Articles Index

Profile: The Bee Gees

A profile of The Bee Gees, the trio of brothers who began as Australia's answer to the Beatles and eventually kicked a flagging disco scene straight into the heart of American culture with the soundtrack to the Saturday Night Fever film. This Bee Gees profile is one of a series on music's most important artists of the rock and roll oldies era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

Profile: Donna Summer

The Queen of Disco started out as a novelty singer of sorts, creating "orgasm" records with a proto-electronic flair before barnstorming the pop charts with genre-defining classics like "Bad Girls," "Hot Stuff," and "Last Dance." This Donna Summer profile is the latest in a series on music's most popular artists of the 50s, 60s, and 70s, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

Profile: Booker T. and the MGs

A profile of Booker T. and the MGs, the instrumental soul outfit best known for classic hits like "Green Onions" and also for backing the greats on Memphis' Stax label. This Booker T. and the MGs profile is one of a series on music's most important artists of the rock and roll oldies era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

In the Spotlight: Dick Clark

Dick Clark was known as America's Oldest Teenager, the host of ABC's American Bandstand who introduced rock and roll to the country's living rooms before moving into game shows and TV specials. This profile is the latest in a series on music's most important artists of the first top 40 era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

In the Spotlight: Irma Thomas

Irma Thomas was and is New Orleans' very own "Queen of Soul," who influenced the genre (and rock and rollers as well) in the '60s with hits like "It's Raining," "Breakaway," and "Time is on My Side." This profile is the latest in a series on music's most important artists of the first top 40 era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

In the Spotlight: Wanda Jackson

The story of Wanda Jackson, the first "Queen of Rock" and the sassiest and most countryfied of the rockabilly greats, with classic songs such as "Fujiyama Mama," "Hot Dog! That Made Him Mad," and "Let's Have a Party." This profile is the latest in a series on music's most popular artists of the first top 40 era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

In the Spotlight: Billy Ward and His Dominoes

All about Billy Ward and his Dominoes, the R&B powerhouse who dominated the charts in the early '50s. opened up the path to rock and roll with the controversial "Sixty Minute Man," and spun off both Clyde McPhatter and Jackie Wilson. This profile is the latest in a series on music's most popular artists of the oldies era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

In the Spotlight: Lesley Gore

The story of Lesley Gore, the teen queen of weepy pop who defined the romantic rituals of a generation with classics like "It's My Party," "Judy's Turn to Cry," and "You Don't Own Me." This profile is the latest in a series on music's most popular artists of the oldies era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

Profile: Etta James

Etta James is best known for the wedding-day standard "At Last," but the hardwon (and sexy) joy in that song shines through the rest of her Fifties and Sixties R&B catalog in hits such as "Tell Mama," "A Sunday Kind Of Love," and "The Wallflower (Roll With Me, Henry)." This Etta James profile is the latest in a series on music's most popular artists of the rock and roll oldies era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

In the Spotlight: Johnny Otis

Johnny Otis was the "Godfather of R&B," the bandleader and guitarist who ruled the early '50s R&B charts, produced, wrote and discovered tons of important artists, and had his own enduring hit with "Willie and the Hand Jive." This profile is the latest in a series on music's most popular artists of the oldies era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

In the Spotlight: The Doobie Brothers

The story of the Doobie Brothers, the huge revolving group of rockers who split the difference between biker tough and hippie cool with the hits "Listen to the Music" and "Black Water" before Michael McDonald took them into soft rock territory with "Takin' It to the Streets" and "What a Fool Believes." This Doobie Brothers profile, which includes music, history, and trivia, is one of a series written and compiled by your oldies Guide at About.com.

In the Spotlight: The Eagles

The story of The Eagles, the band who brought country-rock into the mainstream while reporting on the death of the SoCal dream with songs like "Hotel California," "Heartache Tonight," and "Best of My Love." This profile is the latest in a series on music's most popular artists of the oldies era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

In the Spotlight: The Chi-Lites

The story of The Chi-Lites, Chicago's answer to Philly and Memphis Soul who graced the charts in the early 70s with smooth, anguished classics like "Oh Girl" and "Have You Seen Her." This profile is the latest in a series on music's most popular artists of the oldies era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

In the Spotlight: Donovan

The story of Donovan, the folk-pop hippie icon of the 60s who defined the commercial side of his generation's music with classic hits like "Sunshine Superman," "Mellow Yellow," and "Atlantis." This Donovan profile, which includes music, history, and trivia, is one of a series written and compiled by your oldies Guide at About.com.

In the Spotlight: Linda Ronstadt

The story of Linda Ronstadt, the country-pop siren of the '70s whose operatic voice transformed such hits as "You're No Good," "Blue Bayou," and "When Will I Be Loved." This profile is the latest in a series on music's most popular artists of the oldies era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

Fats Domino: The oldies.about.com Profile

The latest in a series of profiles on rock and roll's most important artists of the oldies era, written and compiled by your Guide here at oldies.about.com.

In the Spotlight: Earth, Wind & Fire

The story of Earth, Wind & Fire, the huge collective that helped bring black spirituality and a higher awareness into the '70s R&B mainstream with classic hits like "Shining Star," "September," and "That's The Way of the World." Written and compiled by your Oldies guide from About.com.

Spotlight on: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO)

The history of Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), the 70s band that merged classical music and Beatles-style pop with AM hits like "Evil Woman," "Livin' Thing," and "Telephone Line." This Electric Light Orchestra profile, which includes music, history, and trivia, is one of a series written and compiled by your oldies Guide at About.com.

Profile: Three Dog Night

A profile of Three Dog Night, the incredibly popular 70s AM staples who scored over and over with golden oldies like "One," "Joy To The World," and "Mama Told Me Not To Come." This Three Dog Night profile, which includes music, history, and trivia, is one of a series written and compiled by your oldies Guide at About.com.

James Brown

The story of James Brown, the "Godfather of Soul" and the primary architect of funk music who entered musical iconhood with his dynamic stage act and big hits like "I Got You (I Feel Good)," "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," and "Sex Machine." Read about the history and hits of the Hardest Working Man in Show Business in this biography.

Profile: The Stylistics

The Stylistics were the vocal group most responsible for popularizing "Philly Soul," that early-Seventies brand of heavily orchestrated R&B that paved the way for disco. Their forte lay mostly in ballads, however, classic gold like "Break Up To Make Up," "Betcha By Golly, Wow," and "You Are Everything." This Stylistics profile is the latest in a series on music's most popular artists of the rock and roll oldies era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

Profile: Ruth Brown

A profile of Ruth Brown, the vastly influential R&B diva who helped put the Atlantic label on the map with hits like "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean" and later went on to star in John Waters' movie "Hairspray." This Ruth Brown profile is one of a series on music's most important artists of the rock and roll oldies era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

Profile: Sly and the Family Stone

A profile of Sly and the Family Stone, the groundbreaking multiracial rock-funk unit who expanded consciousness and crossed racial and cultural lines with classic hits like "Everyday People," "Dance to the Music," and "Family Affair." This Sly and the Family Stone profile is one of a series on music's most important artists of the rock and roll oldies era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

Profile: The Marvelettes

The Marvelettes got Motown their first Number One hit, and in the process established the girl group as an undeniable hit-making genre of its own with songs such as "Please Mister Postman," "Playboy," and "Beechwood 4-5789." This Marvelettes profile is the latest in a series on music's most popular artists of the rock and roll oldies era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.

Profile: Dr. John

All about Dr. John, the Night Tripper responsible for '70s funk and classic r&b hits like "Right Place Wrong Time," "Such A Night," and "Iko Iko." This Dr. John profile is the latest in a series on music's most popular artists of the oldies era, written and compiled by your oldies Guide here at About.com.