Songwriters Hall of Fame

Phil Collins, a native of Chiswick, England, is the affable singer, drummer and songwriter who helped turn Genesis from a respected art-rock band into a pop hitmaking machine. He also carved out a place for himself as a superstar solo artist during the ’80s. A former child actor, Collins had…

The diversity of types of music Van Morrison has written and performed staggers the imagination. Everything from straight-garage rock to jazz to celtic to r&b to jazz to skiffle. And all delivered with a voice and a style that cannot be described any other way than unique and unmistakable.

So energetic and overwhelming area his performances, Little Richard seems less a musician than a veritable force of nature. His pounding piano coupled with the rhythmic propulsion of his rhythm section made for a beat that was irresistible. Rock & roll was, in his hands, a sound of pure ecstatic…

The scene in “Wayne’s World” where the central characters listened while driving to “Bohemian Rhapsody” typifies much about what has made Queen’s music popular and enduring. The songs have a rhythmic jolt that can’t help but make your head nod back and forth and singing along amounts to a virtual…