wing of the archive
The Contemporary Era
Lives within living memory, from world wars to the digital age.
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)
Contemporary era
Bob Marley
February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981
Reggae prophet who carried one love from Kingston to the world
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
Contemporary era
Conan Gray
b. December 5, 1998
American singer-songwriter
Contemporary era
Tate McRae
b. July 1, 2003
Canadian singer, songwriter, and dancer
Contemporary era
Gracie Abrams
b. September 7, 1999
American singer-songwriter (born 1999)
Contemporary era
Adele
b. May 5, 1988
English singer-songwriter (born 1988)
Contemporary era
Selena Quintanilla
April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995
American singer (1971–1995)
Contemporary era
Carl Lewis
b. July 1, 1961
US track & field athlete
Contemporary era
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
b. March 3, 1962
American track and field athlete
Contemporary era
Usain Bolt
b. August 21, 1986
Jamaican sprinter, fastest human ever timed
Contemporary era
Muhammad Ali
January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016
Three-time heavyweight champion and conscience of his era
Contemporary era
Mike Tyson
b. June 30, 1966
American boxer and media personality (born 1966)
Contemporary era
Floyd Mayweather
b. February 24, 1977
American boxer
Contemporary era
Manny Pacquiao
b. December 17, 1978
Filipino boxer, basketball player, singer, actor, politician and philanthropist
Contemporary era
Michael Jordan
b. February 17, 1963
Six-time NBA champion who globalized basketball
Contemporary era
Kobe Bryant
August 23, 1978 – January 26, 2020
American basketball player (1978–2020)
Contemporary era
LeBron James
b. December 30, 1984
American basketball player (born 1984)
Contemporary era
Magic Johnson
b. August 14, 1959
American basketball player and entrepreneur (born 1959)
Contemporary era
Larry Bird
b. December 7, 1956
American basketball player and coach (born 1956)
Contemporary era
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
b. April 16, 1947
American basketball player (born 1947)
Contemporary era
Shaquille O'Neal
b. March 6, 1972
American basketball player (born 1972)
Contemporary era
Pelé
October 23, 1940 – December 29, 2022
Brazilian footballer, three-time World Cup winner, the game's first global king
Contemporary era
Diego Maradona
October 30, 1960 – November 25, 2020
Argentine footballer of the 'Hand of God' and the Goal of the Century
Contemporary era
Lionel Messi
b. June 24, 1987
Argentine forward, record Ballon d'Or winner and World Cup champion
Contemporary era
Cristiano Ronaldo
b. February 5, 1985
Portuguese forward, all-time top scorer in men's international football
Contemporary era
Johan Cruyff
April 25, 1947 – March 24, 2016
Dutch footballer and manager (1947–2016)
Contemporary era
Franz Beckenbauer
September 11, 1945 – January 7, 2024
German sports official and association football player (1945–2024)
Contemporary era
Zinedine Zidane
b. June 23, 1972
French association football player and coach
Contemporary era
Ronaldinho
1971 – April 12, 2013
Mestre-Sala