Originating in Eureka, California, USA, in the mid-80s, this bizarre punk-metal-jazz-avant garde amalgam was Mike Patton's first band prior to joining Faith No More, and the success of The Real Thing helped Patton to secure a record contract for his …

b. Kheaven Brereton, Scarborough, Canada. Adopting a moniker that is pronounced "chaos" and is an acronym for "Knowledge of Self", Brereton cites the influence of Michael Jackson, A Tribe Called Quest, the Beatles, the Roots and Stevie Wonder on his …

Sylvester Stewart, known to the world as Sly Stone, had a musical vision that coalesced quickly in the late 1960s and sadly disintegrated after half a decade. As the leader of Sly & the Family Stone, he and his combination hippie commune/soul revue m…

This multi-national trio shot into the UK and US Top 5 in August 1990 with the groundbreaking "Groove Is In The Heart", blending 70s disco with house beats in an outrageously funky mix. The outfit was formed by Lady Miss Kier (b. Kier Kirby, Youngsto…

A giant both artistically and physically, Barry White had a basso profundo voice and lusty, soulful songs that are probably responsible for more procreation than a thousand fertility clinics. Songs like "Never Never Gonna Give You Up" and "Can't Get …

Hip-Hop

Detroit born Guitarist/Composer Dan Baraszu has been playing guitar for over 25 years. While he's influenced by many artists, Dan has been able to develop and nurture his own unique voice.

We play mostly originals that are a blend of funky-soul music with jazz improvisation. Da bassist, composer and educator, mixes Jazz, Funky grooves and odd time signatures on new recording “Da Bass Is Loaded

b. 14 February 1943, Kinston, North Carolina, USA. Tenor saxophonist Maceo, and his brother Melvin (b. Kinston, North Carolina, USA; drums), played in various high school bands before joining the James Brown revue in 1964. They featured on several of…

Catch the spirit and echoes of such diverse giants as Miles Davis, The Police, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Jimi Hendrix, and you begin to sense the uncommonly broadpool of inspiration from which this artist draws inspiration from.

The Gorillaz is Blur frontman Damon Albarn's hip-hop/electronica cartoon concept band. While real-life participants have included such luminaries as Dan the Automator, Danger Mouse, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, De La Soul, and Shuan Ryder, the Gorillaz…

A tasty blend of soul/funk/rock and other styles. It's raw, grooving music. All of The Woodsmen's music is free for you. Go to www.thewoodsmen.net for more

Japanese-born DJ Towa Tei first earned notice for his production work on the Jungle Brothers 1989 LP Done by the Forces of Nature the following year he shot to fame as a member of the downtown New York club trio Deee-Lite scoring an international hit…

Before Nine Inch Nails, electronic-based rock was often considered devoid of feeling and danger. Leader Trent Reznor merged synths with tortured vocals/lyrics, distorted guitar, and repetitive, slamming rhythms into an unpredictable amalgam, helping …

b Mirwais Ahmadzai, Switzerland. Born to an Italian mother and Afghanistani father, Mirwais moved to Paris, France when he was six. In 1979, he was principal founder of the seminal French outfit Taxi Girl, playing lead guitar in an electro-pop band t…

In the wake of Michael Jackson's monster success with THRILLER, most of his brothers and sisters tried their hands at launching similarly styled solo careers, with varying degrees of success. But the only one to become a major recording figure on her…

Beck Hansen, the quintessential California slacker, came up among the lo-fi ranks, pushing a blend of country blues, Dylan-inspired wordplay, punk, and hip-hop. His straight-out-of-the-gate 1994 smash, "Loser," made him a star seemingly overnight. Su…

In the mid-1990s, the dreamy-but-grooving sound of trip-hop was confined to the U.K. underground until Portishead brought it to the worldwide mainstream. Combining electronics, lush production, Ennio Morricone-like guitar breaks, and angelic singing …

Little Feat was a perfect balance of a soulful singer and songwriter, a funky rhythm section, and innovatively emotive soloists. The balance didn't last, but their finest works remain compelling and timeless.

The Bristol collective known as Massive Attack arose out of the acid house scene of late-1980s England to become one of the 1990s' greatest innovators. The group has literally changed the face of music every time out. They invented "trip-hop" on thei…

Scottish dance music unit, who shared the same One Little Indian Records label as their fellow countrymen the Shamen, but failed to replicate their success. It was not through want of effort, or, for that matter, talent. The band took their name from…

Indie R&B with a Memphis twist and a New Orleans shake

b. Essex, England. Singer-songwriter Imogen Heap could hardly have enjoyed a more prestigious live debut - performing four songs, backed by friends Acacia, between sets by the Who and Eric Clapton at the 1996 Prince's Trust Concert in London's Hyde P…

Maria Muldaur got her start in the heady West Village folk scene of the early 1960s with the Even Dozen Jug Band (her bandmates included guitarist Stefan Grossman and future Lovin' Spoonful John Sebastian), and then enjoyed a few years with the Jim K…

Most alternative rock of the 1990s was based around purging one's demons over a wall of distorted power chords, but bands like Barenaked Ladies showed that tunefulness and carefree pop ditties weren't completely extinct. Hailing from Canada, this pur…