The musical landscape of the twentieth century was formed by a select few. Within this group indisputably resides Smokey Robinson. As a charter member of the revolutionary Motown Records, Robinson helped establish rhythm & blues as a bedrock of American entertainment. Smokey has been called “Genius. Visionary. Trailblazer.” Bob Dylan simply calls him, “America’s greatest…
Lane is a talented singer born and raised in Australia, but he has always loved country music. In 2011, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue becoming a country star. With the release of his self-titled debut album and his many hit songs, Lane is on track to become one of the top country music…
Missy Elliott began her career with the R&B group Sista in the early 1990s before teaming up with her longtime friend and collaborator Timbaland in the Swing Mob collective. After helping the likes of Aaliyah, SWV, and 702 rise up the charts, she made her own stab at stardom with her 1997 debut album Supa…
Although better known as an actor and stand-up comic, Adam Sandler also has a singing career included in his resume. From 1990 until 1995, he was among the cast of Saturday Night Live, one of America’s best-known variety comedy programs ever aired on television. In addition to becoming a big name on the stage as…
Formed in 2001 after the break up of singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala and keyboardist Marcel Rodríguez-López’s former band At the Drive In, The Mars Volta rode into town on a wave of progressive sonic experimentation. Their music was too left field to make them marketable, but even if they were too niche for radio, their willingness…
Considering that winning “American Idol” is no guarantee of success, someone who only manages to make it to seventh place has next to no hope of a lasting career outside the show. Unless they’re Jennifer Hudson, that is. Since her inglorious exit from Idol in season 3, Hudson has sold millions of albums, won Grammys,…
In 2004, Fantasia became the youngest contestant to ever win “American Idol” after delivering a scorching rendition of Summertime. After winning the competition, she quickly proved she had a future outside the show with her debut single, the chart-topping, double platinum-selling phenomenon, I Believe. Since then, she’s won multiple Grammys, sold almost 3 million albums,…
It is hard not to love Thomas Rhett’s songs. Known professionally as Thomas Rhett, Thomas Rhett Akins Jr. is a Grammy-nominated pop country music songwriter and singer. His catalog includes songs that show off his fine side as well as the romance that is fast becoming his trademark sound. If you are looking to kick…
Before embarking on a solo career, Sam Hunt wrote songs for the likes of Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban. After failing to make it in professional sports, Sam Hunt signed with MCA Nashville in 2014, releasing the album Montevallo. This album was something special, breaking several chart records. The track “Leave the Night On” peaked…