many dozens of films and television shows. The following includes two television interviews, each from the 1960s and 70s.

Kristoffer Kristofferson is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Among his songwriting credits are the songs "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night", all of which were hits for other artists.

The Takin A Walk podcast, hosted by Buzz Knight, has released its first audiobook titled The Takin A Walk Icons. This exciting new project will feature captivating stories and insights from renowned musicians and artists, offering listeners an intimate glimpse into their journeys and the music that shaped their lives.

Jerome John Garcia (August 1, 1942-August 9, 1995), born in San Francisco, was the co-founder, lead guitarist, and a vocalist for the rock band Grateful Dead (1965-1995), which came to prominence during the counterculture of the 1960s. Garcia was renowned for his musical and technical ability, particularly his skill at playing a variety of instruments and sustaining long improvisations. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 as part of the Grateful Dead. The following interview was recorded in 1976.

Brian Douglas Wilson (June 20, 1942-June 11, 2025) was an American musician, songwriter, singer, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition and mastery of recording techniques, he is widely acknowledged as one of the most innovative and significant songwriters of the 20th century. His best-known work is distinguished for its high production values, complex harmonies and orchestrations, vocal layering, and introspective themes. The following is from an interview recorded in the mid 1970s.

Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935-August 16, 1977), born in Tupelo, Mississippi, was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll," he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Presley's sexually provocative performance style, combined with a mix of influences across color lines during a transformative era in race relations, brought both great success and initial controversy. The following audio clips are from an interview in 1960, and press conferences in 1970 and 1972.

The following audio is from a television interview from the early 1970s.

The following audio includes several brief interviews Holly made in the late 1950s.

Herbert Butros Khaury (April 12, 1932 - November 30, 1996), also known as Herbert Buckingham Khaury, and known professionally as Tiny Tim, was an American musician and musical archivist. He is especially known for his 1968 hit recording of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips," a cover of the popular song from the 1929 musical Gold Diggers of Broadway. Tiny Tim was renowned for his wide vocal range, in particular his far-reaching falsetto. The following interview was recorded in July 1988.

John Winston Lennon (October 9, 1940 - December 8, 1980) was an English singer, songwriter and musician. He gained worldwide fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. His works included music, writing, drawings, and films. His songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney remains the most successful in history as the primary songwriters of the Beatles. The following recording is from a 1975 interview.

Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943-October 4, 1970), born in Port Arthur, TX, was an American singer and songwriter. One of the most iconic and successful rock performers of her era, she was noted for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals, as well as her electric stage presence. The following recording is from a November 1968 interview.

James Douglas Morrison (December 8, 1943 - July 3, 1971), born in Melbourne, FL, was an American singer, songwriter and poet who was the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band The Doors. Due to his distinctive voice, poetic lyrics, erratic and unpredictable performances, along with the dramatic circumstances surrounding his life and early death, Morrison is regarded by music critics and fans as one of the most influential frontmen in rock history. The following recording is from a June 1970 interview.

With her canon of best-selling singles, electrifying stage performances and iconic music videos, Britney Spears is undoubtedly a modern pop superstar. But her story has long been clouded by society's dark obsession with beauty, youth and fame - a relentless glare that has threatened to eclipse her musical success.

George Harrison (February 25, 1943-November 29, 2001) was an English musician, singer and songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. The following interview was recorded in 1975.

George Harrison (February 25, 1943-November 29, 2001) was an English musician, singer and songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. The following interview was recorded in 1975.

Roger Keith "Syd" Barrett (January 6, 1946 to July 7, 2006) was an English singer, songwriter, guitarist and co-founder of Pink Floyd. He was the band's frontman and primary songwriter for their debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967), and portions of their second album, A Saucerful of Secrets (1968). In April 1968, Barrett was ousted from Pink Floyd amid speculation of mental illness and his use of psychedelic drugs. In 1972, Barrett retired from public life and guarded his privacy until his death of pancreatic cancer in 2006. The following is from an August 1967 interview.

In this expansive collection, there are no journalists getting in the way of the purity of George’s expansive ideas and his carefully told personal history. Here is George Harrison truly in his own words, speaking across the waters of time to generations of dedicated fans still deeply moved by this simple man’s great music, philosophical importance, and well-deserved historical significance. Here is then the absolutely perfect collection of George Harrison’s finest thoughts, recollections, and untold Beatles tales important to the collection of every fan.

Here, at last, is what can only be described as a riveting compendium of unheard stories, interviews, and quotes directly from the spiritual heart of the Beatles, George Harrison. Sourced from the extensive archives of rock biographer and historian Sripad Jagannatha Dasa, here is the quiet Beatle in his own inspirational words. The innate truth, wisdom, and sincerity of Harrison shine through in this touching audio tribute to the journeyman musician, composer, dedicated bhakti yogi, and humble gardener.

Drawing on new research and enlivened by Touré's unique pop-cultural fluency, I Would Die 4 U relies on surprising and in-depth interviews with Prince's band members, former girlfriends, musicologists, and even Bible scholars to deconstruct the artist's life and work. Prince's baby boomer status allowed him to play a wise older brother to the latchkey kids of Generation X. Defying traditional categories of race, gender, and sexuality, he nonetheless presented a very traditional conception of religion and God in his music.