This eclectic encyclopaedia chronicles the careers of over 110 musical artists from all over the world. Performers in many different areas of popular music have achieved success in nations outside the United States. Some peformers, like A-Ha and Falco, are known as "one-hit wonders" in America. Bands such as The Stone Roses and The Sugarcubes achieved "cult" or underground status in the United States but were headline acts in their native countries. And acts such as Dragon Ash, The Leningrad Cowboys, and Powderfinger are all but unknown in America while regarded as landmark acts in their homelands. Author Stan Jeffries chronicles the careers of the leading bands and solo acts from 37 different nations. Entries include biographical information, trace the entrants' musical development, and recount the reception that these performers received from fans and critics alike.Includ es photos, an index by nation, and appendices of music industry awards and standards for gold and platinum certification by country. The 1980s and 1990s were a landmark time in American music, but many fans are unaware of the extent to which music changed and grew throughout the world.
From the dance rhythms of South America, to the blendings of traditional and popular music in Asia, to the "Europop" scene, the author takes us through a tour of the world's most popular and influential acts in popular music at the end of the 20th century.