Greatest rock & metal vocalist
No hype or b.s., these cats can really sing in key & hold a note
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How many rock stars can brag about recording and touring consistently in six different decades? That's just one of the many claims to fame enjoyed by Ronnie James Dio. Born on July 10, 1942, this Cortland, New York native began his recording career back in 1958. Even back then, the seeds of Ronnie James Dio's future musical excesses had already been sown. After more than 40 years in the rock business, Ronnie James Dio has shown he still has what it takes to get the job done. The mystery surrounding Ronnie's age is still going. He himself says the age is not important, the only thing that matters is the music. He was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, but was raised in Cortland, near Syracuse in New York State in the USA, in a quiet, Italian, middle class community. Ronnie changed his name sometime (the exact date is unknown) from Padovana to Dio - Which means "God" in Italian.The greatest metal vocalist of all time. He will truely be missed- Actor
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Joe Lynn Turner was born as Joseph Arthur Linquito 2 August 1951 in Hackensnack New Jersey, USA. He made his first records with Fandango in the early 70s. Deep Purples's Ritchie Blackmore asked him to join Rainbow in 1980 and he was in the band for 4 years. His solo debut came 1985 and was called "Rescue Me".
In 1987 he joined Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force and made two records "Odessey" (1988) and "Trail by Fire - Live in Leningrad" (1989). In 1990 he joined Deep Purple and recorded "Slaves and Masters" (1990) with them. He released "Under Cover" and "Under Cover 2" during the 90s. It was just covers. Fall 2001 he released "Slam", his 4th solo album. In spring 2002 he released "HTP" (Hughes/Turner Project) together with Glenn Hughes.- Actor
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Paul Rodgers was born on 17 December 1949 in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Jerry Maguire (1996), Almost Famous (2000) and Friday Night Lights (2004). He has been married to Cynthia Kereluk since 24 September 2007. He was previously married to Machiko Shimizu.- Music Artist
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Freddie Mercury was born on the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar. His parents, Bomi and Jer Bulsara, sent him off to a private school in India, from 1955 til 1963. In 1964, he and his family flew to England. In 1966 he started his education at the Ealing College of Art, where he graduated in 1969. He loved art, and because of that, he often went along with his friend Tim Staffell, who played in a band called Smile. Also in this band where Brian May and Roger Taylor.
When Staffell left the band in 1970, Mercury became their new singer. He changed the band's name into Queen, and they took on a new bass-player in February 1971, called John Deacon. Their first album, "Queen", came out in 1973. But their real breakthrough was "Killer Queen", on the album "Sheer Heart Attack", which was released in 1974. They became immortal with the single "Bohemian Rhapsody", on the 1975 album "A Night At The Opera".
After their biggest hit in the USA in 1980 with "Another One Bites The Dust", they had a bad period. Their album "Flash Gordon" went down the drain, because the movie Flash Gordon (1980) flunked. Their next, the disco-oriented "Hot Space", was hated not only by rock critics but also by many hardcore fans. Only the song "Under Pressure", which they sang together with David Bowie, made a difference. In 1983, they took a year off. But, in 1984 they came back with their new album called "The Works". The singles "Radio Ga Ga" and "I Want to Break Free" did very well in the UK but a controversy over the video of the latter in the USA meant it got little exposure and flopped. Plans to tour the USA were cancelled and the band would not recover their popularity there during Mercury's lifetime.
In April 1985, Mercury released his first solo album, the less rock-oriented and more dance-oriented "Mr. Bad Guy". The album is often considered now to have been a flop, but it actually wasn't. It peaked at number six in the UK and stayed on the chart for 23 weeks, making it the most successful Queen solo project. The band got back together again after their barnstorming performance at Live Aid (1985) in July 1985. At the end of the year, they started working on their new album, "A Kind Of Magic". They also held their biggest ever world tour, the "Magic Tour". They played Wembley Stadium twice and held their very last concert in Knebworth, in front of 125.000 people.
After 1986, it went silent around Queen. In 1987, he was diagnosed with AIDS but he kept working at a pace. He released a cover of the 1950s song "The Great Pretender", which went into the UK top ten. After that, he flew to Spain, where he made the magnificent album "Barcelona", together with Montserrat Caballé, whom he saw performing in 1983. Because Mercury loved opera, he became a huge fan of her. For him, this album was like a dream becoming reality. The single "Barcelona" went huge, and was also used as a theme song for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
After "Barcelona", he started working with the band again. They made "The Miracle", which was released in early 1989. It was another success, with hits such as "Breakthru", "I Want It All", "The Invisible Man" and the title track. At this point, Mercury told the band he had AIDS, meaning that a tour of the album was out of the question. After Mercury told the band, he refused to talk about it anymore. He was afraid that people would buy their records out of pity. He said he wanted to keep making music as long as possible. And he did. After "The Miracle", Mercury's health got worse. They wanted to do one more album, called "Innuendo." They worked on it in 1990 and early 1991. Every time when Mercury would feel well, he came over to the studio and sang. After "Innuendo" was released in January 1991, they made two video clips. The first one was the video clip of "I'm Going Slightly Mad", shot in March 1991. Because Mercury was very thin, and had little wounds all over his body, they used a lot of make-up. He wore a wig, and the clip was shot in black and white.
Mercury's final video clip was released in June 1991. The clip, "These Are The Days Of Our Lives", later turned out to be his goodbye song, the last time he appeared on film. You could clearly see he was ill, but he still hadn't told the world about his disease. Rumours went around that he some kind of terrible disease. This rumor was confirmed by Mercury himself, one day before he passed on. His death was seen as a great loss for the world of popular music.- Actor
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Rob Halford was born on 25 August 1951 in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Spun (2002), Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992).- Actor
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Bruce Dickinson was born on 7 August 1958 in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child (1989), Into the Blue (2005) and Bride of Chucky (1998). He has been married to Leana Dolci since 2023. He was previously married to Paddy Bowden and Erica Jane Barnett.- Composer
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Former vocalist for the Javelins and Episode Six, Ian Gillan joined Deep Purple in 1969. They recorded the legendary albums "Deep Purple In Rock", "Fireball", "Machine Head" and "Who Do We Think We Are", as well as a number of live albums.
He left Deep Purple in 1973 due to differences with guitarist 'Ritchie Blackmore', as well as exhaustion due to excessive touring with the band. He then formed The Ian Gillan Band around late 1975/early '76. They released two studio albums: "Child in Time" (1976), which included a "jazzy" version of the Purple classic "Clear Air Turbulence" (1977), and a live album, recorded at the Budokan.
He then disbanded The Ian Gillan Band, and formed "Gillan". They released five albums: "Mr. Universe" (1979), "Future Shock" (1980), "Glory Road" (1980), "Double Trouble" (1981) and "Magic" (1982) before disbanding due to Ian's throat problems. Ian then met Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler and joined Black Sabbath in 1983. They did one album, "Born Again", that same year and toured in 1984. At that time Ian got a call from Ritchie Blackmore, asking him to reform Purple MKII, along with band mates Jon Lord, Roger Glover and Ian Paice. Ian left Sabbath and rejoined Purple. They recorded "Perfect Strangers" (1984) and "The House of Blue Light" (1987), before his problems with Blackmore made him quit Purple yet again. In 1988 he and fellow Purple band mate Glover made a record under the "Gillan/Glover" moniker, called "Accidentally on Purpose". Ian participated on various projects until 1992, when he formed a band and recorded "Cherkazoo and Other Stories".
In 1993 he was asked to rejoin Deep Purple yet again. He accepted, and recorded "The Battle Rages On". After a world tour Blackmore quit Deep Purple for good. They then made a couple of dates with Joe Satriani before finding a permanent replacement in Kansas/Dixie Dregs guitarist Steve Morse. The new Purple then recorded "Purpendicular" in 1996 and "Abandon" in 1998. In 1998, Ian released his solo album "Dreamcatcher".
Organist Jon Lord was replaced for the 2003 record "Bananas" with former Rainbow keyboardist Don Airey. Deep Purple MK VIII did a world tour for "Bananas", and went to work on their 18th studio album, "Rapture of the Deep", released in November 2005.
Ian released "Gillan's Inn" in 2006, and is touring with Deep Purple.- Music Artist
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Pat Benatar was born Patricia Andrzejewski in Brooklyn and raised in suburban Lindenhurst, Long Island. Her mother Millie had sacrificed her own career as an opera singer to bring up Pat and son Andrew. Years later, it was Pat who sang classically, honing the powers of her 4.5-octave voice as a member of Lindenhurst High's musical theater department. Having been accepted at Juilliard, Pat shocked friends and family by marrying her high-school sweetheart Dennis T. Benatar, a soldier, and moving off to Virginia where he had been stationed. Before long, the tedium of life as a housewife/bank teller proved too much for Pat, and she joined Coxon's Army, a cabaret band on the Richmond club circuit. Coxon's Army rose to new heights of fame, and Pat was instilled with the confidence to move to New York City and pursue her own dream, which brought her to Manhattan's "Catch A Rising Star".
Having thrilled the audience with her first performance on amateur night, Pat soon found herself with a paying gig, a manager and a recording contract, but her image was still in limbo. Primarily singing torch songs and Judy Garland classics, she longed to perform hard-rocking tunes in the Led Zeppelin vein. Her wishes were fulfilled when her handlers introduced her to Cleveland guitar-man Neil Giraldo, whose aggressive playing unleashed Pat's inner rocker. She had found her muse, and when her audience roared one Halloween night over a sultry costume she wore on stage, she had found her image.- Actress
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Singer, flute player, songwriter, and guitarist Ann Dustin Wilson was born on June 19, 1950 in San Diego, California. The daughter of Brig. Gen. John B. Wilson USMC, Wilson and her family moved around a lot, before eventually settling in the Seattle suburb of Bellevue, WA. Ann attended Interlake High School in Bellevue. In the early 70s, she joined the group, "White Heart". The band changed its named to "Hocus Pocus" before changing the name a third and final time to Heart in 1974. "Heart" has recorded a handful of albums and enjoyed a steady succession of hit songs throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Wilson sung the duet, "Almost Paradise", with Mike Reno for the soundtrack of the hit movie, Footloose (1984); this song peaked at #7 on the US Billboard pop radio charts. Ann did another duet with Cheap Trick lead singer Robin Zander on the song, "Surrender to Me", for the soundtrack of the film, Tequila Sunrise (1988); this song went to #6 on the US Billboard pop radio charts. In 1986, Wilson did the solo single, "The Best Man in the World", for the soundtrack of the movie, The Golden Child (1986); alas, this particular song stalled at #61 on the US Billboard pop radio charts. In 1992, Ann sang vocals on the tracks, "Brother", "Am I Inside" and "Love Song", on the Alice in Chains EP "Sap". Wilson and her sister, Nancy Wilson, started the recording studio, "Bad Animals", in the mid-90s. Moreover, Ann and Nancy formed the side band, "the Lovemongers"; this group contributed the song, "The Battle of Evermore", for the soundtrack of the motion picture, Singles (1992), released a four-song EP, and recorded the album, "Whirlygig", in 1997. In 2007, Wilson released the solo album, "Hope & Glory", on the Rounder record label. She lives in Seattle, Washington and is the mother of two adopted children: daughter Marie and son Dustin.- Actor
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Don Dokken was born on 29 June 1953 in the USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Dark Angel (1990), A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) and Brütal Legend (2009).- Paul Stanley was born on 20 September 1985 in Mexico City, Mexico. He is an actor, known for Soy tu dueña (2010), Love from the Hood (2015) and A Shelter for Love (2012).
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Prior to Hobbstweedle (a pickup blues band formed to honour a gig at West Midlands College Of Education) Robert was the frontman for The Band of Joy - featuring Percy, John Bonham, Paul Lockey (bass), Chris Brown (keyboards) and Kevyn Gammond (guitar). The BOJ were on verge of making a record deal when they split a little acrinmoniously. This led to Rob eventually joining Led Zeppelin after a few blind alleys. The rest is history.- Actor
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David Coverdale was born on 22 September 1951 in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Thunder Force (2021), The Fighter (2010) and Almost Famous (2000). He has been married to Cindy Barker since 22 April 1997. They have one child. He was previously married to Tawny Kitaen and Julia ?.- Actor
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Geoff Tate was born on 14 January 1959 in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. He is an actor and composer, known for The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990), Fallen Moon and The Burningmoore Incident (2010). He has been married to Susan M. Tate since March 1996. They have two children. He was previously married to Sue E. Tate.- Composer
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Geddy Lee is best known as the vocalist, bassist, and keyboard player for the rock group Rush, which also features drummer Neil Peart and guitarist Alex Lifeson. Rush is the most successful Canadian music group in history, and is the third most prolific seller of consecutive (American) Gold and Platinum Records and videos, behind only the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Lee's spectacular bass-playing ability has earned him a reputation similar to that of his bandmates. All three share the distinction of being among the most highly influential virtuosos in their crafts. Geddy Lee is a natural overachiever when it comes to the production and performance of his music. He is equally well known for his wizard-like bass-playing ability as he his for his magical juggling of bass, singing, playing keyboards, and triggering his own pre-recorded accompaniments during live performances, all while maintaining his trademark enthusiasm as Rush's "frontman". Geddy has, in the past carried the dubious distinction of a hard-rocking, if somewhat unnatural, high-pitched singing voice. This has matured over the course of Geddy's career into a voice that is more widely accepted outside of Rush's original core hard-rock following, and shines most especially on recent Rush albums such as 2002's "Vapor Trails", and Geddy's polished 2000 solo album, "My Favorite Headache". After their longest break from recording and touring, A highly successful 2002 tour brought Rush back to the United States, Canada, and Mexico, to the great anticipation of fans. Rush ended their 2002 tour with their first-ever shows in Brazil, where they played to 125,000 fans in three nights. The final performance of the 2002 tour was captured on DVD as Rush in Rio (2003), which was certified double-platinum within weeks of its release. Geddy is the son of Polish parents who were survivors of the Nazi concentration camps. In addition to his composing, arranging, and performing duties for Rush, Geddy has produced albums for various other bands, including Rocket Science.- Actor
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Graham Bonnet was born on 23 December 1947 in Skegness, Lincolnshire, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Three for All (1975), Alcatraz: Island in the Sun (1983) and Rainbow: All Night Long (1980).- Actor
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Lou Gramm was born on 2 May 1950 in Rochester, New York, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for The Lost Boys (1987), Highlander II: The Quickening (1991) and Footloose (1984).- Writer
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Steve Perry was born on 12 December 1954 in Waterville, Maine, USA. He was a writer and actor, known for Thundercats (1985), Silverhawks (1986) and Bloodshedding Love (2011). He was married to Erica Grace Balcom. He died on 16 May 2010 in Largo, Florida, USA.- Actor
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Dan McCafferty was born on 14 October 1946 in Dunfermline, Scotland, UK. He was an actor and composer, known for Heavy Metal (1981), CHIPS (2017) and Lords of Dogtown (2005). He was married to Mary Ann. He died on 8 November 2022 in the USA.