American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement: Sonny Rollins
A biography of Sonny Rollins, a jazz soloist who plays tenor saxophone. He is considered to be the greatest living jazz soloist whose breadth and depth of talent seems to know no bounds. Includes a profile, videos, and a photo gallery.
Other
Old State House Museum: Biographies of Arkansas Musicians
The music and musicians of Arkansas are the focus of this exhibit. Learn about different instruments, forms of music, and people like Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, Scott Joplin, and many more.
PBS
Pbs: Biography of Dizzy Gillespie
This PBS biography about trumpeter and jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie includes photos, multiple audio features, and links within the text to other famous musicians.
American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement: Audra Mc Donald
Biography of Audra McDonald, actress and winner of six Tony Awards.
American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement: Esperanza Spalding
Biography of jazz musician, singer and songwriter, Esperanza Spalding.
American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement: Vince Gill
A biography of Vince Gill, a country musician who has won numerous Grammy Awards. Includes a profile, videos, and a photo gallery.
American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement: Wynton Marsalis
A biography of jazz musician Wynton Marsalis. A musical prodigy, he began playing in orchestras while still in high school. He later won the Pulitzer Prize in Music. Includes a profile, videos, and a photo gallery.
American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement: Johnny Cash
A biography of country music artist Johnny Cash. Having grown up during the Depression, he had a keen sensitivity to people who struggled in their lives, and the songs he wrote about them endeared him to his listeners. Includes a...
American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement: Quincy Jones
Detailed biography of the life of Quincy Jones who is famous for many talents including conducting, acting, instrumentalist, and record producer.
American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement: Johnny Mathis
A biography of singer Johnny Mathis, an inductee into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Includes a profile, videos, and a photo gallery.
Smithsonian Institution
National Portrait Gallery: Black List Project: Charley Pride
A biography of famed country music singer Charley Pride, one of few African Americans in the industry to both perform at and be inducted to the Grand Ole Opry.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Ray Charles
A brief biography of Ray Charles. Includes a timeline of his life and a list of his biggest hits.
Other
Internet Cello Society: Portrait of Pablo Casals
A biography of the famous Spanish cellist, Pablo Casals. Of particular interest is the outstanding courage he displayed during the Spanish Civil War.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: Smithsonian Jazz: Duke Ellington
This site provides audio clips, photos, and biographical information of this legendary composer and performer. A match game teaches and tests your knowledge of Ellington.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: The Clash
Features a biography of the band, The Clash, and a list of their top recordings. They were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003 for their contributions to the punk-rock movement.
Curated OER
National Park Service: International Civil Rights Walk of Fame: Harold Belafonte
This biography highlights how musician Harry Belafonte played a part in the Civil Rights Movement.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Prince
Explore detailed biographical information on black funk/white rock star musician, Prince, a 2004 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a recommended reading list and essential songs.
American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement: b.b. King
Blues artist B.B. King biography provides an overivew of King's life and musical career. Site contains two videos of King performing.
University of Michigan
University of Michigan: Chico's Salsa Virtual Tour
This multimedia tour of Salsa dancing includes general background information, a chronology of salsa, sound and video clips, biographies on salsa artists, and resources for further reading and research. Also included is a "Salsa...
University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas: Americo Paredes 1915 1999
Students of Paredes music and folklore can find his biography, a bibliography, photos, works, and newsclips of this Mexican American folklorist, teacher, writer, poet, and musician.
PBS
Pbs: Jazz: Biographies: James Reese Europe
Short but informative biography of jazz musician James Reese Europe (1881-1919) from Ken Burns' PBS documentary, Jazz.
University of Houston
University of Houston: Biography: Franz Liszt (1811 1886)
Offers biographical information about musician and composer Franz Liszt. Includes links to samples of his works.
Naxos Digital Services
Naxos Digital Services: Dufay, Guillaume
This resource provides a biography of musician Guillaume Dufay, as well as a short piece on both church and secular music. Also supplied are links to recommended recordings.
PBS
Pbs: Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns
The companion website for a documentary film about jazz is home to a storehouse of resources and unique features about the historical, cultural, and artistic significance of jazz. With a timeline of key events in the history of jazz,...