A singer is a type of musician who uses his or her voice to produce music. Usually, singing refers to vocal melody only, though vocalist is a similar term which also encompasses non-melodic sounds and effectively includes anyone using their voice as part of a musical composition, including spoken word, Death grunt, and rapping.
A lead singer (in barbershop music simply called a lead) is one who sings the primary vocals of a song, as opposed to a backing singer who sings backup vocal(s) to a song or harmonies to the lead singer. An exception is in five-part gospela cappella music, where the lead is the highest of the five voices and sings a descant, never the melody which may be in any of the other four parts.
Aimee Mann: Heartache And Hope Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:09:00 -0400 Mann's seventh solo album, @#%&*! Smilers, offers another look at dark and eccentric characters, complete with introspective looks at heartbreak, fading hope, and even Virginia carnivals. Mann recently sat down with World Cafe host David Dye to perform some of her new material. Ra Ra Riot Navigates The Hype Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:24:00 -0400 The young band overcame the accidental death of its drummer to release its widely hailed debut full-length, The Rhumb Line. Ra Ra Riot performs in the studio and talks about nautical charts, string sections and the influence of Kate Bush. Ahmad Jamal On Piano Jazz Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:06:00 -0400 Ever since his 1958 live album from Chicago's Pershing Lounge, Ahmad Jamal has been recognized as a major force in jazz. In this program from 1985, Jamal reprises two signature pieces from that session in duets with Marian McPartland: "Poinciana" and "But Not for Me."
Rolling Stone: Features
How Bush Destroyed the Republican Party Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:58:32 -0700
A president driven by ideology. A Congress rife with corruption. A political party hellbent on a "permanent majority." A leading scholar examines the radicals who hijacked the GOP — and wrecked the longest conservative ascendancy in American history
• Video: Five Ways Bush Sunk the GOP
The failure of the administration of George W. Bush — and the accompanying crisis of the Republican Party — has caused a political meltdown of historic proportions. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, Bush enjoyed the greatest popularity ever recorded for a modern American president. Republicans on Capitol Hill, under the iron rule of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, fattened their coffers through a fearsome...
Artists to Watch Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:29:00 -0700
Six acts who are defining rock and pop in 2008
LOW VS DIAMOND
West Coast quintet craft widescreen rock anthems built for stadium singalongs
Click above to watch Low vs Diamond's Lucas Field and Anthony Polcino perform "Heart Attack" live
Few young american bands attempt the unabashedly grand cinematic rock that L.A.'s Low Vs Diamond play on their eponymous debut — and frontman Lucas Field sees that as an opportunity. "I felt like there was a hole in American anthems," says Field, 28. "British bands do this big, melodic stuff...
Fall Movie Preview Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:52:34 -0700
The Smart Season: First looks at fall's 31 hottest movies by Peter Travers
Buzz off if you think the big fall whoop is "High School Musical 3." Or Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson trying to steal scenes from a dog in Marley and Me. Or Robert De Niro and Al Pacino slumming in another paycheck movie in Righteous Kill. My admittedly selective guide to what's up in film for the rest of 2008 is all about punch and provocation. Sequels get the shaft, including Saw V (enough already), but Quantum of Solace (November 7th) earns a pass because Daniel Craig is so damn...
Ultimate-Guitar.Com [News]
Megadeth Preparing To Record Next Album Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:26:52 -0000 Acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap will fly over to Southern California on September 8 to start recording their next album. Lynyrd Skynyrd Album In Early 2009 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:21:40 -0000 Lynyrd Skynyrd are reportedly eyeing an early-2009 release for their next studio album. Tommy Bolin Biography To Be Released Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:17:56 -0000 Tommy Bolin, the late guitarist of 1970s rock heavyweights James Gang and Deep Purple, is the latest rocker to receive the memoir treatment.
American Popular Song - Message board and directories of singers, songwriters, movies, and shows.
Meta Description: [ American Popular Song - the songs, the songwriters, the singers, the bands, the shows ]
American Popular Song - From paper presented by Howard S. Becker at a 1994 conference discussing the structure of the standard popular song along with its history, songwriters, musicians, and singers. Bibliography.
AMG: Vocal Music - Overview of the genre, essay, key artists and albums, and recent releases.
Craig's BigBands and BigNames - Historic reviews and photos from performers of the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. Includes old time radio broadcast, quiz, and message board.
Meta Description: [ Craig's Bigbands and BigNames featuring historic reviews and photos from performers like Dean Martin, Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennet, Liberace, Dinah Shore, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Swing, Big Band Era Music, Jazz, golden age music ]
Ian Whitcomb's Literary Corner - Includes articles on Rudy Vallee, Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, and the first crooners.
Meta Description: [ Read some of Ian Whitcomb's various writings ]
Parlor Songs - Collection of popular and classical sheet music from the 1800's to the 1940's, cover art, audio samples, composer biographies, and articles on the history, styles, and themes.
Meta Description: [ Musical Reminiscences of years gone by. An amazing collection of popular and classical sheet music from the 1800's to the 1940's. ]
Wikipedia: Melodic Music - Defines melodic genre as the vocal-oriented popular American music style that came after big band music but before rock and roll, as exemplified by singers like Perry Como and Margaret Whiting.
Vocals:Tarja Keyboards:Tuomas Guitars:Emppu Drums:Julius Bass & Vocals:Marco ... Nightwish End of An Era Live ...