Arts and Music
Songwriters
Noted authors of hymns, folk songs, and popular tunes.
-
Boudleaux Bryant (born 1920, died 1987)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Bye Bye Love'''' and ''''Wake Up Little Susie''''
-
David Byrne (born 1952)
Scottish-American musician, singer, and songwriter. A member of the band Talking Heads.
- Wrote ''''And She Was'''' and ''''Psycho Killer''''
-
Edward Kennedy ''Duke'' Ellington (born 1899, died 1974)
American jazz musician.
- Wrote ''''Sophisticated Lady'''' and ''''Satin Doll''''
- Wrote ''''Sophisticated Lady'''' and ''''Satin Doll''''
-
James H. ''Eubie'' Blake (born 1883, died 1983)
American ragtime pianist and composer.
- Wrote ''''I''m Just Wild About Harry''''
-
Mick Jagger (born 1943)
English singer and songwriter. Lead singer of the Rolling Stones.
- Wrote ''''Satisfaction'''' and ''''Jumping Jack Flash''''
-
Oscar Hammerstein
- Wrote the lyrics for Oklahoma!, South Pacific, and The Sound of Music in collaboration with composer Richard Rodgers
-
Pete Seeger (born 1919)
American folk singer and songwriter.
- Co-wrote ''''If I Had a Hammer'''' with Lee Hays
-
Richard Rodgers (born 1902, died 1979)
American composer.
- Wrote Carousel and The King and I in collaboration with Oscar Hammerstein II
-
James Taylor (born 1948)
American singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Fire and Rain'''' and ''''Don''t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight''''
-
Stevie Wonder (born 1950)
American singer, songwriter and musician who has been blind since birth. Original name: Steveland Morris.
- Wrote ''''Isn''t She Lovely'''' and ''''You are the Sunshine of My Life''''
-
Frederick Loewe (born 1901, died 1988)
Austrian-American composer and songwriter.
- Wrote Brigadoon and My Fair Lady in collaboration with Alan Jay Lerner
-
Bruce Springsteen (born 1949)
American musician, singer and songwriter, known as ''The Boss.''
- Wrote ''''Born in the U.S.A.'''' and ''''Dancing in the Dark''''
-
Peter Gabriel (born 1950)
English musician, singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Sledgehammer'''' and ''''Shock the Monkey''''
-
Prince Rogers Nelson (born 1958)
American musican, singer and songwriter. Became popular under the one-word name Prince, then changed his name to a pictorial symbol.
- Wrote ''''I Wanna Be Your Lover'''' and ''''Little Red Corvette''''
-
Don Henley (born 1947)
American singer, songwriter and musician.
- Wrote ''''The Boys of Summer'''' and ''''All She Wants to Do Is Dance''''
-
John Fogerty
American singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Proud Mary'''' and ''''Bad Moon Rising''''
-
Hoagland ''Hoagy'' Carmichael (born 1899, died 1981)
American musician, songwriter and actor.
- Wrote ''''Stardust'''' and ''''Georgia on My Mind''''
-
Johnny Mercer (born 1909, died 1976)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''That Old Black Magic''''
-
Sam Cooke (born 1935, died 1964)
American singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Twistin'' the Night Away'''' and ''''Shake''''
-
Sammy Cahn (born 1913, died 1993)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''High Hopes'''' and ''''Love and Marriage''''
-
John Lennon (born 1940, died 1980)
English musician, singer and songwriter. Member of the legendary rock band The Beatles.
- Wrote ''''Love Me Do'''' and ''''I Want to Hold Your Hand''''
-
Bo Diddley (born 1928)
American musician, singer and songwriter. Original name: Elias McDaniel.
- Wrote ''''Bo Diddley'''' and ''''Mona''''
-
Antoine ''Fats'' Domino (born 1928)
American musician, singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Ain''t That a Shame'''' and ''''Whole Lot of Loving''''
-
Neil Young (born 1945)
Canadian musician, singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Helpless'''' and ''''Like a Hurricane''''
-
Otis Redding (born 1941, died 1967)
American singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Dock of the Bay'''' and ''''Respect''''
-
Lloyd Price
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Just Because'''' and ''''I''m Gonna Get Married''''
-
Pete Townshend (born 1945)
English musician, singer and songwriter. Lead singer of The Who.
- Wrote ''''My Generation''''
-
Henry Mancini (born 1924, died 1994)
American composer.
- Wrote ''''Moon River'''' and ''''Days of Wine and Roses''''
-
Roy Orbison (born 1936, died 1988)
American singer, guitarist and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Only the Lonely'''' and ''''Crying''''
-
Irving Berlin (born 1888, died 1989)
American songwriter. Original name: Israel Baline.
- Wrote ''''White Christmas'''' and ''''God Bless America''''
-
Bob Dylan (born 1941)
American musician, singer and songwriter. Original name: Robert Allan Zimmerman.
- Wrote ''''Like a Rolling Stone'''' and ''''Mr. Tambourine Man''''
-
Ray Charles (born 1930)
American singer, songwriter and musician. Known for bridging numerous styles, including rhythm and blues, country and rock.
- Wrote ''''I Got a Woman'''' and ''''Come Back Baby''''
-
Paul Simon (born 1941)
American musician, singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Bridge Over Troubled Water'''' and ''''50 Ways to Leave Your Lover''''
-
Chuck Berry (born 1926)
American musician, singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Maybellene'''' and ''''Sweet Little Sixteen''''
-
Randy Newman (born 1943)
American singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''I Love L.A.'''' and ''''Mama Told Me Not to Come''''
-
Keith Richards (born 1943)
English musician, singer and songwriter. A member of the Rolling Stones.
- Wrote ''''Satisfaction'''' and ''''Jumping Jack Flash''''
-
Albert von Tilzer (born 1878, died 1956)
American popular composer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Take Me Out to the Ball Game''''
-
Ike Turner (born 1931)
American singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''A Fool in Love''''
-
Ivor Novello (born 1893, died 1951)
Welsh songwriter and actor.
- Wrote ''''Keep the Home Fires Burning''''
-
Paul McCartney (born 1942)
English musician, singer and composer. A member of the legendary rock band The Beatles.
- Wrote ''''Yesterday'''' and ''''I Want to Hold Your Hand''''
-
Francis Scott Key (born 1779, died 1843)
American lawyer.
- Wrote the lyrics of ''''The Star-Spangled Banner'''' during the bombardment of Fort McHenry, Maryland, in the War of 1812
-
Noel Coward (born 1899, died 1973)
English playwright and composer.
- Wrote ''''Mad Dogs and Englishmen'''' and ''''Mad About the Boy''''
-
John Hiatt
American musician, singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Thing Called Love'''' and ''''Alone in the Dark''''
-
Van Morrison (born 1945)
Irish singer and songwriter. Original name: George Ivan.
- Wrote ''''Gloria'''' and ''''Domino''''
-
William ''Smokey'' Robinson (born 1940)
American singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''My Girl'''' and ''''Don''t Look Back''''
-
Jerry Leiber (born 1933)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Hound Dog'''' and ''''Love Me Tender''''
-
Mike Stoller (born 1933)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Hound Dog'''' and ''''Love Me Tender''''
-
Buddy Holly (born 1936, died 1959)
American musician, singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Peggy Sue'''' and ''''It''s So Easy''''
-
Jerome ''Doc'' Pomus (born 1925, died 1991)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Save the Last Dance for Me'''' and ''''This Magic Moment''''
-
Charles Calhoun
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Shake Rattle and Roll'''' and ''''Money Honey''''
-
Berry Gordy (born 1929)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''To Be Beloved'''' and ''''I''ll Be Satisfied''''
-
Dave Bartholomew
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Ain''t That a Shame'''' and ''''Blue Monday''''
-
Otis Blackwell
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Don''t Be Cruel'''' and ''''All Shook Up''''
-
Willie Dixon
American blues musician, singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''You Can''t Judge a Book by Its Cover''''
-
Percy Mayfield
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Hit the Road, Jack''''
-
''Little'' Richard Penniman (born 1935)
American musician, singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Tutti Frutti'''' and ''''Slippin'' and Slidin'' ''''
-
Harvey Fuqua
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Someday We''ll Be Together''''
-
John Marascalco
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Good Golly Miss Molly''''
-
Lowman Pauling
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Dedicated to the One I Love'''' and ''''Think''''
-
Richard Barrett
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''The ABCs of Love'''' and ''''I Want You to Be My Girl''''
-
Jesse Belvin
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Goodnight My Love'''' and ''''Earth Angel''''
-
Hank Ballard (born 1936)
American singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''The Twist''''
-
Rudy Toombs
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''One Mint Julep'''' and ''''Teardrops from My Eyes''''
-
Brian Holland (born 1941)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Where Did Our Love Go'''' and ''''Stop! In the Name of Love''''
-
Eddie Holland (born 1939)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Where Did Our Love Go'''' and ''''Stop! In the Name of Love''''
-
Lamont Dozier (born 1941)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Where Did Our Love Go'''' and ''''Stop! In the Name of Love''''
-
Curtis Mayfield (born 1942, died 1999)
American musician, singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Gypsy Woman'''' and ''''It''s All Right''''
-
Jeff Barry
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Da Doo Ron Ron'''' and ''''Be My Baby''''
-
Isaac Hayes (born 1942)
American singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Hold On, I''m Comin'' '''' and ''''Soul Man''''
-
David Porter
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Hold On, I''m Comin'' '''' and ''''Soul Man''''
-
Gerry Goffin
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow'''' and ''''The Loco-Motion''''
-
Brian Wilson (born 1942)
American musician, singer and songwriter. A member of The Beach Boys.
- Wrote ''''I Get Around'''' and ''''California Girls''''
-
Nickolas Ashford (born 1942)
American singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''I''m Every Woman'''' and ''''Who''s Gonna Take the Blame''''
-
Burt Bacharach (born 1929)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Don''t Make Me Over'''' and ''''Baby It''s You''''
-
Hal David (born 1921)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Don''t Make Me Over'''' and ''''Baby It''s You''''
-
Norman Whitfield
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''I Heard It Through the Grapevine'''' and ''''Ain''t Too Proud to Beg''''
-
Barrett Strong
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''I Heard It Through the Grapevine'''' and ''''Ain''t Too Proud to Beg''''
-
Ray Davies (born 1944)
English musician, singer, and songwriter. A member of The Kinks.
- Wrote ''''Lola'''' and ''''Come Dancing''''
-
Don Covay
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Chain of Fools''''
-
Jerry Ragavoy
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Cry Baby'''' and ''''Stay with Me''''
-
Bob Marley (born 1945, died 1981)
Jamaican reggae musician, songwriter and singer.
- Wrote ''''I Shot the Sheriff'''' and ''''No Woman, No Cry''''
-
Kenneth Gamble
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Love Train'''' and ''''Only the Strong Survive''''
-
Leon Huff
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Love Train'''' and ''''Only the Strong Survive''''
-
George Clinton (born 1940)
American funk musician, singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''One Nation Under a Groove'''' and ''''Flash Light''''
-
Thom Bell
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Rubberband Man'''' and ''''Rock ''n'' Roll Baby''''
-
Mick Jones
English musician, singer, and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Rock the Casbah'''' and ''''1977''''
-
Maurice White
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Shining Star'''' and ''''Let''s Groove''''
-
Bob Seger (born 1945)
American singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Night Moves''''
-
Chuck D
American rap musician and songwriter. Performs with Public Enemy.
- Wrote ''''Bring the Noise'''' and ''''Don''t Believe the Hype''''
-
Antonio ''L.A.'' Reid
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Girlfriend'''' and ''''It''s No Crime''''
-
Richard Thompson
English musician, singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Shoot Out the Lights'''' and ''''Wall of Death''''
-
Marshall Crenshaw
American musician, singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''There She Goes Again'''' and ''''Brand New Lover''''
-
Michael Stipe (born 1960)
American musician, singer and songwriter. A member of R.E.M.
- Wrote ''''Radio Free Europe'''' and ''''It''s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)''''
-
Jon Moss
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Karma Chameleon'''' and ''''Do You Really Want to Hurt Me''''
-
Mort Shuman
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Save the Last Dance for Me'''' and ''''This Magic Moment''''
-
George M. Cohan (born 1878, died 1942)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Over There'''' and ''''Yankee Doodle Boy''''
-
Sammy Fain (born 1902, died 1989)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''I''ll Be Seeing You'''' and ''''Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing''''
-
Stephen Foster (born 1826, died 1864)
American popular composer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''My Old Kentucky Home'''' and ''''Beautiful Dreamer''''
-
Jerome Kern (born 1885, died 1945)
American composer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''All the Things You Are'''' and ''''Smoke Gets in Your Eyes''''
-
Cole Porter (born 1893, died 1964)
American composer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''I''ve Got You Under My Skin'''' and ''''Night and Day''''
-
Ira Gershwin (born 1896, died 1983)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Embraceable You''''
-
Edgar Yipsel ''E.Y.'' Harburg (born 1898, died 1981)
American lyricist.
- Wrote ''''Over the Rainbow''''
-
Lorenz Hart (born 1895, died 1943)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Blue Moon'''' and ''''My Funny Valentine''''
-
DuBose Heyward (born 1885, died 1940)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Summertime''''
-
Gus Kahn (born 1886, died 1941)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Memories'''' and ''''Ain''t We Got Fun''''
-
Alan Jay Lerner (born 1918, died 1986)
American lyricist.
- Wrote Brigadoon and My Fair Lady in collaboration with Frederick Loewe
-
Jack Norworth (born 1879, died 1959)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Take Me Out to the Ball Game'''' and ''''Shine On, Harvest Moon''''
-
Mitchell Parish (born 1901, died 1993)
American lyricist.
- Wrote ''''Stardust''''
-
Andy Razaf (born 1895, died 1973)
American lyricist.
- Wrote ''''Honeysuckle Rose'''' and ''''Ain''t Misbehavin'' ''''
-
Jack Yellen (born 1892, died 1991)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Ain''t She Sweet'''' and ''''Happy Days Are Here Again''''
-
Harry von Tilzer (born 1872, died 1946)
American songwriter and publisher.
- Wrote ''''Only a Bird in a Gilded Cage''''
-
Harold Arlen (born 1905, died 1986)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Stormy Weather,'''' ''''Over the Rainbow,'''' and ''''That Old Black Magic''''
-
Jacques Brel (born 1929, died 1978)
Belgian songwriter.
- Wrote ''''If You Go Away (Ne me quitte pas)''''
-
Irving Caesar (born 1895, died 1996)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Tea for Two''''
-
Daniel Decatur Emmett (born 1815, died 1904)
American minstrel and songwriter.
- Credited with writing ''''Dixie''''
-
Woodrow Wilson ''Woody'' Guthrie (born 1912, died 1967)
American folk singer, songwriter and musician.
- Wrote over 1000 songs, including ''''This Land Is Your Land''''
-
William Christopher ''W.C.'' Handy (born 1873, died 1958)
American blues musician, bandleader and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''St. Louis Blues'''' and ''''Memphis Blues''''
-
Joe Hill (born 1879, died 1915)
Swedish-American labor organizer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''The Preacher and the Slave'''' and ''''The Rebel Girl''''
-
Isham Jones (born 1894, died 1956)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''It Had to Be You''''
-
Huddie ''Leadbelly'' Ledbetter (born 1885, died 1949)
American musician, singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Goodnight, Irene''''
-
Chauncey Olcott (born 1860, died 1932)
American singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''When Irish Eyes Are Smiling''''
-
Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle (born 1760, died 1836)
French songwriter.
- Wrote the French national anthem, ''''La Marseillaise''''
-
Lee Hays (born 1914, died 1981)
American folk singer and songwriter.
- Co-wrote ''''If I Had a Hammer'''' with Pete Seeger
-
Sunny Ade (born 1947)
Nigerian musician.
- Juju musician - Juju music is a blend of the traditional music of the Yorubas in western Nigeria and guitar sound
-
Enrique JorrÃn
Cuban violinist and bandleader.
- Created the cha-cha in 1948
-
Darin Isaacs
American pianist and songwriter.
- Known for his new-age instrumental music
Songwriters
Noted authors of hymns, folk songs, and popular tunes.
-
Felice Bryant (born 1925)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Bye Bye Love'''' and ''''Wake Up Little Susie''''
-
Stephanie ''Stevie'' Nicks (born 1948)
American singer and songwriter.
- Wrote "Rhiannon'''' and ''''Dreams''''
-
Tracy Chapman (born 1964)
American singer, songwriter and musician.
- Wrote ''''Fast Car'''' and ''''Bang Bang Bang''''
-
Madonna (born 1958)
American singer, songwriter and actress. Original name: Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone.
- Wrote ''''Like a Virgin'''' and ''''Vogue''''
-
Carole King (born 1941)
American singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow'''' and ''''The Loco-Motion''''
-
Roseanne Cash (born 1955)
American singer. Daughter of country singer Johnny Cash.
- Wrote ''''Seven Year Ache'''' and ''''Hold On''''
-
Patti Smith (born 1946)
American singer, songwriter, musician and poet.
- Wrote ''''Horses'''' and ''''Free Money''''
-
Ellie Greenwich
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Da Doo Ron Ron'''' and ''''Be My Baby''''
-
Valerie Simpson (born 1948)
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''I''m Every Woman'''' and ''''Who''s Gonna Take the Blame''''
-
Joni Mitchell (born 1943)
Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Original name: Roberta Joan Anderson.
- Wrote ''''You Turn Me On, I''m a Radio'''' and ''''Blue''''
-
Linda Creed
American songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Rubberband Man'''' and ''''Rock ''n'' Roll Baby''''
-
Christine McVie (born 1943)
English singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''You Make Loving Fun'''' and ''''Say You Love Me''''
-
Chrissie Hynde (born 1951)
American musician, singer and songwriter.
- Wrote ''''Back on the Chain Gang'''' and ''''Middle of the Road''''
-
Tori Amos (born 1963)
American singer, musician and songwriter. Original name: Myra Ellen Amos.
- Wrote ''''Me and a Gun''''
List:
BabyNamer has been redesigned, rebuilt and rejuvenated. Please .