Diana Ross, The #79 Artist of the Rock Era

"Ms. Ross' delivery is exceptional."

"A Supreme voice."

"What a voice.  What a career."

"She was a superstar in the 60's, 70's and 80's.  The Lady = Quality."

"Diana Ross is a true icon."

"One of the greatest singers of all-time."

Diana Ross is brilliant!!

"A fabulous singer that makes one feel what she sings."

"Diana was pure magic."

"Hit after hit.  An absolute legend."

Diana Ross was born on March 26, 1944 in Detroit, Michigan although according to Ross, her real name is "Diane" but a clerical mistake led to her name being recorded officially as "Diana".  By a Rock Era coincidence, Smokey Robinson lived nearby growing up.  When Diana's mother became seriously ill from tuberculosis, the rest of the family moved to Alabama and then moved back to Detroit when she recovered. 

Ross attended Cass Technical High School and Diana took several courses to prepare for a career in fashion design.  She worked at Hudson's Department store and made extra money providing hairdressing for neighbors.  

Diana joined the Primettes when she was 15, a group that eventually became known as the Supremes, the greatest female group of all-time.  It was neighbor Smokey Robinson who helped the group get a recording contract with Motown.

Towards the end of the 1960's, Motown CEO Barry Gordy Jr. strategized to begin paving the way for a solo career for Diana.  In 1968, Ross performed by herself on several television shows.  The following year, she began recording for her debut album.  Her first solo release, "Someday We'll Be Together", was actually credited to the Supremes and became their 12th and final #1 song.  Diana appeared for the last time as a Supreme on January 14, 1970 at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 

Later in 1970, Ross released her self-titled debut album.  The lead single, "Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand)" was a Top 10 R&B hit but stalled at #20 overall.

The Andantes, Jimmy Beavers, Jo Armstead, Ashford & Simpson and Brenda Evans and Billie Calvin of the Undisputed Truth.

 

Her signature song was next, the remake of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", which Diana turned into her own.  The multi-format smash, featuring incredible backing vocals from songwriters Ashford & Simpson, the Andantes, Jimmy Beavers, Jo Armstead and Billie Calvin and Brenda Evans of the Undisputed Truth, soared to #1 on both the R&B and Popular charts, #6 on the Adult chart and #6 in the U.K. while reaching #7 in Canada.

Diana was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, one of an astounding 10 nominations in which she never was given a trophy before the academy embarrassingly tried to make up for it with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.  She released the albums Everything Is Everything and Surrender the following year.  Ross starred in the television special, Diana! with guests the Jackson 5.

Ross had a relationship with Motown boss Berry Gordy, Jr. for several years, but married Robert Silberstein in 1971.  Those two divorced in 1977.

Ross had movie aspirations as well, and drew raves for her performance in Lady Sings the Blues, a film loosely based on singer Billie Holiday.  Diana received both Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress and came away with the American Music Award for Favorite Pop or Rock Album.  The soundtrack album went to #1 and has sold two million copies.

 

In 1973, Ross scored another #1 with "Touch Me In The Morning", title song from her fourth studio album that earned Diana another Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. 

Later in the year, two of Motown's biggest stars, Ross and Marvin Gaye, collaborated for the album Diana & Marvin.  The song "You're A Special Part Of Me" made it to #4 R&B and #12 overall.

Meanwhile, Diana released her solo album Last Time I Saw Him, containing the #1 Adult title song.

Diana toured throughout the year and became the first entertainer in history to receive an invitation to the Imperial Palace in Japan.  Diana's universal popularity led to her hosting the Academy Awards in 1974.

 

Both Diana's singing and acting careers benefited in 1975 with the release of the movie Mahogany and its soundtrack album.  Panned by critics, who never know much of what they are writing about, the film was a box office success.  The soundtrack, meanwhile, featured another #1 from Ross, the poignant and personal "Theme From 'Mahogany' (Do You Know Where You're Going To?)"  

 

Diana scored another American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Vocalist.  In 1976, the disco craze was just getting underway and Diana capitalized with one of her biggest career hits, the #1 smash "Love Hangover".

She was nominated again in 1977 for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Vocalist at the American Music Awards and for Best R&B Female Vocal Performance.  Ross promoted the album with a tour and a two-week stay at Palace Theatre in New York City as well as a television special which received an Emmy nomination.

Diana starred in the movie The Wiz in 1977, and then collaborated with co-star Michael Jackson on the hit "Ease On Down The Road".  

 

In 1980, Diana returned to the Top 10 with "It's My Turn", from the movie of the same name.  She connects with the heart and emotion of the lyrics in a way few can.  

Diana's albums Baby It's Me and Ross did not produce big hits but in 1979, Ross released the album The Boss.  

Diana hosted an episode of The Tonight Show and hosted the HBO special Standing Room Only during her concert tour.  

 

Ross enjoyed her most successful album, Diana, in 1980.  "I'm Coming Out"

 

"Upside Down" gave Ross her fourth #1 as a solo performer.

 

Ross captured American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Vocalist and Favorite Soul/R&B Single ("for "Upside Down") and was nominated for Best R&B Female Vocal Performance.  She then teamed up with Lionel Richie for the theme song for the movie Endless Love that gave her another trophy for Favorite Soul/R&B single.  It was nominated for Grammys for Record of the Yeae and Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and an Academy Award and is one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*, #1 in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand and Top Five in every major country in the world.

 

Diana hosted the television special Diana and then shopped around for a new label, signing a seven-year deal with RCA for $20 million.  Her first effort with RCA was the 1981 album Why Do Fools Fall in Love. The title song was another across-the-board winner--#2 Adult Contemporary, #6 R&B and #7 overall.

 

The album has sold over one million copies. "Mirror, Mirror" gave Ross her ninth career Top 10 away from the Supremes.   

Diana won her seventh American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Vocalist in 1983.  She formed her own production company, Anaid Productions, and toured in the United States and throughout the world.  In 1982, Diana received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and sang the U.S. national anthem at Super Bowl XVI.  

 

Ross released the album Silk Electric, which went Gold and contained another Top 10--"Muscles".

Her next effort was the album Ross, which did not generate a good deal of attention.  In 1983, Diana performed for free in a concert in New York City's Central Park, with proceeds going to build a playground in Ross's name.  But midway through, a torrential downpour ensued and the show had to be canceled.  Diana returned the next day and performed again, but memorabilia that was supposed to raise money for the playground had been destroyed by the storm.  Ross wrote a personal check for $250,000 to cover the cost of the project, and the Diana Ross Playground was built three years later.

 

In 1984, Diana released the album Swept Away, which featured the #2 AC smash "All Of You", a duet with Julio Iglesias.

Lionel Richie wrote the song "Missing You" as a tribute to Marvin Gaye, and Ross recorded and released it as a single. It topped the R&B chart while also reaching #4 on the Adult chart and #10 Popular.

 

Ross joined Richie and many others for USA for Africa's charity song "We Are The World", which sold over 20 million copies worldwide.

Diana met her second husband, Arne Naess, Jr. in 1985 and the two married the next year.

Diana released the album Eaten Alive in 1985, produced by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, with "Chain Reaction" hitting #1 in the U.K., Australia and Ireland.

In 1987, Ross released the album Red Hot Rhythm & Blues to little success.  However, Diana's television special landed three Emmy Award Nominations.  Ross hosted the American Music Awards in both 1986 and 1987.

In 1988, Ross chose to go back to Motown.  When Barry Gordy solid it to MCA, Ross was asked to return to Motown in exchange for giving her shares in the company.  She agreed.

Diana recorded "If We Hold On Together", the theme to the movie The Land Before Time.  In 1989, Ross released the album Workin' Overtime, but the album stalled at #34.  Her next albums, The Force Behind the Power in 1991, Take Me Higher in 1995, and Every Day Is a New Day, were similarly treated.  

In 1991, Diana performed before Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London.  Ross had a role in the television movie Out of Darkness in 1993 and earned another Golden Globe nomination for her performance. 

Ross released the compilations One Woman:  The Ultimate Collection as well as the box set Forever Diana:  Musical Memoirs in 1994.  In 1996, Diana performed at halftime of Super Bowl XXX and released the live DVD of her Tokyo concert in Nippon Bodukan Stadium, called Diana Ross:  Live in Japan.

Diana received the Lifelong Contribution to the Music Industry Award at the World Music Awards in 1996.  Ross hosted the Motown 40 television special anniversary show in 1998.  She starred in the television movie Double Platinum in 1999 and released her album Every Day Is a New Day. 

Diana invited all members of the Supremes to join her on a world tour, but Jean Terrell and Susaye Greene declined, but Scherrie Payne and Lynda Laurence joined her for performances on the tour as well as on television shows.

In 2000, Diana received a Heroes Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. In 2002, Diana to her great credit admitted herself into the Promises Institute in Malibu, California for a 30-day substance abuse program due to a growing alcohol problem.  She emerged strong and performed several concerts, including a show at London's Hyde Park for Prince Charles' Prince's Trust charity which drew 60,000 fans. 

In 2004, Diana's husband, Arne, fell to his death in a mountain climbing accident in 2004.

Ross was performing to sold-out shows in the U.S. but re-entered the rehabilitation center.  In 2005, she helped raise money for victims of the Indonesian tsunami when she performed at Tsunami Aid:  A Concert of Hope televised live.

The following year, Diana released her first studio album since 1999 with I Love You.  She promoted the album with a world tour and in 2007, was presented with the Kennedy Center Honors.

In 2008, Diana performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway.  She toured the world again in 2010.

In 2012, Ross received her first Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement.  That tells us all much about the Grammys--one of the greatest superstars of our lifetime does not win one award and then they finally recognize their colossal series of mistakes by presenting her with a lifetime award.

Diana released a DVD of her Central Park concerts called For One & For All.  

Ross has continued to perform and in 2015, set up a residency at The Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Diana received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from U.S. President Barack Obama on November 22, 2016.  She released the album Diamond Diana in 2017 and the following year, began a short residency at The Wynn Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.

Ross has 18 #1 songs to her credit, 12 with the Supremes.  Those of course do not count in the methodology of these rankings, but nonetheless show the totality of her career body of work.  Diana is the only female in history to enjoy a #1 song as a solo performer, as a member of a duet (with Lionel Richie), as a member of a trio, and as an ensemble member (her work with USA for Africa).

Ross also has another impressive distinction:  she tallied a Top 10 hit in the U.K. in each of the last five decades, and sang lead on a Top 75 hit at least once per year from 1964 to 1996 in the U.K., an astounding string of 33 consecutive years, which is an all-time record.

In her amazing career, Ross charted 27 hits, with 8 of those going Top 10 and 6 fabulous #1's.

Diana won seven American Music Awards out of nine nominations and a Grammy Award among 11 nominations.

Huey Lewis & the News, The #80 Artist of the Rock Era

"One of the best groups of all-time."

"Fantastic band, great entertainers."

"One of my favorite Rock bands of all-time."

"Huey Lewis and the News' biggest gift was their ability to make music fun. Such a simple thing, but so difficult to capture."

"This band is absolutely awesome."

"Their songs make me happy like no other music."

"Great vocals and harmonies."

"Timeless music by this talented group."

"Great band, classic songs."

"They're one of the best."

This great Bay Area band had its origins when Huey Louis (vocals and harmonica) and keyboardist Sean Hopper were in the jazz-funk group Clover.  After his parents divorced when he was 12, Lewis was sent to the exclusive Lawrenceville (New Jersey) School on a scholarship for underprivleged kids and was on tract to be an engineer.  But he forged a boarding pass to fly to Europe and learned to sing and play folk harmonica. 

Lewis made it to Cornell University but dropped out after six months to return to the Bay Area.  Lewis started his own landscaping company and also worked at carpentry and operating a natural foods business before joining Clover. 

(Hopper, left, Huey Louis, right, above)

Clover recorded several albums in the 1970's and relocated to England to play pubs.  Louis played harmonica for Thin Lizzy on the live album Live and Dangerous, while the Clovers (minus Louis) were the backing band for Elvis Costello's debut album.  By the end of the decade, the Clovers returned to the Bay Area.  

(Gibson, second from left, Colla and Cipollina, second and third from right, respectively)

Another local group, Sound Hole, had a similar sound to the Clovers, and included bassist Mario Cipollina, saxophonist and guitarist Johnny Colla and drummer Bill Gibson.  Sound Hole also had recording credits, backing Van Morrison and Colla also played saxophone for Sly & the Family Stone in later years.  Clover and Sound Hole played the same clubs before the same audiences and were both trying to make it big.

Now promoted as Huey Lewis, Lewis secured a singles contract from Phonogram Records in 1978 and recruited Cippolina, Colla, Gibson and Hopper to form the group Huey Lewis & the American Express.  

In 1979, the group recorded a Disco version of the theme to the movie Exodus called "Exodisco".  The band's demo tape was heard by Bob Brown, manager for another local group, Pablo Cruise.  Brown helped the band land a recording contract with Chrysalis and they changed their name to Huey Lewis & the News at that time, figuring the credit card company that goes by that name may not like a Rock band named after them.

 

In 1980, the group released their self-titled album, which was mostly ignored.  But in 1982, the album Picture This had what it took to get Huey Lewis and the News off the ground.  A song written years earlier by Robert "Mutt" Lange, who had produced for Clover, took off as "Do You Believe In Love" rose to #7.

 

The album went Gold and gave us the highly underrated song "Workin' For A Livin'". 

 

In late 1983, the group released the best album of their career and one of the most successful of 1984, Sports.  The lead single, "Heart And Soul", jumped to #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #8 overall.

 

The band followed up with "I Want A New Drug", underrated even at #6 in the U.S. and #10 overall, evidenced by sales of over one million copies.

 

Huey and the group released the single "The Heart Of Rock & Roll", another #6 smash.   

 

They pulled another big hit from the album when "If This Is It" rose to #5 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #6 overall.

Sports continued to ride the momentum of singles to #1.  "Walking On A Thin Line" was also a minor hit.  Sports has now sold over seven million copies in the United States alone.

 

In 1985, Lewis & the News recorded a song for the great movie Back to the Future.  "The Power Of Love" went to #1 in the U.S. and Australia and #3 in New Zealand.  The group won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Long Form and were nominated for Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special for their role in the movie soundtrack.  "The Power Of Love" was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Song from a Motion Picture.  It also sold over one million copies.

 

The group released another strong album, Fore! in 1986.  It too went to #1 and generated five Top 10 hits.  The single "Stuck With You" led the way on both the Adult Contemporary and Popular charts in the United States and finished a strong #2 in both Australia and New Zealand.

 

Huey Lewis & the News scored another big hit with "Hip To Be Square", #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #3 overall in the U.S. and #9 in New Zealand.

Fore! has now sold over three million copies and yielded the #1 smash "Jacob's Ladder". 

 

While drawing unfair criticism in comparison to Sports, Fore! is an outstanding album in its own right.  The single "I Know What I Like" reached #9.

 

The single "Doing It All For My Baby" raced to #2 on the AC chart and #6 overall, giving the group five Top 10 hits on the album.

 

Huey & The News are known for doing amazing performances of the U.S. national anthem a cappella.  It is another of the great skills this band has mastered!  Check out "Naturally" from the album.

 

The albums Sports and Fore! represented the group in their heyday as they were one of the top acts around.  The album Small World in 1988 went Platinum and featured "Perfect World", a #3 smash that also rose to #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

 

Lewis & the News switched to EMI Records and released the album Hard at Play in 1991.  The band went on a world tour to promote the album, which was certified Gold, thanks largely to the single "Couple Days Off", a #3 Mainstream Rock chart that stopped at #11 overall.

 

That would be the last album the group recorded for 10 years, although they achieved a #7 Adult Contemporary hit with "It's Alright" from the album People Get Ready:  A Tribute to Curtis Mayfield by various artists. 

Another label switch to Elektra ensued in 1994, when the group recorded cover songs from the 1950's and '60s called Four Chords & Several Years Ago.  Cipollina left after another world tour.

In 1996, Huey Lewis & the News released their compilation album Time Flies.

Hayes left the group after their 2001 album Plan B, and the band has undergone several other personnel changes.  They continue to tour on a regular basis, and recorded the album Soulsville in 2010.

Lewis equates stardom in Rock music to rodeoing in this way:  "It's an eight-second ride with about two weeks of healing up, and then it's another eight-second ride."

Huey Lewis & the News landed 12 Top 10 songs out of 21 career hits, with three #1 smashes.

Styx, the #81 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

"Definitely one of the best bands ever."

"What a band!!!"

"Immeasurable talent."

"Long live Styx!  The best music!"

"Always loved Styx's excellent soaring harmonies."

"They were true visionaries."

"Undeniable talent."

"Styx is one of greatest bands of all-time."

"The sheer artistry of this group is mind-blowing."

"These guys were a fantastic band, especially live."

This great group formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1962 when brothers Chuck (bass) and John Panozzo (drums) and neighbor Dennis DeYoung (vocals and keyboards) started under the name the Tradewinds.  Chuck briefly left for seminary school but  returned, and took up bass as Tom Nardini, who had replaced him, played lead guitar.  

In 1965, the group changed their name to TW4 (There Were 4) after another group called the Trade Winds became known.  The next year, the Panozzo brothers and DeYoung were at Chicago State College and did gigs at high schools at fraternity parties while they studied to become teachers.  

In 1969, Nardini left, replaced by John Curulewski.  The group added another guitarist in 1970, James "J.Y." Young.  After being seen by a talent scout at a show in Western Springs, Illinois, the group signed a recording contract with Wooden Nickel Records.  At that time, the members decided to select a new name, and settled on Styx because it was, as DeYoung stated, "the only one that none of us hated."

Styx released their self-titled album in 1972, which generated a fan base in Chicago but failed to break the group.  Styx II and The Serpent Is Rising in 1973 and Man of Miracle in 1974 experienced similar results.

 

Then, "Lady" from Styx II began receiving radio airplay, first on WLS in Chicago, and other stations in the U.S. quickly followed suit.  It became a big hit in 1975, almost two years after the album was released.  "Lady" persistently climbed up to #6 (underrated even at that peak) and sold over one million copies.  Styx was on their way.

 

While Styx took some time to gain a major following, the material on their early albums is nonetheless some of their best.  "You Need Love" should have been a single.  

 

We also want you to hear "Father O.S.A.", another Top Track* on the album and a composition which showed their potential for greatness.

 

The popularity of "Lady" opened doors for the group and they signed with A&M to release their next album, Equinox.  "Lorelei" reached #27, another of several songs Styx recorded in their career that would be underrated. 

 

We mentioned that early Styx is some of their best, and Equinox is filled with great songs.  The DeYoung ballad "Lonely Child" is one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*. 

 

Styx fans also like the rocker "Midnight Ride".

Equinox has since gone Gold.  "Light Up" was also a concert favorite among Styx fans.

 

And this song, largely ignored at the time, has become a classic--"Prelude 12/Suite Madame Blue".

Just as Styx was set to go on a national tour late in the year, Curulewski left.  Being that the tour dates were already set and they were fast approaching, Styx conducted a pressure-packed search to find a new lead guitarist and chose Tommy Shaw.

 

But the group got more than a guitarist; they got another great new lead singer and a fantastic songwriter.  Shaw began exerting an influence on the 1976 album Crystal Ball.  His song "Mademoiselle" was another underrated song at #36.  We like the intro to the song on the album, "Put Me On", as well.

 

Shaw also wrote and sang on the great title track from Crystal Ball, the group's second straight Gold album.

 

Styx's strength was their ability to record great rock & roll as well as ballads.  "Shooz" is one of their best rockers.

 

In 1977, Styx released the compilation Best of Styx (which includes only those songs on Wooden Nickel Records that has now gone Gold) prior to releasing the studio album The Grand Illusion.  Although their earlier material contains some of the group's best work, most notably Equinox, it was The Grand Illusion which catapulted them to superstardom.  "Come Sail Away" gave the group their second Top 10 hit and peaked at #8.

Even though Equinox and Crystal Ball were better albums, it was The Grand Illusion which sold over three million copies thanks to "Come Sail Away".  Shaw's "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man) peaked at #29.  It is one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.

 

The song "Superstars" is something of an autobiographical song written before the band became superstars, which they achieved as a result of The Grand Illusion (their first Top 10 album at #6).

Young's guitar work is showcased on "Miss America".

Be sure to catch Part Two of Styx's story!

Styx, The #81 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Two

 We continue with Part II of Styx!

 

Styx continued that success with the album Pieces of Eight, which moved the band more towards hard rock.  "Renegade" made it to #16.

Pieces of Eight has also cleared three million in sales.  Styx released "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" as the next single, which reached #21.

The Grand Illusion paved the way for Styx with the masses, and Pieces of Eight cemented their place in the rock world.  "Sing For The Day", another Shaw song, is a solid track on the album.

 

In 1979, Styx released Cornerstone, probably their best album since Equinox.  "Babe" became the group's biggest international hit, #1 in the U.S. and U.K. and Top 10 in virtually every other country, and sold over one million copies and earned a People's Choice Award for Best New Song.

 Cornerstone garnered #2 in the United States on the Album chart.  Styx was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and engineers Gary Loizzo and Rob Kingsland were nominated for Best Engineered Recording. "Why Me" landed in the Top 10 in the U.K. but only #26 in their native United States.

 "Borrowed Time" is one of Styx's Top Tracks*.

 Disagreement over the direction of the band led to tensions between Shaw and DeYoung which have lasted to this day.  DeYoung also wanted to keep ballads in their repertoire with Shaw and Young favoring nothing but hard rock.  DeYoung argued for "First Time" as the follow-up to "Babe" but relented to the others so that "Why Me" could be released.  "First Time" became a big hit in the Philippines and was a much better song.  

 

In 1981, Styx released Paradise Theatre, its first and only #1 album.  "The Best Of Times" landed at #1 in the U.K. and #3 in the States.

 Shaw's "Too Much Time On My Hands" hit #4 in the U.K. and #9 in the United States, and Paradise Theatre became the band's fourth consecutive Platinum album, as Styx became the first group to achieve that feat.

 "Rockin' The Paradise" was a popular album track, #8 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

 

In 1983, Styx released Kilroy Was Here, another concept album to follow-up Paradise Theatre.  The album was set in a future in which Rock music was outlawed because of the efforts of a charismatic evangelist, Dr. Everett Righteous.

Kilroy Was Here gave Styx a fifth consecutive Platinum album.  "Mr. Roboto" raced to #1 in the United Kingdom and #3 in the U.S. and sold over one million copies.

"Don't Let It End" rose to #6.  

Styx toured in support of the album with an elaborate stage show.  "Mr. Roboto" featured DeYoung singing while disguised as a Roboto.  Young appeared as Dr. Righteous while the Panozzo brothers acted as his henchmen. 

The tensions already present were brought to a head on the tour, and Shaw left for a solo career after the conclusion of the tour.

In 1984, Styx released the live album Caught in the Act, but by the time of release, the group had already broken up.

DeYoung and Shaw released solo albums and Young followed with the first of two solo releases in 1985.  In 1989, Shaw co-founded Damn Yankees, while the other members of the group planned for a comeback.

 

In 1989, Styx reunited with the exception of Shaw, recruiting Glen Burtnik as the new guitarist.  The group released the album Edge of the Century, which has been certified Gold, thanks to the single "Show Me The Way", which reached #3 in the U.K. and #6 in the U.S.  

Styx joined a limited group of artists to score a Top 10 hit in three different decades, and the album went Gold.  Despite the success of their latest effort, Styx was dropped from A&M after a 15-year association after the label was purchased by PolyGram.

Styx attempted to land a new contract but grunge was the temporary flavor and Styx disbanded.

In 1995, the group released their Greatest Hits compilation, which is today a two-million seller.  Shaw joined the group for a reunion and a tour ensued in 1996, but John Panozzo couldn't take part due to problems with alcohol, which took his life later in the year.  Todd Sucherman replaced Panozzo on the tour and the album Return to Paradise, which went Gold.

In 1999, Styx released their first studio album in nearly 10 years, Brave New World.  But those long-present disagreements continued, and for the first time, DeYoung wasn't the main producer on a Styx album.

DeYoung developed an illness which temporarily made his eyes sensitive to light, and the other members of the group replaced him on an upcoming tour by Lawrence Gowan rather than wait for DeYoung to heal.

DeYoung joined the group for a performance on the Children's Miracle Network Telethon in 1999.  Afterward, Burtnik returned to the group on bass with Chuck Panozzo infected by HIV.  Styx released the album Cyclorama in 2003 but it failed.

Styx released an album of remakes, Big Bang Theory, which made it inside the Top 50 of the Album chart.  In 2010, the group released the EP Regeneration:  Volume 1, which included re-recorded hits as well as the new song "Difference In The World".  The group toured with performances featuring the playing of both The Grand Illusion and Pieces of Eight in their entirety.

Styx joined Yes for a tour of the U.S. in 2011 and with Foreigner in 2014.  The group released the CD and DVD Dennis DeYoung...And the Music of Styx Live in Los Angeles.  The group joined Def Leppard for a tour in 2016.  

Styx released the album The Mission in 2017 and promoted the album with a tour of the U.S. together with REO Speedwagon.

Styx has tallied 24 career hits with 8 Top 10's and one #1 song.

Van Halen, The #82 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

 "Excellent Rock music."

"Love this band forever."

"Fantastic musicians."

"The coolest band ever."

"Van Halen had so much pure energy."

"One of the best bands ever."

"They're the tops!  Just brilliant!"

"Van Halen is legendary."

"Great live band."

"VH rocked my world."

This act, originally consisting of guitarist Eddie Van Halen, brother Alex on drums, bassist Michael Anthony and lead singer David Lee Roth, formed in 1972 in Pasadena, California.  The Van Halen brothers, born in The Netherlands, were sons of classical musician Jan Van Halen.  Anthony moved to Pasadena from Chicago, Illinois.  Members of rival high school bands, all four attended Pasadena City College. 

In 1962, the Van Halen family moved to Pasadena, and Eddie first studied classical piano.  Within a few years, the brothers began playing together with their roles switched from those which we know them as--Eddie played drums and Alex played guitar.  Reportedly, while Eddie was delivering newspapers, Alex would sneak play Eddie's drums.  When Eddie found out about it, he said in frustration, "O.K., you play drums and I'll play your guitar."

In the early 1970's, the brothers formed the band the Broken Combs.  Meanwhile Roth, who had moved to Pasadena from Indiana with his family in 1972, joined the Red Ball Jets.  The brothers formed a new group called Genesis that included Mark Stone on bass, renting a sound system from David Lee Roth.  Roth had auditioned as lead vocalist several times to no avail, but the group opted to save money on the rental by letting Roth into the group.

In 1974, the group replaced Stone with former Snake bassist Michael Anthony and soon changed its name to Mammoth after discovering that the British group Genesis already had that name.  Later in the year, they permanently changed their name to Van Halen.  The group began playing clubs in Pasadena and Hollywood and attracted a growing following.  They got a big break when they landed a gig at Gazzarri's on the Sunset Strip.  At Gazzarri's, Van Halen opened for groups such as Santana and UFO.

Van Halen recorded a demo tape, although nothing came of it at the time.  Meanwhile, the group continued to grow in reputation, and they played at the famous Whisky a Go Go.  In 1976, Gene Simmons of KISS saw the group at the Starwood club and produced another demo tape of them.  But when Simmons took the demo to KISS management, he was told that "they had no chance of making it", and Simmons decided to drop the project.  

Van Halen's fortunes changed the next year when they played at the Starwood in Hollywood.  Mo Ostin and Ted Templeman of Warner Brothers Records were in the audience and were so impressed that Van Halen had a recording contract within the week.  The band recorded their debut album at Sunset Sound Recorders in Los Angeles.

 

Van Halen's self-titled album featured the lead single "You Really Got Me", featured here with the prelude "Eruption", a guitar solo from Eddie which featured his mastery of a technique known as "finger-tapping".  It was but one technique Eddie introduced to a legion of young guitarists.  The song stalled at #36, and the single did not even include "Eruption", making it one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.

 

This is one of the group's best-loved songs--"Runnin' With The Devil". 

 

The group toured for almost a year in support of the album, opening for Black Sabbath.  Early on, fans were treated to the elite guitar wizardry of Eddie and Roth's wild stage antics.  The efforts were rewarded as the group's debut has now been certified Diamond for over 10 million units sold.  It is one of the biggest-selling debuts in music history, and loaded with great songs like "Jamie's Cryin'".

 

Roth shines on this Top Track*--"Ain't Talkin' Bout Love". Eddie also knew how to open a song with a great guitar riff too!

 

Eddie played an amazing solo on "I'm The One".

 

We also want to feature another great song on the album, "Feel Your Love Tonight".

  
 

In 1979, the band released Van Halen II, which included the #15 single "Dance The Night Away".

 

Roth was in fine form on this track--"Beautiful Girls".

The band played at the California Music Festival at Los Angeles' Memorial Coliseum before beginning a 10-month world tour that included over 22 tons of equipment.  After some shows, Roth invited the entire audience to join the group backstage for parties.

Van Halen II has gone over five million in sales.    

The following year, Van Halen released the album Women and Children First, featuring the youth anthem "And The Cradle Will Rock".

"Everybody Wants Some" is another fan favorite.

In June, Roth broke his nose and suffered multiple contusions and a concussion while recording an Italian television special, colliding with hanging stage lights while jumping through the air.

The album has sold over three million units worldwide.

 

But the competing interests of Eddie and Roth began to turn into a rivalry.  For his part, Van Halen wanted the group to record more complex songs, while Roth, whose antics were displayed in full on the emerging MTV, liked a more popular sound.  Roth gave way, for the time, on 1981's Fair Warning.  "So This Is Love" is their best song on the album.

"Mean Street" is another song which got significant airplay.

Sales dipped to two million for the album, outstanding for most artists, but low for Van Halen.  

 

Van Halen came back with the album Diver Down, with the remake of Roy Orbison's classic "(Oh) Pretty Woman" reaching #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #12 overall.

 

Diver Down has now sold over four million copies.  Eddie's bouncy riff is highlighted on "Little Guitars".

Organizers at the US Festival paid Van Halen $1 million (the largest fee ever to that time) to perform at the second festival in San Bernardino, California.  The Festival needed an audience of 750,000 to break even, but only 3000,000 attended.   

 

The group released one of their best career albums with 1984, certainly the best since their debut, recorded at Eddie's new 5150 Studios.  The single "Jump" paved the way, selling over one million copies and going all the way to #1 in the U.S. and Canada and hitting #2 in Australia and Ireland.  It is one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.

"Jump" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.  The video is regarded as one of the most famous in history and won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Stage Performance.  It was also nominated for Best Group Video and Best Overall Performance.

The album peaked at #2, held off only by the all-time classic album Thriller by Michael Jackson.  The follow-up single, "I'll Wait", stalled at #13, though it did sneak in at #2 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

1984 became the group's second album to be certified Diamond for over 10 million units sold.  "Panama" had identical chart numbers to "I'll Wait", #2 Mainstream Rock and #13 Popular.  It is one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.

 

Van Halen was nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group at the American Music Awards and received another Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance (for "Donut City").  Alex is the star on "Hot For Teacher".

Join us for Part Two!