Music Moguls: The Masters of Pop

With so much talk about the business side of the music industry, we wanted to take a step back and look at some of the moguls who helped make it what it is today.

The Beatles

No other band has had as much of an impact on music as The Beatles. They were not only the best band of their time, but they were also the most popular band in the world. Let’s take a look at how they became one of the most successful bands in history.

John Lennon

John Lennon was born in Liverpool, England on October 9, 1940. He was the ringleader of the Beatles and one of the most talented and influential musicians of his generation. He was shot and killed by a deranged fan in 1980 at the age of 40.

Lennon was raised by his aunt Mimi Smith after his parents, Julia and Alfred Lennon, separated when he was five years old. His mother died when he was 17. He met Paul McCartney in 1957 and they formed a songwriting partnership that would change the face of popular music.

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The group consisted of John Lennon (rhythm guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass guitar, vocals), George Harrison (lead guitar, vocals) and Ringo Starr (drums, vocals). They became widely regarded as the greatest and most influential band in history. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock and roll, their sound incorporates elements of classical music and traditional pop into innovative ways that helped define the eventual shape of pop music.

Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney was born on June 18, 1942, in Liverpool, England. He rose to fame as a member of the legendary rock band The Beatles, which is widely considered one of the most popular and influential bands of all time. After the group disbanded in 1970, McCartney enjoyed a highly successful solo career marked by chart-topping albums and hit singles. He has also been involved in a number of other projects over the years, including Wings and the supergroup Travelling Wilburys.

George Harrison

George Harrison was an English musician, singer-songwriter, music and film producer who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Often referred to as “the quiet Beatle”, Harrison embraced Indian culture and helped broaden the scope of popular music through his incorporation of Indian instrumentation and Hindu-aligned spirituality in the Beatles’ work. Although the majority of the band’s songs were written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, most Beatles albums from 1965 onwards contained at least two Harrison compositions. His songs for the group included “Taxman”, “Within You Without You”, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, “Here Comes the Sun” and “Something”.

Born and raised in Liverpool, UK, Harrison grew up playing skiffle and rock and roll. He joined the Beatles in 1958 as lead guitarist, when they were still an unknown Liverpool band playing small clubs. He oversaw production of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), often regarded as one of popular music’s most important albums, Abbey Road (1969) and Let It Be (1970), released shortly before the band’s dissolution in 1970. Harrison released several best-selling singles and albums as a solo performer; in 1988, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 11 in their list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. He is one of only four coupling artists who have achieved commercial success outside of their work with the Beatles;Bob Dylan, Neil Youngand Eric Clapton are also included on that list.

In 1989, Harrison was inducted into onthe Rockand Roll Halloffameannouncing:He wished to be remembered first and foremost as a songwriter.”At his induction he performed “”Shake Rattle & Roll”” with Jeff Lynneand Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers& later performed his hit single “”Got My Mind Set On You”” with them onstage.”After the death offellow BeatleJohn Lennonin 1980,”Harrison organized two large umbrella concerts in response:The ConcertforBangladeshin 1971 atMadisonSquareGardenwith guests Bob Dylan,”Eric Clapton&Ravi Shankar& 1981’sThe Concertfor NewYork CityatWembley Arenawith an all-star lineup including Ringo Starr,”Pete Townshendof The Who&Yoko Onoas well as himself.”

Ringo Starr

Richard Starkey, MBE (born 7 July 1940), known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for the Beatles. He occasionally sang lead vocals with the group, usually for one song on an album, including “With a Little Help from My Friends”, “Yellow Submarine” and their cover of “Act Naturally”. He also wrote and sang the Beatles’ songs “Don’t Pass Me By” and “Octopus’s Garden”, and is credited as a co-writer of others. Starr was afflicted by life-threatening illnesses during childhood, and as a result of prolonged hospitalisations fell behind in school. In 1955 he entered the workforce and briefly held a position with British Rail before securing an apprenticeship at a Liverpool equipment manufacturer. Soon realised he was not suited to manual labour and left the job; by early 1957 he had joined one of Liverpool’s leading pop groups, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are a British rock band formed in London in 1962. The first stable line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie Watts (drums), and Ian Stewart (piano). Stewart was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued as a touring member until his death in 1985. Jones left the band less than a month prior to his death in 1969, having already been replaced by Mick Taylor, who remained until 1974. After Taylor left the band, Ronnie Wood took his place in 1975 and continues on guitar in tandem with Richards. Since Wyman’s departure in 1993, Darryl Jones has served as the band’s bassist.

Mick Jagger

Mick Jagger is an English singer, songwriter and actor, best known as the lead vocalist and a co-founder of The Rolling Stones. Jaggers’ distinctive voice and performance, along with Keith Richards’ guitar style, have been credited as the signature sound of the Rolling Stones. He has also written most of the Rolling Stones’ songs along with Richards. Jagger began acting in films in the 1970s and, through his performance in Brian De Palma’s adaptation of Norman Mailer’s Theuntitled:How to Make a Simple but Delicious Cup of Coffee
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Keith Richards

Keith Richards (born 18 December 1943) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the co-founder, guitarist, secondary vocalist, and one of the songwriters of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine called Richards “the creator of rock’s greatest single body of riffs” on guitar and ranked him fourth on its list of 100 best guitarists in 2011. The magazine lists fourteen songs that Richards wrote with the Rolling Stones’ lead vocalist Mick Jagger on its The Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.

Brian Jones

Brian Jones was an English musician, founding member and original leader of the Rolling Stones. Although he was originally billed as the band’s founder, Jones’ role was progressively downplayed as guitarist Keith Richards and songwriter Mick Jagger asserted themselves as leaders. Eventually, Jagger and Richards forced him out of the band (he died shortly thereafter).

Born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire to a middle-class family, Jones showed an early interest in music and recorded his first single at age 15. He started writing songs with fellow student Dick Taylor; when they started playing together with other musician friends, they became the Rolling Stones. The band’s name came from one of Jones’ songs, “The Rolling Stone”. The group played their first gig at the Marquee Club in London in July 1962.

Jones was known for his slide guitar playing and for his experimental approach to instrumentation, which led him to play a wide range of instruments on Rolling Stones recordings such as sitar (on “Paint It Black”), dulcimer (on “Lady Jane”), marimba (on “Under My Thumb”), Mellotron (on “_Beggars Banquet_”), slide guitar (“Sway”), banjo (“Brown Sugar”) and keyboards (“Blood Red Wine”). He also played saxophone on several early tracks such as “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” and “The Last Time”. His creative contribution to the band steadily declined due to drug abuse; by 1967 he had become severely dependent on both alcohol and drugs. This led to tensions within the band: Jagger and Richards began to write more songs without input from Jones, which led to his growing dissatisfaction with his lack of involvement in the songwriting process. He began working with other musicians outside the band, most notably Eric Clapton; this led to increasing friction with Jagger and Richards, who felt he was neglecting the Stones in favor of his solo projects.

Charlie Watts

The Rolling Stones are considered by many to be the greatest rock and roll band of all time. The band was formed in London in 1962, and has been touring and recording ever since. The current lineup includes original members Mick Jagger (vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Charlie Watts (drums), and Ronnie Wood (guitar).

The Stones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, and they received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys in 1986. They have sold more than 200 million records worldwide, and their 1971 album “Sticky Fingers” is one of the best-selling albums of all time.

The Rolling Stones are known for their live performances, and their concerts are some of the most highly anticipated events in the music world. The band is currently working on a new album, which is expected to be released sometime in 2019.

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin was an English rock band that formed in 1968. The group consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. The band’s heavy, guitar-driven sound has led them to be cited as one of the progenitors of heavy metal.

Jimmy Page

Jimmy Page is one of the most influential guitarists of all time. He was a member of the legendary band Led Zeppelin, which became one of the most successful bands in rock history. Page was born in 1944 in London, England. He began playing guitar at the age of 13, and by the time he was 17, he was playing in professional bands. In 1968, he formed Led Zeppelin with singer Robert Plant and drummer John Bonham. The band released its first album in early 1969 and quickly became hugely successful. Led Zeppelin went on to release a series of highly acclaimed albums and sell millions of records. They are widely considered to be one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Page continued to play with Led Zeppelin until the band broke up in 1980 following Bonham’s death. He has since occasionally worked with Plant and other musicians, but has largely retired from public life.

Robert Plant

Robert Plant is an English singer, songwriter, and musician who is best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career.

Plant was born in West Bromwich, England, in 1948. He began playing guitar at an early age and was a member of several bands before joining Led Zeppelin in 1968. With Led Zeppelin, he achieved great success, both commercially and artistically. The band’s first album, Led Zeppelin (1969), was a huge success, and their second album, Led Zeppelin II (1969), was even more successful. They went on to release a string of successful albums over the next few years, including Led Zeppelin IV (1971) and Houses of the Holy (1973).

In 1980, following the death of drummer John Bonham, Led Zeppelin disbanded. Plant released his first solo album, Pictures at Eleven, in 1982. He has since released a number of solo albums and has collaborated with other musicians on a number of occasions. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Led Zeppelin in 1995.

John Bonham

John Bonham was an English musician and songwriter, best known for being the drummer for Led Zeppelin. He was considered by many to be one of the greatest drummers of all time, and his style had a significant influence on the development of rock music. Bonham was born in Redditch, Worcestershire, and grew up in a family with a strong musical background. His father, Jack Bonham, was a local bandleader and his mother, Joan Broadfoot, played the piano in clubs and bars. Bonham began playing drums at an early age, and by the time he was 10 he was playing in local bands. He left school at age 15 to pursue a career in music full-time.

Bonham’s first professional gig was with Band of Joy, a group fronted by Robert Plant (who would later become Bonham’s bandmate in Led Zeppelin). The band toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe, but ultimately disbanded without releasing any recordings. In 1968, Bonham auditioned for Led Zeppelin and was hired on the spot by Jimmy Page (another future member of Led Zeppelin). The band quickly became one of the most popular rock groups of all time, selling millions of records and touring incessantly throughout the 1970s. Bonham’s drumming style was a major factor in Led Zeppelin’s sound, and he is credited with helping to pioneer the use of double bass drums in rock music.

Bonham died unexpectedly in 1980 at the age of 32 from asphyxiation after consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. His death effectively ended Led Zeppelin, though the band did reunite for live performances on occasion in later years. Bonham’s son Jason followed in his father’s footsteps and became a successful drummer himself; he has played with such bands as Foreigner and Redemption Song.

John Paul Jones

John Paul Jones was born John Baldwin on January 3, 1946, in Sidcup, Kent, England. He began playing piano at age six, and by age nine he had switched to guitar. Jones studied violin and viola at the Royal Academy of Music in London, but he left after a year to focus on rock music. He joined the rock band The Samurai in 1966 and recorded with them for a few years.

In 1968, Jones met Jimmy Page, who was looking to form a new band after the dissolution of The Yardbirds. Page asked Jones to play bass guitar, and Jones agreed. The new band, which was later christened Led Zeppelin, also featured singer Robert Plant and drummer John Bonham. Led Zeppelin went on to become one of the most successful and influential rock bands of all time.

Jones was an essential part of Led Zeppelin’s sound. In addition to playing bass guitar, he also played keyboards and mandolin on some of the band’s recordings. He wrote some of Led Zeppelin’s most popular songs, including “The Crunge” and “The Ocean.” He also sang lead vocals on the band’s cover of Slim Harpo’s “Bring It On Home.”

After Led Zeppelin disbanded in 1980 following the death of Bonham, Jones continued to work as a musician and producer. He has worked with a number of high-profile artists over the years, including Paul McCartney, Dolly Parton, Roxy Music, Tina Turner, Jeff Beck, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and Nine Inch Nails. In 2014, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Led Zeppelin.

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd is one of the most iconic and influential bands of all time. They are known for their experimental and progressive style of music. They have sold over 250 million records worldwide and have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Syd Barrett

Syd Barrett was an English singer, songwriter, and musician who co-founded the rock band Pink Floyd in 1965. He was the lead singer and guitarist for the first few years of the band’s existence and wrote most of their early material, including the singles “Arnold Layne” and “See Emily Play”. Barrett’s increasingly erratic behavior due to his mental illness led to his eventual withdrawal from Pink Floyd in 1968. He died in 2006 at the age of 60.

Roger Waters

Roger Waters is an English musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the bass player, co-lead vocalist, lyricist, and one of the founding members of the rock band Pink Floyd. Waters initially served as the group’s bass player, but following the departure of singer-songwriter Syd Barrett in 1968, he became their lyricist, co-lead vocalist, and conceptual leader.

Waters frequently employed literary themes in his songs; Pink Floyd wrote several concept albums exploring such topics as erosion of civil liberties (The Wall), mind control (The Dark Side of the Moon), and dehumanization during warfare (Animals). His lyrics also dealt with Pink Floyd’s shared unusable experience of growing up amid the working class conditions in postwar Britain. On Pink Floyd’s 1971 album Meddle, Waters’ lyrics introduced political themes such as enviromentalism and anti-imperialism.

During Pink Floyd’s later years, Waters increasingly distanced himself from his bandmates. In 1985, he released his first solo album The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking; it was followed by Radio K.A.O.S. in 1987 and Amused to Death in 1992; he also wrote and staged several operas including Ca Ira (2005) and Ça ira (2017). In September 1985 he staged one of rock music’s most famous concert events — The Live 8 global awareness concert — with Pink Floyd as one of its headliners.

David Gilmour

David Jon Gilmour, CBE (born 6 March 1946) is an English musician, singer and songwriter who was a member of the rock band Pink Floyd. He joined the group as guitarist and co-lead vocalist in 1968 shortly before the departure of founder member Syd Barrett. Pink Floyd rose to prominence with their second album A Saucerful of Secrets (1968), and Gilmour became the band’s principal songwriter, lead guitarist, and co-lead vocalist; they went on to produce The Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967), The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Wish You Were Here (1975), Animals (1977), The Wall(1979) and The Final Cut (1983).

After Barrett’s departure in 1968, Gilmour assumed leadership of Pink Floyd. With Rick Wright and Nick Mason, he co-wrote most of Pink Floyd’s material for fifteen studio albums including The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Division Bell. By the early 1980s they had become one of rock music’s most successful groups. After nearly two decades away from Pink Floyd following Wright’s death in 2008 and a legal dispute with Pink Floyd’s record company over royalties which he eventually settled out-of-court in December 2014, Gilmour returned to touring in support of his fourth solo album On an Island.

As Pink Floyd were initially considered an experimental group they did not find commercial success until some years after their formation. Their debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn did not reach the top position on any chart but by 1968 they had secured a place on BBC Radio 1 playlists with their singles “See Emily Play” and “Apples and Oranges”. After Barrett’s departure from Pink Floyd later that year…

Nick Mason

Nick Mason is an English drummer, songwriter, producer, composer, author, and actor. He is best known as a founding member, the only constant member, and the drummer of the English rock band Pink Floyd. He has played on all of their studio albums, and was responsible for the recruitment of guitarist Syd Barrett and bassist Roger Waters.