Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Little Richard

(Encyclopedia)Little Richard, 1935–2020, American musician and singer, b. Macon, Ga., as Richard Wayne Penniman. One of the first rock musicians in the 1950s, he recorded such tunes as “Tutti Frutti,” “Long...

Bizet, Georges

(Encyclopedia)Bizet, Georges zhôrzh bēzāˈ [key], 1838–75, French operatic composer. The son of professional musicians, he entered the Paris Conservatory at the age of nine and won the Prix de Rome in 1857. He...

Tovey, Sir Donald Francis

(Encyclopedia)Tovey, Sir Donald Francis tōˈvē [key], 1875–1940, English pianist and musicologist, grad. Oxford, 1898. As a pianist he appeared in England and on the Continent after 1900 and in the United State...

Morley, Thomas

(Encyclopedia)Morley, Thomas, c.1557–1603, English composer; pupil of William Byrd. He was gentleman of the Chapel Royal to Queen Elizabeth I and organist of St. Paul's Cathedral. He set to music some of Shakespe...

Lynn, Loretta

(Encyclopedia)Lynn, Loretta, 1932–2022, American country singer and songwriter, b. Butcher Hollow, Ky. One of the most successful singers in modern country music, s...

Katonah

(Encyclopedia)Katonah, suburban residential village (1990 pop. 2,400), in Westchester co., SE N.Y., N of New York City. Katohah lies on a reservoir that is part of the Croton River system; the original village site...

Still, William Grant

(Encyclopedia)Still, William Grant, 1895–1978, American composer, b. Woodville, Miss. Still was of Native American, African-American, and European ancestry. He studied music at Oberlin, with Chadwick at the New E...

Gordy, Berry, Jr.

(Encyclopedia)Gordy, Berry, Jr., 1929–, African-American music-industry executive, b. Detroit. After stints in the army and as a professional boxer, Gordy opened a ...

Berio, Luciano

(Encyclopedia)Berio, Luciano lo͞ochäˈnō bĕrˈyō [key], 1925–2003, Italian composer, b. Oneglia. After studying at the Milan Conservatory and working as a coach and conductor in Italian opera houses, Berio w...

Dalou, Aimé-Jules

(Encyclopedia)Dalou, Aimé-Jules ĕmāˈ-zhül dälo͞oˈ [key], 1838–1902, French sculptor. He was popular under the Third Republic. Dalou studied with Carpeaux and was later exiled (1871–79) to England for hi...

Browse by Subject