Guitarist, keyboardist, and producer Alan Parsons engineered Abby Road by The Beatles and Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd. With musician and lyricist Eric Woolfson, the Alan Parsons Project formed in 1975. Highly synthesized and successful albums were produced such as three platinum albums: I Robot, Turn of a Friendly Card, and Eye in the Sky. Colin Bluestone of the Zombies, Allen Clark of the Hollies, and Arthur Brown are some of the vocalists featured on works by the Alan Parsons Project.
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Founded in Detriot in 1965 as Billie Lee & The Rivieras, the music of the band was hard-rocking, white soul. Subsequent to opening for the Dave Clark Five in 1965, the group was signed by Bob Crew, producer of the Four Seasons, and Crew chose the name Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels for the band. Under Crew's guidance, Ryder, born William Levise Jr., left the band at the height of their popularity to pursue a solo career. Retaining Detroit Wheels drummer Johnny "Bee" Badanjek and acquiring five new musicians, a new band named Detroit was formed. Ryder quit performing in 1973, but continued to write music. John Mellencamp produced Ryder's 1983 album which included a duet with Marianne Faithfull. Ryder became very popular in Germany and continued to tour and record.
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The Moody Blues formed in Birmingham, England in 1964. A blues group influenced by Motown, James Brown, and American blues artists, the band's first single, 'Go Now', was a cover of a little known R&B song. Founding members Denny Lane (vocals & guitar) and Clint Warwick (bass) left the band in 1966 to be replaced by Justin Hayward (vocals & guitar) and John Lodge (bass). Together with members Ray Thomas (vocals & flute), Graeme Edge (drums), and Mike Pender (keyboards), Hayward and Lodge led the group to produce highly successful, symphonic-like albums including Days of Future Passed and Seventh Sojourn. Pender left in 1978 and was replaced by Patrick Moraz, former keyboardist for Yes. A PBS documentary of the group's 1992 performance at Red Rocks ampitheater in Colorado became a popular video. The Moody Blues continue to record and perform.
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