Patrick

Robert Kelly was the king of R&B, a title he earned by forging gospel, soul, and hip-hop into a sound that dominated the airwaves for two decades. He could write for Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, and Whitney Houston, but often…

Dolly Parton is the Queen of Country, but that hardly covers it. She is one of the best songwriters of all time, a businesswoman, a philanthropist, and a cultural icon. Behind the wigs and the rhinestones lies a musical genius.…

Demi Lovato is a vocal powerhouse. She started as a Disney star but openly struggled with personal demons, giving her music a raw, emotional edge. Her voice is one of the most powerful in pop music, capable of going from…

Alicia Keys is the kind of artist who, in one breath, makes piano, soul, pop, and pure R&B feel entirely credible. She can whisper and yet fill a stadium; she can make a love song romantic without a coating of…

Deep Purple is the founder of hard rock and heavy metal. Alongside Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they formed the “Big Three” of British rock in the 70s. Their sound is characterized by the virtuoso guitar playing of Ritchie Blackmore,…

Lionel Richie is the man who made the leap from the sweaty funk of The Commodores to the polished peak of 80s pop. He is the master of sentimentality; the singer you turn to when you are in love, when…

As frontwoman of No Doubt, she was already an icon, but solo, Gwen Stefani emerged as a quirky pop queen. She combined her ska and rock roots with hip-hop, electronica, and Japanese “Harajuku” culture. Gwen is all about style, attitude,…

Jay-Z is street and boardroom. He can sound as if he is addressing you in an alleyway, and ten seconds later as if he owns an entire skyline. In his best tracks, what you hear most is control: timing, word…

They wanted to be bigger than The Beatles and louder than the Sex Pistols. Whether they succeeded is for you to decide, but the fact remains that Noel and Liam Gallagher defined Britpop with a mix of arrogance, parkas, and…

With his signature hat (formerly) and his red Epiphone guitar, James Bay brought the singer-songwriter tradition back to the charts. The Brit creates passionate pop-rock driven by strong melodies and his raw, raspy vocal sound. His music balances between intimate,…