Artist's Bios
Ansel Adams, landscape photographer and environmentalist, was born in San Francisco on February 20, 1902. Though he and his family survived the great earthquake of 1906, he was permanently marked by the event when... Entire Ansel Adams bio
Born in New York in 1968 to a single mom Justin Bua grew up in NYC's raw and wild Upper West Side. A third-generation artist following in the footsteps of his mother and grandfather, he first got attention as a breakdancer and a graffiti artist. In fact, while a student at New York's... Entire Justin Bua bio
Salvador Dali was born on May 11, 1904 in the small agricultural town of Figueres, Spain. Figueres is located in the foothills of the Pyrenees, only sixteen miles from the French border in the principality of Catalonia. The barren landscapes and fantastic rock formations of this region would appear time and again in Dali's artwork. The son of a ... Entire Salvador Dali bio
Maurits Cornelius Escher, called "Mauk" by his parents, was born in Leeuwarden, Netherlands on June 17, 1898. His father, George Escher, was a civil engineer; his mother, Sarah, the daughter of a government minister. Family hopes had been that he would enter a career in architecture. Entire MC Escher bio
Alfred Alexander Gockel was born in 1952 in the coal mining community of Lüdinghausen in Germany. Both of his parents were creative, his father being a designer and his mother a crafts maker. Fascinated early on by the magic of color on paper, Gockel's talent lead to the publication of his first artwork when he was eight... Entire Alfred Gockel bio
Associated with art nouveau and the greater rebellion against traditional art, Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) was one of the most innovative and controversial artists of the early twentieth century. As his work evolved from the accepted classical-realistic style to one which was too bold, decorative and erotic for the establishment. Entire Gustav Klimt bio
Don Li-Leger's paintings reveal his intimate knowledge and deep sensitivity to the world of nature. Born and raised in British Columbia, Li-Leger began painting as a boy, his initial focus on the abundant birds and animals of his native province. Having experienced a rich and varied life, Li-Leger traveled around the world in 1971... Entire Don Li-Leger bio
On April 21, 2004 the original canvas of The Singing Butler, Jack Vettriano's most reproduced painting, sold at auction for $1,346,800 (£744,500). This recognition of his talents and work was a noteworthy milestone for someone who grew up in a small mining village near Kirkcaldy, Scotland... Entire Jack Vettriano bio
Author's Bios
Dan Brown, best-selling author of The Da Vinci Code was born on June 22, 1964.
He grew up in Exeter, New Hampshire and graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, where his father, a Presidential Award winning math professor, taught for 35 years. Then, he matriculated to Amherst College, where he was a member of Psi Upsilon Fraternity... Entire Dan Brown bio
Ace: First off, please forgive me for being late. I was on an all night surveilance keeping tabs on a wayward spouse. You were born in Massachusetts and raised in Washington, D.C. Right?
Connelly: I was born in Philadelphia, but I grew up in Florida. My family moved there when I was eleven, and I didn't leave until I was thirty... Entire Michael Connelly bio
Born Patricia Daniels in Miami, Florida, she moved to North Carolina at age 7 following her parents' divorce. While attending Davidson College, she met English professor Charles Cornwell, who she married and subsequently divorced after 10 years. After graduating with a degree in literature, she worked as a crime-reporter... Entire Patricia Cornwell bio
Fans of Nelson DeMille have undoubtedly noticed that more than one of his novels have been set in Long Island, New York. There's good reason - he grew up there. Having been born in New York City on August 23, 1943, to Huron and Antonia DeMille, he and his family relocated to Long Island when he was still a child... Entire Nelson DeMille bio
"You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can't take Jersey out of the girl." So states popular mystery novelist Janet Evanovich in the biographical sketch found at evanovich.com. Thank goodness for Jersey Girls! Because it's precisely that Jersey girl quality transferred to her protagonist and, alter-ego... Entire Janet Evanovich bio
Sue Taylor Grafton (born April 24, 1940) is a vastly popular American author of detective novels. Her works have been published in 28 countries and 26 languages—including international markets her readership is in the millions. She is best known for her chronological series of mystery novels set in and around... Entire Sue Grafton bio
The unchallenged master of the legal thriller, John Grisham was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas on February 8, 1955, the second of five siblings. His family, headed by his father who was a construction worker and a cotton farmer, moved frequently until 1967 when they settled in Southaven, a small town in De Soto County... Entire John Grisham bio
Dean Koontz was born and raised in Pennsylvania. To survive a difficult childhood, he turned early on to books which could transport him magically to a better world. The desire to create the same escape for others explains in part his motivation to become a writer. He graduated from Shippensburg State College... Entire Dean Koontz bio
Widely Credited with being the inventor of the modern police procedural, Ed McBain/Evan Hunter published his first 87th Precinct novel, Cop Hater, in 1956. Though he insists that Isola, the gritty city in all his Precinct novels - there are now more than 50 - is imaginary, everyone knows he is writing... Entire Ed McBain bio
Nora Roberts was born in Silver Spring Maryland, the youngest of five children. Her early schooling included several years in Catholic school. Though she jokes about the nuns, the award winning writer credits them with instilling in her the work ethic that has made her one of the most popular and prolific... Entire Nora Roberts bio
John Sandford is the pseudonym of the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Camp. Camp was born in 1944 and was raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He received his B.A. in American Studies from the University of Iowa, and received his first intensive training and experience as an army journalist and reporter... Entire John Sandford bio
Music Bios
Yes, he is an accomplished screen actor whose credits include "Requiem For A Dream," "Panic Room," "Fight Club," "American Psycho," "Alexander" and the popular '90s TV series "My So-Called Life;" but frontman Jared Leto is not just another actor-turned-rocker and 30 Seconds To Mars is far from being... Entire 30 Seconds To Mars bio
Take his well-publicized riff with The Game. It started with Fifty's war against Jadakiss, Nas and Fat Joe which was instigated by several perceived offenses. First, it was reported that Nas, who was later to sign with the Murder, Inc. label, had publicly dissed him and G-Unit while performing in New York... Entire 50 Cent bio
This Australian group was one of the most influential hard rock bands of the 70's. Their raucous full throttled sound along with the Bon Scott's vocals would be imitated by a myriad of groups over the next 20 years. AC/DC was founded in 1973 by Malcolm Young. Malcolm judiciously recruited his 15 year... Entire AC/DC bio
During the California swing of her fall 2004 concert tour Avril Lavigne summed up the spirit that has sparked her meteoric rise to super-stardom when she introduced "Who Knows" to an audience of wildly enthusiastic fans. "The next song," she announced, "is about doing your best to be yourself and..." Entire Avril Lavigne bio
The Beatles can be traced back to the Quarrymen, a group formed by John Lennon and five other musicians in the mid-1950's. Paul McCartney joined the group in 1957 after he and John Lennon met at a church function. George Harrison joined the band shortly thereafter. The three, plus bass guitarist Stu... Entire Beatles bio
Britney Jean Spears was born December 2, 1982, in the small town of Kentwood, Louisiana. She began performing as a singer and dancer at a young age and made a nationally televised appearance on Star Search. She was turned down by the New Mickey Mouse Club at age 8 but tried out again 3 years later... Entire Britney Spears bio
Coldplay was formed in January 1998 by four University College London students - vocalist Chris Martin (b. March 2, 1977), guitarist Jon Buckland (b. September 11, 1977), bassist Guy Berryman (b. April 12, 1978), and drummer Will Champion (b. July 31, 1978). They had met their first week of school... Entire Coldplay bio
Trumpeter and bandleader Dizzy Gillespie (Oct 21, 1917 - Jan 6, 1993), a true jazz giant, is known and respected as much for his personality and worldwide jazz promotion, as for his innovative contributions to modern jazz. The youngest of nine children, John Birks Gillespie began playing trumpet at fourteen... Entire Dizzy Gillespie bio
"He's Young, He's Hot, He's Sexy and He's Dead". So read the caption beneath a picture of Jim Morrison that graced the cover of Rolling Stone magazine on September 17, 1981. The blurb, of course, referred to the release of An American Prayer and the enduring popularity of Morrison and The Doors. And... Entire Doors/Morrison bio
The rise of Eminem from humble origins to the top of the rap world was far from easy. It took grit, it took determination, and, most of all, it took talent. Eminem, born Marshal Mathers on October 17, 1972, became interested in rapping while attending high school in Detroit, Michigan. Though there... Entire Eminem bio
Rock band Evanescence made it to the top of the charts in 2003 with its Wind-Up Entertainment debut album, Fallen. Singer Amy Lee and guitarist/songwriter Ben Moody, founders of the group, met while in their early teens. "We were at a youth camp," Moody recalls. "During some sort of recreational..." Entire Evanescence bio
They are not an emo band, thought their lyrics are strong on emotions. They are not a punk/pop band, though they admit to punk/pop roots. They are Fall Out Boy, a hard-driving rock band whose music reflects a wide spectrum of influences united in a style that's unique, bold and original... Entire Fall Out Boy bio
Right now, Foo Fighters consists of Chris Shiflett (guitar), Dave Grohl (vocals/guitars), Nate Mendell (bass) and Taylor Hawkins (drums), but in the beginning there was only one - Dave Grohl. Shortly after the death of Kurt Cobain and the break up of Nirvana, Grohl and friend and record producer... Entire Foo Fighters bio
One of the most popular touring bands of all time, The Grateful Dead have long been associated with the free-love acid-dropping hippie era, their extended improvisational live performances, and their legions of loyal fans. The antithesis of a studio band, Jerry Garcia and Company, always seemed... Entire Grateful Dead bio
Green Day had its origins in the group Sweet Children formed by childhood friends Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt in Rodeo, California when they were 14 years old. Drummer John Kiftmeyer was added to the group later and their name was changed to Green Day after one of their songs. The group... Entire Green Day bio
Just as you might remember where you were on 9-11 or when Kennedy got shot or when the Challenger exploded, you probably remember where you were the first time you heard Janis Joplin sing. For me, the first time was a magical experience. Not that I had the pleasure of hearing her in concert or performing... Entire Janis Joplin bio
Jessica Simpson is far from being just another pop princess. A product of the Christian music scene, her music is an infusion of pop, R&B; and soul, and the message it delivers is consistent with her own firmly held beliefs. Though she was born in Dallas, Texas on July 10th, 1980, Jessica Ann Simpson... Entire Jessica Simpson bio
Born Johnny Allen Hendrix on November 27, 1942, Jimi Hendrix would squeeze a lot of living and a lot of guitar playing into his 27+ years. Today, 35 years after the accidental overdose of "reds" that killed him, he is still considered the greatest rock guitarist of all time. Self-taught, Hendrix was influenced... Entire Jimi Hendrix bio
Born in Hamlet, North Carolina, on September 23, 1926, John Coltrane grew up in racially segregated High Point. Shortly after he graduated from grammar school in 1939, his closely knit family was devastated by the deaths of the family patriarch Reverend William Blair, as well as his father and an uncle.... Entire John Coltrane bio
When the Yardbirds broke up in 1968, guitarist Jimmy Page and bass player Chris Dreja were left with rights to the name and an obligation to fulfill commitments for an upcoming fall tour. Page approached vocalist Terry Reid as a possible replacement for Yardbirds frontman Keith Relf, but Reid was... Entire Led Zeppelin bio
Miles Davis was one of the 20th century's most innovative musicians. Throughout a long and illustrious career that spanned the latter half of the 20th century, he was the epitome of the consummate professional. A master innovator, he was a primary force in the development of jazz from bebop through fusion... Entire Miles Davis bio
Kurt Cobain (guitar, vocals) and Chris Novoselic (bass) met in 1985 in Aberdeen, Washington, a small logging town located 100 miles from Seattle. Put together by the Melvins' Buzz Osbourne, the two shared an interest in punk rock and decided to form a band. The Stiff Woodies featured Cobain on drums... Entire Nirvana/Kurt Cobain bio
One of the most durable groups, No Doubt's roots go back to the late 1980's when John Spence, Eric Stefani and his sister Gwen formed a ska band and played the Anaheim party circuit. In early 1987, Tony Kanal, then a high school junior, caught No Doubt's act at Fender's Ballroom in Long Beach and... Entire No Doubt/Gwen Stefani bio
It all started with guitarist Ryan Ross and drummer Spencer Smith, teens living in the suburbs of Las Vegas, learning to play their instruments by covering Blink 182 songs. When they decided it was time to move ahead, they recruited classmates Brent Wilson, bass, and Brendon Urie, guitar/vocals, to form a quartet... Entire Panic! At The Disco bio
Pink Floyd was formed in 1964 by Regent Street Polytechnic student Roger Waters (bassist/songwriter), along with Nick Mason (drummer) and Richard Wright (keyboardist). The group went by various names, including The Meggadeaths, Sigma 6, The Abdabs (Juliette Gale who married Richard Wright... Entire Pink Floyd bio
Proving themselves hotter than ever, The Red Hot Chile Peppers' latest album, Stadium Arcadium, released on May 9, 2006 sold a half-million copies in its first week, thereby becoming the Funk-rock megagroup's first-ever Number One debut. More than 20 years after it's inception, RHCP is ... Entire Red Hot Chili Peppers bio
There have been many contributors to the amazing phenomena that is The Rolling Stones but none have been more responsible for the band's enduring success than Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. Having met as children, the pair were reintroduced in 1960 by Dick Taylor who was a classmate of Richards'... Entire Rolling Stones bio
In the thirteen years that have slid by since he first burst onto the rap scene performing on Dr. Dre's groundbreaking, multi-platinum album Chronic, Snoop Dogg has transformed himself into a rap icon and an entertainment superstar. The magic started on October 20, 1972 with the birth in Long... Entire Snoop Dogg bio
"What we do is what we do, and we do it our way. We enjoy playing music and we decide to deal with things in the lyrics that are important. We don't want to compromise and we don't have to. For us it's important to spread the message and we have to accept that not everybody gets it, but it's..." Entire System of A Down bio
Taking Back Sunday is revered as one of the super groups of the new millennium, but their trip to the top was not without its roadblocks. In February of 2001 the Long Island, New York based group released its self-titled five song EP. Though not a stunning success, it did land them a contract... Entire Taking Back Sunday bio
Tupac Shakur was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1971. His mother, Afeni Shakur, was associated with the Black Panthers and involved in various race-related causes and programs. The family moved to Baltimore when Tupac was still young. The most significant detail of his Baltimore years was the fact that... Entire Tupac Shakur bio
NASCAR Bios
His father, the late Dale Earnhardt, Sr., was a seven-time Winston Cup (presently the Nextel Cup) champion. His grandfather, Ralph Earnhardt, has been selected as one of NASCAR's 50 best all-time drivers. His maternal grandfather, Robert Gee, was a well known NASCAR fabricator and mechanic. It's no... Entire Dale Earnhardt Jr bio
Born into a racing family in Kannapolis, North Carolina on April 29, 1951 - his dad, Ralph Earnhardt, has been named one of the 50 greatest NASCAR drivers of all time - Dale Earnhardt began driving in local events when he was 14 years old. At 24, two years after his father died of heart failure while... Entire Dale Earnhardt Sr bio
On March 19th and 20th of 2005 Carl Edwards made NASCAR history at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, by recording his first Busch Series win and his first Nextel Cup Series win during the same weekend. On Saturday, he won the Busch Series Aaron's 312, and on Sunday he edged out Jimmie Johnson... Entire Carl Edwards bio
He was already driving at age 4 1/2 and had won his first Quarter Midget Championship by age 8. At age 9 he was competing with and beating drivers twice his age. Obviously, this kid, Jeff Gordon, had a future in racing. Born in Vallejo, California, on August 4, 1971, Jeff's interest in racing was... Entire Jeff Gordon bio
In 1980, as a reward for successfully completing kindergarten with highest honors (summa cum laude), Kevin Harwick was given a go-kart by his parents. Soon after, on the local tracks of Bakersfield, California, his racing career was launched. From the onset, his talents, dedication and determination... Entire Kevin Harvick bio
Like many NASCAR stars, Jimmie Johnson got into racing young, very young. Born September 17, 1975, he started racing motorcycles at age 5. At age 8 he won the 60cc class championship. He competed in several off-road leagues including SODA and SCORE International both of which named him Rookie... Entire Jimmie Johnson bio
Like many of our NASCAR all-star driver, Kasey Kahne (born April 10, 1980) began his competitive driving as a boy, racing on the dirt tracks of Washington State. In 1994, in a car maintained by his father, he won four micro-midget events. He graduated quickly from Micro Midgets to Mini-Sprints... Entire Kasey Kahne bio
Matt Kenseth's (born March 10,1972) successful racing career can be traced back to a deal he struck with his father when he was 13 years old. His dad would buy him a race car and drive it himself until Matt reached the age of 16. Meanwhile, Matt would work on the car and keep it running. Entire Matt Kenseth bio
After a slow start, in 2005, that saw him in 10th place following the Pocono in June with only 6 top-ten finishes and 8 finishes in 15th or worse, Tony Stewart went on an amazing tear that earned him his second Nextel Cup championship. At one point during his charge, he won 5 of 7 races and ended... Entire Tony Stewart bio
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