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Description of Adult Contemporary

 
Adult Contemporary refers to music aimed at adult, professional types. It's quite often characterized by slick production, attention to intellectual themes or ideas, and sometimes leftist politics. Synthesizers, multicultural flavors and jazz influences are also common. This is where alternative artists go when they're sick of being broke.
 

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Adult Contemporary Key Artists

 
Anne Murray

Anne Murray is often
regarded as the female
Charlie Rich; her voice is
seasoned whether she's
singing country or pop. B...

Annie Lennox

Annie Lennox's '90s solo
career continued the
mature, Synth-Pop
trajectory of her former
band, the Eurythmics. It's...

Billy Joel

William Joel is a definitive
singer-songwriter with
elder statesman status
thanks to years of Top-10
hits. The Piano Man is a six...

Bryan Adams

Bryan Adams' gravelly voice
and anthemic songs made
him a staple on AOR radio
throughout most of the '80s
and early '90s. With movie...

Celine Dion

Her big, emotive voice has
elevated Celine Dion from
ballad serenader to global
diva in her decade-long
career. Along with actres...

Elton John

One of the greatest artists of
the 1970s, Elton John is still
a beloved pop statesman.
Elton started playing piano
at age four, and by age el...

Eric Clapton

From '60s guitar god in the
Yardbirds and Cream to
arena rock superstar,
Clapton perfected heartfelt
whiteman guitar blues. He...

James Taylor

A quintessential '70s
folk-pop singer, James
Taylor masks dark,
introspective songs with a
sweet, breezy sound. Pau...

Jamie Cullum

This talented English
entertainer combines 1970s
style pop songcraft with
solid jazz piano skills.
Cullum's debut, "Twentys...

Lionel Richie

Former Commodores front
man goes solo and finds
success in the '80s as a
romantic balladeer. Lionel
Richie's songs dominated...

Melissa Etheridge

Etheridge's raspy vocals and
gutsy style burn with an
intensity that illuminates her
poignant, sentimental lyrics.
Etheridge was diagnosed...

Michael Bolton

This wild-haired crooner's
soft rock power ballads
dominated Adult
Contemporary radio
throughout the '80s. Befo...

Natalie Cole

The daughter of Nat King
Cole went from 1970s star to
1980s has-been --and back
to 1990s superstar. In her
twenty-five-year career,...

Neil Diamond

There are two Neil
Diamonds -- the writer of
great 1960s rock hits and
the singer of '70s
melodramatic pop. Love '...

Phil Collins

Phil Collins' strong, emotive
voice helped elevate him to
one of the most successful
Adult Contemporary artists
of the '80s. Phil Collins joi...

Sade

Sade has enjoyed over a
decade of enduring
success thanks to her
elegant, sensual voice and
classy material. Sade's full...

Simply Red

Simply Red hit it big with the
soulful "Holding Back the
Years" in 1986, off of
"Picture Book." Simply Red
were initially part of the s...

Steve Winwood

Whether fronting the
Spencer Davis Band, Blind
Faith or Traffic, Steve
Winwood's soulful vocals
are immediately recogniz...

Whitney Houston

A pop star who's hovered in
the charts for two decades,
Houston is best known for
her unbeatable set of pipes.
A cousin of R&B legend Dio...

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