1.
Boston
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Boston is the capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. Boston is also the seat of Suffolk County, although the county government was disbanded on July 1,1999. The city proper covers 48 square miles with a population of 667,137 in 2015, making it the largest city in New England. Alternately, as a Combined Statistical Area, this wider commuting region is home to some 8.1 million people, One of the oldest cities in the United States, Boston was founded on the Shawmut Peninsula in 1630 by Puritan settlers from England. It was the scene of several key events of the American Revolution, such as the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the Siege of Boston. Upon U. S. independence from Great Britain, it continued to be an important port and manufacturing hub as well as a center for education, through land reclamation and municipal annexation, Boston has expanded beyond the original peninsula. Its rich history attracts many tourists, with Faneuil Hall alone drawing over 20 million visitors per year, Bostons many firsts include the United States first public school, Boston Latin School, first subway system, the Tremont Street Subway, and first public park, Boston Common. Bostons economic base also includes finance, professional and business services, biotechnology, information technology, the city has one of the highest costs of living in the United States as it has undergone gentrification, though it remains high on world livability rankings. Bostons early European settlers had first called the area Trimountaine but later renamed it Boston after Boston, Lincolnshire, England, the renaming on September 7,1630 was by Puritan colonists from England who had moved over from Charlestown earlier that year in quest of fresh water. Their settlement was limited to the Shawmut Peninsula, at that time surrounded by the Massachusetts Bay and Charles River. The peninsula is thought to have been inhabited as early as 5000 BC, in 1629, the Massachusetts Bay Colonys first governor John Winthrop led the signing of the Cambridge Agreement, a key founding document of the city. Puritan ethics and their focus on education influenced its early history, over the next 130 years, the city participated in four French and Indian Wars, until the British defeated the French and their Indian allies in North America. Boston was the largest town in British America until Philadelphia grew larger in the mid-18th century, Bostons harbor activity was significantly curtailed by the Embargo Act of 1807 and the War of 1812. Foreign trade returned after these hostilities, but Bostons merchants had found alternatives for their investments in the interim. Manufacturing became an important component of the economy, and the citys industrial manufacturing overtook international trade in economic importance by the mid-19th century. Boston remained one of the nations largest manufacturing centers until the early 20th century, a network of small rivers bordering the city and connecting it to the surrounding region facilitated shipment of goods and led to a proliferation of mills and factories. Later, a network of railroads furthered the regions industry. Boston was a port of the Atlantic triangular slave trade in the New England colonies
2.
Massachusetts
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It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island to the south, New Hampshire and Vermont to the north, and New York to the west. The state is named for the Massachusett tribe, which inhabited the area. The capital of Massachusetts and the most populous city in New England is Boston, over 80% of Massachusetts population lives in the Greater Boston metropolitan area, a region influential upon American history, academia, and industry. Originally dependent on agriculture, fishing and trade, Massachusetts was transformed into a manufacturing center during the Industrial Revolution, during the 20th century, Massachusetts economy shifted from manufacturing to services. Modern Massachusetts is a leader in biotechnology, engineering, higher education, finance. Plymouth was the site of the first colony in New England, founded in 1620 by the Pilgrims, in 1692, the town of Salem and surrounding areas experienced one of Americas most infamous cases of mass hysteria, the Salem witch trials. In 1777, General Henry Knox founded the Springfield Armory, which during the Industrial Revolution catalyzed numerous important technological advances, in 1786, Shays Rebellion, a populist revolt led by disaffected American Revolutionary War veterans, influenced the United States Constitutional Convention. In the 18th century, the Protestant First Great Awakening, which swept the Atlantic World, in the late 18th century, Boston became known as the Cradle of Liberty for the agitation there that led to the American Revolution. The entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts has played a commercial and cultural role in the history of the United States. Before the American Civil War, Massachusetts was a center for the abolitionist, temperance, in the late 19th century, the sports of basketball and volleyball were invented in the western Massachusetts cities of Springfield and Holyoke, respectively. Many prominent American political dynasties have hailed from the state, including the Adams, both Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, also in Cambridge, have been ranked among the most highly regarded academic institutions in the world. Massachusetts public school students place among the top nations in the world in academic performance, the official name of the state is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. While this designation is part of the official name, it has no practical implications. Massachusetts has the position and powers within the United States as other states. Massachusetts was originally inhabited by tribes of the Algonquian language family such as the Wampanoag, Narragansett, Nipmuc, Pocomtuc, Mahican, and Massachusett. While cultivation of crops like squash and corn supplemented their diets, villages consisted of lodges called wigwams as well as longhouses, and tribes were led by male or female elders known as sachems. Between 1617 and 1619, smallpox killed approximately 90% of the Massachusetts Bay Native Americans, the first English settlers in Massachusetts, the Pilgrims, arrived via the Mayflower at Plymouth in 1620, and developed friendly relations with the native Wampanoag people. This was the second successful permanent English colony in the part of North America that later became the United States, the event known as the First Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World which lasted for three days
3.
Pop music
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Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form in the United States and United Kingdom during the mid 1950s. The terms popular music and pop music are used interchangeably, although the former describes all music that is popular. Pop and rock were synonymous terms until the late 1960s, when they were used in opposition from each other. Although pop music is seen as just the singles charts, it is not the sum of all chart music. Pop music is eclectic, and often borrows elements from other such as urban, dance, rock, Latin. Identifying factors include generally short to medium-length songs written in a format, as well as the common use of repeated choruses, melodic tunes. David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop music as a body of music which is distinguishable from popular, jazz, according to Pete Seeger, pop music is professional music which draws upon both folk music and fine arts music. Although pop music is seen as just the singles charts, it is not the sum of all chart music, the music charts contain songs from a variety of sources, including classical, jazz, rock, and novelty songs. Pop music, as a genre, is seen as existing and developing separately, pop music continuously evolves along with the terms definition. The term pop song was first recorded as being used in 1926, Hatch and Millward indicate that many events in the history of recording in the 1920s can be seen as the birth of the modern pop music industry, including in country, blues and hillbilly music. The Oxford Dictionary of Music states that while pops earlier meaning meant concerts appealing to a wide audience. Since the late 1950s, however, pop has had the meaning of non-classical mus, usually in the form of songs, performed by such artists as the Beatles. Grove Music Online also states that, in the early 1960s pop music competed terminologically with beat music, while in the USA its coverage overlapped with that of rock and roll. From about 1967, the term was used in opposition to the term rock music. Whereas rock aspired to authenticity and an expansion of the possibilities of music, pop was more commercial, ephemeral. It is not driven by any significant ambition except profit and commercial reward, and, in musical terms, it is essentially conservative. It is, provided from on high rather than being made from below, pop is not a do-it-yourself music but is professionally produced and packaged. The beat and the melodies tend to be simple, with limited harmonic accompaniment, the lyrics of modern pop songs typically focus on simple themes – often love and romantic relationships – although there are notable exceptions
4.
Contemporary R&B
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Contemporary R&B, also known as simply R&B, is a music genre that combines elements of rhythm and blues, soul, funk, pop, hip hop and dance. The genre features a record production style, drum machine-backed rhythms, an occasional saxophone-laced beat to give a jazz feel. Electronic influences are becoming a trend and the use of hip hop or dance-inspired beats are typical, although the roughness. Contemporary R&B vocalists are often known for their use of melisma, popularized by such as Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, Craig David, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston. That same year, Teddy Riley began producing R&B recordings that included hip hop influences and this combination of R&B style and hip hop rhythms was termed new jack swing and was applied to artists such as Bobby Brown, Keith Sweat, Al B. Guy, Jodeci and Bell Biv DeVoe, the style became less popular by the end of the 1990s, but later experienced a resurgence. In 1990 Mariah Carey released Vision of Love as her debut single and it was immensely popular peaking at number 1 in many worldwide charts including the Billboard Hot 100, and it propelled Mariahs carrier. The song is said to have popularized the use of melisma. During the mid-1990s, Whitney Houstons The Bodyguard, Original Soundtrack Album sold over 40 million copies becoming the best-selling soundtrack of all time. Janet Jacksons self-titled fifth studio album janet. which came after her historic multimillion-dollar contract with Virgin Records, sold over twenty million copies worldwide. Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey recorded several Billboard Hot 100 No.1 hits, including One Sweet Day, Carey also released a remix of her 1995 single Fantasy, with Ol Dirty Bastard as a feature, a collaboration format that was unheard of at this point. Carey, Boyz II Men and TLC released albums in 1994 and 1995—Daydream, II and CrazySexyCool. In the late 1990s, neo soul, which added 1970s soul influences to the hip hop soul blend, arose, led by such as DAngelo, Erykah Badu. Hill and Missy Elliott further blurred the line between R&B and hip hop by recording both styles, beginning in 1995, the Grammy Awards enacted the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album, with II by Boyz II Men becoming the first recipient. The award was received by TLC for CrazySexyCool in 1996, Tony Rich for Words in 1997, Erykah Badu for Baduizm in 1998. At the end of 1999, Billboard magazine ranked Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson as the first, simultaneously, in the second half of the 1990s, The Neptunes and Timbaland set influential precedence on contemporary R&B and hip hop music. R&B acts such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Usher, in 2001, Alicia Keys released Fallin as her debut single. It peaking at one on the Billboard Hot 100, Mainstream Top 40
5.
Hip hop music
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It developed as part of hip hop culture, a subculture defined by four key stylistic elements, MCing/rapping, DJing/scratching with turntables, break dancing, and graffiti writing. Other elements include sampling beats or bass lines from records, while often used to refer solely to rapping, hip hop more properly denotes the practice of the entire subculture. Hip hops early evolution occurred as sampling technology and drum machines became available and affordable. Turntablist techniques such as scratching and beatmatching developed along with the breaks and Jamaican toasting, rapping developed as a vocal style in which the artist speaks or chants along rhythmically with an instrumental or synthesized beat. The Sugarhill Gangs 1979 song Rappers Delight is widely regarded to be the first hip hop record to gain popularity in the mainstream. The 1980s marked the diversification of hip hop as the genre developed more complex styles, prior to the 1980s, hip hop music was largely confined within the United States. However, during the 1980s, it began to spread to scenes in dozens of countries. New school hip hop was the wave of hip hop music, originating in 1983–84 with the early records of Run-D. M. C. The Golden age hip hop period was a period between the mid-1980s and the early 1990s. Notable artists from this era include the Juice Crew, Public Enemy, & Rakim, Boogie Down Productions and KRS-One, EPMD, Slick Rick, Beastie Boys, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Ultramagnetic MCs, De La Soul, and A Tribe Called Quest. Gangsta rap is a subgenre of hip hop that often focuses on the violent lifestyles, in the West Coast hip hop style, G-funk dominated mainstream hip hop for several years during the 1990s. I. G. In the 1990s, hip hop began to diversify with other regional styles emerging, such as Southern rap, at the same time, hip hop continued to be assimilated into other genres of popular music, examples being Neo soul and nu metal. Hip hop became a pop music genre in the mid-1990s. The popularity of hip hop music continued through the 2000s, with hip hop influences also increasingly finding their way into mainstream pop, the United States also saw the success of regional styles such as crunk, a Southern genre that emphasized the beats and music more than the lyrics. Starting in 2005, sales of hip hop music in the United States began to severely wane, during the mid-2000s, alternative hip hop secured a place in the mainstream, due in part to the crossover success of artists such as OutKast and Kanye West. Creation of the hip hop is often credited to Keith Cowboy, rapper with Grandmaster Flash. However, Lovebug Starski, Keith Cowboy, and DJ Hollywood used the term when the music was known as disco rap. Cowboy later worked the hip hop cadence into a part of his stage performance, the first use of the term in print was in The Village Voice, by Steven Hager, later author of a 1984 history of hip hop
6.
Blue-eyed soul
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Blue-eyed soul is rhythm and blues and soul music performed by white artists. The term was coined in the mid-1960s, to describe artists who performed soul and R&B that was similar to the music of the Motown. Though many rhythm and blues radio stations would play music by black musicians. The Righteous Brothers named their 1964 LP Some Blue-Eyed Soul, Blue-eyed soul was applied to such artists as Sonny & Cher, the Beatles, Tom Jones, Barry McGuire, and Roy Head. White musicians playing R&B music, however, began before the term blue-eyed soul was coined, lonnie Macks 1963 gospel-infused vocals earned him widespread critical acclaim as a blue-eyed soul singer. Groups such as The Rascals had soul-tinged pop songs, but it was the vocals of Felix Cavaliere that gave them the blue-eyed soul sound. By the mid-1960s, British singers Dusty Springfield, Eric Burdon, Blue-eyed soul singer, Chris Clark became the first white singer to have an R&B hit with Motown Records in 1966. In 1967, Jerry Lee Lewis, whose latter days at Sun Records had been characterized by R&B covers, delaney and Bonnie produced the blue-eyed soul album Home on Stax in 1969. Michael Sembello, who left home at age 17 to tour with Stevie Wonder, wrote and performed on numerous blue-eyed soul hits for Wonder, Brian McKnight, David Sanborn, Bill Champlin and Bobby Caldwell. Todd Rundgren began his career in Woodys Truck Stop, a based on the model of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. He left the band to form the rock band Nazz in 1967. Outside the Anglo-American scene, in Italy, Mina and Carmen Villani fused elements of music with the traditional Italian pop music. Carola and Doris were notable Scandinavian artists who were influenced by soul music, in February 1975, Tower of Power became the first white/mixed act to appear on Soul Train. Also in 1975, David Bowie, another early white artist to appear on Soul Train, released Young Americans and it featured the funk-inspired Fame, which became Bowies first number-one hit in the US. Hall & Oates 1975 Silver Album includes the ballad Sara Smile, shes Gone, another soulful hit, was originally released in 1973 but did better as a re-release after Sara Smile. Boz Scaggs 1976 Lowdown, which featured Scaggs laid-back vocals and a funky groove. In April 1976, The Faragher Brothers became the first all-white ensemble to make an appearance on Soul Train. In September that year, white funk band Wild Cherry released the Billboard Hot 100 chart topping funk/rock single Play That Funky Music, the single would eventually sell 2.5 million copies
7.
Columbia Records
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Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, Inc. the United States division of Sony Corporation. It was founded in 1887, evolving from an enterprise named the American Graphophone Company. Columbia is the oldest surviving brand name in the sound business. Columbia Records went on to release records by an array of singers, instrumentalists. It is one of Sony Musics three flagship record labels alongside RCA Records and Epic Records, rather, as above, it was connected to CBS, a broadcasting media company which had purchased the company in 1938, and had been co-founded in 1927 by Columbia Records itself. Though Arista Records was sold to Bertelsmann Music Group, it would become a sister label of Columbia Records through its mutual connection to Sony Music. The Columbia Phonograph Company was founded in 1887 by stenographer, lawyer and New Jersey native Edward Easton and it derived its name from the District of Columbia, where it was headquartered. At first it had a monopoly on sales and service of Edison phonographs and phonograph cylinders in Washington. As was the custom of some of the regional companies, Columbia produced many commercial cylinder recordings of its own. Columbias ties to Edison and the North American Phonograph Company were severed in 1894 with the North American Phonograph Companys breakup, thereafter it sold only records and phonographs of its own manufacture. In 1902, Columbia introduced the XP record, a brown wax record. According to Gracyk, the molded brown waxes may have sold to Sears for distribution. Columbia began selling records and phonographs in addition to the cylinder system in 1901, preceded only by their Toy Graphophone of 1899. For a decade, Columbia competed with both the Edison Phonograph Company cylinders and the Victor Talking Machine Company disc records as one of the top three names in American recorded sound. In order to add prestige to its catalog of artists. The firm also introduced the internal-horn Grafonola to compete with the extremely popular Victrola sold by the rival Victor Talking Machine Company, during this era, Columbia used the famous Magic Notes logo—a pair of sixteenth notes in a circle—both in the United States and overseas. Columbia was split into two companies, one to make records and one to make players, Columbia Phonograph was moved to Connecticut, and Ed Easton went with it. Eventually it was renamed the Dictaphone Corporation, in late 1923, Columbia went into receivership
8.
CBS Records International
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CBS Records International, simply CBS in logo, was the international arm of the Columbia Records unit of Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc. that was formed in 1961 and launched in 1962. Previously Columbia Records had been using other companies to distribute Columbia recordings outside North America, such as Philips Records. In 1960, CBS acquired its Australian distributor since 1956, the Australian Record Company, American Columbia material continued to be issued on the CBS Coronet Records label in Australia. The CBS label was launched in Australia in 1963, also in 1960, CBS began negotiations with its European distributor Philips Records with the goal of the establishment of a CBS Records label in Europe. Philips acquisition of Mercury Records paved the way for the formation of the CBS label in 1961 with Philips distributing the first batch of CBS recordings in Europe in 1962. The use of the CBS name was necessary because EMI owned another record label called Columbia, in 1964, CBS acquired Oriole Records which gave CBS Records its own distribution in the UK beginning in 1965. Initially, only American Columbia product was distributed alongside Orioles own roster on the renamed CBS label. EMI, which had distributed American Columbia recordings on its Columbia label until the Philips deal in 1951, continued to distribute CBSs other American labels such as Epic, the distribution deal with EMI expired in 1968 at which point CBS began distributing all their labels directly. In Germany, the CBS label distributed Motown from 1963 to 1965, CBS sold the record company in 1988 to Sony Corporation of America for $US2 billion. In 1991, the CBS Records company was renamed Sony Music Entertainment, the CBS Records label was renamed Columbia Records after Sony acquired the Columbia name and trade marks from EMI. Harvey Schein, 1962-1971 Walter Yetnikoff, 1971–1975 Allen A. Davis, c.1980 Bob Summer, 1986–
9.
Interscope Records
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Interscope Records is an American record company. At the time, it differed from most record companies by giving decision-making authority to its A&R staff and it had its first hit records less than a year after it was founded and achieved profitability in 1993. In 1992, Interscope acquired the rights to market and distribute the hardcore rap label Death Row. Albums by Death Row artists included rappers Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, as a result, Time Warner severed ties with Interscope by selling its 50 percent stake back to Field and Iovine for $115 million in 1995. In 1996, 50% of the label was acquired by the MCA Music Entertainment Group for a reported $200 million, Iovine served as chairman and CEO until May 2014. He was succeeded by John Janick, Interscope is headquartered in Santa Monica, California. The labels best-selling artists include U2, Eminem, Lady Gaga, in 1989, Ted Field began to build Interscope Records as a division of his film company, Interscope Communications. To run it, he hired John McClain, who had played a role in Janet Jacksons success at A&M Records, and Tom Whalley. Separately, Iovine, who had produced records by U2, Bruce Springsteen, I thought, Music is going to change, Iovine said in 1997. Young bands arent going to be asking for me, but I love working with the new thing. I always liked the part of the business thats the first time you hear something, Iovine and Field were introduced by Paul McGuinness, then U2s manager. After a series of negotiations led by David Geffen, they came to an agreement, in a 1997 article in Rolling Stone, David Wild wrote, Interscopes start-up coincided with a period of incredible change in the music world. Nirvana had ushered in the alternative revolution, based in Westwood, California, Interscope was run by music men. It was a departure from the industry practices of the 1970s and 1980s. A founding tenet of the label was that artists would have creative control. Interscopes first release was Rico Suave by Ecuadoran rapper Gerardo in December 1990, Primus Interscope debut was released in May, followed by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunchs Music for the People in July. It included the #1 single Good Vibrations, two days after first hearing his demo, Whalley signed Tupac Shakur, and in November 1991, Interscope released 2pacalypse Now, Shakurs studio debut. Interscope began to develop a significant presence in the genre in 1992
10.
Backstreet Boys
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The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The group consists of AJ McLean, Howie D, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, and Brian Littrell. The group rose to fame with their international album, Backstreet Boys. In the following year released their second international album Backstreets Back. They rose to superstardom with their studio album Millennium and its follow-up album. After a two-year hiatus, they regrouped and released a comeback album Never Gone, after the conclusion of the Never Gone Tour in 2006, Richardson left the group to pursue other interests. The group then released two albums as a quartet, Unbreakable and This Is Us, in 2012, the group announced that Richardson had rejoined them permanently. In the following year they celebrated their 20th anniversary and released their first independent album, the group also released their first documentary movie, titled Backstreet Boys, Show Em What Youre Made Of in January 2015. The Backstreet Boys have sold over 130 million records worldwide, making them the boy band in history. They are the first group since Sade to have their first nine albums reach the top 10 on the Billboard 200, and they also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 22,2013. Howie Dorough and AJ McLean were natives of Orlando, Florida, the three, realizing that they could harmonize together, decided to form a trio. Cousins Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell, both from Lexington, Kentucky, sang in church choirs and festivals when they were children. Richardson moved to Orlando in 1990, where he worked at Walt Disney World, eventually, he met Dorough, Carter, and McLean through a co-worker, and the four decided to form a group. In the course of all this, Lou Pearlman in 1992 placed an ad in the Orlando Sentinel to compose a vocal group, McLean, who was the first to audition for Pearlman in his living room, became the groups first member. In January 1993, Pearlman held a casting call and hundreds of young performers auditioned at his blimp hangar in Kissimmee. Eventually, Carter, Dorough, and Richardson were selected after meeting Pearlmans expectations, Littrell flew from Kentucky to Orlando to formally join the group on April 20,1993, a day after receiving a phone call from Richardson about it. Thus, April 20 became their anniversary date, Pearlman decided to call them Backstreet Boys, after Orlandos Backstreet Market, an outdoor flea market near International Drive which was also a teen hangout. The Backstreet Boys had their very first performance at SeaWorld Orlando on May 8,1993, the group then continued to perform in various venues during summer 1993, from shopping malls, restaurants, to a high-profile charity gala in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
11.
NKOTBSB
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NKOTBSB was a supergroup consisting of the members of American boy bands New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys. Howie Dorough of the Backstreet Boys came up with the name, together they have released one compilation album, the eponymous NKOTBSB, one single, and toured in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia in 2011 and 2012. In summer 2010, the Backstreet Boys joined New Kids on the Block on stage at the Radio City Music Hall in New York at their invitation, the show was a part of NKOTBs Casi-NO Tour. Since the performance, the media began to circulate rumors of the two uniting for a tour in the summer of 2011, on October 8,2010, Brian Littrell, a member of the Backstreet Boys, gave the tour a 78% chance of happening. He also stated that he and Donnie Wahlberg had been working on songs together. The tour was announced to begin in the summer of 2011 on On Air with Ryan Seacrest on November 8,2010. During the interview, it was mentioned that the groups were recording a single to be released later, to promote the tour further, the groups conducted a live Q&A session on Ustream on the same day. On March 14,2011, the announced that they would be releasing a joint compilation album on May 24,2011. The album featured five tracks from each group and some new recordings by the combined supergroup, the single, titled Dont Turn Out The Lights was premiered on April 5,2011 on Ryan Seacrest. The NKOTBSB Tour started at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois on May 25,2011, on June 3,2011, while in the middle of the tour, they went to Rockefeller Center to perform together at the The Today Show. The tour ended on June 3,2012 in Pasay, Philippines, the performance was also their only North American appearance in 2012. They also said that NKOTBSB is like another group altogether, NKOTB Jonathan Knight Danny Wood Donnie Wahlberg Jordan Knight Joey McIntyre BSB Howie Dorough Brian Littrell A. J
12.
Lady Gaga
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Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She performed initially in theater, appearing in school plays. From there, Akon noticed her vocal abilities and helped her to sign a joint deal with Interscope Records and her debut album The Fame was a critical and commercial success that produced international chart-topping singles such as Just Dance and Poker Face. A follow-up EP, The Fame Monster, was met with a reception and Bad Romance, Telephone. Her second full-length album Born This Way was released in 2011, topping the charts in more than 20 countries, including the United States, the album produced the number-one single Born This Way. Her third album Artpop, released in 2013, topped the US charts, in 2014, Gaga released a collaborative jazz album with Tony Bennett titled Cheek to Cheek, which became her third consecutive number one in the United States. For her work in the television series American Horror Story, Hotel, with her fifth studio album Joanne, she became the first woman to have four US number one albums in the 2010s. In February 2017, Gaga headlined the Super Bowl LI halftime show which had an audience of over 150 million across various platforms worldwide. With global album and single sales of 27 million and 146 million respectively, as of January 2016 and her achievements include twelve Guinness World Records, three Brit Awards, and six Grammy Awards. She is also the first artist to win the Songwriters Hall of Fames Contemporary Icon Award, in 2013, Gaga finished second on Times readers poll of the most influential people of the past ten years, while in 2015, she was named Billboards Woman of the Year. Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta was born on March 28,1986 and she is the elder daughter of Cynthia Louise Cindy and Internet entrepreneur Joseph Joe Germanotta. Gaga has three Italian grandparents and one American grandparent, as well as French Canadian ancestry, Gagas sister Natali is a fashion student. From age 11, she attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart and she described her academic life in high school as very dedicated, very studious, very disciplined but also a bit insecure. I used to get made fun of for being too provocative or too eccentric. I didnt fit in, and I felt like a freak, in 2014, Gaga said she was raped at the age of 19. She stated, I went through some things that Im able to laugh now, because Ive gone through a lot of mental and physical therapy. Gaga later said that she suffers from posttraumatic stress disorder because of the rape, and that support from doctors, family, and friends really saved my life. Gaga began playing the piano at the age of four, wrote her first piano ballad at 13 and she performed lead roles in high school productions, including Adelaide in Guys and Dolls and Philia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
13.
Akon
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Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam, better known as Akon, is a Senegalese-American singer, rapper, songwriter, businessman, record producer and actor. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of Locked Up and he has since founded two successful record labels, Konvict Muzik and Kon Live Distribution. He is the first solo artist to hold both the one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice. Akon has had four songs certified as 3× platinum, three songs certified as 2× platinum, more than ten songs certified as 1× platinum and more than ten songs certified as gold in digital sales, Akon has sung songs in other languages including Tamil, Hindi, and Spanish. He was listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the #1 selling artist for master ringtones in the world, Akon often provides vocals as a featured artist and is currently credited with over 300 guest appearances and more than 35 Billboard Hot 100 songs. He has worked with performers such as Michael Jackson, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Whitney Houston, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. He has had five Grammy Awards nominations and has produced songs for such as Lady Gaga, Colby ODonis, Kardinal Offishall, Leona Lewis. Forbes ranked Akon 80th in Forbes Celebrity 100 in 2010 and 5th in 40 Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa list, Billboard ranked Akon No.6 on the list of Top Digital Songs Artists of the decade. Akon was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and spent much of his childhood in the West African country Senegal, the child of a dancer mother and a percussionist father, Mor Thiam, Akon learned to play five instruments, including drums, guitar and djembe. At age 7, he moved with his family to Union City, New Jersey, growing up in New Jersey, Akon had difficulties getting along with other children. When he and his brother reached high school, his parents left them on their own in Jersey City and moved the rest of the family to Atlanta. In regards to his date, Akon is very protective of it. However, legal documents released by The Smoking Gun list his date of birth as April 16,1973, Akons alleged three years in jail saw him begin to recognize his music abilities and develop an appreciation for his musical background. The songs Akon recorded with Stephens were brought to the attention of Universals imprint SRC Records, in an interview with HitQuarters SRC A&R Jerome Foster said, What caught my attention right away was Lonely, and I said, this kid is official – this is a huge record. Foster and SRC CEO Steve Rifkind immediately boarded a plane to Atlanta to meet the young artist. Akon knew of Fosters work as producer Knobody and so there was a mutual respect for one another, Akon increased his exposure further by collaborating with overseas artists, including New Zealands rapper Savage and hip-hop producer P-Money, performing choruses as a featured vocalist. Akons solo debut album, Trouble was released on June 29,2004 and it spawned the singles Locked Up and Lonely, Belly Dancer, Pot Of Gold, and Ghetto. Locked Up reached 8th position in the U. S. Ghetto became a radio hit when it was remixed by DJ Green Lantern to include verses from rappers 2Pac and The Notorious B. I. G
14.
Nicole Scherzinger
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Nicole Scherzinger is an American singer, dancer, actress and television personality. She rose to fame as the singer of the burlesque troupe turned-recording act. During their hiatus, Scherzinger planned to embark on her career with Her Name is Nicole. Following the disbandment of the Pussycat Dolls, Scherzinger became a judge for two seasons of The Sing-Off and in 2010 won the season of Dancing with the Stars. In 2011 she released her studio album, Killer Love to moderate success and featured the top-ten hits Dont Hold Your Breath. Later that year she served as a judge during the first season of the American version of The X Factor before heading to the UK version for two years in 2012, before returning in 2016. Her second studio album, Big Fat Lie which had a impact on the charts, was preceded by three singles including, Your Love. For starring in the 2014 West End revival of the musical Cats Scherzinger garnered a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical. Throughout a career spanning over 13 years, she has had three UK number one singles, sold over 16 million albums and over 37 million singles worldwide. Having sold 16 million records as a solo artist, and a further 54 million with Pussycat Dolls, since her first chart entry in 2005, Scherzinger has also scored 20 top 20 hits on the UK Singles Chart. Outside her work in the entertainment industry, Scherzinger has advertised brands including Herbal Essences and Müller and she is also an Ambassador for UNICEF and a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics and is involved in charitable activities. Scherzinger was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, into a Catholic family and her father, Alfonso Valiente, is of Filipino descent, while her mother, Rosemary Elikolani, has Native Hawaiian and Ukrainian ancestry. Scherzingers parents separated when she was still a baby, when she was six years old, her maternal family moved to Louisville, Kentucky, with her sister, Keala, and her German American stepfather, Gary Scherzinger. She took her stepfathers surname after he adopted her and she first attended Bowen Elementary, and later attended Meyzeek Middle School as an adolescent. Scherzinger states that, growing up, her family did not have a lot of money, Scherzinger began performing in Louisville, attending the Youth Performing Arts School at duPont Manual High School, and performing with Actors Theatre of Louisville. As a teenager, Scherzinger was the first runner-up at the 1996 Kentucky State Fairs Coca-Cola Talent Classic contest, in 2007, she was inducted to duPont Manual Alumnis Hall of Fame as one of the youngest inductees. After earning a scholarship, she furthered her studies at Wright State University majoring in arts with a dance minor. During this period, Scherzinger garnered the lead roles in productions of the musicals Chicago, Guys and Dolls
15.
Natasha Bedingfield
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Natasha Anne Bedingfield is a British singer and songwriter. Bedingfield released her album, Unwritten, in 2004, which contained primarily up-tempo pop songs and was influenced by R&B music. It enjoyed international success with more than 2.3 million copies sold worldwide, Unwritten also produced her only UK number one, These Words. Her second album, N. B. yielded the UK top 10 singles I Wanna Have Your Babies, in December 2010, Bedingfield released her third album in North America, named Strip Me. In 2012, VH1 ranked Bedingfield number 66 on the list of 100 Greatest Women in Music, Bedingfield has three siblings, brothers Daniel, Joshua and a younger sister, Nikola. Her interest in music was encouraged by her parents and she took guitar, when Bedingfield was a teenager, she and her siblings, Daniel and Nikola, formed the dance/electronic group, The DNA Algorithm. The group provided Bedingfield with the opportunity to explore different musical genres and she provided vocals for the group which primarily performed dance-pop music about independence and empowerment, themes that would later be found in her own solo compositions. At age 14, Bedingfield sang vocals on Origins Refined Intricacy, Bedingfield attended a year at the University of Greenwich, where she studied psychology, then left to concentrate on singing and songwriting. At first she recorded demos in the garages of friends who had recording studios, throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Bedingfield composed and recorded songs for the Hillsong London Church. In 2004, her recordings appeared on the live album Shout Gods Fame. Bedingfield was spotted in London by Nathan Winkler and Michael Tafaro, song writing and they went on to record an albums worth of material over the course of the following 2 years. As Daniel Bedingfields career took off doors started opening for Natasha, Lisberg was initially hesitant, later telling HitQuarters, were good but werent right for us. However, it was when, at a meeting together, Lisberg heard her singing ability, label interest was later confirmed when a trial studio session together with writers Steve Kipner and Andrew Frampton produced songs that were in keeping with Lisbergs vision for Phonogenic. Bedingfield signed a contract with BMG UK & Ireland, through its imprint Phonogenic Records. The album contained uptempo pop songs and influences from R&B music. Bedingfields lyrics focused on independence, opportunism and female empowerment, reviews of the album were generally positive and it was described as a well-made pop album for the new millennium by Allmusic. The album debuted on the UK Albums Chart at number one, the songs lyrics and accompanying music video depict Bedingfields single lifestyle. These Words was released as the second single
16.
Ne-Yo
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Shaffer Chimere Smith, better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actor. Ne-Yo gained fame for his abilities when he penned his 2004 hit Let Me Love You for singer Mario. The singles successful release in the United States prompted a meeting between Ne-Yo and Def Jams label head, and the signing of a recording contract. Ne-Yos debut album was In My Own Words, released in 2006, the album was critically successful, reaching number one on the Billboard 200. It is certified platinum in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Ne-Yos first single Stay, was released in September 2005. The song was a success on the R&B charts, but failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and his second single, So Sick was first released in November 2005. In the US, it was a success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. When Youre Mad and Sexy Love were released afterwards from the album in 2006, reaching number 15 and number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. In April 2007, Ne-Yo released his studio album, Because of You. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 2008 Grammy Awards, Ne-Yos third studio album, Year of the Gentleman, was released internationally in August 2008. Year of the Gentleman has been certified platinum twice in the US, the third single, Mad, peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. Ne-Yos fourth studio album, Libra Scale was released in November 2010, though Libra Scale reached number one in the UK R&B Singles and Albums Charts, number 9 on the US Billboard 200, it sold less than the previous albums. Three single were released from the album, UK number-one hit Beautiful Monster, as well the R&B singles Champagne Life, Ne-Yo released his fifth album, R. E. D. in November 2012. His mainstream lead single Let Me Love You, released in July 2012, was certified platinum in US, Ne-Yo released his sixth album Non-Fiction in January 2015. On July 12,2016, Ne-Yo was a guest judge on NBCs Americas Got Talent judge cuts, Shaffer Smith was born in Camden, Arkansas. His father is of African American and Chinese descent, and his mother is African-American, as a young child, he was raised by his mother after she separated from his father. In hopes of better opportunity, his mother relocated the family to Las Vegas, Nevada. While in the Las Vegas Academy, Smith adopted the stage name GoGo and joined an R&B group called Envy, the group disbanded in 2000, and Smith continued to write songs for other artists before starting his solo career
17.
Boyz II Men
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Boyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group, best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. Formerly a quartet including bass Michael McCary, they are currently a trio composed of baritone Nathan Morris alongside tenors Wanya Morris, during the 1990s, Boyz II Men found fame on Motown Records as a quartet. McCary left the group in 2003 due to issues and contractual agreements. During the 1990s, Boyz II Men gained international success and this began with the release of the number one single End of the Road in 1992, which reached the top of charts worldwide. End of the Road would set a new record for longevity, staying at one on the Billboard Hot 100 for thirteen weeks. Ill Make Love to You also topped the charts in Australia, as of 2016, One Sweet Day still holds the all-time record with sixteen weeks at the top of the Hot 100. Consequently, Boyz II Men are top ranking members with regard to time spent at one in Billboard history. Furthermore, when On Bended Knee took the one spot away from Ill Make Love to You. These achievements were enough to earn Boyz II Men recognition as Billboard magazines fourth most successful group of the 1990s. Boyz II Men continue to perform worldwide, as a trio and their most recent studio album, Collide, was released in 2014. In 1987, Wanya Morris, who sang in the choir along with the members of Unique Attraction, joined the group. In 1988 Baldi, Shoats, and Walker all left the group due to graduation and they then recruited Shawn Stockman after seeing him perform a solo in the schools choir. Now with a permanent lineup of members the group would rehearse in the schools bathrooms, due to the excellent acoustics. They found inspiration in New Editions harmonies and routines, and eventually renamed the group Boyz II Men, after one of New Editions songs, Boys to Men, from their 1988 album Heart Break. After they sang New Editions Can You Stand The Rain for him, Bivins and he gave the group his number and told them to give him a call. Nate eventually called Bivins, and he agreed to manage and helped produce the group and this song, released as a single on June 30,1992, would become Boyz II Mens biggest hit. It reached the one position on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 22, remaining there for a record-setting 13 weeks. The success of End of the Road instantly transformed Boyz II Men from up-and-coming R&B stars into mainstream music celebrities
18.
98 Degrees
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98 Degrees is an American pop and R&B boy band consisting of four vocalists, brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre, and Jeff Timmons. The group was formed by Timmons in Los Angeles, California, unlike most boy bands, they formed independently and were later picked up by a record label, rather than being assembled by a label or a producer. They have sold over 10 million records worldwide and achieved eight top 40 singles in the U. S, the group reunited for a one-time performance at Mixtape Festival in Hershey, PA in August 2012. After the performance, the reunion expanded into a new album, the founding members of 98 Degrees met after Canton, Ohio native Jeff Timmons decided to quit university and pursue a music career with best friend Jeremy Volk. He studied psychology at Kent State University in his state of Ohio. In 1995 he sang at a party with three friends, and received a positive reaction from the female audience about his voice. The following day he left college and headed out to Los Angeles and it was a pretty hasty decision, looking back, but I was young and dumb. Sometimes ignorance is bliss, he said in 2004 and he met a former student of the School for Creative and Performing Arts who passed his name on to another graduate, Nick Lachey, who was attending Miami University to study sports medicine. Lachey flew to Los Angeles and after hitting it off, decided to form a boyband, Lachey suggested inviting one of his friends, Justin Jeffre, to join them. The final member to join the band was Lacheys younger brother, Drew, after rejecting a series of names, the group decided on 98 Degrees describing body temperature and their music. The new group made the rounds of auditions in Los Angeles. They were discovered by music manager Paris DJon, who at the time was co-managing Montell Jordan, from the start, they emphasized that they wrote much of their own material, which reflected R&B influences more than mainstream pop roots. There are major differences musically between groups, not to mention the fact that we were signed to Motown, which gives us a little more credibility as far as R&B and soul music goes. After sneaking backstage to a Metallica concert, a radio station covering the concert asked them to sing live on the air. With their debut single, Invisible Man which peaked at No.12 on the Billboard Hot 100, the group also toured extensively, including concert dates in Asia. They also opened for several dates of Janet Jacksons Velvet Rope Tour, after building popularity with their appearance in the movie Mulan, and singing True to Your Heart, their album 98 Degrees and Rising went 4× platinum in 1998. Production credit included Atlanta-based producer and Babyface co-writing partner Daryl Simmons, musician credits on the breakthrough album featured Atlanta-based session musician and former Earth, Wind & Fire guitarist Dick Smith. After the first album,98 Degrees left Motown for its parent company, the bands first major hit was Because of You and went platinum
19.
Nelly
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Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr. known professionally as Nelly, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, investor, and occasional actor from St. Louis, Missouri. Nelly embarked on his career with Midwest hip hop group St. Lunatics, in 1993. Under Universal, Nelly began his career in the year 2000, with his debut album Country Grammar. The album debuted at three on the Billboard 200 and went on to peak at number one. Country Grammar is Nellys best-selling album to date, selling over 8.4 million copies in the United States and his following album Nellyville, produced the number-one hits Hot in Herre and Dilemma. Other singles included Work It, Air Force Ones, Pimp Juice, with the same-day dual release of Sweat, Suit and the compilation Sweatsuit, Nelly continued to generate many chart-topping hits. Sweat debuted at two on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 342,000 copies in its first week. On the same week of release, Suit debuted at number one, Nellys fifth studio album, Brass Knuckles, was released on September 16,2008, after several delays. It produced the singles Party People, Stepped on My Jz, in 2010, Nelly released the album 5.0. The lead single, Just a Dream, was certified platinum in the United States. It also included the singles Move That Body and Gone, Nelly won Grammy Awards in 2003 and 2004 and had a supporting role in the 2005 remake film The Longest Yard with Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. He has two clothing lines, Vokal and Apple Bottoms, on December 11,2009, Billboard ranked Nelly the number three Top Artist of the Decade. Nelly was born in Austin, Texas, where his father was serving in the military, when he was seven, his parents divorced. Nelly moved with his mother from St. Louis to University City, while still in high school, Nelly formed the St. Lunatics, a hip hop group who enjoyed local popularity with their single Gimme What Ya Got. Nelly decided to go solo, after a record deal failed to appear. He was signed to Universal Music Group by A&R Kevin Law, Nelly was unusual for being a rapper from the Midwest at a time when the hip-hop scenes were centered around the East Coast, West Coast and the South. The label used this to their advantage by branding Nelly as a star of the Midwest, hoping to inspire pride in the people of St Louis, Nelly was signed with St. Lunatics. Kevin Law and Country from FoReel Entertainment decided to do a record with Nelly first
20.
TLC (group)
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TLC is an American girl group whose original line-up consisted of Tionne T-Boz Watkins, Lisa Left Eye Lopes and Rozonda Chilli Thomas. Formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1991, the group was successful during the 1990s and early 2000s in spite of numerous spats with the law, each other. They scored nine hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including four number-one singles Creep, Waterfalls, No Scrubs. TLC also became the first R&B group in history to receive Million certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan for FanMail, having sold over 65 million records worldwide, TLC is the best-selling American girl group and second worldwide to the English group Spice Girls. VH1 ranked TLC as the greatest female group, placing them at number 12 on the list of 100 Greatest Women in Music, Billboard magazine ranked TLC as one of the greatest musical trios, as well as the seventh most successful act of the 1990s. The groups accolades include five career Grammy Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards, twenty years after their debut, TLC was honored with Outstanding Contribution to Music at the 17th MOBO Awards and Legend Award at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards Japan. All three members of TLC are considered irreplaceable by the members, and each of them have contributed equally to the group. Following Lopes death in 2002, instead of replacing her, the members chose to carry on as a duo. In 2017, they are set to release their album as TLC. Jones put out a call for two girls to join her in this trio. Calling the group 2nd Nature, Jones, Watkins, and Lopes began working with producers Jermaine Dupri, impressed by the girls, Reid renamed the group TLC-Skee, with TLC being an Initialism for the names Tionne, Lisa, and Crystal. Reid arranged an audition for them with local record label LaFace Records, run by Kenneth Babyface Edmonds and Reids then-husband, Antonio Reid saw potential in Watkins and Lopes as performers, but felt that Jones should be replaced. According to Jones, things began to unravel for her after Pebbles denied the group the opportunity to take home the contracts that Pebbitone had drafted, Jones did not want to sign before having the contract reviewed by others and perhaps a lawyer. In contrast, Watkins recollection of Jones departure is that both she and Lopes asked Jones to leave the group before their contracts were negotiated. On February 28,1991, Watkins and Lopes signed production, management, as they looked for a replacement for Jones, the two-member TLC-Skee made its first recorded appearance on a track for LaFace act Damian Dames self-titled 1991 LP. Pebbles found the third member in Rozonda Thomas, one of Damian Dames part-time backup dancers, Thomas was signed to the act in April 1991, at about which time the groups name was shortened to TLC. To maintain TLCs name as an acronym for the names, Watkins became T-Boz, Lopes became Left-Eye. The girls were signed to LaFace in May through the production deal with Pebbitone
21.
Nick & Knight
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Nick & Knight is an eponymous collaborative album by American singer-songwriters Nick Carter and Jordan Knight, under the collective stage name of Nick & Knight. The album was released on September 2,2014, a promotional song, Just The Two of Us, is available for download with a pre-order of the album. The albums lead single, One More Time, was released alongside a video on July 15,2014. In 2011 and 2012 Nick Carter and Jordan Knight performed with their bands, Backstreet Boys. During the tour the idea of a collaboration between the two came up. Carter said how they explored the idea and eventually it turned into an entire album, jennifer Gerson of The Guardian said of the album, Boybands just wont die. Backstreet Boys heartthrob Nick Carter and former New Kids on the Block sensation Jordan Knight have joined forces to create cross-generational behemoth Nick & Knight. Nick & Knight, singing together was so surprising refreshing creating a exuberant pulsing atmosphere that could still be felt in the air long after the shows end, in an interview with Good Morning America, the duo describe their sound as pop, rock, R&B, urban. All mixed together to create Nick & Knight, One More Time was released as the albums lead single on July 15,2014. Notes ^ signifies a vocal producer The album was released exclusively in the U. S. in Canada, it debuted at No.14 on the Canadian Albums Chart. The Nick & Knight Tour is a tour by American recording artists Nick Carter. The tour supports their collaborative album, Nick & Knight. The trek began September 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee and will play over 30 shows in the United States, according to Knight, the two spoke of a possible collaboration during their time with supergroup NKOTBSB. Initially, the two were planning to conduct a tour, promoting previous and forthcoming solo projects. After the 2011-12 tour, they decided to collaborate on a single, in April 2014, the duo made an appearance on the American morning show, Good Morning America. During the appearance, they announced their single, album and tour, the show has been described as a big party. Despite being performed in nightclubs and theatres, each show will possess the energy of an arena gig, the two will perform songs from their new album, alongside their solo hits. A homage to boy bands will be performed, as well as a tribute to music that has inspired both Carter and Knight, mix Master Wood This setlist was obtained from the September 24,2014 concert in Minneapolis, at Mill City Nights
22.
Paula Abdul
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Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, voice actress, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality. She began her career as a cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers at the age of 18 before rising to prominence in the 1980s as a highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the video era. Abdul later scored a string of pop hits in the late 1980s. Her six number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 tie her with Diana Ross for seventh among the female performers who have topped the chart. She won a Grammy for Best Music Video – Short Form for Opposites Attract, after her initial period of success, Abdul suffered a series of setbacks in her professional and personal life. She saw renewed fame and success as a judge on American Idol in the 2000s. Abdul was born in San Fernando, California, to Jewish parents, Abduls father, Harry Abdul, was born into the Syrian-Jewish community in Aleppo, Syria, was raised in Brazil, and subsequently emigrated to the United States. Her mother, the concert pianist Lorraine M. Rykiss, grew up in one of the two Jewish families in Minnedosa, Manitoba, and has Ashkenazi Jewish ancestors from Ukraine, Abdul holds dual citizenship in the United States and Canada. She has a sister named Wendy, in 1980, she graduated from Van Nuys High School. An avid dancer, Abdul was inspired towards a business career by Gene Kelly in the classic film Singin in the Rain. Abdul began taking lessons at an early age in ballet, jazz. She attended Van Nuys High School, where she was a cheerleader, at 15, she received a scholarship to a dance camp near Palm Springs, and in 1978 appeared in a low-budget Independent musical film, Junior High School. Abdul studied broadcasting at the California State University, Northridge, during her freshman year, she was selected from a pool of 700 candidates for the cheerleading squad of the Los Angeles Lakers NBA basketball team—the famed Laker Girls. Within a year, she became head choreographer, Abdul was discovered by The Jacksons, after a few of the band members had watched her while attending a Los Angeles Lakers game. She was signed to do the choreography for the video to their single Torture and my only problem was how to tell the Jacksons how to dance, Abdul later recalled. Imagine me telling them what routines to do, I was young, I was scared. Im not quite sure how I got through that, the success of the choreography in the video led to Abduls career of choreographer in music videos. It was also due to the success of the video that Abdul was chosen to be the choreographer for the Jacksons Victory tour, Abdul choreographed videos for several singers throughout the 1980s, including many videos for Janet Jackson during her Control era
23.
Jonathan Knight
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Jonathan Rashleigh Knight is an American singer. He is part of the boy band New Kids on the Block and it also includes Donnie Wahlberg, Joey McIntyre, Danny Wood and his younger brother, Jordan. He is the oldest member of the band and the first to leave it in 1994 prior to their official split, Jonathan Rashleigh Knight was born in Dorcester, Massachusetts to parents Marlene Putnam and Allan Knight. He is the fifth of six children, Allison, Sharon, David, Christopher and his parents are both Episcopal priests. From 1984 until 1994, Knight was a member of the award-winning American boy band New Kids on the Block and they went on to sell over 80 million records worldwide before splitting in 1994 after he left during the tour for their 1994 album Face the Music. They originally tried to continue the tour claiming he had badly hurt by a horse. His early departure led to reports that members were frustrated with the way he did so. In the spring of 2008, Knight returned to show business and they released their seventh album, The Block, on September 2,2008. To confirm their reunion and announce the new album, they performed together on May 16,2008 for the first time in fifteen years on the Today show. A world tour was scheduled to follow the new release and began in Toronto on September 18,2008, the first single from it, Summertime, performed well worldwide peaking as #9 in Canada and breaking the top 30 in the U. S. charts. They released Single, their single from The Block in August 2008. Knight is the brother of Jordan. In the years after the group first disbanded, Knight worked as a real estate investor living in Essex, Massachusetts, no longer in the spotlight, in 2000, he revealed that he has suffered from generalized anxiety disorder since his early career with New Kids on the Block. He has since sought medical help and his health had improved, in 2011, he appeared on MTV reality series True Life to help a fan suffering from panic disorder. In the early 1990s, Knight was linked to teen pop singer Tiffany, in 2009, the National Enquirer published an article from his ex-boyfriend which outed him as gay. In a January 2011 interview, Tiffany stated that he is gay, in a statement on the New Kids on the Block blog, he added Apparently the prerequisite to being a gay public figure is to appear on the cover of a magazine with the caption I am gay. I apologize for not doing so if this is what was expected, Knight has been in a relationship with Harley Rodriguez as of 2008. The two participated in the 26th season of the reality competition series The Amazing Race, which aired on CBS in early 2015, the two became engaged when Knight proposed on November 15,2016 while they vacationed in Africa
24.
Jordan Knight
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Jordan Nathaniel Marcel Knight is an American singer-songwriter and actor, best known as the lead singer of the boy band New Kids on the Block, who rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s. He is best known for his falsetto style of singing. After New Kids on the Block split in 1994, he launched a solo career, jordans first solo album, released in 1999, and his latest solo album, released in 2011, reached the Top 50 on the US Billboard 200. As of 2011, he released four Top 40 singles, the most well known being Give It to You in 1999, Knight has released three solo albums, one remix album and one EP. On May 31,2011, Knight released the studio album, Knight has sold over 1.5 million records worldwide as a solo artist. In 2015, Boston City Council declared February 7 Jordan Knight Day, Jordan Nathaniel Marcel Knight was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, but holds American & Canadian citizenship. He is the youngest of 6 children, Allison, Sharon, David, Christopher, both his parents are Episcopal priests. He was close to 14 in 1984 when he joined New Kids on the Block and his fellow members included his brother, Jonathan Knight, as well as Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood. Over the next few years he began teaching piano and keyboard instruments. Starr, who wrote much of the New Kids material, was reluctant to add his work to the bands repertoire. New Kids on the Block have sold over 80 million records worldwide, generated hundreds of million of dollars in concert revenues, New Kids on the Block disbanded in 1994, but reunited in 2008. Knight made a comeback in 1999 by releasing his first solo single, the single reached #10 on Billboard Hot 100, went gold, and was nominated for the 1999 MTV Video Music Award for Best Dance Video, though it lost to Ricky Martins Livin La Vida Loca. He was also nominated for Favorite Male Singer at the 2000 Kids Choice Awards, the single also peaked at #35 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. The album Jordan Knight won an Aspire Music Award for Best Male Album, jordans self-titled debut album was then certified gold for sales of over 500,000 copies in the US on July 7,1999. The album peaked at #29 on the Billboard 200 and #9 on the Top Internet Albums chart, in 2008 the New Kids on the Block reunited and released 2 top 40 hits and went on a successful tour. As of fall 2010, they have teamed up with the Backstreet Boys, creating the biggest boy band in history, NKOTBSB, Knight released a remix album, Jordan Knight Performs New Kids on the Block, in 2004. In 2005, Knight released an EP entitled The Fix supported by the lead single Where is Your Heart Tonight and he continued to tour extensively in 2005–2006 promoting the EP. In September 2006, Knights next album, Love Songs, was released by Transcontinental Records, the first single was Say Goodbye, a duet with Deborah Gibson, that peaked at #24 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart
25.
Joey McIntyre
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Joseph Mulrey Joey McIntyre is an American singer-songwriter and actor. He is best known as the youngest member of the boy band New Kids on the Block and he has sold over 1 million records worldwide as a solo artist. McIntyre was born in Needham, Massachusetts and his parents were Thomas McIntyre, a union official, and his wife Katherine a community theater actress. His mother died on November 30,2014, after a battle with Alzheimers. He is the youngest of nine children with siblings, Judy, Alice, Susan, Tricia, Carol, Jean, Kate. McIntyre graduated from Catholic Memorial School in West Roxbury, Massachusetts and he shares the same birth date as his sister, Carol. Another sister, Judy, is an actress, just before his 13th birthday, he joined New Kids on the Block, replacing Mark Wahlberg. Since the other four members of the band were already long-time school friends and they became one of the most successful boy bands of the late 20th century, producing two number one albums on the US Billboard charts. In 1991, Forbes listed the band as the entertainers, beating Madonna. Following their split, McIntyre busied himself with songwriting and sought a recording contract. He made his debut in the film The Fantasticks, which was based on the long-running off-Broadway musical. This 1995 film, starring Joel Grey and Jean Louisa Kelly, was released in five years later. Disenchanted by his inability to find a contract, McIntyre used his own money to record his first solo album Stay the Same. He then chose the title track as a single and took it to local Boston DJs. The album was re-released on Sonys Work Records and sold more than a million copies around the world, the second single from the album was I Love You Came Too Late. Also in 1999, McIntyre recorded the song Remember Me for the film Southie, in 2001, McIntyre released his second solo album, Meet Joe Mac, but it did not chart. Rain was the single released from this album. In 2004, McIntyre released his solo album,8,09, followed by Talk To Me
26.
Donnie Wahlberg
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Donald Edmond Donnie Wahlberg Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and film producer. He is a member of the boy band New Kids on the Block. From 2002 to 2003, he starred in the crime drama Boomtown and he has been starring in the drama series Blue Bloods with Tom Selleck and Bridget Moynahan since 2010, and since 2014 is an executive producer of the TNT reality television show Bostons Finest. He was nominated for Choice Scream at the 2008 Teen Choice Awards for his work in the Saw films, Wahlberg was born in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston. He also has three half-siblings from his fathers first marriage, Donna, Scott, and Buddy. His mother, Alma Elaine, was a clerk and nurses aide. His father was of Swedish and Irish descent, and his mother is of Irish, English, maternally, he is distantly related to author Nathaniel Hawthorne. As a recording artist, Wahlberg is known as a member of the boy band New Kids on the Block. Wahlbergs first film acting role was in the 1996 film Bullet with Mickey Rourke, also in 1996, he appeared as a kidnapper in Ransom with Mel Gibson. He went back to his town for a starring role in the South Boston-based film Southie. Wahlberg received attention for his role in the 1999 film The Sixth Sense, in 2001, Wahlberg co-starred as Second Lieutenant C. Carwood Lipton in the television miniseries Band of Brothers and he also starred in the 2002–2003 NBC drama series Boomtown as Joel Stevens, a Los Angeles police detective. Graham Yost, executive producer and writer of Boomtown, had worked with him in Band of Brothers and was so impressed by his performance that he wrote the role of Joel Stevens specifically for him. In 2005, he starred as Detective Eric Matthews in the installment of the Saw series. He reprised the role in Saw III in 2006 and Saw IV in 2007, in 2006, Wahlberg also played Lieutenant Commander Burton in the military/boxing drama Annapolis. In September 2006, he played the role in the short-lived television drama Runaway on The CW. The show was cancelled in October 2006 due to poor ratings, in 2007, he starred in the television film Kings of South Beach on A&E. Also in 2007, he starred on the TV series The Kill Point, in 2008, Wahlberg appeared in Righteous Kill
27.
Mark Wahlberg
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Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg is an American actor, producer, businessman, former model, and rapper. Mark was known as Marky Mark in his career as frontman for the group Marky Mark. Wahlberg later transitioned to acting, appearing in such as the drama Boogie Nights. Wahlberg has also served as producer of four HBO series, the comedy-drama Entourage, the period crime drama Boardwalk Empire. He is co-owner of the Wahlburgers chain and co-stars in the reality TV series about it, Wahlberg received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on July 29,2010. He is known for his tough guy persona, frequently portraying police officers, military personnel. He is also known for his collaborations with directors David O. Russell, Michael Bay, Wahlberg was born in Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, the youngest of nine children, including actor Robert and actor-singer Donnie. His mother, Alma Elaine, was a clerk and a nurses aide. His parents divorced in 1982, and afterwards, he divided his time between them and his father was of Swedish and Irish descent, and his mother is of Irish, English, and French-Canadian ancestry. Maternally, Wahlberg is distantly related to author Nathaniel Hawthorne, Wahlberg had a Roman Catholic upbringing and attended Copley Square High School on Newbury Street in Boston. He never graduated, and so did not receive his high school diploma until June 2013, by age 13, Wahlberg had developed an addiction to cocaine and other substances. At 15, civil action was filed against him for his involvement in two incidents of harassing African-American children, by throwing rocks and shouting racial epithets. At 16, Wahlberg approached a middle-aged Vietnamese man named Thanh Lam on the street and that same day, Wahlberg also attacked a second Vietnamese man named Hoa Johnny Trinh, punching him in the face. He believed he had left his victim permanently blind in one eye, investigators also noted that he made numerous unsolicited racial statements about gooks and slant-eyed gooks. For these crimes, Wahlberg was charged with attempted murder, pleaded guilty to assault and he ultimately served only 45 days of his sentence, but carries a permanent felony record. In another incident, then 21-year-old Wahlberg fractured the jaw of a neighbor in an unprovoked attack, commenting in 2006 on his past crimes, Wahlberg stated, I did a lot of things that I regret, and I have certainly paid for my mistakes. So I dont have a problem going to sleep at night, I feel good when I wake up in the morning. In 2016, Mark said hed met Trinh and apologized for his horrific acts, after prison, he decided to improve his behavior
28.
Boy band
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Being vocal groups, most boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions or on stage, making the term something of a misnomer. Many boy bands dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances, some such bands form on their own. They can evolve out of church choral or gospel music groups, due to this and their general commercial orientation towards a female audience of preteens, teenyboppers, or teens, the term may be used with negative connotations in music journalism. Boy bands are similar in concept to their counterparts, girl groups, the earliest forerunner of boy band music began in the late 19th century as a cappella barbershop quartets. They were usually a group of males and sang in four part harmonies, the popularity of barbershop quartets had been prominent into the earlier part of the 20th century. A revival of the vocal group took place in the late 1940s and 1950s with the use of doo-wop music. Doo-wop bands sang about topics such as love and other used in pop music. The earliest traces of boy bands were in the mid-1950s although the boy band was not used. African American vocal group The Ink Spots was one of the first of what would now be called boy bands, the term boy band was not established until the late 1980s as before that they were called male vocal groups or hep harmony singing groups. For instance, their music featured close harmonies from soul music and catchy pop hooks influenced as much as they were by Motown and acts like the Supremes. All members of the band sang, which is a convention of a boy band, as opposed to having a front man. Even so, the members conveniently fitted into the convention of having stereotypical personality types, the Beatles were a direct influence on the conception of the Monkees, as they used rock band instrumentation and played more rock oriented music. With music produced by Don Kirshner, The Monkees became eventually dissatisfied with Kirshners control over them and they became independent two years later, working on their own up to 1970, when the group first dissolved. Other antecedents exist throughout the history of pop music, the genre has been copied into languages and cultures other than the Anglo-American. The Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, appealing to young Latina audiences, was founded in 1977, Menudo had a convention unique among boy bands, when a member turned 16, became too tall, or their voice changed, they were replaced. The members of Menudo were generally aged 12–17, the Bay City Rollers were a Scottish pop band who were most popular in the mid-1970s. For a relatively brief but fervent period, they were worldwide teen idols, the group were one of the first bands like The Monkees before them to take the formula shown by The Beatles and apply it to a teen market. The group achieved the same amount of success but for a period of time
29.
The Block (album)
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The Block is the fifth studio album by New Kids on the Block. The album was released on September 2,2008, along with an edition that included four bonus tracks. It sold 100,000 copies in its first week of release, top Pop Albums chart and at number two on the Billboard 200. Several artists collaborated on the album, such as Ne-Yo, Lady Gaga, The Pussycat Dolls, Akon, Teddy Riley, the first official single from the album is Summertime and the song was released on May 13,2008. The second official single titled Single featuring Ne-Yo was released on August 12,2008, the third single Dirty Dancing was released on December 19. The albums fourth single,2 in the Morning, was officially released February 23,2009 in the United States and it is the groups first studio album in fourteen years since Face the Music. The Block was released on September 2,2008 and debuted at one on the Billboard Pop Album Chart. As of April 2013, the album had sold 332,000 copies in the United States, on the Canadian Albums Chart, the album debuted at number one, becoming their first and only number-one album there. It sold 9,000 copies in its first week, the Block has been certified gold in Canada. Grown Man contains elements of the Aretha Franklin recording Chain of Fools and it also contains elements of What Is Success written and performed by Allen Toussaint. Lights, Camera, Action was re-recorded with the Pussycat Dolls performing the vocals and is included on the deluxe edition of their Doll Domination album. Lights, Camera, Action was also re-recorded for Lloyds mixtape Lessons In Love 2.0, the demo for Single appears as the third track on Ne-Yos album Year of the Gentleman Click Click Click was originally a song written, produced, and recorded by Nasri. The Block at Metacritic Review of The Block at Sputnikmusic
30.
Rolling Stone
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Rolling Stone is an American biweekly magazine that focuses on popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner, who is still the publisher. It was first known for its coverage and for political reporting by Hunter S. Thompson. In the 1990s, the magazine shifted focus to a readership interested in youth-oriented television shows, film actors. In recent years, it has resumed its traditional mix of content, Rolling Stone magazine was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and Ralph Gleason. To get it off the ground, Wenner borrowed $7,500 from his own family and from the parents of his soon-to-be wife, Jane Schindelheim. The first issue carried a date of November 9,1967. Some authors have attributed the name solely to Dylans hit single, At Gleasons suggestion, Rolling Stone initially identified with and reported the hippie counterculture of the era. In the very first edition, Wenner wrote that Rolling Stone is not just about the music, in the 1970s, Rolling Stone began to make a mark with its political coverage, with the likes of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson writing for the magazines political section. Thompson first published his most famous work Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas within the pages of Rolling Stone, where he remained a contributing editor until his death in 2005. In the 1970s, the magazine also helped launch the careers of prominent authors, including Cameron Crowe, Lester Bangs, Joe Klein, Joe Eszterhas, Patti Smith. It was at point that the magazine ran some of its most famous stories. One interviewer, speaking for a number of his peers, said that he bought his first copy of the magazine upon initial arrival on his college campus. In 1977, the magazine moved its headquarters from San Francisco to New York City, editor Jann Wenner said San Francisco had become a cultural backwater. During the 1980s, the magazine began to shift towards being an entertainment magazine. Music was still a dominant topic, but there was increasing coverage of celebrities in television, films, the magazine also initiated its annual Hot Issue during this time. Rolling Stone was initially known for its coverage and for Thompsons political reporting. In the 1990s, the changed its format to appeal to a younger readership interested in youth-oriented television shows, film actors
31.
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve
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Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve is an annual New Years Eve television special broadcast by ABC. In 1974-75, the moved to its current home of ABC. Dick Clark hosted New Years Rockin Eve annually from 1973 through 2004, the complications of a stroke suffered by Clark in December 2004 had a major effect on his role in the special. The death of Dick Clark on April 18,2012 left Ryan Seacrest as the sole host of New Years Rockin Eve beginning with its 2012–13 edition. Seacrest has most recently joined by Jenny McCarthy as a correspondent from Times Square. Through its deal with Dick Clark Productions, New Years Rockin Eve will remain on ABC through at least 2024, since the 2005–06 edition, New Years Rockin Eve has also featured live performances from a stage in Times Square. On the 2014-15 edition, the specials were dropped, leaving the Primetime portion occupying the entire ABC primetime lineup. Following late local programming, the main New Years Rockin Eve broadcast begins at 11,30 p. m. ET/PT, after the conclusion of festivities from Times Square, the special historically continued into Part 2, which consisted of further pre-recorded concert segments. Part 2 ran into the early morning hours—as late as 3,00 a. m, for the 2016-17 edition, New Years Rockin Eve provided its first ever live broadcast of midnight festivities for the Central Time Zone, from New Orleans. Since 2005, Ryan Seacrest has hosted the show outside in Times Square. Guy Lombardo hosted 48 straight New Years Eve broadcasts on CBS until his death in 1977, beginning on radio in 1928, and on CBS Television from 1956 to 1976. Lombardo was also known for his bands performance of the song Auld Lang Syne at midnight. At the time, Dick Clark was well-known to viewers as the host of American Bandstand, in response, he decided to produce a more youthful New Years Eve special of his own to compete. Clarks new program would be known as New Years Rockin Eve, the first edition, Three Dog Nights New Years Rockin Eve 1973, was aired by NBC on December 31,1972 and was hosted by the members of the rock band Three Dog Night. The special featured pre-recorded musical performances from the ballroom of the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California by Blood, Sweat & Tears, Helen Reddy, Al Green, Clark served as a reporter from Times Square for live coverage of the ball drop and arrival of 1973. Beginning with the 1975 edition, the moved to ABC. After Guy Lombardos death in 1977, CBS and the Royal Canadians attempted to continue their New Years Eve broadcasts from the Waldorf-Astoria for 1977–78. However, the effects of Lombardos absence led to a decline in viewership, the threat of the new special also prompted CBS to drop the Royal Canadians entirely in 1979 in favor of a new special, Happy New Year, America, which premiered for New Years Eve 1979–80
32.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
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The Walk of Fame is administered by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and maintained by the self-financing Hollywood Historic Trust. It is a popular tourist destination, with a reported 10 million visitors in 2003, as of 2017, the Walk of Fame comprises over 2,600 stars, spaced at 6-foot intervals. The monuments are coral-pink terrazzo five-point stars rimmed with brass inlaid into a charcoal-colored terrazzo background, in the upper portion of each star field the name of the honoree is inlaid in brass block letters. Below the inscription, in the half of the star field. Approximately 20 new stars are added to the Walk each year, special category stars recognize various contributions by corporate entities, service organizations, and special honorees, and display emblems unique to those honorees. The moons are silver and grey terrazzo circles rimmed in brass on a square pink terrazzo background, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce credits E. M. Stuart, its volunteer president in 1953, with the original idea for creating a Walk of Fame. Stuart reportedly proposed the Walk as a means to maintain the glory of a community whose name means glamor, Harry Sugarman, another Chamber member and president of the Hollywood Improvement Association, receives credit in an independent account. A committee was formed to flesh out the idea, and a firm was retained to develop specific proposals. By 1955 the basic concept and general design had been agreed upon, multiple accounts exist for the origin of the star concept. By another account, the stars were inspired, by Sugarmans drinks menu, which featured celebrity photos framed in gold stars. In February 1956 a prototype was unveiled featuring a caricature of an example honoree inside a star on a brown background. The committees met at the Brown Derby restaurant, and included such prominent names as Cecil B, deMille, Samuel Goldwyn, Jesse L. Lasky, Walt Disney, Hal Roach, Mack Sennett, and Walter Lantz. A requirement stipulated by the audio recording committee specified minimum sales of one million records or 250,000 albums for all music category nominees. The committee soon realized that many important recording artists would be excluded from the Walk by that requirement, as a result, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences was formed for the purpose of creating a separate award system for the music business. The first Grammy Awards were presented in Beverly Hills in 1959, construction of the Walk began in 1958 but two lawsuits delayed completion. The first was filed by local property owners challenging the legality of the $1.25 million tax assessment levied upon them to pay for the Walk, along with new street lighting, in October 1959 the assessment was ruled legal. The second lawsuit, filed by Charles Chaplin, Jr. sought damages for the exclusion of his father, chaplins suit was dismissed in 1960, paving the way for completion of the project. Woodwards name was one of eight drawn at random from the original 1,558, the other seven names were Olive Borden, Ronald Colman, Louise Fazenda, Preston Foster, Burt Lancaster, Edward Sedgwick, and Ernest Torrence
33.
R&B
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Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated as R&B or RnB, is a genre of popular African-American music that originated in the 1940s. In the commercial rhythm and blues music typical of the 1950s through the 1970s, R&B lyrical themes often encapsulate the African-American experience of pain and the quest for freedom and joy. Lyrics focus heavily on the themes of triumphs and failures in terms of relationships, freedom, economics, aspirations, the term rhythm and blues has undergone a number of shifts in meaning. In the early 1950s it was applied to blues records. This tangent of RnB is now known as British rhythm and blues, by the 1970s, the term rhythm and blues changed again and was used as a blanket term for soul and funk. In the 1980s, a style of R&B developed, becoming known as Contemporary R&B. It combines elements of rhythm and blues, soul, funk, pop, hip hop, popular R&B vocalists at the end of the 20th century included Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey. Although Jerry Wexler of Billboard magazine is credited with coining the term rhythm and blues as a term in the United States in 1948. It replaced the term race music, which came from within the black community. The term rhythm and blues was used by Billboard in its chart listings from June 1949 until August 1969, before the Rhythm and Blues name was instated, various record companies had already begun replacing the term race music with sepia series. In 2010 LaMont Robinson founded the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame Museum, writer and producer Robert Palmer defined rhythm & blues as a catchall term referring to any music that was made by and for black Americans. He has used the term R&B as a synonym for jump blues, however, AllMusic separates it from jump blues because of its stronger, gospel-esque backbeat. Lawrence Cohn, author of Nothing but the Blues, writes that rhythm, according to him, the term embraced all black music except classical music and religious music, unless a gospel song sold enough to break into the charts. Well into the 21st century, the term R&B continues in use to music made by black musicians. In the commercial rhythm and blues music typical of the 1950s through the 1970s, arrangements were rehearsed to the point of effortlessness and were sometimes accompanied by background vocalists. Simple repetitive parts mesh, creating momentum and rhythmic interplay producing mellow, lilting, while singers are emotionally engaged with the lyrics, often intensely so, they remain cool, relaxed, and in control. The bands dressed in suits, and even uniforms, an associated with the modern popular music that rhythm. Lyrics often seemed fatalistic, and the music typically followed predictable patterns of chords, there was also increasing emphasis on the electric guitar as a lead instrument, as well as the piano and saxophone
34.
Falsetto
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Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the edges of the vocal cords. Commonly cited in the context of singing, falsetto, a characteristic of phonation by all genders, is one of four main spoken vocal registers recognized by speech pathology. The term falsetto is most often used in the context of singing to refer to a type of vocal phonation that enables the singer to sing notes beyond the range of the normal or modal voice. The modal voice, or modal register, and falsetto register differ primarily in the action of the vocal cords, production of the normal voice involves vibration of the entire vocal cord, with the glottis opening first at the bottom and then at the top. Production of falsetto, on the hand, vibrates only the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds while leaving each folds body relatively relaxed. Transition from modal voice to falsetto occurs when each vocal cords main body, or vocalis muscle, relaxes, william Vennard describes this process as follows, With the vocalis muscles relaxed it is possible for the cricothyroids to place great longitudinal tension upon the vocal ligaments. The tension can be increased in order to raise the pitch even after the length of the cords has been reached. This makes the vocal folds thin so that there is negligible vertical phase difference, the vocalis muscles fall to the sides of the larynx and the vibration take place almost entirely in the ligaments. In the modal register, the folds are seen to contact with each other completely during each vibration. This closure cuts off the escaping air, when the air pressure in the trachea rises as a result of this closure, the folds are blown apart, while the vocal processes of the arytenoid cartilages remain in apposition. This creates a gap between the folds and some air escapes, lowering the pressure inside the trachea. Rhythmic repetition of this movement creates the note, in skilled countertenors, however, the mucous membrane of the vocal folds contact with each other completely during each vibration cycle. The arytenoid cartilages are held in firm apposition in this register also. The length or size of the oval orifice or separation between the folds can vary, but it is known to get bigger in size as the pressure of air pushed out is increased, the folds are made up of elastic and fatty tissue. The folds are covered on the surface by laryngeal mucous membrane which is supported deeper down underneath by the innermost fibres of the thyroarytenoid muscle. In falsetto the extreme membranous edges, i. e. the edges furthest away from the middle of the gap between the folds, appear to be the only parts vibrating, the mass corresponding to the innermost part of the thyro-arytenoid muscle remains still and motionless. Some singers feel a sense of relief when they change from the modal register to the falsetto register
35.
Michael Jackson
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Michael Joseph Jackson was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, actor, and philanthropist. Called the King of Pop, his contributions to music, dance, the eighth child of the Jackson family, Michael made his professional debut in 1964 with his elder brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon as a member of the Jackson 5. He began his career in 1971. In the early 1980s, Jackson became a dominant figure in popular music, the popularity of these videos helped bring the television channel MTV to fame. Jacksons 1987 album Bad spawned the U. S and he continued to innovate with videos such as Black or White and Scream throughout the 1990s, and forged a reputation as a touring solo artist. Through stage and video performances, Jackson popularized a number of complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and his distinctive sound and style has influenced numerous artists of various music genres. Thriller is the album of all time, with estimated sales of 65 million copies worldwide. Jacksons other albums, including Off the Wall, Bad, Dangerous and he is recognized as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time by Guinness World Records. Jackson won hundreds of awards, making him the most awarded recording artist in the history of popular music. He became the first artist in history to have a top ten single in the Billboard Hot 100 in five different decades when Love Never Felt So Good reached number nine on May 21,2014. Jackson traveled the world attending events honoring his humanitarianism, and, in 2000, aspects of Jacksons personal life, including his changing appearance, personal relationships, and behavior, generated controversy. In 1993, he was accused of sexual abuse, but the civil case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. In 2005, he was tried and acquitted of child sexual abuse allegations. While preparing for his concert series, This Is It, Jackson died of acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication on June 25,2009. The Los Angeles County Coroner ruled his death a homicide, and his personal physician, Jacksons death triggered a global outpouring of grief, and a live broadcast of his public memorial service was viewed around the world. Forbes ranks Jackson as the dead celebrity with earnings of $825 million in 2016. Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29,1958 and his mother, Katherine Esther Scruse, was a devout Jehovahs Witness. She played clarinet and piano and once aspired to be a country-and-western performer, michaels father, Joseph Walter Joe Jackson, a former boxer, was a steelworker at U. S. Steel
36.
New Kids on the Block (album)
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New Kids on the Block is the self-titled debut album from American pop boy band New Kids on the Block. Released in the spring of 1986, its very bubble-gum, pseudo early Osmonds/New Edition-esque stylings failed to garner any attention, the ploy worked, and albums sales spiked, causing it to be released outside the United States around the same time. Subsequently, the New Kids on the Block album would eventually be certified 3x Platinum by the RIAA, the name was changed to New Kids on the Block following the recording of the Donnie Wahlberg-written album track of the same name
37.
Bubblegum pop
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Bubblegums classic period ran from 1967 to 1972. A second wave of bubblegum started two years later and ran until 1977 when disco took over and punk rock emerged, the genre was predominantly a singles phenomenon rather than an album-oriented one. Because many acts were manufactured in the studio using session musicians, singer Tommy Roe, arguably, had the most bubblegum hits of any artist during this period, notably 1969s Dizzy. The songs typically have singalong choruses, seemingly childlike themes and a contrived innocence, bubblegum songs are also defined as having a catchy melody, simple chords, simple harmonies, dancy beats, repetitive riffs or hooks and a vocally-multiplied refrain. The song lyrics often feature themes of love and personal happiness, with references to sunshine, platonic love, toys, colors, nonsense words. They are also notable for their frequent reference to food, including sugar, honey, butterscotch, jelly. Cross-marketing with cereal and bubblegum manufacturers also strengthened the link between bubblegum songs and confectionery, cardboard records by The Archies, The Banana Splits, The Jackson 5, The Monkees, Bobby Sherman, Josie and the Pussycats, H. R. Producers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz have claimed credit for coining the term pop, saying that when they discussed their target audience, they decided it was teenagers. And at the time we used to be chewing bubblegum, and my partner and I used to look at it and laugh and say, Ah, the term was seized upon by Buddah Records label executive Neil Bogart. Music writer and bubblegum historian Bill Pitzonka confirmed the claim, telling Goldmine magazine, Kasenetz and Katz really crystallized it when they came up with the term themselves and that nice little analogy. And Neil Bogart, being the person he was, just crammed it down the throats of people. Thats really the point at which bubblegum took off, a breeding ground for the genre has also been found in the field of 1960s garage rock, the songs of which shared an overriding simplicity with bubblegum. Garage and bubblegum groups were also both generally singles acts, between those two camps emerged Florida group The Royal Guardsmen, who scored a US No.2 hit in 1966 with their novelty hit Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron, and The Fifth Estate, whose 1967 song Ding-Dong, the Witch Is Dead reached No.11 in the US. Although the band began as a prefabricated, fictional rock group concocted to sell records and TV advertising time, in May 1968, The Ohio Express also scored a No.4 hit with Yummy Yummy Yummy. The song was released as an Ohio Express single without Levines knowledge, two follow-ups, Down at Lulus and Chewy Chewy, also charted – both featuring vocals by Levine, and neither featuring any members of Ohio Express. The real Ohio Express toured, supporting The Who and Hermans Hermits, with bassist Dean Kastran performing the vocals for the hits, Kasenetz and Katz also scored on Bell Records in early 1969 with Gimme Gimme Good Lovin by another manufactured band, Crazy Elephant. The dominance of the Kasenetz–Katz team was challenged in 1969 by music publisher Don Kirshner and Hanky Pankys co-author, a battered and resentful Kirshner envisioned a manufactured group over which he could have permanent and total control, Filmations cartoon band The Archies, based on the Archie Comics characters
38.
Hangin' Tough
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Hangin Tough is the second album by American boy band New Kids on the Block, released on September 6,1988, by Columbia Records. Originally the groups label had planned to end their contract when their first album in 1986 garnered little commercial and critical attention which was nearly led to their failure. However, Maurice Starr, the producer, diligently persuaded the label to let them record for a second album. Hangin Tough led the group to success due to the emergence of their music to radio airplays and creation of videos for each released single. Their popularity was built as they made TV appearances and embarked on promotional tours. By the end of 1989, the album topped on the US Billboard 200 charts, the album also has a home-media video release entitled New Kids on the Block, Hangin Tough which is a documented musical film about the groups biographical career which it was released in 1989. It also contains a series of videos, live performances. The album and the film itself, both were receiving few accolades, two American Music Awards and at least one Grammy Award nomination. S, by the Recording Industry Association of America. The album spawned five singles, Please Dont Go Girl, You Got It, Ill Be Loving You, Hangin Tough. All were top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, five singles were released from Hangin Tough. The lead single Please Dont Go Girl was released in April 1988, the song became a major hit on radio stations nationwide and became their first top-ten single in Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number ten. The second single was You Got It, a hit which peaked at number three on the Billboard charts. Ill Be Loving You, a ballad, was the single released. The title track was released next and also reached number one, Cover Girl was the fifth released, it peaked at number two. My Favorite Girl was released in January 1990 as a promotional single sent to radio, the album received positive reviews from music critics. Tight, warm, even soulful harmony on the ballads, robert Christgau, gave a grade of C+ to the album. Really, why shouldnt a black svengali mastermind the safe white R&B ripoff for once, funkier than the Osmonds or Milli Vanilli. All songs were produced by Maurice Starr
39.
Associate producer
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Film producers fill a variety of roles depending upon the type of producer. During the discovery stage, the producer has to find and acknowledge promising material, then, unless the film is supposed to be based on an original script, the producer has to find an appropriate screenwriter. For various reasons, producers cannot always supervise all of the production, in this case, the main producer may appoint executive producers, line producers, or unit production managers who represent the main producers interests. The producer has the last word on whether sounds or music have to be changed and they are in charge of selling the film or arranging distribution rights as well. The producers role can vary significantly from project to project, based on the circumstances and they generally are in charge of things like hiring staff, creating filming schedules, checking and approving locations, and much more. Producers are present in every genre of television and film. Although each genre might be different from each other, a producers role and job is the same throughout each. A producer from a program can be compared to a producer of a filmmaker despite how different each genre can be. Although the primary role of the producer can be compared to that of a filmmaker, the roles are very wide ranging, due to the fact that this occupation has gone through an enormous amount of stages and phases as time went on. Today, in most cases the roles range from supervising the editing process to hiring the main staff. The producer has an amount of power in every single aspect of the production process. They are never left out and are involved in every single stage of the production. There are times when a producer can try and find promising material to either a feature film or a television program. If a producer decides to do this, it is usually done in the discovery stage, the discovery stage is when a producer is actively looking for a variety of ideas, concepts, and/or promising scripts that he/she could make into a show and/or film. In this stage, a power may even stretch to gathering workers for the selected project. Even though a producer today can have a range of roles within the field. Within the industry, there are different types of producers who are only designated to specific roles such as controlling the staff. For example, to oversee and manage all aspects of production the role may be filled by the line producer
40.
Please Don't Go Girl
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Please Dont Go Girl is a 1988 ballad single from New Kids on the Block. The lead vocals were sung by Joey McIntyre, Jordan Knight, written and produced by Maurice Starr, it was the first release from their second album Hangin Tough, and also became the groups first commercial hit. Please Dont Go Girl first rose from #62 to #46, on the U. S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart during the week of July 30,1988. The single was the first major exposure of the group, resulting in somewhat of a slow. The single eventually peaked at #10 the week of October 8,1988, in 1997, Aaron Carter covered this song and was featured on his international self-titled debut album. The first available music video was shot at Coney Island, Brooklyn, currently, the official website of the band promotes another video that seems to have been recorded around the same time the other video was. Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Official video
