Musicians & Composers
The makers of humanity's soundtrack.
records written
Modern era
Buddy Holly
September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959
American rock and roll singer (1936–1959)
Modern era
Johnny Cash
February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003
American country singer (1932–2003)
Modern era
Elvis Presley
January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977
American singer and actor (1935–1977)
Modern era
Bob Dylan
b. May 24, 1941
American singer-songwriter (born 1941)
Modern era
John Lennon
October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980
British musician (1940–1980)
Modern era
Paul McCartney
b. June 18, 1942
English musician and member of the Beatles (born 1942)
Modern era
George Harrison
February 25, 1943 – November 29, 2001
English musician and member of the Beatles (1943–2001)
Modern era
Ringo Starr
b. July 7, 1940
British musician, drummer for the Beatles (born 1940)
Modern era
Mick Jagger
b. July 26, 1943
British singer and songwriter; vocalist of The Rolling Stones
Modern era
Jimi Hendrix
November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970
American guitarist (1942–1970)
Modern era
Janis Joplin
January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970
American singer (1943–1970)
Modern era
Jim Morrison
December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971
American singer and poet; lead vocalist of The Doors (1943–1971)
Contemporary era
Eric Clapton
b. March 30, 1945
British musician
Contemporary era
David Bowie
January 8, 1947 – January 10, 2016
English musician and actor (1947–2016)
Contemporary era
Freddie Mercury
September 5, 1946 – November 24, 1991
British singer, songwriter and musician, frontman of the rock band Queen (1946–1991)
Modern era
Roger Waters
b. September 6, 1943
English musician, co-founder of Pink Floyd (born 1943)
Contemporary era
David Gilmour
b. March 6, 1946
English musician, member of Pink Floyd (born 1946)
Contemporary era
Syd Barrett
January 6, 1946 – July 7, 2006
British musician (1946–2006)
Modern era
Nick Mason
b. January 27, 1944
English drummer
Modern era
Richard Wright
July 28, 1943 – September 15, 2008
English keyboardist, co-founder of Pink Floyd (1943–2008)
Contemporary era
Elton John
b. March 25, 1947
British singer, songwriter and musician (born 1947)
Contemporary era
Ozzy Osbourne
December 3, 1948 – July 22, 2025
English musician and television personality (1948–2025)
Contemporary era
Bruce Springsteen
b. September 23, 1949
American rock singer (born 1949)
Contemporary era
Stevie Wonder
b. May 13, 1950
American and Ghanaian singer-songwriter, composer and record producer (born 1950)
Modern era
Marvin Gaye
April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984
American R&B and soul singer (1939–1984)
Modern era
Diana Ross
b. March 26, 1944
American singer and actress (1944-2026)
Modern era
Tina Turner
November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023
American-born Swiss singer and songwriter (1939–2023)
Contemporary era
Bob Marley
February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981
Reggae prophet who carried one love from Kingston to the world
Modern era
Fela Kuti
October 15, 1938 – August 2, 1997
Nigerian musician and activist (1938–1997)
Modern era
Miriam Makeba
March 4, 1932 – November 9, 2008
South African singer and civil rights activist (1932–2008)
Modern era
Ravi Shankar
April 7, 1920 – December 11, 2012
Indian sitar player (1920–2012)
Modern era
Lata Mangeshkar
September 28, 1929 – February 6, 2022
Indian singer (1929–2022)
Contemporary era
A. R. Rahman
b. January 6, 1966
Indian composer and musician
Contemporary era
Dolly Parton
January 19, 1946 – August 25, 2026
American singer-songwriter (1946–2026)
Contemporary era
Prince
June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016
American musician (1958–2016)
Contemporary era
Madonna
b. August 16, 1958
American singer (born 1958)
Contemporary era
Michael Jackson
August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009
The King of Pop, best-selling entertainer in history
Contemporary era
Whitney Houston
August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012
American singer, actress, and film producer (1963–2012)
Contemporary era
Mariah Carey
b. March 27, 1969
American singer (born 1969)
Contemporary era
Celine Dion
b. March 30, 1968
French Canadian singer (born 1968)
Contemporary era
George Michael
June 25, 1963 – December 25, 2016
English singer (1963–2016)
Contemporary era
Kurt Cobain
February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994
American rock musician (1967–1994)
Contemporary era
Amy Winehouse
September 14, 1983 – July 23, 2011
English singer-songwriter (1983–2011)
Contemporary era
Tupac Shakur
June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996
American rapper and actor (1971–1996)
Contemporary era
The Notorious B.I.G.
May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997
American rapper (1972–1997)
Contemporary era
Dr. Dre
b. February 18, 1965
American rapper, record producer, record executive, and actor
Contemporary era
Snoop Dogg
b. October 20, 1971
American rapper (born 1971)
Contemporary era
Jay-Z
b. December 4, 1969
American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur
Contemporary era
Eminem
b. October 17, 1972
American rapper, record producer and actor
Contemporary era
Kanye West
b. June 8, 1977
American rapper and record producer
Contemporary era
Beyonce
b. September 4, 1981
American singer-songwriter (born 1981)
Contemporary era
Rihanna
b. February 20, 1988
Barbadian singer (born 1988)
Contemporary era
Lady Gaga
b. March 20, 1986
American singer-songwriter and actress (born 1986)
Contemporary era
Taylor Swift
b. December 13, 1989
American singer-songwriter (born 1989)
Contemporary era
Avril Lavigne
b. September 27, 1984
Canadian singer-songwriter (born 1984)
Contemporary era
Katy Perry
b. October 25, 1984
American singer
Contemporary era
Kelly Clarkson
b. April 24, 1982
American singer-songwriter (born 1982)
Contemporary era
Hayley Williams
b. December 27, 1988
American singer
Contemporary era
Hilary Duff
b. September 28, 1987
American actress and singer (born 1987)
Contemporary era
Shawn Mendes
b. August 8, 1998
Canadian singer