Van Morrison

Had Van Morrison made the decision to leave music after the release of his all-time classic Astral Weeks in 1968, he would still be remembered as one of rock music’s most important figures. Thankfully, things played out quite differently and the legendary singer-songwriter continues to perform and record well into his seventh decade as a professional. Born in Northern Ireland, Morrison began his life as a traveling musician at the age of 13. By the mid-1960s, he was an extremely popular figure within the UK’s R&B scene as the lead singer of the band Them, whose hit single “Gloria” brought him international fame. Soon after, Morrison launched his solo career with his debut single “Brown Eyed Girl,” which is now recognized as one of the greatest songs in pop history and reigns as the most played song of the 1960s. Unsatisfied with this early success, Morrison continues to grow as an artist, creating music that seamlessly blends folk, jazz, blues, and rock into something uniquely his own. During his illustrious career, Morrison has amassed a plethora of hit albums, two Grammy Awards, an Americana Music Lifetime Achievement Award, and has been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2016, he capped off an iconic career when he was knighted for services to the music industry in Northern Ireland.