The best of the music makers. From Acuff to Ellington to Presley to Sinatra to Zappa and 279 more of the most popular performers of the last fifty years
By George T. Simon and friends
Foreword by Dinah Shore
| Books | TheMusicSack | People |
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| 1979 |
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| The above item has biographical information on: |
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| Acuff, Roy (Claxton) (b. 1903 d. 1992) | composer, country music singer |
| Alpert, Herb (b. 1935) | trumpet, trumpeter |
| Andrews, Julie (b. 1935) | actress, bassoon |
| Anka, Paul (b. 1941) | composer, lyricist |
| Armstrong, Louis (b. 1900) | cast, composer |
| Arnold, Eddy (b. 1918) | country music singer, guitar |
| Astaire, Fred (b. 1899 d. 1987 a. 1929) | cast, choreographer |
| Atkins, Chet [Chester Burton] (b. 1924) | guitar, rhthym guitar |
| Austin, Gene [Eugene Lucas] (b. 1900 d. 1972) | crooner, piano |
| Autry, Gene [Orvon Gene] (b. 1907) | singing cowboy, vocals |
| Aznavour, Charles (b. 1924) | auteur, composer |
| Baez, Joan (Chandos) (b. 1941) | folksinger, vocals |
| Bailey, Mildred (b. 1907 d. 1951) | composer, singer |
| Bailey, Pearl (Mae) (b. 1918 d. 1990) | cast, singer |
| Baker, Josephine (b. 1906 d. 1975) | cast, singer |
| Barnet, Charlie [Charles Daly] (b. 1913 d. 1991 a. 1936-1948) | saxophone, bandleader |
| Basie, [William] (b. 1904 d. 1984) | bandleader, composer |
| Bechet, Sidney (Joseph) (b. 1897 d. 1959) | clarinet, saxophone |
| Beiderbecke, Bix [Leon Bismarck] (b. 1903 d. 1931) | cornet, musicisti |
| Belafonte, Harry [Harold George] (b. 1927) | calypso singer, cast |
| Bennett, Tony (b. 1926 a. 1951) | singer, vocals |
| Benson, George (b. 1943) | guitar, jazz guitar |
| Berigan, Bunny [Roland Bernard] (b. 1908 d. 1942) | trumpet, trumpeter |
| Berry, Chuck (b. 1926) | composer, lyricist |
| Blake, Eubie [James Hubert] (b. 1883 d. 1983) | cast, composer |
| Boone, Pat [Charles Eugene Pat] (b. 1934) | blues singer, lyricist |
| Boswell, Connee [Connie] (b. 1907 d. 1976) | singer, vocals |
| Bowlly, Al [Albert Alex] (b. 1898 d. 1941) | banjo, guitar |
| Brice, Fanny (b. 1891 d. 1951) | actress, cast |
| Brown, James (b. 1933) | band, bass guitar |
| Brown, Les [Lester Raymond] (b. 1912 d. 1981) | alto sax, bandleader |
| Brubeck, Dave [David Warren] (b. 1920) | alto saxophone, composer |
| Calloway, Cab [Cabell] (b. 1907 a. 1930-1945) | bandleader, cast |
| Campbell, Glen (Travis) (b. 1936) | country music singer, guitar |
| Cantor, Eddie (b. 1892 d. 1964) | cast, composer |
| Carmichael, Hoagy [Hoagland Howard] (b. 1899 d. 1981) | composer, cornet |
| Carter, Benny (b. 1907) | alto saxophone, clarinet |
| Cash, Johnny (b. 1932) | guitar, country music singer |
| Charles, Ray (b. 1930) | direttore d'orchestre, piano |
| Checker, Chubby (b. 1941) | rock singer |
| Chevalier, Maurice (b. 1889 d. 1972) | baritone, cast |
| Christian, Charlie (b. 1916 d. 1942) | guitar, jazz guitar |
| Clapton, Eric (b. 1945) | composer, guitar |
| Clooney, Rosemary (b. 1928) | singer, vocals |
| Cohan, George M. [George Michael] (b. 1878 d. 1942) | author, cast |
| Cole, Nat King (b. 1917 d. 1965) | composer, lyricist |
| Collins, Judy (Marjorie) (b. 1939) | piano, singer |
| Columbo, Russ (b. 1908 d. 1934) | crooner, violin |
| Como, Perry (b. 1912 a. 1943) | song stylist, vocals |
| Condon, Eddie [Albert Edwin] (b. 1905 d. 1973) | banjo, guitar |
| Cooke, Sam (b. 1931 d. 1964) | composer, gospel singer |
| Croce, Jim [James Joseph] (b. 1943 d. 1973) | singer, songwriter |
| Crosby, Bing (b. 1904 d. 1977) | singer |
| Crosby, Bob [George Robert] (b. 1913 d. 1993) | composer, leader |
| Cugat, Xavier (b. 1900 d. 1990 a. 1935-1949) | orchestra, violin |
| Darin, Bobby (b. 1936 d. 1973) | arranger, singer |
| Davis, Miles (Dewey) (b. 1926 d. 1991) | piano, tromba |
| Davis, Sammy (b. 1925 d. 1990) | cast, music director for George Rhodes |
| Day, Doris (b. 1924) | singer, vocals |
| Denver, John (b. 1943) | guitar, singer |
| Diamond, Neil (Leslie) (b. 1941) | composer, lyricist |
| Domino, Fats (b. 1928) | composer, lyricist |
| Dorsey, Jimmy [James Francis] (b. 1904 d. 1957) | cast, clarinet |
| Dorsey, Tommy [Thomas] (b. 1905 d. 1956) | cast, composer |
| Duchin, Eddy (b. 1910 d. 1951) | cast, piano stylist |
| Durante, Jimmy [James Francis] (b. 1893 d. 1980) | cast, composer |
| Dylan, Bob (b. 1941) | composer, folksinger |
| Eberly, Bob (b. 1916 d. 1981) | band singer |
| Eckstine, Billy (b. 1914 d. 1993) | singer, vocals |
| Eddy, Nelson (b. 1901 d. 1967) | baritone, vocals |
| Edwards, Cliff [Clifton A.] (b. 1895 d. 1971) | cast, composer |
| Eldridge, Roy [David Roy] (b. 1911 d. 1989) | tromba, trumpet |
| Ellington (b. 1899 d. 1974) | composer, direttore d'orchestra |
| Etting, Ruth (b. 1896 d. 1978) | cast, torch singer |
| Evans, Bill (b. 1929 d. 1980) | composer, flute |
| Faith, Percy (b. 1908 d. 1976) | conductor, orchestra |
| Fiedler, Arthur (b. 1894 d. 1979) | conductor, violin |
| Fields, Gracie (b. 1898 d. 1979) | singer, vocals |
| Finegan, Bill [William J.] (b. 1917) | arranger, composer |
| Fisher, Eddie (b. 1928) | guitar, singer |
| Fitzgerald, Ella (b. 1920 a. 1936) | composer, interprete |
| Flack, Roberta (b. 1937) | singer, vocals |
| Flatt, Lester Raymond (b. 1914 d. 1979) | blues singer, vocals |
| Ford, Ernie "Tennesse" (b. 1919 d. 1991 a. 1949) | country and western singer |
| Ford, Mary (b. 1924 d. 1977) | singer, vocals |
| Forrest, Helen (b. 1918) | band singer, vocals |
| Frampton, Peter Kenneth (b. 1950) | guitar, singer |
| Franklin, Aretha (b. 1942) | soul singer, vocals |
| Garland, Judy (b. 1922 d. 1969) | musicisti, singer |
| Garner, Erroll (Louis) (b. 1921 d. 1977) | musicista, piano |
| Getz, Stan [Stanley] (b. 1927 d. 1991) | tenor saxophone, leader |
| Gillespie, Dizzy [John Birks] (b. 1917) | tromba, trumpet |
| Goldkette, Jean (b. 1899 d. 1962) | piano, conductor |
| Goodman, Benny [Benjamin David] (b. 1909 d. 1986) | alto saxophone, cast |
| Gorme, Eydie (b. 1931) | ballad singer, cast |
| Gray, Glen "Spike" (b. 1906 d. 1963) | alto sax, bandleader |
| Guthrie, Woody [Woodrow Wilson] (b. 1912 d. 1967) | cast, composer |
| Hackett, Bobby [Robert Leo] (b. 1915 d. 1976) | cornet, trumpet |
| Haggard, Merle (b. 1937) | country music singer |
| Haley, Bill (b. 1925 d. 1981) | piano, rock & roll singer |
| Hampton, Lionel (b. 1913) | drums, musicista |
| Hawkins, Coleman (Randolph) (b. 1904 d. 1969) | clarinet, tenor sax |
| Hayes, Isaac (b. 1943) | piano, rhythm & blues singer |
| Haymes, Dick (b. 1916 d. 1980) | singer, vocals |
| Heath, Ted [Theodore George] (b. 1900 d. 1969) | trombone, arranger |
| Henderson, Fletcher [James Fletcher] (b. 1898 d. 1952) | arranger, bandleader |
| Hendrix, Jimi [James Marshall] (b. 1942 d. 1970) | guitar, rock singer |
| Herman, Woody (b. 1913 d. 1987) | bandleader, clarinet |
| Hines, Fatha [Earl Kenneth] (b. 1903 d. 1983) | piano, bandleader |
| Holiday, Billie (b. 1915 d. 1959) | musicisti, singer |
| Holly, Buddy (b. 1936 d. 1959) | rock & roll singer, vocals |
| Holman, Libby (b. 1906 d. 1971) | cast, torch singer |
| Horne, Lena (b. 1917 a. 1943) | cast, singer |
| Ives, Burl (b. 1909) | cast, folksinger |
| Jackson, Mahalia (b. 1911 d. 1972) | gospel singer, vocals |
| James, Harry Haag (b. 1916 d. 1983) | composer, flute |
| John, Elton (b. 1947) | composer, lyricist |
| Jolson, Al (b. >1886 d. 1950) | cast, composer |
| Jones, Quincy (Delight) (b. 1933) | arranger, composer |
| Jones, Spike (b. 1911 d. 1965) | bandleader, drums |
| Jones, Tom (b. 1940) | cast, director |
| Joplin, Janis (b. 1943 d. 1970) | singer, songwriter |
| Jordan, Louis Thomas (b. 1908 d. 1975) | alto saxophone, clarinet |
| Kaye, Sammy (b. 1910 d. 1987) | danceband leader, orchestra |
| Kenton, Stan (b. 1912 d. 1979) | arranger, composer |
| King, B.B. (b. 1925) | blues singer, guitar |
| King, Carole (b. 1943) | composer, lyricist |
| King, Wayne Harold (b. 1901 d. 1985) | saxophone, bandleader |
| Kostelanetz, Andre (b. 1901 d. 1980) | conductor, Dirigent |
| Kristofferson, Kris (b. 1936) | cast, composer |
| Krupa, Gene [Eugene Bertram] (b. 1909 d. 1973) | cast, composer |
| Kyser, Kay (b. 1906 d. 1985) | bandleader, director |
| Laine, Frankie (b. 1913) | singer, vocals |
| Lang, Eddie (b. 1902 d. 1933) | jazz guitar |
| Lanza, Mario (b. 1921 d. 1959) | tenor, vocals |
| Lawrence, Stephen (b. 1939) | composer, conductor |
| Ledbetter, Huddie (b. 1885 d. 1949) | songster, vocals |
| Lee, Peggy (b. 1920) | cast, composer |
| Legrand, Michel (b. 1932 a. 1953) | arranger, author |
| Lewis, Jerry Lee (b. 1935) | drums, piano |
| Lewis, Ted (b. 1892 d. 1971) | bandleader, cast |
| Liberace (b. 1919 d. 1987) | entertainer, piano |
| Little Richard (b. 1935) | composer, lyricist |
| Lombardo, Guy [Gaetano Alberto] (b. 1902 d. 1977) | bandleader, director |
| Lunceford, Jimmy [James Melvin] (b. 1902 d. 1947) | arranger, bandleader |
| Lynn, Loretta (b. 1935) | singer, vocals |
| Macdonald, Jeannette (Anna) (b. 1907 d. 1965) | cast, soprano |
| Mancini, Henry (b. 1924) | arranger, composer |
| Manilow, Barry (b. 1946) | arranger, cast |
| Mann, Herbie (b. 1930) | flute, tenor saxophone |
| Mantovani (b. 1905 d. 1980) | orchestra leader, violin |
| Martin, Mary (Virginia) (b. 1913 d. 1990) | actress, cast |
| Mathis, Johnny [John Royce] (b. 1935) | singer, vocals |
| McPartland, Marian (b. 1920) | piano, composer |
| McRae, Carmen (b. 1922) | singer, vocals |
| Mercer, Johnny [John Herndon] (b. 1909 d. 1976) | lyricist, composer |
| Mercer, Mabel (b. 1900 d. 1984) | cabaret singer, cast |
| Merman, Ethel (b. 1908 d. 1984) | cast, singer |
| Midler, Bette (b. 1945) | singer, vocals |
| Miller, Glen [Alton Glen] (b. 1904 d. 1944) | accordion, bandleader |
| Miller, Mitch [Mitchell William] (b. 1911) | cor anglais, oboe |
| Miller, Roger (b. 1936 d. 1992) | singer, instrumentalist |
| Mingus, Charles (b. 1922 d. 1979) | bass (instrument), bass |
| Minnelli, Liza [Liza May] (b. 1946) | cast, singer |
| Mitchell, Joni (b. 1943) | composer, lyricist |
| Monk, Thelonious (Sphere) (b. 1917 d. 1982) | piano, pianoforte |
| Monroe, Bill (Smith) (b. 1911) | country music singer, mandolin |
| Monroe, Vaughn (Wilton) (b. 1911 d. 1973) | trombone, trumpet |
| Montgomery, Wes [John Leslie] (b. 1923 d. 1968) | guitar, jazz guitar |
| Morgan, Helen (b. 1900 d. 1941) | cast, torch singer |
| Morton, Jelly Roll (b. 1885 d. 1941) | composer, music based on |
| Muddy Waters (b. 1915 d. 1983) | blues singer, vocals |
| Mulligan, Gerry [Gerald Joseph] (b. 1927) | arranger, baritone sax |
| Newley, Anthony (b. 1931) | actor, cast |
| Nichols, Red [Ernest Loring] (b. 1905 d. 1965) | cornet, trumpet |
| Noble, Ray [Raymond Stanley] (b. 1903 d. 1978) | bandleader, celeste |
| Norvo, Red (b. 1908) | cast, piano |
| O'Connell, Helen (b. 1920 a. 1939) | jazz singer, vocals |
| O'Day, Anita (b. 1919) | singer, vocals |
| Oliver, King [Joseph] (b. 1885 d. 1938) | composer, cornet |
| Oliver, Sy [Melvin James] (b. 1910 d. 1988) | arranger, trumpeter |
| Owens, Buck [Alvis Edgar jr] (b. 1929) | country music singer, guitar |
| Page, Patti (b. 1927) | singer, vocals |
| Parker, Charlie [Charles Christopher] (b. 1920 d. 1955) | alto saxophone |
| Parton, Dolly (Rebecca) (b. 1946) | country music singer, vocals |
| Paul, Les (b. 1915) | guitar, jazz guitar |
| Peterson, Oscar (Emmanuel) (b. 1925) | piano, pianoforte |
| Piaf, Edith (b. 1915 d. 1963) | cabaret singer, composer |
| Pollack, Ben (b. 1903 d. 1971) | drummer, drums |
| Presley, Elvis (Aaron) (b. 1935 d. 1977) | singer, songwriter |
| Pride, Charley (b. 1938) | country music singer |
| Rainey, Ma (b. 1886 d. 1939) | blues singer, composer |
| Ray, Johnny [John Alvin] (b. 1927 d. 1990 a. 1951) | singer, piano |
| Redding, Otis (b. 1941 d. 1967) | composer, lyricist |
| Reddy, Helen (b. 1942 a. 1971-1977) | singer, vocals |
| Reeves, Jim [James Travis] (b. 1924 d. 1964) | country music singer, rhthym guitar |
| Reinhardt, Django (b. 1910 d. 1953) | guitar, jazz guitar |
| Rich, Buddy [Bernard] (b. 1917 d. 1987) | cast, director |
| Rich, Charlie [Charles Allen] (b. 1932) | composer, country music singer |
| Ritter, Tex [Maurice Woodward] (b. 1906 d. 1974) | singing cowboy, country music singer |
| Robeson, Paul (b. 1898 d. 1976) | bass-baritone, cast |
| Rodgers, Jimmie [James Charles] (b. 1897 d. 1933) | country music guitar, vocals |
| Ronstadt, Linda [Maria Linda] (b. 1946) | cast, singer |
| Ross, Diana (b. 1944) | soul singer |
| Rushing, Jimmy [James Andrew] (b. 1903 d. 1972) | blues singer, vocals |
| Russell, Pee Wee (b. 1906 d. 1969) | cl, clarinet |
| Santana, Carlos [Devadip Carlos] (b. 1947) | rock guitar, songwriter |
| Sauter, Eddie [Edward Ernest] (b. 1914 d. 1981) | arranger, flute |
| Scruggs, Earl (b. 1924) | banjo, country and western singer |
| Sedaka, Neil (b. 1939) | composer, lyricist |
| Seeger, Pete [Peter R.] (b. 1919) | Dirigent, folksinger |
| Selvin, Ben (b. 1898 d. 1980) | bandleader, conductor |
| Shaw, Artie (b. 1910) | clarinet, conductor |
| Shearing, George (Albert) (b. 1919) | piano, piano-accordeon |
| Shore, Dinah [Frances Rose] (b. 1917 d. 1994) | jazz singer, vocals |
| Simon, Carly (b. 1945) | singer |
| Simone, Nina (b. 1933) | piano, singer |
| Sinatra, Frank [Francis Albert] (b. 1915) | cast, singer |
| Smith, Bessie (b. 1894 d. 1937) | blues singer |
| Smith, Kate [Katheryn Elizabeth] (b. 1909 d. 1986) | cast, harp |
| Smith, Willie "the Lion" (b. 1897 d. 1973) | jazz piano, piano |
| Snow, Hank (b. 1914) | country music singer, guitar |
| Stafford, Jo (b. 1920) | song stylist, vocals |
| Starr, Kay (b. 1922) | cast, song stylist |
| Streisand, Barbra (Joan) (b. 1942) | actress, cast |
| Tatum, Art [Arthur, Jr.] (b. 1910 d. 1956) | piano, celeste |
| Taylor, James (Vernon) (b. 1948) | composer, lyricist |
| Teagarden, Jack [Weldon Leo] (b. 1905) | cast, trombone |
| Tharpe, Rosetta (b. 1915 d. 1973) | cast, gospel singer |
| Thornhill, Claude (b. 1909 d. 1965) | bandleader, piano |
| Torme, Mel (b. 1925) | composer, lyricist |
| Tucker, Sophie (b. 1884 d. 1966) | actress, cast |
| Turner, Ike (b. 1931) | piano, rock singer |
| Turner, Joe [Joseph H.] (b. 1907 d. 1990) | jazz piano |
| Turner, Tina (b. 1938) | rock singer, vocals |
| Vallee, Rudy (b. 1901 d. 1986) | bandleader, cast |
| Vaughan, Sarah (Lois) [Sassy] (b. 1924 d. 1990) | interprete, singer |
| Venuti, Joe [Giuseppe] (b. 1903 d. 1978) | violin, orchestra |
| Waring, Fred [Frederic Malcolm] (b. 1900 d. 1984) | cast, composer |
| Warwick, Dionne (b. 1941) | singer, tambourine |
| Washington, Dinah (b. 1924 d. 1963) | blues singer, vocals |
| Waters, Ethel (b. 1900 d. 1977) | actress, cast |
| Welk, Lawrence (b. 1903 d. 1992) | composer, conductor |
| Weston, Paul (b. 1912) | arranger, sousaphone/tuba |
| Whiteman, Paul (b. 1890 d. 1967) | bandleader, cast |
| Whiting, Margaret (b. 1924) | cast, singer |
| Williams, Andy [Andrew] (b. 1932) | singer, vocals |
| Williams, Hank (b. 1923 d. 1953) | country music singer, guitar |
| Williams, Joe (b. 1918) | banjo, bass (instrument) |
| Williams, Mary Lou (b. 1910 d. 1981) | arranger, cast |
| Wills, Bob [James Robert] (b. 1905 d. 1975) | composer, violin |
| Wilson, Teddy [Theodore Shore] (b. 1912 d. 1986) | cast, piano |
| Wonder, Stevie (b. 1950) | composer, harmonica |
| Wynette, Tammy (b. 1942) | country music singer, songwriter |
| Young, Lester (Willis) (b. 1909 d. 1959) | cornet, guitar |
| Zappa, Frank [Francis Vincent] (b. 1940 d. 1993) | arranger, electric guitar |