Dave Edmunds

Arguably more respected as a producer than a solo performer, former Rockpile member Dave Edmunds' Midas touch helped launch the careers of the Flamin' Groovies, Nick Lowe, the Stray Cats, the Fabulous Thunderbirds and k.d. lang. At the outset of his career in the early 1970s, Edmunds set himself against the roaring currents of Prog Rock effusiveness and laconic Punk bile, choosing instead to re-travel routes forged by performers like Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry. With exacting precision, Edmunds revived the clean melodic lines and pure pop sensibilities of early rock 'n' roll standards. Ironically, his one hit song -- "I Hear You Knockin'" -- is almost entirely unrepresentative of the remainder of his output. Enduring solo performer, collaborator with Graham Parker and Nick Lowe, and highly esteemed producer, musical factotum Dave Edmunds has remained over the course of his long career a tireless advocate of the oldie-but-goodie sounds of the '50s and early '60s.