Najat Aatabou

Najat Aatabou

Biography:

Born 19 May 1960, Khemisset, Morocco. Born into a traditional Berber family in the Atlas mountains, Aatabou gave her first public performance as a singer in 1983 while in her final year at law school. Her debut single, "J'en Ai Morre" ("I Am Sick Of It"), was released on cassette in the same year and credited simply to Najat, as she did not want her family to know about it (singing was not viewed as an acceptable career for a Berber woman). The song's lyrics were an angry protest at the treatment of women in Moroccan society. It became a huge local hit, selling over 450,000 copies in spite of being banned on radio and television. Following this success, and against the wishes of her family who had discovered her secret identity, she abandoned her studies and moved to Casablanca to pursue a career in music. Her subsequent songs continued to tackle social issues relating to the lives of Moroccan women in a direct and outspoken way, bringing her controversy and huge local cassette sales. Backed mainly by traditional North African and Arabic instruments, the bendir, a Berber kit drum, is always at the rhythmic heart of her music, with electric western instruments sometimes added (she has even experimented with synthesizers and drum machines). Wailing above this, Aatabou's raw but melodic voice often plays off a male chorus in a manner that echoes black American gospel singing.

Discography:

The Voice Of The Atlas (Globestyle 1991)****, Country Girls And City Women (Rounder 1997)****.

Music Albums:

Country Girls & City Women *
Rounder Select
02/11/1997

The Voice Of The Atlas
Globe Style - (import)
07/13/1999

Source: Encyclopedia of Popular Music

Najma

Biography:

Born Najma Akhtar, 18 September 1962, Chelmsford, Essex, England. Akhtar began singing in 1984 having recently qualified as a chemical engineer. Winner of the Asian Song Contest held in Birmingham, England, in that year, she recorded an album in India in 1986 before releasing Qareeb, her international debut, a year later. Recorded in England, this album featured a selection of Ghazals (traditional eastern lyric love poems) put to melodies written by Akhtar and accompanied by a combination of traditional Asian and modern western musicians, including saxophonist Ray Carless. Qareeb was widely acclaimed and introduced western listeners to Akhtar's pure, soaring voice. Songs from the album were used for an international fashion show and in the film Sammy And Rosie Get Laid. Over the next two years Akhtar sang throughout the world, including performances as part of the WOMAD 1989 tour. In that year, Atish (meaning "fire') was released. It drew on a broader range of influences (everything from Indian film music to C&W), and although Najma's vocals were of her customary high standard and percussionist Talvin Singh was featured to good effect, it was an only partially successful mix. 1992"s Pukar - Calling You was notable for the reggae-influenced "Mousum Sahana" and a track based around her vocal improvisations. Throughout her musical career Akhtar's voice has also been used to add passion and colour to albums by a variety of artists ,including Andy Summers, Jah Wobble, Steve Coleman and Robert Plant/Jimmy Page. Forbidden Kiss was a modern adaptation of the film music of Indian composer Sachin Dev Burman.

Discography:

Qareeb (Triple Earth 1987)****, Atish (Triple Earth 1989)***, Pukar - Calling You (Last Minute Productions 1992)***, Forbidden Kiss - The Music Of S.D. Burman (Shanachie 1996)***, Vivid (2nd Sight 2002)***.

Music Albums:

Atish
Shanachie Records
10/30/1990

Qareeb
Shanachie Records
n/a

Forbidden Kiss
Shanachie Records
06/18/1996

Pukar (Calling You)
Mondo Melodia
01/27/1998

Vivid *
ARK 21
03/11/2003

Source: Encyclopedia of Popular Music

Evolution of Rock Music

In the earlier part of 1950s the world witnessed the birth of a popular music genre known as Rock Music. It is very difficult to pin point a particular song as the birth of rock, however, the most attention and credit goes to Rocket 88 by Jackie Brenston and Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley and the comets. The new form of music with electric bass guitar and drums and cymbals was becoming increasingly popular and famous.

Elvis Presley, in 1954, recorded a song at a studio in Tennessee and became a singing sensation. The new type of music was liked by other artists such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and many others. And by the end of 1950s and early 1960s Rock music hit United Kingdom. Rock artists toured Europe and their music was all over the radios, in streets, in clubs, and everywhere. Quarrymen was the most liked group in Europe at that time.

The British were not going to stay behind. The Beatles made their debut in the USA in 1964. 73 Million People witnessed their debut. And in only three months’ time they were sitting on top 5 positions in Billboard Charts. Then came in Rolling Stones to rock the scene! A graphical presentation shows in detail how Rock music evolved since 1940s to date.

Rock music dealt with a wide range of themes such as romantic love, rebellion against the established system, sex, social concerns and life styles. Addressing such a wide variety of concerns made this popular music even more liked around the globe. Rock is now one of the most listened to music genre in the world and some musicians believe that it can bring peace to the world. The title, ‘Rock & Roll Jihad’, of his book by Salman Ahmad explains it all!

Source : http://www.ticketsmove.com/blog/music/evolution-of-rock-music/

Nahawa Doumbia

Nahawa Doumbia

Biography:

Born Maf‚l‚, Mali. Wassoulou singer Nahawa Doumbia was orphaned at an early age. She started singing as a young child and her chosen style was very much that of the new era, as she did not share the privilege of hereditary jeli status enjoyed by Tata Bambo Kouyat‚ or Nahini Diabet‚. Instead her billing is that of the Fula singer, where music is not the profession handed down from parents. In 1982, Doumbia won the first prize at the Biennalle Artistique, launching her professional career. Her fame spread further the following year when she gained another trophy at Radio France Internationale's D‚couverte awards. By 1984 she was part of the entertainment package for the France-Afrique Summit Meeting, illustrating her rapid rise.

After several cassette-only albums Doumbia made her debut proper in 1988 with her first European album, produced by Boncana Maiga for Syllart Records. Maigo brought in a team of experienced Cameroonian session players to help him perfect the follow-up, Nyama Toutou, released by Syllart and the Stern's Records label in 1990. Among many notable names on the credits was that of guitarist Rigo Star. He helped to forge a riveting collection of Bamana and Wassoulou music, updated through modern technological means into a melodic, dance-orientated whole.

The follow-up albums Mangoni (1993) and Yankaw (1997) saw Doumbia consolidating the reputation established by Nyama Toutou, building the bridges that led to the crossover success of Yaala. Released in 2000, the input of French producer Claude Barth‚l‚my helped Doumbia and her band create a near perfect update of traditional Wassoulou music. During the same period, Doumbia appeared on Frederic Galliano's acclaimed Frikyiwa Collection 1.

Discography:

Didadi (Syllart 1988)***, Nyama Toutou (Syllart/Stern's 1990)****, Mangoni (Syllart/Stern's 1993)***, Yankaw (Cobalt 1997)***, Bougouni (Sono 1999)***, Yaala (Cobalt 2000)****, Diby (Cobalt 2004)***.

Music Albums:

Didadi
Shanachie Records
06/01/1990


Source: Encyclopedia of Popular Music

Admiral Bailey

Born Glendon Bailey, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. The Admiral first broke through with his infectious dancehall anthems and his distinctive military uniforms in 1986, when DJ Josey Wales took him to King Jammy's from U-Roy's King Sturgav Hi-Fi. The Waterhouse studio was alive with creativity, with Steely And Clevie constructing new digital rhythms and nurturing an impressive roster of artists. Bailey quickly proved himself, however, starting a run of hits with a duet with Chaka Demus, "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer". This was followed by "Politician", "Chatty Chatty Mouth", "Ballot Box' (with Josey Wales) and 1987"s "Punany" - for which a radio ban necessitated the release of a more "innocent" version, "Healthy Body". Other singles, including "Big Belly Man", "Jump Up", "Top Celebrity Man" and "Cater For Woman", continued the successful run, and he released his debut set, Kill Them With It, the same year. DJ Papa Biggy produced "Neighbourhood Living" and "Newsflash Time" and Bailey also recorded tunes for Donovan Germain and Jah Life. Shabba Ranks' success somewhat overshadowed Bailey's hits, "No Way No Better Than Yard", "Don't Have Me Up", "Original Dela Move" and "Science', but they nevertheless sustained his profile. Ranks" success also prompted the assertive, "Think Me Did Done". When Ram Up You Party did not do as well as anticipated, Bailey's career declined slightly, with the exception of occasional recordings for Penthouse Records ("Help") in 1990 and Bobby Digital ("Ah Nuh Sin") in 1991. In 1993, he resumed work with King Jammy, the producer who has brought him the most sustained success.

Discography:

Kill Them With It (Jammys/Live & Love 1987)****, Undisputed (Dynamic 1988)***, Ram Up You Party (Powerhouse 1989)**, Born Champion (Jammys/Live & Love 1991)***.

Music Albums

Mi Big Up

VP

10/16/1992

Original [Cassette]

VP

n/a

Undisputed Champion

Dynamic Sounds

04/20/2004

Source: Encyclopedia of Popular Music

Adina Howard

Biography

Born Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. With her 1995 debut, Do You Wanna Ride?, assertive soul singer Adina Howard managed to achieve commercial success as well as raising eyebrows with her volatile cocktail of sexually potent imagery and effusive R&Born The mainstream success of the attendant single, "Freak Like Me', helped pave the way for other upfront female R&B singers, including Foxy Brown and Lil' Kim. Peaking at number 7 in the Billboard R&B charts, the debut album's sales profile of over half a million copies was encouraging. The follow-up, 1997"s Welcome To Fantasy Island, opted for sensuality over sexuality: "(the lyrics) are not vulgar. I may say some things straight out, but for the most part, it's a pretty mature album." Howard was also more closely involved in the creative process, writing four of the songs and co-producing two others. However, the promotional single, "(Freak) And U Know It", at least maintained some of the titular traditions of the previous album.

Discography:

Do You Wanna Ride? (Mecca Don/Elektra 1995)***, Welcome To Fantasy Island (Mecca Don/Elektra 1997)***.

Music Albums

Do You Wanna Ride?

EastWest America

02/28/1995

Welcome To Fantasy Island [PA]

EastWest America

05/15/1998

Welcome To Fantasy Island [Edited]

EastWest America

05/15/1998

The Second Coming *

Rufftown Records

04/06/2004

Source: Encyclopedia of Popular Music

Adewale Ayuba

Biography

Born Nigeria. One of the rising stars of Nigerian fuji, Ayuba made his domestic debut in 1991 with Bubble, and was immediately rewarded with the accolade "fuji artist of the year". Using the talking drum, shekeres (rattles), bells and bata drums, Ayuba led his band through call-and-response singing and a highly animated "wailing" style, with lyrics rooted in his conversion to the Muslim faith. The strength of the music, which is deliberately shorn of harmonic properties, lies in the propulsive rhythms created, and the intensity of the performances. Bubble was followed shortly by another collection, Mr Johnson Play For Me, performed with similar combative qualities though with a more readily detectable sparsity of sound, which distinguishes fuji from its parent music, juju (Mr Johnson Play For Me was released prior to his debut album on the international market).

Discography:

Mr Johnson Play For Me (Flame Tree 1992)***, Bubble (Flame Tree 1993)****.

Music Albums

Fuji Time

Agogo (Qbadisc)

06/20/1996

Source: Encyclopedia of Popular Music

Adeva

Biography

Born Patricia Daniels, 1960, Patterson, New Jersey, USA. The youngest of six children, Adeva joined a church choir at the age of 12 where she remained for 10 years, eventually becoming its director and vocal coach. Her mother was a missionary and her father a deacon, and her parents had once instructed, "You sing gospel or nothing at all." Between stints of teaching (for emotionally disturbed children), she found time to take part regularly in talent contests. She was eventually banned from entering several competitions for winning so often, and turned professional by starting out on the local club scene in the mid-80s. She teamed up with Mike Cameron of the Smack Productions team to record "In And Out Of My Life" for New York label Easy Street, before signing to Cooltempo Records in 1988. Her success in the singles chart, initially more considerable in the UK than the USA (where, strangely, her first three solo releases all went to number 17), included "Respect", "Warning", "I Thank You", "Beautiful Love", "Treat Me Right" and the collaboration with New York producer and recording artist Paul Simpson, "Musical Freedom (Moving On Up)". However, Adeva never quite made the commercial transition that was expected, and she was dropped by Cooltempo in August 1992. She later collaborated on minor chart singles with Frankie Knuckles and Hyper Go-Go.

Discography:

Adeva (Cooltempo 1989)***, Love Or Lust (Cooltempo 1991)**.

Compilations:

Hits (Cooltempo 1992)***.

Videography:

Live At The Town And Country Club (Chrysalis Music Video 1991).

Music Albums

Adeva!

Capitol/EMI Records

06/26/1990

Love Or Lust *

Capitol/EMI Records

11/05/1991

Source: Encyclopedia of Popular Music

Adema

Biography

US nu-metal pioneers Korn spawned quite a few imitators in their path, such as the California-based Adema, but there is a legitimate reason why the two bands sound so similar - vocalist Mark "Marky' Chavez (Born 15 November 1978, Bakersfield, California, USA) is Korn lead singer Jonathan Davis" younger half brother. Adema comes from the same spawning ground as Korn, Bakersfield, California, and formed during the late 90s, when Chavez began playing with several other local musicians, including Dave DeRoo (Born 3 September 1974, Bakersfield, California, USA; bass) and Tim Fluckey (Born 23 January 1974, Illinois, USA; guitar). When second guitarist Mike Ransom (Born 12 April 1977, USA) and drummer Kris Kohls (Born Bakersfield, California, USA; ex-Videodrone) signed on, the final pieces to the Adema puzzle were in place, which resulted in a recording contract with the Arista Records label. The quintet relocated to a secluded section of northern California to finish writing and demoing the songs that would eventually comprise their major label debut. Recorded in Los Angeles, California with producers Bill Appleberry and Tobias Miller (guitarist with the original line-up of the Wallflowers), Adema delivered their self-titled debut album in August 2001. The tracks "Giving In" and "The Way You Like It" enjoyed notable success on the rock charts. A year later, Adema issued a seven-track stopgap EP, Insomniac's Dream. Their second album for Arista, Unstable, followed in 2003. The quintet signed a new recording contract with Earache Records following their departure from Arista.

Discography:

Adema (Arista 2001)***, Unstable (Arista 2003)**.

Music Albums

Adema [PA]

Arista Records

08/21/2001

Adema [Edited]

Arista Records

08/21/2001

Insomniac's Dream [ECD] [EP] [PA]

Arista Records

10/22/2002

Unstable [ECD] [Edited] *

Arista Records

08/19/2003

Unstable [ECD] [PA] *

Arista Records

08/19/2003

Source: Encyclopedia of Popular Music

Adelaide Hall

Biography

Born Adelaide Louisa Hall, 20 October 1901, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA, d. 7 November 1993, London, England. Though not a jazz singer, Hall became one of the most famous vocalists in jazz history through her wordless vocals on such Duke Ellington recordings as "Creole Love Call" and "The Blues I Love To Sing". Other numbers with which she was indelibly associated, included "Sophisticated Lady", "Old Fashioned Love", "Memories Of You", "Solitude", "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" and "Don't Worry 'Bout Me". Many of the songs she sang were written especially for her. Her fine soprano voice was developed by her father, a music professor. Like her friend, Lena Horne, her name will always be associated with Harlem's famous Cotton Club and the "greats" who gathered there, such as Ellington, Fats Waller and composer Harold Arlen.

Hall, a self-taught tap dancer, played in a Eubie Blake-Noble Sissle show in the early 20s, and appeared in a series of revues, including Shuffle Along and Desires Of 1927. She starred in Lew Leslie's Blackbirds Of 1928, in a cast that also included Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, and Elisabeth Welch. The Dorothy Fields/Jimmy McHugh score introduced "Diga Diga Doo", "Doin' The New Low-Down", "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" and a pre-George Gershwin "Porgy". When the show transferred to the Moulin Rouge in Paris, Hall went with it, and stayed on to sing at the Lido. By this time she had married an English seaman, Bert Hicks. He opened a club for her, called La Grosse Pomme (The Big Apple), whose clientele included Django Reinhardt, Maurice Chevalier and Charles Boyer. In the early 30s she recorded with Duke Ellington and Willy Lewis in the USA, and was also accompanied by pianists Art Tatum and Joe Turner on a New York session which produced "This Time It's Love". During the rest of the decade she toured extensively in the USA and Europe, and by the late 30s had settled in Britain, where she lived for over 50 years. In 1938 Hall appeared at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in The Sun Never Sets, a musical in which she impressed audiences and critics with her version of Vivian Ellis' title song. In the same year she recorded four songs with Fats Waller in London: "That Old Feeling", "I Can't Give You Anything But Love", "Smoke Dreams" and "You Can't Have Your Cake And Eat It". With her husband, she opened the Florida Club in Bruton Mews, but it was destroyed during a bombing raid in World War II. Later she joined an ENSA company and was one of the first artists into Germany after the liberation.

After the war Hall worked consistently, singing in theatres throughout the country, on cruise liners, and on her own radio show, accompanied by the Joe Loss Orchestra. In 1951 she starred in the London version of Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate, and, in the following year, sang "A Touch Of Voodoo" and "Kind To Animals" in Jack Gray and Hugh Martin's hit musical, Love From Judy, at the Saville Theatre. In 1957 she was back on Broadway, with Lena Horne, in Jamaica, which ran for over 500 performances. In 1963, shortly after opening a new club, the Calypso, in London's Regent Street, Adelaide's husband Bert died. During the 60s and 70s, Hall was out of the limelight, but in the 80s, came a renaissance, partly sparked by the release of Francis Ford Coppola's movie The Cotton CluBorn From then on she was in constant demand for cabaret at the Ritz Hotel, and other UK venues such as the Donmar Warehouse and the King's Head, Islington. In 1988, she presented her one-woman show at New York's Carnegie Hall, and three years later, was joined onstage at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall by artists such as Larry Adler, Ralph McTell and Roy Budd, in a concert to celebrate her 90th birthday.

Compilations:

That Wonderful Adelaide Hall (Columbia 1969)***, Hall Of Fame (Columbia 1970)***, Crooning Blackbird (EPM 1993)***, Red Hot From Harlem (Pearl 1994)***, A Centenary Collection (Avid 2002)***.

Bibliography:

Underneath A Harlem Moon, Iain Cameron Williams.

Music Albums

Crooning Blackbird: 1927-1939

EPM (France)

02/22/1996

A Centenary Collection *

Avid

08/06/2004

Hall Of Fame

Living Era

12/24/1992

Red Hot From Harlem

Pearl

02/22/1994

Source: Encyclopedia of Popular Music

Adamski

Biography

Born Adam Tinley, England. Adamski's first recordings were cut at the age of 11 as a member of the Stupid Babies, a pre-teen punk duo (with his brother) immortalized on the Fast Products Earcom 3 sampler. He was also a member of Diskord Datkord in 1987, who released one single - a cover version of X-Ray Spex's "Identity" (his brother subsequently formed Garden Of Eden). Adamski went on to record as a keyboard player on instrumental dance music records. His solo breakthrough came with the release of "N-R-G", which reached number 12 in the UK charts in January 1990. Unfortunately, legal action from Lucozade, who claimed the single plagiarized their advertising slogan, forced him to donate £5,000 of his royalties to charity. He replied with April's massive dancefloor hit and UK number 1, "Killer". This tautly orchestrated electronic piece was enhanced by the emotive vocals of guest vocalist Seal. September's follow-up, "The Space Jungle", which derived from "All Shook Up", was hammered by the critics, but still reached UK number 7. While his former vocalist went on to national adoration, Adamski slipped from view, although he did enjoy a minor hit with "Flashback Jack" at the end of 1990. An epitaph, of sorts, was offered on the Naughty track, "Take The Money And Run": "I've been chewed up and spat out by the restrictions of dance". Many critics judged such petulance as sour grapes following his commercial decline. The same year he joined with Elton John to remix "Medicine Man" for charity, but was not sighted for some time afterwards. He went on to form remix team the Jet Slags with Mr Monday, working on projects including Bump's "I'm Rushin'". He signed a new deal with ZTT Records and returned in July 1998 with a new single, "One Of The People", and the attendant Adamski's Thing. The album eschewed the hardcore sound of the earlier records for a mellow house vibe influenced by Adamski's visits to Ibiza.

Discography:

Liveandirect (MCA 1989)**, Dr. Adamski's Musical Pharmacy (MCA 1990)**, Naughty (MCA 1992)**, Adamski's Thing (ZTT/Uptown 1998)***.

Videography:

Liveandirect (MCA 1990).

Music Albums

Doctor Adamski's Musical Pharmacy

MCA Records

12/11/1990

Liveandirect

MCA Records

04/17/1990

Naughty *

MCA Records

04/28/1992

Source: Encyclopedia of Popular Music

Adam Freeland

Biography

Born 7 August 1973, Welwyn Garden City, England. Like James Lavelle of Mo' Wax Records, Freeland rose to prominence as a dance music wnderkind, becoming a highly successful, DJ, remixer, club promoter and record label boss while still in his early twenties. Originally a deep house DJ, Freeland became known for seamlessly blending hip-hop and electro into his sets. He pioneered "nu-school breaks" - breakbeats with an eclectic range of influences including techno, drum 'n' bass and world music. Although DJing on the London club scene from 1992, his first mix compilation, Coastal Breaks, was not released until 1996. A double CD comprising 32 tracks, it received high praise from the critics and raised Freeland's profile, enabling him to tour in the UK and the USA. He won the admiration of many respected UK DJs such as Carl Cox, Sasha, the Chemical Brothers and Andy Weatherall. He supported Cox on several dates of his F.A.C.T. 2 world tour.

In 1997, he ran a successful night, "Friction", in Soho, London with DJ friends, Rennie Pilgrem and Tayo. In that year, he also released a single with his friend Kevin Beber, "Number 43 With Steamed Rice Please" under the name Tsunami One. The popularity of the track in the clubs led to remix work for the Orb, DeeJay Punk-Roc, Headrillaz and Orbital. Freeland began 1998 by touring Australia with DJ Krush, Pressure Drop and Jos‚ Padilla. Coastal Breaks 2 was released and was a critical and commercial success. Further mix albums on the Marine Parade label preceded a surprise move by the DJ, which saw him forming his own band, Freeland, and performing a series of excellent live shows. The band's debut album, Now & Them, was released in September 2003.

Discography:

with Freeland Now & Them (Marine Parade 2003)***.

Compilations:

Coastal Breaks (Avex 1996)****, Coastal Breaks 2 (React 1998)****, Tectonics (Marine Parade 2000)***, On Tour (Marine Parade 2001)***, Fabriclive.16 (Fabric 2004)***.

Music Albums

Tectonics

Ultra Records

05/30/2000

On Tour

Kinetic

10/09/2001

Fabric Live 16 *

Fabric Records (DJ)

08/24/2004

Source: Encyclopedia of Popular Music

Adam Ant

Biography

Born Stuart Leslie Goddard, 3 November 1954, London, England. After an initially chequered, then immensely successful career leading Adam And The Ants, Goddard went solo in early 1982. For support, he retained old musical partner Marco Pirroni and relaunched himself with the frantic "Goody Two Shoes", which hit number 1 in the UK in May. The average "Friend Or Foe" followed at number 9, but thereafter the spell was broken. Phil Collins was recruited as producer to halt Adam's sudden decline and the pantomime-influenced "Puss In Boots" duly made the Top 5. The revival was only temporary, however, and by the end of 1983, Adam's chart career was practically non-existent. The original god of the "New Pop" seemed commercially bankrupt, his place taken by new idols such as Duran Duran, Culture Club and Wham!. Even an appearance at Live Aid in 1985 with "Vive Le Rock" could only produce a number 50 UK chart entry and Goddard switched adroitly to acting. A surprise chart comeback (number 13) in 1990 with "Room At The Top" appeared a lucky strike and did not seriously distract the singer from his thespian pursuits. A new album in 1995, promoted by concert appearances in West London, provoked further media saturation and good reviews, but little in terms of record sales. The next time Ant made the news was in a distressing series of incidents in the London area in January 2002, following which he was legally confined at the Royal Free Hospital under the 1983 Mental Health Act. He pleaded guilty to affray charges in August, and was sentenced to a year's community service and rehabilitation treatment in October. He was arrested again the following June.

Discography:

Friend Or Foe (CBS/Epic 1982)***, Strip (CBS/Epic 1983)**, Vive Le Rock (CBS/Epic 1985)**, Manners & Physique (MCA 1990)**, Wonderful (EMI/Capitol 1995)***.

Compilations:

Hits (CBS 1986)***, Antics In The Forbidden Zone (Columbia 1990)***, The Collection (Castle 1991)***, Antmusic: The Very Best Of Adam Ant (Arcade 1993)***, B-Side Babies (Epic/Legacy 1994)***, Super Hits (Epic/Legacy 1998)***, The Very Best Of Adam And The Ants (Columbia 1999)***, Antbox 3-CD box set (Columbia 2000)***.

Videography:

Prince Charming Revue (CBS Video 1982), Live In Japan aka Live In Tokyo (CBS Video/Arcade 1982), Hits (CBS/Fox Video 1986), Antmusic: The Very Best Of Adam Ant (Arcade Video 1993), AntVideo (Columbia 2000).

Bibliography:

Adam And The Ants, Mike West. Adam And The Ants, Chris Welch. Adam And The Ants, Fred and Judy Vermorel. Adam Ant Tribal Rock Special, Martha Rodriguez (design). The Official Adam Ant Story, James Maw. Adam And The Ants Kings: The Official Adam And The Ants Song Book, Stephen Lavers.

Filmography:

Jubilee (1977), Nomads (1986), Slamdance (1987), Cold Steel (1987), World Gone Wild (1988), Spellcaster (1988), Trust Me (1989), Sunset Heat aka Midnight Heat (1991), Love Bites (1993), Acting On Impulse aka Eyes Of A Stranger (1993), Drop Dead Rock (1995), Desert Winds (1995), Cyber Bandits (1995), Lover's Knot (1996), Sweetwater (1999).

Music Albums

B-Side Babies

Legacy Recordings

09/27/1994

Wonderful

Capitol/EMI Records

03/07/1995

Super Hits

Epic

01/27/1998

Goody Two Shoes

Sony Music Special Products

09/30/2002

The Essential Adam Ant *

Legacy Recordings

04/01/2003

Antics In The Forbidden Zone

Legacy Rock Artifacts Series

10/30/1990

Friend Or Foe

Epic

07/01/1986

Manners And Physique

MCA Records

02/06/1990

Strip

Epic

08/21/1984

Vive Le Rock

Epic

04/02/1996

Source: Encyclopedia of Popular Music

Acker Bilk

Biography

Born Bernard Stanley Bilk, 28 January 1929, Pensford, Somerset, England. A self-taught clarinettist, Bilk made his first public appearance in 1947 while on National Service in Egypt. On his return to the UK, he played as a semi-professional around the Bristol area, before gaining his big break with the Ken Colyer band in 1954. Four years later, under the name "Mr" Acker Bilk, he enjoyed his first UK Top 10 hit with "Summer Set". Backed by the Paramount Jazz Band, and promoted by his Bilk Marketing Board, he was at the forefront of the British traditional jazz boom of the early 60s. With their distinctive uniform of bowler hats and striped waistcoats, Bilk and company enjoyed a number of jazzy UK hits in the 60s, including "White Cliffs Of Dover", "Buona Sera", "That's My Home", "Stars And Stripes Forever", "Frankie And Johnny", "Gotta See Baby Tonight", and "A Taste Of Honey". However, it was with the Leon Young String Chorale that Bilk achieved his most remarkable hit. "Stranger On The Shore" was a US number 1 in May 1962, and peaked at number 2 in the UK, staying for a record-breaking 55 weeks in the bestsellers. Although the beat boom all but ended the careers of many traditional jazzmen, Bilk has continued to enjoy a successful career in cabaret and concerts, and returned to the Top 10 in 1976, again with a string backing, with "Aria". He continues to tour regularly alongside contemporaries such as Kenny Ball and Chris Barber. The trio had a number 1 album, The Best Of Ball, Barber And Bilk, in 1962. Bilk remains a major figure in traditional jazz, and more than 30 years after "Stranger On The Shore" gained an Ivor Novello Award for "Most Performed Work".

Discography:

Mr. Acker Requests (Pye 1958)***, Mr. Acker Marches On (Pye 1958)***, Mr. Acker Bilk Sings (Pye 1959)**, Mr. Acker Bilk Requests (Part One) (Pye 1959)***, Mr. Acker Bilk Requests (Part Two) (Pye 1959)***, The Noble Art Of Mr. Acker Bilk (Pye 1959)***, Seven Ages Of Acker (Columbia 1960)****, Mr. Acker Bilk's Omnibus (Pye 1960)***, Acker (Columbia 1960)***, A Golden Treasury Of Bilk (Columbia 1961)****, Mr. Acker Bilk's Lansdowne Folio (Columbia 1961)***, Stranger On The Shore (Columbia 1961)****, Above The Stars And Other Romantic Fancies (Columbia 1962)***, A Taste Of Honey (Columbia 1963)****, Great Themes From Great European Movies (Columbia 1965)**, Acker In Paris (Columbia 1966)***, with the Stan Tracey Big Brass Blue Acker (Columbia 1968)****, with the Stan Tracey Strings Horn Of Plenty (Columbia 1971)***, Some Of My Favourite Things (PRT 1973)***, That's My Desire (PRT 1974)***, Serenade (PRT 1975)***, The One For Me (PRT 1976)***, Invitation (PRT 1977)***, Meanwhile (PRT 1977)***, Sheer Magic (Warwick 1977)***, Extremely Live In Studio 1 (PRT 1978)**, Free (PRT 1978)***, When The Lights Are Low (PRT 1978)***, with Max Bygraves Twogether (Piccadilly 1980)**, Unissued Acker (PRT 1980)***, Made In Hungary (PRT 1980)***, The Moment I'm With You (PRT 1980)***, Mama Told Me So (PRT 1980)***, Relaxin' (PRT 1981)***, Wereldsuccessen (Philips 1982)***, I Think The Best Thing About This Record Is The Music (Bell 1982)**, Acker Bilk In Holland (Timeless 1985)**, Nature Boy (PRT 1985)***, Acker's Choice (Teldec 1985)***, John, Paul And Acker (PRT 1986)**, Love Songs My Way (Topline 1987)**, On Stage (Start 1988)***, with Ken Colyer It Looks Like A Big Time Tonight (Stomp Off 1988)***, That's My Home (Pickwick 1988)***, The Love Album (Pickwick 1989)***, Imagine (Pulse 1991)**, Blaze Away (Timeless 1990)****, Heartbeats (Pickwick 1991)***, with Humphrey Lyttelton At Sundown (Calligraph 1992)****, with Lyttelton Three In The Morning (Calligraph 1995)****, Chalumeau That's My Home (Apricot 1995)****, Oscar Winners (Carlton 1995)**.

Compilations:

The Best Of Ball, Barber And Bilk (Pye 1962)****, Golden Hour Of Acker Bilk (Knight 1974)****, Evergreen (Warwick 1978)***, The Acker Bilk Saga (Polydor 1979)***, Spotlight On Acker Bilk (PRT 1980)***, 100 Minutes Of Bilk (PRT 1982)****, Spotlight On Acker Bilk Vol. 2 (PRT 1982)***, I'm In The Mood For Love (Philips 1983)***, Finest Moments (Castle 1986)***, Magic Clarinet Of Acker Bilk (K-Tel 1986)***, 16 Golden Memories (Spectrum 1988)***, Best Of Acker Bilk His Clarinet And Strings (PRT 1988)***, Hits Blues And Classics (Kaz 1988)***, The Collection (Castle 1989)***, Images (Knight 1989)***, After Midnight (Pickwick 1990)***, In A Mellow Mood (Castle 1992)***, Reflections (Spectrum 1993)***, Acker Bilk Songbook (Tring 1993)***, Bridge Over Troubled Water (Spectrum 1995)**, All The Hits Plus More (Prestige 1997)***, Mr. Acker Bilk And His Paramount Jazz Band (Castle 2001)****.

Bibliography:

The Book Of Bilk, Peter Leslie and Patrick Gwynn-Jones. Acker Bilk, Gordon Williams.

Filmography:

It's Trad, Dad! (1962), It's All Over Town (1964).

Music Albums

More Of The Best

Laserlight

10/29/1996

Some Of The Best

Laserlight

10/29/1996

Classic Themes

Crimson Productions

10/13/1998

The Very Best Of Mr. Acker Bilk

Taragon Records

02/17/1998

Acker Bilk & His Orchestra

Music & Romance (Import-Holland)

08/03/1999

The Frankfurt Concert

Hitchcock Media

10/10/2000

In A Mellow Mood

St. Clair

08/29/1996

Best Of

St. Clair

01/21/1997

All The Hits Plus More

Dressed To Kill - (import)

08/28/2001

Sweet Georgia Brown

Traditional Line (Import)

10/08/2002

At The Movies *

Fabulous

11/25/2003

After Midnight

Pickwick

03/16/1993

Best Of...His Clarinet & Strings

GNP/Crescendo

n/a

Best Of Acker Bilk, Vol II [Cassette]

GNP/Crescendo

n/a

Golden Instrumental Hits

Laserlight

10/22/1991

Heartbeats

Pickwick

01/15/1992

Love Songs

Pickwick

n/a

Plays Lennon & McCartney

GNP/Crescendo

04/07/1989

Some Of My Favorite Things

Compleat

n/a

The Magic Clarinet Of Acker Bilk

Dominion

1987

Source: Encyclopedia of Popular Music