Steve Cropper　

Probably the best-known soul guitarist in the world, Steve Cropper came to prominence in the early ’60s, first with the Mar-Keys (Last Night), then as a founding member of Booker T. ＆ ..more

Avicii　

As one of the most popular DJs of the late-2000s EDM boom, Grammy-nominated Swedish producer Avicii went on to top the charts in multiple countries and tour the world with his uplifting house anthe ..more

Maurice White　

Singer/drummer/songwriter/producer Maurice White founded the ’70s supergroup Earth, Wind ＆ Fire. White, a former session drummer for legendary Chicago-based labels OKeh Records and {@Chess ..more

Jamiroquai　

Active since the early ’90s, Jamiroquai have amassed a steady stream of hits in their native U.K. and experienced chart success in just about every other area of the world, with an irresistible ble ..more

Kanye West　

In the span of three short years, Kanye West went from hip-hop beatmaker to worldwide hitmaker, as his stellar production work for Jay-Z led to a major-label recording contract and, ultimately, ..more

James Brown　

Soul Brother Number One, the Godfather of Soul, the Hardest Working Man in Show Business, Mr. Dynamite -- those are mighty titles, but no one can question that James Brown earned them more ..more

Jamie XX　

Working with and without his Mercury Music Prize-winning group the xx, Jamie xx established himself as a forward-thinking beatmaker and producer. Born Jamie Smith in Putney, London, he began ..more

Nujabes / Shing02　

Tom Misch　

London-based producer/singer/songwriter Tom Misch blends hip-hop-inspired beats with smoothly soulful vocals and guitar. The son of an artist and a psychiatrist, he grew up in a home that encourage ..more

Curtis Mayfield　

Perhaps because he didn’t cross over to the pop audience as heavily as Motown’s stars, it may be that the scope of Curtis Mayfield’s talents and contributions have yet to be fully recognized. ..more

Alicia Keys　

Alicia Keys became an international star with her singular mix of classic and contemporary R＆B. Behind the number one pop hit Fallin, her debut album, Songs in A Minor, sold more than 50,000 c ..more

Sheila E　

During the mid-’80s, Sheila E. was the biggest and brightest of Prince’s protegees, unique in seeming that she could stand toe to toe with the Purple One. Certainly during his post-Revoluti ..more

A Tribe Called Quest　

Without question the most intelligent, artistic rap group during the 1990s, A Tribe Called Quest jump-started and perfected the hip-hop alternative to hardcore and gangsta rap. In essence, they aba ..more

Kehlani　

Contemporary R＆B singer and songwriter Kehlani Parrish studied ballet and modern dance at the Oakland School for the Arts. An injury prompted a move to OSA’s music department, where she blossomed a ..more

Max Richter　

Blending classical, electronic, and rock influences into a style he calls post-classical, composer/programmer Max Richter ignores boundaries in favor of haunting, strangely familiar sounds. This ..more

Justice　

Daft Punk　

Even as they evolved from French house pioneers in the ’90s to dance tastemakers in the 2000s to mainstream heroes in the 2010s, Daft Punk remained one of dance music’s most influential and iconic ..more

Beastie Boys　

As the first white rap group of any importance, the Beastie Boys received the scorn of critics and strident hip-hop musicians, both of whom accused them of cultural pirating, especially since ..more

The Chemical Brothers　

Electronica mainstay the Chemical Brothers - Ed Simmons and Tom Rowlands - has just released their first career-spanning hits collection, ’Singles 93-03 Collection’. Along with their contemporaries, ..more

Catpack