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Just think of all the music that’s distinctly American. Jazz. Rock and roll. Motown. The blues. Zydeco. (And if we didn’t invent it here, we found a way to make it better.) We tap our toes, we dance, we thrill to the music of America.
Singer: Sam Cooke
Smooth, distinctive, soulful. Words just don’t exist to explain the sound that Sam Cooke brought to rhythm and blues in America....
Read MoreMusic: Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker loved chicken as a young man, and got the nickname “Yardbird,” later shortened to “Bird.” He wanted...
Read MoreSong: "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay"
Otis Redding died in a plane crash near Madison, Wisconsin just three days after overdubs of “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the...
Read MoreSinger: Stevie Wonder
Who has won more Grammy Awards than any other male solo artist? Why, that’s right, it’s Stevie Wonder. It’s amazing that...
Read MoreMusic: John Philip Sousa
Some of America’s most beloved patriotic marches came to us via the master of military music, “The March King” –...
Read MoreSong: "Orange Blossom Special"
Those who follow this blog regularly know that I try to make the selections based not just on my own personal opinions, but to honor those...
Read MoreSingers: The Eagles
Someone may point out an exception that hasn’t occurred to me, but to the best of my recollection, The Eagles have never recorded a...
Read MoreMusic: The Brill Building
In the Brill Building, and a couple of other addresses down the block that housed the overflow, American pop music was written, arranged,...
Read MoreSong: “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’”
In 1964, The Righteous Brothers had released two singles, neither of which made it higher on the charts than number 49. Fortunately for...
Read MoreMusic: Burt Bacharach
So many of the people on this list have multiple talents, any of which could have made them a success. Burt Bacharach is a good example....
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