{"key":"232707","name":"Red Hot Chili Peppers","bio":"Formed in the wake of the L.A. punk scene, the Red Hot Chili Peppers combined funk and punk with macho, sexed-up lyrics. (One early track was called \"Party on Your Pussy\"). The result was a high-octane sound that made the quintet alt-rock favorites in the Eighties, then superstars in the Nineties. But as the Chili Peppers aged, their songs became more laid-back and lyrical, and the band went from flesh-baring firecrackers (a 1992 Rolling Stone cover featured them naked) to respected veterans. After meeting at L.A.'s Fairfax High School, singer Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea, guitarist Hillel Slovak, and drummer Jack Irons formed Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem before changing their name to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They became a popular attraction up and down the L.A. strip, though the early lineup was short-lived as Irons and the Israeli-born Slovak departed to form What Is This? Kiedis and Flea recruited guitarist Jack Sherman and drummer Cliff Martinez prior to releasing their eponymous debut in 1984. The album stiffed; Slovak returned, and the band took to the road, sometimes appearing onstage wearing only strategically placed tube socks. The funk-heavy Freaky Styley (1985), the last album featuring Martinez on drums, was produced by P-Funk's George Clinton and featured appearances by funk horn players Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley. The record went largely unnoticed at the time. Irons returned to the band in time for the more rock-oriented The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (Number 148, 1987), which sold better than its predecessor. Any optimism was shattered by the 1988 death of Slovak from a heroin overdose. Disturbed by Slovak's death and Kiedis' own heroin problem, Irons quit the band a second time. An interim band with P-Funk guitarist Blackbyrd McKnight and Dead Kennedys drummer D.H. Peligro did not take hold. Kiedis recruited a Chili Peppers fan, guitarist John Frusciante, and auditions brought drummer Chad Smith. This version of the band recorded Mother's Milk (Number 52, 1989). With videos for \"Knock Me Down\" and a cover of Stevie Wonder's \"Higher Ground\" on MTV, it looked like the Peppers were about to break through. The band's lifestyle came under some attack, though, with Kiedis convicted in 1989 of indecent exposure and sexual battery in an incident following a concert in Virginia. The next year during a taping of an MTV Spring Break special in Florida, Flea and Smith jumped offstage, with Flea grabbing a woman and carrying her on his shoulders, and Smith spanking her. The two were charged, and Flea was found guilty of battery, disorderly conduct, and solicitation to commit an unnatural and lascivious act. Smith was found guilty of battery. The Chili Peppers scored their first major hit in 1991 with BloodSugarSexMagik (Number 3), which featured the single \"Under the Bridge\" (Number Two) and \"Give It Away\" (Number 73). Produced by Rick Rubin, the record was written and recorded in a mansion the band claimed was haunted. It sold more than 4 million copies, leading to their headlining Lollapalooza in 1992. Just prior to the tour, John Frusciante left the band and was replaced by Arik Marshall. Marshall lasted only a year and, after many auditions and one false start with Jesse Tobias, was replaced by former Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro. The 1995 release One Hot Minute (Number Four) went platinum but failed to generate the unparalleled excitement of BloodSugarSexMagik, precipitating a fallow phase in the band's career. Flea joined Navarro for a 1997 reunion tour of Jane's Addiction, and Navarro and Kiedis slipped back into old drug habits. Navarro quit the group in 1998 to pursue solo ambitions, casting the future of the band in doubt. Instead of breaking up, however, the Chili Peppers invited Frusciante to return, the guitarist having recovered from a severe drug addiction. The subsequent album, Californication (Number Three, 1999), was a commercial and critical triumph. The Chili Peppers were back on top with hit singles \"Scar Tissue\" (Number Nine) and \"Otherside\" (Number 14) and a major tour that included a fateful show at Woodstock '99, where the group had the dubious distinction of performing as a fiery melee erupted. By The Way (Number Two) was released in 2002 and found Frusciante digging into the complexities of multi-tonal, layered guitar tracking. In 2006, the ambitious double album Stadium Arcadium (Number One) was the first Chili Peppers' record to top the charts and earned the band Grammys for Best Rock Album, Best Rock Song (\"Dani California,\" Number Six), Best Rock Performance By a Duo Or Group With Vocal and Best Producer (Rick Rubin). But for the occasional live appearance, the Chili Peppers spent the next two years on hiatus as Frusciante \u2014 with the occasional help from Flea \u2014 and Smith embarked on solo careers. Frusciante announced in late 2009 that he was leaving the band a second time to focus on other projects. The Chili Peppers' follow-up to Stadium Arcadium, I'm with You, was released in August 2011.","featuredImage":"https:\/\/www.aaemusic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Red-Hot-Chili-Peppers.jpg","feeRange":"please contact"}

{"key":"6125","name":"Jamiroquai","bio":"Jamiroquai is a funk\/acid jazz band which formed in London, England, United Kingdom in 1992. The band currently consists of Jason Luis 'Jay Kay' Cheetham (vocals), Matt Johnson (keyboards), Rob Harris (guitar), Paul Turner (bass), Derrick McKenzie (drums) , Sola Akingbola (percussion), Lorraine McIntosh (backing vocals) and Hazel Fernandez (backing vocals). The name \"Jamiroquai\" is derived from the Native American Iroquois tribe, with which Kay has said he identifies philosophically, combined with 'Jam', as in musical jamming.After Jay Kay auditioned unsuccessfully to be the singer of the Brand New Heavies, he decided to put together his own band. Jamiroquai's first single, \"When You Gonna Learn?\", was released in 1992 on the Acid Jazz label. Following its success, Kay signed a \u00a31,000,000 eight-album record deal with Sony BMG Music Entertainment. The band enjoys worldwide popularity and is the best-known member of the early-1990s London-based acid jazz movement, alongside groups such as Incognito, Galliano, and Corduroy. Jamiroquai has since, however, moved in other musical directions.Band Members:Jason \"Jay\" Kay - VocalsRob Harris - GuitarDerrick McKenzie - DrumsPaul Turner - BassSola Akingbola - PercussionMatt Johnson - KeyboardsLorraine McIntosh - Backing vocalsHazel Fernandez - Backing vocalsFormer Members:Toby Smith - Keyboards (1992-2002)Wallis Buchanan - Didgeridoo (1992-2001)Gavin Dodds - Guitar (1993-1994)Simon Katz - Guitar (1995-2000)Stuart Zender - Bass (1992-1998)Nick Fyffe - Bass (1998-2003)Nick Van Gelder - Drummer (1993)Darren Galea aka DJ D-Zire - Turntables (1993-2001)Adrian Revell - Flute, saxophoneWinston Rollins - TromboneSimon Carter - Keyboards (1999-2001)Sia - Backing VocalsSam Smith - Backing vocals (2001-2007)","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/6125_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"20,000 - 50,000"}

{"key":"12335","name":"OutKast","bio":"OutKast is an American hip-hop duo from Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The duo is one of the most successful hip-hop groups of all time, having received six Grammy Awards. Over 25 million copies have been sold of Outkast's seven releases: six studio albums\u2014including one double album\u2014and a greatest hits release. The group's original musical style was a mixture of Dirty South and G-Funk. Since then funk, soul, pop, electronic music, rock, spoken word poetry, jazz, and blues have been added to the group's musical palette. The duo consists of Atlanta native Andr\u00e9 \"Andre 3000\" Benjamin (formerly known as Dr\u00e9) and Georgia-born Antwan \"Big Boi\" Patton.Speakerboxxx\/The Love Below is one of only four hip-hop albums to be certified Diamond in the U.S. for shipping over 10 million units. Along with Outkast's commercial success, they have maintained an experimental approach in their music and are widely praised for their originality and artistic content.Benjamin and Patton met while attending Tri-Cities High School, a Visual and Performing Arts School. Benjamin's parents were divorced and he was living with his father. Meanwhile, Patton had to move with his four brothers and six sisters from Savannah to Atlanta. Benjamin and Patton eventually teamed up and were pursued by Organized Noize, a group of local producers who would later make hits for TLC. The duo initially wanted to be called \"2 Shades Deep\" or \"The Misfits\", but because those names were already taken they later decided to use \"OutKast\" based on finding \"outcast\" as synonym for \"misfit\" in a dictionary. OutKast, Organized Noize, and schoolmates Goodie Mob formed the nucleus of the Dungeon Family organization.OutKast signed to LaFace Records in 1992, becoming the label's first hip hop act and making their first appearance on the remix of label mate TLC's \"What About Your Friends\". In 1993, they released their first single, \"Player's Ball\". The song's funky style, much of it accomplished with live instrumentation, was a hit with audiences. \"Player's Ball\" hit number-one on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart.Their debut album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, was issued on April 26th, 1994. This initial effort is credited with laying the foundation for southern hip hop and is considered a classic by many hip hop aficionados. Every track on Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik was produced by Organized Noize and featured other members of the Dungeon Family. Follow-up singles included the title track and \"Git Up Git Out\", a politically charged collaboration with Goodie Mob that was later sampled by Macy Gray for her 1999 hit \"Do Something.\" On this early material, both Andr\u00e9 and Big Boi contrast lyrical content reflecting the lifestyles of pimps and gangsters with politically conscious material commenting on the status of African Americans in the South. OutKast won Best New Rap Group at the Source Awards in 1995. In the same year, the group contributed \"Benz or a Beamer\" to the popular New Jersey Drive soundtrack.ATLiens was OutKast's second album, released on August 27th, 1996. The album exhibited more self-consciousness, and further solidified OutKast as the flagship representatives of the 1st generation Dungeon Family and the Southern hip hop movement. The album helped the group earn more recognition among East Coast hip hop fans in the East and West coasts.For this album, OutKast joined with partner David \"Mr. DJ\" Sheats to form the Earthtone III production company, which allowed the group to produce some of their own tracks. \"ATLiens\" was the group's second Top 40 single (following \"Player's Ball\" from their first album), and reflected the beginning of Andr\u00e9's increasingly sober lifestyle: \"No drugs or alcohol\/so I can get the signal clear,\" he rhymes about himself. \"Elevators (Me & You),\" OutKast's first self-produced single, became the group's first Top 20 hit the same year.OutKast's third album Aquemini was released on September 29, 1998 and also reached the number-two position on the Billboard 200 album chart in the United States; its title was a combination of the zodiac signs of Big Boi (an Aquarius) and Andr\u00e9 (a Gemini). The album was widely praised as possibly the group's best material to date: when reviewed by popular hip-hop publication The Source, it received the much-coveted \"5 Mics\" (out of five) rating.Producing more material themselves, both Big Boi and Andr\u00e9 explored more eclectic subject matter, delving into sounds inspired by soul, trip hop, and electro music. The album featured production by Organized Noize and collaborations with Raekwon, funk pioneer and musical forebear George Clinton, and Goodie Mob.In 1999, OutKast and LaFace Records were sued by Rosa Parks over the album's most successful radio single, which bore Parks' name as its title. The lawsuit alleged that the song misappropriated Parks' name, and also objected to some of the song's obscene language.The song's lyrics were largely unrelated to Parks, save for a line in the chorus: \"Ah ha, hush that fuss \/ Everybody move to the back of the bus\". The song, which OutKast maintained was intended partly as homage, only refers to Parks as a metaphor: the purpose of the song's chorus is to imply that OutKast is overturning hip hop's old order, that people should make way for a new style and sound. The initial lawsuit was dismissed. Parks' representation hired lawyer Johnnie Cochran to appeal the decision in 2001, but the appeal was denied on First Amendment grounds. In 2003, the Supreme Court allowed Parks' lawyers to proceed with the lawsuit.In 2004, the judge in the case appointed an impartial representative for Parks after her family expressed concerns that her caretakers and her lawyers were pursuing the case based on their own financial interest. Later that same year, the members of OutKast were dropped as co-defendants, and Parks' lawyers continued to seek action against LaFace and parent company BMG. In 2003 Andr\u00e9 told UK journalist Angus Batey that, following a Detroit concert in the midst of the legal battle, relatives of Parks had approached him and implied that the case was less to do with Rosa than with the lawyers. The suit was finally settled on April 14, 2005, with neither OutKast nor their label having to admit any wrongdoing. The group did, however, have to agree to perform some sort of tribute to Parks.Originally titled \"Sandbox\", the pair's fourth album, \"Stankonia\", was released in October 2000 to excellent reviews. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 in the U.S., and would eventually be certified quadruple-platinum. Stankonia's first single was \"B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)\", a high-tempo jungle-influenced record. The second single, \"Ms. Jackson,\" combined a pop hook with lyrics about divorce and relationship breakups, particularly Andr\u00e9's breakup with singer Erykah Badu; the titular \"Ms. Jackson\" character being a doppelg\u00e4nger for Badu's mother. It was at this time that Andr\u00e9 changed his stage name to the current \"Andr\u00e9 3000\".The single became their first pop hit, landing the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the number-two position on the UK Singles Chart. The album's final single was the Organized Noize-produced \"So Fresh, So Clean\", featuring a credited guest appearance from regular guest vocalist and Organized Noize-member Sleepy Brown and garnered a remix featuring Snoop Dogg. All three singles' videos had heavy MTV2 airplay, and Outkast won two 2001 Grammy Awards, one for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for \"Ms. Jackson\", and another for Stankonia as Best Rap Album.During the recording of Stankonia, OutKast and Mr. DJ began producing tracks for the artists on their Aquemini Records imprint through Columbia, including Slimm Cutta Calhoun and Killer Mike, who made his debut on Stankonia's \"Snappin' & Trappin.\"Webzine Pitchforkmedia.com named Stankonia the 4th greatest album released between 2000 and 2004 in its 2005 feature. In 2009, B.O.B. was chosen as the number one song of the decade.In December 2001, OutKast released a greatest hits album, Big Boi and Dre Present\u2026OutKast, which also contained three new tracks. One of these new tracks was the single \"The Whole World,\" which won a 2002 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Killer Mike also was featured on the song, gaining some exposure among areas outside of his native Atlanta. The other two new songs were called \"Funkin' Around\" and \"Movin' Cool (The After Party)\"The same year OutKast participated in the only Dungeon Family group album, Even in Darkness, along with Goodie Mob, Killer Mike, Sleepy Brown, Witchdoctor, and Backbone among others, and featuring Bubba Sparxxx, Shuga Luv and Mello. In 2002, the group and Killer Mike contributed the lead single \"Land of a Million Drums\" to the Scooby Doo soundtrack.In September 2003, OutKast released a double album, Speakerboxxx\/The Love Below. It is essentially two solo albums, one by each member, packaged as a single release under the OutKast banner; the two members also appear on each others' discs for a few songs apiece. Big Boi's Speakerboxxx is largely a funk and Dirty South blended party record; Andr\u00e9 3000's The Love Below features only brief instances of hip hop, presenting instead elements found in funk, jazz, rock, electronic music, and R&B.The album is also OutKast's biggest commercial success yet, having debuted on the Billboard 200 albums chart at number-one and stayed there for several weeks. The album eventually sold over five million copies, and, as double-album sales count double for Recording Industry Association of America certification, the album was certified diamond for 10 million units shipped in December 2004. Its latest certification, in May 2006, reaches 11 million copies in shipping.The first two singles from the album(s), which were released nearly simultaneously, were Big Boi's \"The Way You Move\" and Andr\u00e9 3000's \"Hey Ya!\" The video for \"Hey Ya!\" is based on The Beatles' landmark appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. The video's storyline has \"The Love Below\"\u2014a fictional band with all members, through the use of special effects, played by Andr\u00e9\u2014performing in London. \"Hey Ya!\" was the number one song on the very final weekend of American Top 40 with Casey Kasem. It was also number one a week later on the very first weekend of American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest. The singles spent ten weeks at number one on the Hot 100 singles chart, with \"Hey Ya!\" spending nineteen weeks and \"The Way You Move\" briefly taking over in February 2004. These singles were seen as a breakthrough for the hip-hop industry, being among the first hip-hop songs to be widely played on adult contemporary radio stations.OutKast's next official single was not released until the summer of 2004. \"Roses\", a track featuring both members from The Love Below half of the album, did not meet the level of success as either of its predecessors, but it became a modest-sized hit on urban radio and the American music video networks. The video for \"Roses\" is loosely based on the musical West Side Story and Grease. It featured sparring 1950s-style gangs, one representing Speakerboxxx, and one representing The Love Below, parodying the widespread arguing among critics and fans as to which half of the album was better and that the two members were estranged. The final singles were Andr\u00e9 3000's \"Prototype\", which was paired with a science fiction-themed video about alien visitors, and Speakerboxxx's \"Ghettomusick,\" which featured both members of OutKast and a sample from a song by Patti LaBelle, who also makes an appearance in the video.Speakerboxxx\/The Love Below won the Grammy Award for the 2004 Album of the Year, becoming only the second rap album to ever receive the honor (the first being The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill in 1999). OutKast was one of the headlining acts at the show, and gave two performances: Big Boi performed \"The Way You Move\" during a medley with George Clinton & P-Funk and Robert Randolph and the Family Band, while Andr\u00e9 3000 performed \"Hey Ya!\" as the show closed. In February 2004, Andr\u00e9 3000's performance, which featured female dancers moving wildly around a green teepee in war paint and feathered headdresses, was criticized by the Native American Cultural Center, who called for a boycott of OutKast, Arista Records, NARAS, and of CBS, the broadcaster of the awards show. CBS later apologized.Between OutKast albums, Big Boi and Andr\u00e9 3000 ventured into film projects. Andr\u00e9 co-starred in John Singleton's action film Four Brothers and also had a part in Be Cool, while Big Boi took a featured role in the T.I. movie ATL. Both members also began working on a joint film, Idlewild, directed by OutKast music video director Bryan Barber. Idlewild, a Prohibition-era musical film set to a blues-influenced hip-hop soundtrack, was released on August 25, 2006 by Universal Pictures. The Idlewild soundtrack was released August 22, 2006. Its lead single, \"Mighty 'O'\", features both OutKast members, and was briefly played exclusively on local Atlanta radio stations before being issued as a single in May 2006. They released and shot the video for \"Morris Brown\" instead. A video for \"Idlewild Blue (Don'tchu Worry About Me)\" soon followed.Aquemini Records folded in 2004, and Big Boi founded a new record label, Purple Ribbon Entertainment, to be distributed by Virgin Records. Among its first signees were Sleepy Brown, Bubba Sparxxx, and Killer Mike, Big Boi has released a group album\/compilation, titled Big Boi Presents\u2026 The Purple Ribbon All-Stars - Got Purp? Vol. 2.One album remains on the band's LaFace contract. It was originally planned as a ten-track release called 10 The Hard Way; shortly after Idlewild was released, the duo confirmed the album is still in the works, though both have begun new projects without releasing any new information on the album. Due to both Big Boi and Andr\u00e9's interest in separate projects such as movies, TV (Andr\u00e9's Class of 3000) and solo albums, rumors of a split have turned up frequently in the media. Andr\u00e9 denied those rumors in a phone interview with MTV News, stating that even though they do not feel like performing on stage together, OutKast is \"still tight\". In an August, 2006, interview with UK journalist Craig McLean, after emphasizing that they would not split, the pair looked beyond music and film careers, Big Boi suggesting he may consider running for the job of Mayor of Atlanta in the future.In 2007, Andre 3000 confirmed a new OutKast album would be released, but said that he and Big Boi released solo records first, stating the group album is still possibly two years away. Big Boi's solo album will be released first in June\/July of 2009, with the first single, \"Royal Flush\" (also featuring Andre 3000, essentially making it an OutKast song), planned to have been released on December 31, 2007, but was not released on the announced date. Big Boi announced on his MySpace that the release date for Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty is now sometime in the summer of 2009.On Nov 14, 2008, the Guardian reported that OutKast will release their follow-up to Idlewild in 2009 after Big Boi and Andre 3000 release their solo albums in the same year. As of August 2009, the albums have not yet been released.","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/12335_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"500,000 - 1,000,000"}

{"key":"12482","name":"John Frusciante","bio":"John Anthony Frusciante (born in New York on March 5th 1970) though probably best known for his time as guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, is a respected, acclaimed and prolific solo artist in his own right. Joining the Chili Peppers in 1988 after the death of Hillel Slovak, the band's original guitarist, Frusciante was featured on both Mother's Milk and Blood Sugar Sex Magik. However, John's rise was short lived. On May 7th, 1992, John quit the band just before the Chili Peppers were due on stage. (He did however play the show). His departure was considered a result of dissatisfaction with the level of rapid fame the band was achieving, as well as heavy fatigue from touring. In 1994, John released Niandra Lades & Usually Just A T-Shirt, his first solo album. Some of the material had already been recorded whilst he was on tour. Many fans consider this album to be his best solo album which included many bizarre and aptly named songs such as \"My Smile is a Rifle\" and \"Running Away Into You\".After his departure from the Chili Peppers, John slipped further into the world of drugs. In 1997, his second solo album, Smile From The Streets You Hold, was released. According to Frusciante, this album was released solely to raise money for his drug habit. It was later withdrawn from sale in 1999. He would later state on multiple occasions that 1997 was the worst year of his life.John's heavy drug usage had brought him close to death on multiple occasions. It was with suggestion from his band mate Flea, who kept contact with John still, that he checked himself into rehab to overcome his habits. In 1998, he was asked to re-join the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He said yes, and in 1999, Californication was released with John back on guitar. His reappearance in the public eye was greeted with some shock, as there were many tales of his terrible descent into addiction, but it was clear to everyone who listened to Californication that Frusciante was truly back. The album, featuring the guitar skills of Frusciante, was a sonic celebration of life and rebirth (\"Scar Tissue\"), and also an exploration of Hollywood superficiality (\"Californication\").Over the time spent touring and recording Californication, John created a set of his own songs that would come forth on his next solo album, To Record Only Water for Ten Days. Retaining his lyrical style, John pursued a different direction, and spewed a heavily synthesized album.From the Sounds Inside was an internet-only release that made its debut on his official website. The album, which stretches over 21 songs, is comprised mainly of unfinished and unmastered demos from his Record Only Water era.The highly anticipated follow-up to Californication, which was to be titled By The Way, was released in 2002. By The Way was applauded by critics as a departure from the band's previous styles, and is recognized for the melodic and subdued emotions given by the Chili Peppers. Frusciante is credited with writing most of the album's melodies, bass lines, and guitar progressions, therefore changing the direction of the recording dramatically: \"his warm, understated guitar work and his doo-wop style vocal harmonies are king this time around.\" Frusciante has stated that writing \"By the Way one of the happiest times in my life.\" During the tour break of By The Way, Frusciante proceeded to record seven solo albums in as little time as it took to create By The Way. In February 2004 John released the positively-received Shadows Collide With People. A well-produced and orchestrated album, it pulled together the will power and the resolve that John held after his struggle with drugs and mental illness, and features band mates Flea and Chad Smith on several tracks. In May of that year, rumors circulated that another album would be soon released. Indeed it was, as John planned to release a total of six albums in six months through the Record Collection label. The first album appeared at the end of June 2004. Named The Will to Death, it lacked the studio mixing and sharpness of Shadows Collide. Instead, it was a raw and unedited release that still retained a high quality. It also exemplified John's love of imperfection.The second in the series would be titled Automatic Writing. Composed mainly of extended jams, it was not to be released under John's name but instead that of Ataxia. The project featured John Frusciante on guitar, Josh Klinghoffer on drums and Joe Lally on bass (Fugazi). The album was released in late August of 2004 and featured all three band members on vocals.His next solo album to be released was the DC EP. On this production, Frusciante was accompanied by Jerry Busher on drums. Musically, the songs were very similar to the Will to Death, but were different in tone and genre. With this album John worked with yet another former member of the DC Hardcore band Fugazi. Lead guitarist, and vocalist for Fugazi, Ian Mackaye helped John record and master the album at Ian's Dischord Records studio in Washington DC. Mackaye even loaned Frusciante his guitar and amps to record on. Frusciante remarked that he was relieved that he still sounded like himself even on someone else's equipment. DC EP also marked the first album in five years that Frusciante had NOT used a synthesizer of any kind.Two more solo albums on the Record Collection label would follow within the original six month time span, Inside of Emptiness (based around a rock sound, with synthesizers playing only a minor role throughout) and A Sphere in the Heart of Silence (composed mainly of electronica-based material). Both of these albums done in collaboration with Josh Klinghoffer. In 2005, the last in the planned-six album series was released. Curtains (an album comprised of mostly acoustic guitar).2006 brought the release of Stadium Arcadium, the Chili Peppers' ninth studio album and so far only double album. The album was praised for integrating musical styles from several aspects of the band's career and won the band seven Grammy Award nominations in 2007 including an award for Best Rock Album.Frusciante has also found time in between dates on touring and producing solo albums to finalize and produce the remainder of the much-anticipated Ataxia sessions with Joe Lally and Josh Klinghoffer. Automatic Writing II was released in 2007. Shortly after, the group disbanded.On January 20, 2009, John released his latest solo album, The Empyrean. Josh Klinghoffer was of course there to help as well as an array of other musicians including Johnny Marr, formerly of The Smiths and Modest Mouse, and his Chili Pepper band mate, Flea. In December 2009, John announced he was departing the Red Hot Chili Peppers for a second time. Writing on his blog, he stated:\"When I quit the band, over a year ago, we were on an indefinite hiatus. There was no drama or anger involved, and the other guys were very understanding. They are supportive of my doing whatever makes me happy and that goes both ways.To put it simply, my musical interests have led me in a different direction. Upon rejoining, and throughout my time in the band, I was very excited about exploring the musical possibilities inherent in a rock band, and doing so with those people in particular. A couple of years ago, I began to feel that same excitement again, but this time it was about making a different kind of music, alone, and being my own engineer.I really love the band and what we did. I understand and value that my work with them means a lot to many people, but I have to follow my interests. For me, art has never been something done out of a sense of duty. It is something I do because it is really fun, exciting, and interesting. Over the last 12 years, I have changed, as a person and artist, to such a degree that to do further work along the lines I did with the band would be to go against my own nature. There was no choice involved in this decision. I simply have to be what I am, and have to do what I must do.Sending love and gratitude to you all.\"","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/12482_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"please contact"}

{"key":"12327","name":"Stevie Wonder","bio":"Stevie Wonder is a stage name of Stevland Hardaway Morris (b. Stevland Hardaway Judkins, 13 May 1950 in Saginaw, MI, USA - aka Little Stevie Wonder), a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist. He d\u00e9buted, as Little Stevie Wonder, with the single \"I Call It Pretty Music, But the Old People Call It the Blues\" (1961, Tamla Motown) and his latest album is \"A Time 2 Love\" (Oct 2005, Motown)Stevland he lost his sight shortly after birth and, when four, his mother left his father and moved, with the children, to Detroit. She changed her name back to Lula Hardaway and later changed her son's surname to Morris - partly, because of relatives - which has remained Stevie Wonder's legal name, ever since.Wonder signed with Motown's Tamla label at the age of eleven, and continues to perform and record for Motown to this day. To date, he has recorded more than thirty U.S. top ten hits and received twenty-two Grammy Awards, the most ever awarded to a male solo artist. In 2008, Billboard magazine placed Wonder fifth in their list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists. He has recorded several critically acclaimed albums and hit singles, and writes and produces songs for many of his labelmates and outside artists. A multi-instrumentalist, Wonder plays the drums, guitar, synthesisers, congas, and most famously the piano, harmonica, and keyboards. Wonder forged his divergent styles into a trademark sound, putting his musical signature on a quartet of albums that would change music forever: 1972's Talking Book, 1973's Innervisions, 1974's Fullfillingness' First Finale, and 1976's Songs in the Key of Life. By the end of the decade, Wonder had won a record fifteen Grammys, as well as numerous other awards.In the following decades he wrote, among other classics, his 1982 collaboration with Paul McCartney, \"Ebony and Ivory\", which remained number one for seven weeks in a row. 1984's The Woman in Red soundtrack produced the enduring classic \"I Just Called to Say I Love You\", yet another number-one hit that gained him an Academy Award.In 1989 Wonder was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside The Rolling Stones. His contribution to worldwide social and political change is just as impressive; he championed the effort to make Martin Luther King's birthday a national holiday, as well as becoming a driving force behind 1985's USA for Africa campaign.","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/12327_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"500,000 - 1,000,000"}

{"key":"12329","name":"Gnarls Barkley","bio":"Gnarls Barkley is an alternative\/soul group which formed in 2003 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The group consists of CeeLo Green (vocals) and Brian \"Danger Mouse\" Burton (multiple instruments). The group is best known for the international smash hit \"Crazy\". \"Crazy\" - which was their first single - debuted at #1 on the British pop charts on April 2, 2006. It was the first #1 UK single to be obtained solely through Internet downloads. The success of the single in the UK was due largely to its use in a promotional trailer for Radio 1 across all of the BBC TV channels prior to the single's release. 'Crazy' stayed at #1 for almost 9 weeks.The buzz for \"Crazy\" helped generate a lot of press coverage of their debut album, St. Elsewhere, which was released on May 9, 2006.The album is seen as a cross-over between hip-hop, rock and soul. Both artists have previously been known to have a quirky experimental side, moving between different genres of music.Producer DJ Danger Mouse began his career doing remixes of indie rock artists like Neutral Milk Hotel and downbeat instrumental music under the 'Pelican City' alias. He later went on to emphasize more hip-hop production: most notably his The Grey Album, a remix of Black Album, with samples exclusively from The White Album; 2005's Dangerdoom collaboration with MF Doom; and, most recently, the double platinum Demon Days. Gnarls Barkley singer Cee Lo Green started out in the classic Southern rap group Goodie Mob, but later developed a unique funk-inspired soulful style of singing which developed on his solo albums.Their new album The Odd Couple was released March 18, 2008.","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/12329_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"200,000 - 150,000"}

{"key":"230351","name":"Cuba Gooding Sr.","bio":"Became lead singer with The Main Ingredient after death of Donald McPherson. Don passed in July 1971 of leukemia. Gooding's first hit with the Main was Everybody Play's the Fool from the album \"Bitter Sweet\". Gooding is father of Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr and actoe Omar Gooding(Baby Boy). Gooding is a smooth soul singer with just that touch of swagger to make him popular.","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/230351_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"please contact"}

{"key":"111983","name":"The Jet Age of Tomorrow","bio":"The Jet Age of Tomorrow, also known as The Super 3, is an electro-funk production duo from Atlanta, Georgia. The duo is one of many groups within the hip-hop collective OFWGKTA and is comprised of Odd Future members Matt Martian and Hal Williams (otherwise known as Pyramid Vritra). They have released three albums, Voyager, The Journey to the 5th Echelon and The JellyFish Mentality, all of which have received generally positive reviews from critics and blogs alike.Williams, in addition to being a member of OFWGKTA, is a member of the Los Angeles, California\/Atlanta, Georgia hip-hop collective NRK.Voyager - http:\/\/www.sendspace.com\/file\/sxj86h","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/111983_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"please contact"}

{"key":"12477","name":"311","bio":"311 was formed in 1990 in Omaha, Nebraska, United States by singer\/guitarist Nick Hexum, singer S.A. Martinez, guitarist Tim Mahoney, drummer Chad Sexton and bassist P-Nut. The band now resides in Los Angeles, California. 311 mix rock, rap, reggae and funk into their own unique sound. After years of consistent touring, 311 have developed a reputation as one of the hardest working, most influential and most entertaining live bands in the U.S. 311 have released ten studio albums, one live album, one greatest hits album and three dvd's - and have sold over 8.5 million albums in the U.S. Seven of their albums have reached the Top 10 on Billboard's Top 200 Sales Chart\u2026and 9 of their singles have reached the Top 10 on Billboard's Alternative Rock Radio Chart (including the #1 singles Down, Love Song & Don't Tread On Me. Along with Amber, All Mixed Up, Come Original, Creatures For Awhile, Hey You, and Sunset in July). 311\u2019s newest album, Universal Pulse, released in Summer 2011, was produced by Bob Rock, mixed by Chad Sexton and debuted at #7 on Billboard\u2019s Top 200 Album Chart. The band's celebratory live shows & incessant touring schedule have earned them a massive grassroots following nationwide. Since its inception in 2004, 311\u2019s annual summer headlining amphitheatre run, Unity Tour, has become one of the largest modern rock concerts of the summer. Support acts on previous Unity Tours have included Sublime with Rome, The Offspring, Snoop Dogg, The Roots, Papa Roach, The Wailers, O.A.R., Matisyahu, and Ziggy Marley. Unity Tour 2012 will feature support from Slightly Stoopid. 311 BIO\/HIGHLIGHTS:*\t311 was formed in 1990 in Omaha, Nebraska by vocalist\/guitarist Nick Hexum, vocalist\/dj SA Martinez, lead guitarist Tim Mahoney, drummer Chad Sexton and bassist P-Nut. The band now resides in Los Angeles.*\t311 has sold over 8.5 million units in the U.S.* \t311 has had 8 albums reach the Top 10 on Billboard\u2019s U.S. Top 200 Sales Chart*\t311 has had 9 singles reach the Top 10 on Billboard\u2019s U.S. Alternative Chart (including the #1 singles \u201cDown\u201d, \u201cLove Song\u201d & \u201cDon\u2019t Tread On Me\u201d along with \u201cAmber\u201d, \u201cAll Mixed Up\u201d, \u201cCome Original\u201d, \u201cCreatures (For a While)\u201d, \u201cHey You\u201d and \"Sunset in July\")* \t311\u2019s new album, Universal Pulse, debuted at #7 in July 2011 and was produced by Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Aerosmith).*\t311\u2019s new album, due summer of 2011, was produced by Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Aerosmith).*\t311\u2019s sound is a unique hybrid of rock, reggae, hip-hop & funk. A balance of hard rocking anthems and melodic reggae grooves - with an underlying message of unity & positivity.*\tAfter years of incessant touring, 311 has developed a reputation as one of the most influential & most entertaining live bands in the U.S. *\tWith their celebratory live shows, 311 has earned a massive grassroots following. For the past nine years, 311 has headlined their summer \u201cUnity Tour\u201d in ampitheatres across the U.S.- drawing crowds of 10,000 to 18,000 people in Atlanta, Boston, DC, New Jersey, Los Angeles, St. Louis, West Palm, Charlotte, VA Beach, Denver, etc. The tour is consistently one of the largest modern rock concerts of the summer in the U.S.*\tPast 311 tours have included an impressive array of opening acts. Bands such as No Doubt, Korn & Incubus all supported 311 on U.S. tours before they became headliners. *\tSupport acts on 311\u2019s Unity Tour have included :Sublime With Rome, The Offspring, Snoop Dogg, The Roots, Papa Roach, The Wailers, O.A.R., Matisyahu and Ziggy Marley.*\t311 has always stayed true to their own approach and their underlying message of unity and positivity. That message still rings true for them today\u2026in their lyrics and at their celebratory live shows. Singer Nick Hexum typically ends each show with the words, \u201cStay Positive and Love Your Life.\u201d\u2022\tEvery other year on March 11th (\u201c3-11 Day\u201d), 311 holds a special concert event that attracts thousands of 311 fans from around the world. The show includes an extended setlist (5 hours \/ 60+ songs) and state of the art production. Last year the band sold-out the Mandalay Bay Arena and tickets were sold to fans in all 50 U.S. states and 13 different countries. 311 fans traveled from around the globe to meet each other and to celebrate 311 Day together.","featuredImage":"https:\/\/assets.allamericanmusic.com\/images\/12477_h_0.jpg","feeRange":"100,000 - 200,000"}