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popular music: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As pop music

Photos and Videos

The Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964; Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and John Lennon sing and play guitars at the front, with Ringo Starr on drums in the back.
Elvis Presley in a black leather outfit singing into a microphone on stage during the 1968 Comeback Special, with seated audience members behind him.
Lady Gaga poses in a form-fitting black dress with long platinum blonde hair and bold makeup at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills.
Kendrick Lamar performs on stage atop a police car with flashing lights, singing into a microphone, during the 2015 BET Awards.
How music causes chills: Understanding dopamine and sound
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Key People

The King of Pop
Michael Jackson
American singer, songwriter, and dancer
Taylor Swift performs onstage in a sparkly outfit, playing a pale pink guitar and singing into a microphone during The Eras Tour in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Taylor Swift
American singer-songwriter
“The Voice”
Frank Sinatra
American singer and actor
George Gershwin
George Gershwin
American composer
Madonna performs on stage in a black outfit and knee-high boots, singing into a microphone, flanked by dancers in tuxedos and top hats during her Sticky and Sweet tour.
Madonna
American singer and actress
The Shakespeare of his generation
Bob Dylan
American singer-songwriter
Elvis Presley in a black leather outfit singing into a microphone on stage during the 1968 Comeback Special, with seated audience members behind him.
Elvis Presley
American singer and actor
Janet Jackson poses with hands in pockets, wearing a gray suit and white shirt, in front of a blue backdrop with Grammy Hall of Fame Gala and Warner Records logos.
Janet Jackson
American entertainer
Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey
American singer-songwriter
Portrait of George Michael wearing a black shirt, cross earring, and wristwatch, with styled hair and a trimmed beard, photographed against a neutral background.
George Michael
British singer and composer
Ed Sheeran smiles while holding a microphone and acoustic guitar during a live outdoor performance, wearing a white t-shirt and yellow watch.
Ed Sheeran
British singer-songwriter
The Queen of Soul
Aretha Franklin
American singer
Asha Bhosle
Asha Bhosle
Indian singer
Beyonce smiling on the red carpet at the 2013 Grammy Awards, wearing a black and white dress with her hair pulled back.
Beyoncé
American singer
Paul Williams
Paul Williams
American singer, songwriter, composer, and actor
Lebanese singer Fairuz stands on stage in front of a microphone, wearing an ornate light blue and gold dress, with dramatic lighting highlighting her face.
Fairuz
Lebanese singer and actress
Michael McDonald sits at a keyboard on stage, performing with the Doobie Brothers at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, California.
Michael McDonald
American singer and songwriter
Sean Combs poses on the red carpet in a white suit at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, with event signage in the background.
Sean Combs
American rapper and record producer
Lady Gaga performing onstage in a sparkling blue outfit with dramatic shoulders, long platinum blonde hair, pink glitter mask, and holding a gold microphone.
Lady Gaga
American singer-songwriter and actress
Mr. Entertainment
Sammy Davis, Jr.
American entertainer

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