Music Tributes

Asa songwriter and performer, Willie Nelson played a vital role in post-rock & roll country music. Although he didn't become a star until the mid '70's, Nelson spent the '60's writing songs that became hits for many other singers.

During the early '70's, Willie aligned himself with Waylon Jennings and the growing outlaw country movement which cintributed to his growing status as a performer.

Following the success of "Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain", Nelson became a genuine star, equally recognized by both country and pop audiences.

Whitney Houston is unarguably one of the biggest female pop stars of all time.

Her accomplishments as a hit maker are extraordinary - having sold over 200 million records worldwide.

She was the first artist ever to have seven consecutive singles hit number one - and her cover of Dolly Parton's song, "I Will Always Love You", became the biggest hit single in rock history.

She sadly passed away on 11th February, 2012 and the police said at the time that "there were no obvious signs of criminal intent".

Van Morrison is one of popular music's true innovators. His artistry is regarded as a complex fusion of R & B, jazz, blues and Celtic folk.

Known as "Van The Man" to his fans, Morrison started his professional career when, as a teenager in the late '50's playing a variety of instruments including guitar, harmonica, keyboards and saxophone for various Irish show bands covering popular hits of the day.

Morrison has received many music awards during his long career. He was inducted into both the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame and has also received an OBE for his contribution to music.

Tony Bennett is an American singer of traditional pop standards, show tunes ans jazz. He is also an accomplished painter whose works are on display in several institutions.

His career suffered a downturn during the height of the rock music era. However, he successfully re-emerged in the late 1980's and 1990's, putting out gold record albums and expanding his audience to the MTV generation whilst keeping his musical style intact.

He has sold well over 50 million records worldwide.

Tom Jones is a Welsh singer who became one of the most popular vocalists to emerge from the mid-1960's.

He has sold over 100 million records and has had 36 Top 40 hits in the UK and 19 in the US.

His early influences included Little Richard, Jackie Wilson and Brook Benton as well as Elvis Presley - with whom he would later become good friends.

Tina Arena is an Australian singer, songwriter, musical theatre actress, talent judge and record producer.

She's won several awards including 6 Aria Awards and in both 1996 and 2000 she was the world's biggest selling Australian artist.

She began her career as a cute 7 year old, singing live on Australian TV's Young Talent Time.

Her performance in the Australian production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was applauded by the show's producer, Andrew Lloyd Weber.

Her popularity has spread to France where she regularly performs and now resides there with her husband Vincent Mancini and their son Gabriel.

The Spice Girls were an English pop girl group formed in 1994. Each Spice Girl had a unique, over-the-top style that served as an extension of her public persona - becoming her trademark look.

It was Simon Fuller from 19 Entertainment who signed them to his company and got them a record deal with Virgin in 1995.

The girls became style icons of the 1990's and set many fashion trends.

The award-winning singer-songwriter, Adele, credits The Spice Girls as a major influence in regard to her own love and passion for music.

The Shadows were the first home-grown British rock-n-roll band to dominate the UK charts from the early '60's.

They gained their initial fame as the backing group for Cliff Richard before "going it alone" and releasing many great instrumental hits until their final tour in 2010.

John Lennon once claimed that "before Cliff and The Shadows, there was nothing worth listening to in British music".

The Eagles began as a West Coast American rock-n-roll band. Their later work would best be defined as classic rock.

With 5 number one singles, fourteen Top 40 hits and four number one albums. The Eagles were among the most successful recording artists of the 1970's.

Two of their albums (Greatest Hits 1971-1975) and Hotel California - are ranked among the ten best selling albums ever.

They were inducted into the Rock - n-Roll Hall of Fame in January 1998 and their music is still played regularly on a variety of radio stations around the world.

Formed in 1991, The Corrs is an Irish family pop, rock and Celtic fusion band.

They started their career playing music at their aunt's pub and had a breakthrough when they landed roles in the film, "The Commitments".

They ware later asked by the US ambassador for Ireland, to play at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in Boston.

That was the start of a remarkable career for this family singing group.