Music Makers Encyclopedia: R

Click on a letter to choose an act ("S" for Bruce Springsteen, "B" for Beatles, etc.). Shown with the act are its major awards, short bios for select acts, and links to albums and songs reviewed by the DMDB.

Sun Ra

Jazz bandleader, composer, and pianist born Herman Poole Blount on 5/22/1914 in Birmingham, AL. Died 5/30/1993.

Album(s):
Jazz in Silhouette (& His Arkestra, 1958)
Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Vol. 1 (1965)
Atlantis (1969)

Eddie Rabbitt

Country singer born 11/27/1941 in Brooklyn, NY. Died 5/7/1998.

Song(s):
Drinkin’ My Baby Off My Mind (1976)
You Don’t Love Me Anymore (1978)
I Just Want to Love You (1978)
Every Which Way But Loose (1978)
Suspicions (1979)
Gone Too Far (1980)
Drivin’ My Life Away (1980)
I Love a Rainy Night (1980)
Step by Step (1981)
Someone Could Lose a Heart Tonight (1981)
You and I (with Crystal Gayle, 1982)
You Can’t Run from Love (1983)
The Best Year of My Life (1984)
Both to Each Other (Friends & Lovers) (with Juice Newton, 1986)
I Wanna Dance with You (1988)
The Wanderer (1988)
On Second Thought (1989)

Trevor Rabin

Progressive rock singer/songwriter and guitarist born 1/13/1954 in Johannesburg, South Africa. With Yes (1982-94).

Racey

Song(s):
Lay Your Love on Me (1978)
Some Girls (1979)
Kitty (1979)

Sergei Rachmaninoff

Classical composer, pianist, and conductor born 4/1/1873 in Novgorod Oblast, Russia. Died 3/28/1943.

Song(s):
Prelude in C# Minor (1893)

Album(s):
Piano Concerto No. 2 (1901)
Piano Concerto No. 3 (1909)
Vespers (All-Night Vigil) (1915)
Piano Concerto No. 4 (1926)
Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini (1934)
His Complete Recordings (2006)

The Raconteurs

Alternative-rock group fronted by Jack White.

Song(s):
Jack White: Top 50 Songs
Steady As She Goes (2006)
Level (2006)
Salute Your Solution (2008)

Album(s):
Broken Boy Soldiers (2006)
Help Us Stranger (2019)

The Radiants

Song(s):
Voice Your Choice (1964)

Radio Birdman

Song(s):
I-94 (1976)

Radiohead

Experimental-rock group formed in Oxford, England in 1985. Members: Thom Yorke (v), brothers Jonny Greenwood (g) and Colin Greenwood (b), Ed O’Brien (g), and Phil Selway (d). Yorke and Jonny Greenwood also formed The Smile (2021-).

DMDB Podcast: Radiohead’s OK Computer 25th Anniversary

Song(s):
Radiohead: Top 100 Songs
Creep (1992)
Fake Plastic Trees (1995)
High and Dry (1995)
Just (1995)
Street Spirit (Fade Out) (1995)
Paranoid Android (1997)
Karma Police (1997)
No Surprises (1997)
Exit Music (For a Film) (1997)
Idioteque (2000)
Everything in Its Right Place (2000)
Knives Out (2001)
True Love Waits (2001)
There There (2003)
Reckoner (2007)
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi (2007)

Album(s):
Pablo Honey (1993)
The Bends (1995)
OK Computer (1997)
Kid A (2000)
Amnesiac (2001)
Hail to the Thief (2003)
The Best of (compilation: 1992-2003, released 2008)
In Rainbows (2007)
The King of Limbs (2011)
A Moon Shaped Pool (2016)

Radio Stars

Song(s):
Johnny Mikeon (1977)

Carl Radle

Rock bassist born 6/18/1942 in Tulsa, OK. With Gary Lewis & the Playboys (1965-69), Delaney & Bonnie, Joe Cocker, Derek & the Dominos (1970-71), and Eric Clapton (1970-78).

James Rado

Song(s) by Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni and James Rado:
Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (from Hair, 1969) – see Fifth Dimension

Album(s):
Hair (musical: 1967, soundtrack: 1979) – see Galt MacDermot

Raekwon

Album(s):
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (1995)

Rae Sremmurd

Song(s):
Throw Sum Mo (with Nicki Minaj & Young Thug, 2015)
Black Beatles (with Gucci Mane, 2016)

Gerry Rafferty

Song(s):
Baker Street (1978)
Right Down the Line (1978)

Album(s):
City to City (1978)

Rage Against the Machine

Song(s):
Killing in the Name (1993)
Bulls on Parade (1996)
The Ghost of Tom Joad (1998)
Sleep Now in the Fire (1999)

Album(s):
Rage Against the Machine (1992)
Evil Empire (1996)
The Battle of Los Angeles (1999)

Rag 'N' Bone Man

Song(s):
Human (2016)

Gerome Ragni

Song(s) by Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni and James Rado:
Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (from Hair, 1969) – see Fifth Dimension

Album(s):
Hair (musical: 1967, soundtrack: 1979) – see Galt MacDermot

Rahiem

Rap songwriter born Guy Williams on 2/13/1963 in the Bronx, NY. With Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five.

A.R. Rahman

Film composer born Allah Rakha Rahman on 1/6/1966 in India.

Song(s):
Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny) (with the Pussycat Dolls, 2009)

Rainbow

Hard rock group (1975-84, 1995). Members: Ritchie Blackmore (g: 75-84, 95) with Elf band members Ronnie James Dio (v: 75-79), Mickey Lee Soule (k: 75), and Gary Driscoll (d: 75). Other members over the years: Don Airey (k: 79-83), Jimmy Bain (b: 76-78?), Graham Bonnet (v: 79-80), Chuck Burgi (d: 83-84), Tony Carey (k: 76-78), Bob Daisley (b: 78-79), Roger Glover (b: 79-83), Craig Gruber (b: 75), Paul Morris (k: 95), John O’Reilly (d: 95), Cozy Powell (d: 76-80), Bobby Rondinelli (d: 80-83), David Rosenthal (k: 83-84), Greg Smith (b: 95), David Stone (k: 78-79), Joe Lynn Turner (v: 80-84), Doogie White (v: 95).

Blackmore, Glover, & Turner were also members of Deep Purple.

Song(s):
Stargazer (1976)
Since You’ve Been Gone (1979)

Album(s):
Rising (1976)

Chuck Rainey

Ma Rainey

Blues singer born Gertrude Pridgett on 4/26/1886 in Columbus, GA. Died 12/22/1939.

Song(s):
Countin’ the Blues (1924)
See See Rider Blues (1925)
Prove It on Me Blues (1928)

Album(s):
Black Bottom (1990)

Ralph Rainger

The Rainmakers

Roots-rock band from Missouri. Active 1986-1997, 2011-. Started in 1983 as a trio named Steve, Bob, & Rich comprised of Steve Phillips (g/v), Bob Walkenhorst (v/g/d), and Rich Ruth (b/v: 83-94). Added Pat Tomek (d) in 1986 when they became the Rainmakers. Other members have included Michael Bliss (b/v: 97) and Jeff Porter (g/k/v: 11-).

Bob Walkenhorst's DMDB profile

DMDB podcast: The Best of Bob Walkenhorst & the Rainmakers

Song(s):
The Top 100 Songs of the Rainmakers & Bob Walkenhorst
Let My People Go Go (1984)
Nobody Knows (1984)
Big Fat Blonde (1984)
Downstream (1986)
The Wages of Sin (1987)
Like Dogs (2011)
Last Song of the Evening (2011)
America (2015)

Album(s):
Balls (1984)
The Rainmakers (1986)
Tornado (1987)
The Good News and the Bad News (1989)
Flirting with the Universe (1994)
Skin (1997)
25 On (2011)
Monster Movie (2014)
Cover Band (2015)

The DMDB Blog:
When the Rainmakers Came to Town (4/7/2011), also on Facebook.

Bonnie Raitt

Blues-rock singer and guitarist born 11/8/1949 in Burbank, CA.

Song(s):
Angel from Montgomery (1971)
I Thought I Was a Child (1973)
Nick of Time (1989)
Thing Called Love (1989)
Something to Talk About (1991)
I Can’t Make You Love Me (1991)
Love Sneakin’ Up on You (1994)
Just Like That (2022)

Album(s):
Give It Up (1972)
The Collection (compilation: 1971-86, released 1990)
Nick of Time (1989)
Luck of the Draw (1991)
Longing in Their Hearts (1994)

Rakim

Rap singer born William Michael Griffin on 1/28/1968 in Wyandanch, NY. See Eric B. & Rakim

Eros Ramazzotti

Singer/songwriter born Eros Walter Luciano Ramazzotti on 10/28/1963 in Rome, Italy.

Jean-Philippe Rameau

Classical composer born in 9/25/1683 in Dijon, France. Died on 9/12/1764.

Album(s):
Platée (2004)

Ram Jam

Song(s):
Black Betty (1977)

Dee Dee Ramone

Punk-rock bassist born Douglas Glenn Colvin on 9/18/1951 in Fort Gregg-Adams, VA. Died 6/5/2002. With Ramones.

Joey Ramone

Punk-rock singer and guitarist born Jeffrey Ross Hyman 5/19/1951 in Forest Hills, NY. Died 4/15/2001. With Ramones.

Johnny Ramone

Punk-rock guitarist born John William Cummings on 10/8/1948 in Long Island, NY. Died 9/15/2004. With Ramones.

Marky Ramone

Punk-rock drummer born Marc Steven Bell on 7/15/1952 in New York City, NY. With Ramones.

Phil Ramone

Record producer, engineer, violinist, and composer born Philip Rabinowitz on 1/5/1934 in South Africa. Died 3/30/2013. Winner of 14 Grammys. Nicknamed "The Pope of Pop." Among the artists he worked with are Burt Bacharach, The Band, Ray Charles, Chicago, Bob Dylan, Gloria Estefan, Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Elton John, Quincy Jones, B.B. King, Madonna, Barry Manilow, Paul McCartney, George Michael, Olivia Newton-John, Carly Simon, Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra, Rod Stewart, Barbra Streisand, James Taylor, Dionne Warwick, and Stevie Wonder.

DMDB Profile Page

Notable Songs Engineered and/or Produced by Ramone:
It's My Party (1963) – see Lesley Gore
You Don't Own Me (1963) – see Lesley Gore
The Girl from Ipanema (1964) – see Stan Getz
A Whiter Shade of Pale (1967) – see Procol Harum
Alice's Restaurant Massacre (1967) – see Arlo Guthrie
Everybody's Talkin' (1968) – see Harry Nilsson
Do You Know the Way to San Jose? (1968) – see Dionne Warwick
Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head (1969) – see B.J. Thomas
Tangled Up in Blue (1975) – see Bob Dylan
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover (1975) – see Paul Simon
Afternoon Delight (1976) – see Starland Vocal Band
Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born) (1976) – see Barbra Streisand
Just the Way You Are (1977) – see Billy Joel
Ghostbusters (1984) – see Ray Parker Jr.
Crazy for You (1985) – see Madonna

Notable Albums Engineered and/or Produced by Ramone:
Stan Getz with João Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto (1963)
The Band – The Band
The Rolling Stones – Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out
Paul McCartney – Ram
The Band – Rock of Ages
Blood on the Tracks (1975) – see Bob Dylan
Still Crazy After All These Years (1975) – see Paul Simon
A Star Is Born (soundtrack: 1976) – see Barbra Streisand
The Stranger (1977) – see Billy Joel
52nd Street (1978) – see Billy Joel
Flashdance (soundtrack: 1983) – see Various Artists
Duets (1993) – see Frank Sinatra
Tony Bennett – Duets
It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook – see Rod Stewart
Genius Loves Company (2004) – see Ray Charles

Tommy Ramone

Punk-rock drummer and producer born Tamás Erdélyi on 1/29/1952 in Budapest, Hungary. Died 7/11/2014. With Ramones.

Ramones

Punk rock group formed in New York City, NY. Active: 1974-1996 Members: Joey Ramone (v; born Jeffrey Hyman on 5/19/52; died 4/15/01), Dee Dee Ramone (b – Ramones: 74-89; solo as rapper Dee Dee King; Chinese Dragons; born Douglas Colvin on 9/18/52), Johnny Ramone (g; born John Cummings on 10/8/51), Tommy Ramone (d/manager: 74-77; born Tom Erydelyi on 1/29/52), Marky Ramone (d – Voidoid; Ramones: 74-83,87-; born Marc Bee), Richie Ramone (d – Velveteens; Ramones: 83-87; born Richard Beau), C.J. Ramone (b: 88-; born Christopher John Ward).

Song(s):
Blitzkrieg Bop (1976)
Sheena Is a Punk Rocker (1977)
Rockaway Breach (1977)
I Wanna Be Sedated (1978)
I’m Against It (1978)
Rock and Roll High School (1979)
Merry Christmas (I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight) (1989)

Album(s):
Ramones (1976)
Rocket to Russia (1977)
Leave Home (1977)
End of the Century (1980)
Mania (1988)

The DMDB Blog:
The Ramones' first gig at CBGB: August 16, 1974 (8/16/11)

Rancid

Song(s):
Radio Radio Radio (1994)
Ruby Soho (1995)
Time Bomb (1995)

Album(s):
And Out Come the Wolves (1995)

Teddy Randazzo

Boots Randolph & His Combo

Yakety Sax (Benny Hill Theme) (1963)

Randy & the Rainbows

Song(s):
Denise (1963)

Shabba Ranks

Song(s):
Mr. Loverman (1992)

Album(s):
As Raw As Ever (1991)

The Rapture

Song(s):
House of Jealous Lovers (2002)

Album(s):
Echoes (2003)

Rascal Flatts

Song(s):
I'm Movin’ On (2001)
These Days (2002)
Mayberry (2004)
Bless the Broken Road (2004)
Fast Cars and Freedom (2005)
Life Is a Highway (2006)
What Hurts the Most (2006)
My Wish (2006)
Stand (2007)
Take Me There (2007)
Here (2008)
Here Comes Goodbye (2009)
Why Wait (2010)
Banjo (2012)
I Like the Sound of That (2015)
Yours if You Want It (2017)

Album(s):
Feels Like Today (2004)
Me and My Gang (2006)
Still Feels Good (2007)
Unstoppable (2009)

The Rascals

– see The Young Rascals

The Raspberries

Song(s):
Go All the Way (1972)
Overnight Sensation (Hit Record) (1974)

Ratcat

Song(s):
Tingles (EP) (1991)
Don’t Go Now (1991)

Nathaniel Rateliff

Song(s):
Son of a Bitch (with the Night Sweats, 2015)
You Worry Me (2018)
And It's Still Alright (2020)

Ratt

Song(s):
Round and Round (1984)
You're in Love (1985)
Lay It Down (1985)

Fritz Rau

Maurice Ravel

Classical composer born Joseph Maurice Ravel on 3/7/1875 in Ciboure, France. Died 12/28/1937.

Album(s):
String Quartet in F major (1903)
L’Heure Espsagnole (Bizarre and Beautiful) (1911)
Daphnis et Chloé (classical ballet, 1912)
L’Enfant et les Sortilèges (1925)
Boléro (classical ballet, 1928)
Piano Concerto in G Major (classical concerto, 1931)

The Ravens

Thurl Ravenscroft

Song(s):
You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch (1966)

Lou Rawls

Blues/soul singer born 12/22/1933 in Chicago, IL. Died 1/6/2006.

Song(s):
Love Is a Hurtin’ Thing (1966)
You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine (1976)

Amy Ray

Folk-rock singer/songwriter born 4/12/1964 in Decatur, GA. With Indigo Girls (1985-).

Album(s):
Stag (2001)
Prom (2005)
Didn't It Feel Kinder (2008)

Johnnie Ray

Singer/songwriter born 1/10/1927 in Dallas, OR. Died 2/24/1990.

Song(s):
Cry (with the Four Lads, 1951)
The Little White Cloud That Cried (1952)
Walking My Baby Back Home (1952)
Just Walkin’ in the Rain (1956)
I’ll Never Fall in Love Again (1959)

Tia Ray

Song(s):
Be Apart (2018)

Raye

Song(s):
Escapism (with 070 Shake, 2022)

Collin Raye

Song(s):
Love, Me (1991)
In This Life (1992)
My Kind of Girl (1994)
I Can Still Feel You (1998)

Don Raye

Eugene Raymond

Song(s) adapted by Raymond:
Pop Goes the Weasel (1852)

The Rays

Song(s):
Silhouettes (1957)

Andy Razaf

Daniel Read

Song(s):
Victory (1793)

Ready for the World

Song(s):
Oh Sheila (1985)
Love You Down (1986)

Real Life

Song(s):
Send Me an Angel (1983)

Real McCoy

Song(s):
Another Night (1993)

Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr.

– see Dr. John

Redbone

Song(s):
Come and Get Your Love (1974)

Noel Redding

Rock bassist born David Noel Redding on 12/25/1945 in Folkestone, England. Died 5/11/2003. With Noel Redding.

Otis Redding

Soul singer/songwriter, producer, and pianist born 9/9/1941 in Dawson, GA. Died in a plane crash on 12/10/67 in Lake Monona in Madison, WI. First recorded with Johnny Jenkins & the Pinetoppers in 1960. Killed in plane crash along with four members of the Bar-Kays.

Song(s):
These Arms of Mine (1963)
Pain in My Heart (1963)
Mary’s Little Lamb (1963)
I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (1965)
Respect (1965)
Shake (1965)
Try a Little Tenderness (1966)
Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song) (1966)
I Can’t Turn You Loose (1966)
Tramp (with Carla Thomas, 1967)
Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay (1968)
Love Man (1969)
You Left the Water Running (1976)

Album(s):
Otis Blue (1965)
The Dictionary of Soul (1966)
The Dock of the Bay (1968)
Otis! The Definitive Otis Redding (1993)

The DMDB Blog:
Otis Redding was killed in a plane crash: December 10, 1967 (12/10/11)

Helen Reddy

Pop singer born 10/25/1941 in Melbourne, Australia.

Song(s):
I Don't Know How to Love Him (from Jesus Christ Superstar, 1971)
I Am Woman (1972)
Delta Dawn (1973)
Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress) (1973)
Angie Baby (1974)
Candle on the Water (from Pete's Dragon, 1977)

The Red Crayola (aka "The Red Krayola")

Album(s):
The Parable of Arable Land (1967)

Redfoo

Song(s):
Let’s Get Ridiculous (2013)

Redgum

Song(s):
I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Grass) (1983)

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Rap-styled alternative funk-rock group based out of Los Angeles, CA. Active: 1983- Members: Anthony Kiedis (vocals: 1983-present), Michael "Flea" Balzay (bass/trumpet/piano/backing vocals: 1983-present), Chad Smith (drums, percussion: 1988-present), John Frusciante (guitar/keyboards/backing vocals: 1988-92, 1998-2009, 2019-present), Cliff Martinez (drums: 1983-86), Hillel Slovak (guitar/backing vocals: 1984-88. Died of a heroin overdose on 6/25/88 at age 26), Jack Irons (drums: 1983, 1986-88), Zander Schloss (bass: 1992), Arik Marshall (drums: 1992), Jesse Tobias (drums: 1992), Dave Navarro (guitar: 1994-97), Josh Klinghoffer (guitars/keyboards/backing vocals: 2009-2019).

DMDB Profile Page
DMDB podcast: The Best of the Red Hot Chili Peppers (1983-2022)

Song(s):
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Top 50 Songs
Higher Ground (1989)
Give It Away (1991)
Under the Bridge (1992)
My Friends (1995)
Scar Tissue (1999)
Californication (1999)
Other Side (1999)
By the Way (2002)
Can’t Stop (2002)
Dani California (2006)
Snow (Hey Oh) (2006)
Hard to Concentrate (2006)

Album(s):
The Red Hot Chili Peppers (1984)
Freaky Styley (1985)
The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987)
Mother’s Milk (1989)
Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)
What Hits!? (compilation: 1984-91, released 1992)
One Hot Minute (1995)
Californication (1999)
By the Way (2002)
Greatest Hits (compilation: 1989-2003, released 2003)
Stadium Arcadium (2006)
Road Trippin’ Through Time (compilation: 1991-2006, released 2011)
I’m With You (2011)
The Getaway (2016)
Unlimited Love (2022)
Return of the Dream Canteen (2002)

Redman

Song(s):
Dirrty (2002) – see Christina Aguilera

Don Redman

Song(s):
Lazy Bones (with Harlan Lattimore, 1933)

Lewis Redner

Song(s) written by Redner & Phillips Brooks:
O Little Town of Bethlehem (1868)

Rednex

Song(s):
Cotton Eye Joe (1994)

Blind Alfred Reed

Song(s):
How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live (1930)

Dizzy Reed

Rock keyboardist born Darren Arthur Reed on 6/18/1963 in Hinsdale, IL. With Guns N’ Roses (1990-).

Herb Reed

R&B singer born 8/7/1928 in Kansas City, MO. Died 6/4/2012. With The Platters.

James Reed

Song(s):
There's a Long, Long Trail (1915) – see James F. Harrison
My Little Dream Girl (1915) – see James F. Harrison
My Sweet Adair (1915) – see James F. Harrison

Jerry Reed

Country singer and guitarist born Jerry Reed Hubbard on 3/20/1937 in Atlanta, GA. Died 9/1/2008.

Song(s):
When You’re Hot, You’re Hot (1971)
Lord Mr. Ford (1973)
She Got the Goldmine, I Got the Shaft (1982)

Jimmy Reed

Blues singer and guitarist born Mathis James Reed on 9/26/1925 in Dunleith, MI. Died 8/29/1976.

Song(s):
Big Boss Man (1960)
Baby, What You Want Me to Do (1960)
Bright Lights, Big City (1961)

Album(s):
I'm Jimmy Reed (1958)
Very Best of (compilation: 2000)

Johnny Reed

R&B bass singer born 7/16/1923 in Baltimore, MD. With The Orioles.

Lou Reed

DMDB profile page

Experimental rock singer/songwriter born 3/2/1942 in Long Island, NY. Died 10/27/2013. Established himself as "The Godfather of Punk" with art-rock group The Velvet Underground (1965-70) before going solo in the 1970s.

Song(s):
Lou Reed/Velvet Underground: Top 50 Songs
Walk on the Wild Side (1972)
Perfect Day (1972)
Satellite of Love (1972)
Vicious (1972)
Berlin (1972)
Caroline Says II (1973)
Cone Island Baby (1975)
Metal Machine Music Part 1 (1975)
Waves of Fear (1982)
Halloween Parade (1989)
There Is No Time (1989)
Perfect Day (written by Lou Reed, recorded by various artists, 1997)

Album(s):
Lou Reed/Velvet Underground: Top 10 Albums
Lou Reed (1972)
Transformer (1972)
Berlin (1973)
Rock 'N' Roll Animal (live, 1974)
Between Thought and Expression (box: 1972-88, released 1992)
New York (1989)
Songs for Drella (with John Cale, 1990)
Magic Loss (1992)
Set the Twilight Reeling (1996)
Ecstasy (2000)

The DMDB Blog:
Lou Reed, 1942-2013: He Taught Rock to Walk on the Wild Side (10/27/13)

Reef

Album(s):
Glow (1997)

The Reels

Song(s):
Quasimodo’s Dream (1981)

Della Reese

Song(s):
Don’t You Know (1959)

Billy Reeves

Song(s) written by Billy Reeves and Frank Campbell:
Shoo Fly Don't Bother Me (1869)

Jim Reeves

Country singer born James Travis Reeves on 8/20/1923 in Galloway, TX. Died 7/31/1964.

Song(s):
Mexican Joe (1953)
Bimbo (1953)
Four Walls (1957)
Billy Bayou (1958)
He’ll Have to Go (1959)
I Love You Because (1964)
I Guess I’m Crazy (1964)
This Is It (1965)
Is It Really Over? (1965)
Distant Drums (1966)
Blues Side of Lonesome (1966)
I Won’t Come in While He’s There (1967)

Lois Reeves

R&B singer born 4/12/1948 in Detroit, MI. With Martha & the Vandellas.

Martha Reeves

R&B singer born in Eufaula, Alabama on 7/18/1941. With Martha & the Vandellas

Shirley Alston Reeves

R&B singer born Shirley Owens on 6/10/1941 in Henderson, NC. With Shirley Alston Reeves.

Gayla Reevey

Song(s):
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas (1953)

Re-Flex

Song(s):
The Politics of Dancing (1983)

Refused

Album(s):
The Shape of Punk to Come: A Chimerical Bombation in 12 Bursts (1997)

Regard

Song(s):
Ride It (2020)

The Regents

Song(s):
Barbara Ann (1961)

Trovadores Regionales

Song(s):
Gregorio Cortez (1929)

Herb Rehbein

Steve Reich

Album(s):
New Sounds in Electronic Music (with Richard Maxfield & Pauline Oliveros, 1967)
Music for 18 Musicians (1978)

Antonio "L.A." Reid

Record executive (LaFace, Arista, Def Jam Island, Epic). Born Antonio Marquis Reid on 6/7/1956 in Cincinnati, OH.

Reik

Song(s):
Me Niego (with Ozuna & Wisin, 2018)

Carl Reiner

Album(s):
2000 and Thirteen (with Mel Brooks, comedy, 1973)

Django Reinhardt

Pioneering virtuoso jazz guitarist and composer born Jean Reinhardt 1/23/1910 in Liberchies, Pont-à-Celles, Belgium. Died 5/16/1953. Invented a new style of jazz guitar technique sometimes known as "hot" jazz guitar.

Song(s):
Djangology (Quintette of the Hot Club of France featuring Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli, 1935)
Nuages (Django Reinhardt with Stéphane Grappelli and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France) (1946)

Album(s):
Classic Early Recordings in Chronological Order (compilation: 1934-39, released 2000)

Leo Reisman

Bandleader and violinist born 10/11/1897 in Boston, MA. Died 12/18/1961.

Song(s):
Bye Bye Blackbird (1926)
With a Song in My Heart (with Ran Weeks, 1929)
The Wedding of the Painted Doll (with Lew Conrad, 1929)
I’ll See You Again (1930)
What Is This Thing Called Love? (1930)
You Do Something to Me (1930)
Someday I’ll Find You (with Frances Maddux, 1931)
Night and Day (1932) – see Fred Astaire
Paradise (with Frances Maddux, 1932)
Alone Together (with Frank Luther, 1932)
Yesterdays (with Frank Luther, 1933)
Easter Parade (with Clifton Webb, 1933)
Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin’ All the Time) (with Harold Arlen, 1933)
By a Waterfall (1933)
With My Eyes Wide Open, I’m Dreaming (with George Bueler, 1934)
The Continental (You Kiss While You’re Dancing) (1934)
Cheek to Cheek (1935) – see Fred Astaire
It Ain’t Necessarily So (1935)

Keith Relf

Rock singer and harmonica player born William Keith Relf in Richmond, England. Died 5/12/1976. With Yardbirds (1963-68).

R.E.M.

Rock group formed in Athens, GA. Active: 1980-2011. Developed huge following with college audiences in the early 1980s as one of the first "alternative rock" groups. R.E.M. is the abbreviation for Rapid Eye Movement, sleep’s dream stage. Members: Michael Stipe (v), Peter Buck (g; also in Minus 5: 95), Mike Mills (b), and Bill Berry (d: 80-98). Buck, Mills, and Berry worked with Warren Zevon on the one-time collaboration Hindu Love Gods in 1990.

Links:

DMDB profile page: R.E.M.: A Retrospective (1980-2011)
DMDB podcast: The Best of R.E.M. 1981-1987

Song(s):
R.E.M.: Top 100 Songs
Radio Free Europe (1981)
So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry) (1984)
Don’t Go Back to Rockville (1984)
Can’t Get There from Here (1985)
Fall on Me (1986)
Superman (1986)
The One I Love (1987)
It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) (1987)
Orange Crush (1988)
Stand (1988)
Pop Song 89 (1988)
Losing My Religion (1991)
Shiny Happy People (1991)
Drive (1992)
Man on the Moon (1992)
Everybody Hurts (1992)
One (live, 1993) – see U2
What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? (1994)
Bang and Blame (1994)
Strange Currencies (1994)
Crush with Eyeliner (1994)
E-Bow the Letter (1996)
Hope (1998)
The Great Beyond (1999)
Supernatural Superserious (2008)
Hollow Man (2008)

Album(s):
Chronic Town (EP, 1982)
Murmur (1983)
Reckoning (1984)
Fables of the Reconstruction (1985)
Life’s Rich Pageant (1986)
Dead Letter Office (archives: 1981-86, released 1987)
Document (1987)
Eponymous (compilation: 1981-87, released 1988)
The Best of (compilation: 1981-87, released 1991)
Singles Collected (compilation: 1981-87, released 1994)
And I Feel Fine…The Best of the I.R.S. Years (compilation: 1981-87, released 2006)
Green (1988)
Out of Time (1991)
Automatic for the People (1992)
This Is It! (live import, 1993)
Monster (1994)
New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996)
Up (1998)
Reveal (2001)
In Time – The Best of (compilation: 1988-2003, released 2003)
Around the Sun (2004)
Accelerate (2008)
Collapse Into Now (2011)
Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage (compilation: 1981-2011, released 2011)

Rema

Song(s):
Calm Down (with Selena Gomez, 2022)

The Rembrandts

Song(s):
I’ll Be There for You (1995)

Henri René

REO Speedwagon

Song(s):
Ridin’ the Storm Out (live, 1977)
157 Riverside Avenue (live, 1977)
Keep on Loving You (1980)
Take It on the Run (1980)
Can’t Fight This Feeling (1984)

Album(s):
Hi Infidelity (1980)
Wheels Are Turnin’ (1984)
The Hits (compilation: 1976-88, released 1988)

Reparata & the Delrons

Song(s):
I’m Nobody’s Baby Now (1966)

The Replacements

Alternative-rock band formed in Minneapolis, MN. 1979-91 . Paul Westerberg (v/g: 79-91 ), Bob Stinson (g: 79-86; died 1995), Tommy Stinson (b: 79-91 ), Chris Mars (d: 79-90), Slim Dunlap (g: 87-91; died 2024), Steve Foley (d: 90-91; died 2008.

Song(s):
God Damn Job (1982)
I Will Dare (1984)
Unsatisfied (1984)
Answering Machine (1984)
Bastards of Young (1985)
Left of the Dial (1985)
Kiss Me on the Bus (1985)
Here Comes a Regular (1985)
Alex Chilton (1987)
Can’t Hardly Wait (1987)
I’ll Be You (1989)
Achin’ to Be (1989)
Merry Go Round (1990)

Album(s):
Hootenanny (1983)
Let It Be (1984)
Tim (1985)
Pleased to Meet Me (1987)

Harry Revel

The Revelers

Song(s):
The Blue Room (1926)
Valencia (A Song of Spain) (1926)
Russian Lullaby (1927)
Among My Souvenirs (1928)

Paul Revere & the Raiders

Song(s):
Steppin’ Out (1965)
Just Like Me (1965)
Good Thing (1966)
Hungry (1966)
Kicks (1966)
Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian) (1971)
I Had a Dream (1967)

Album(s):
Midnight Ride (1966)

` The Revivalists

Song(s):
Wish I Knew You (2016)
Kid (2023)

Eben E. Rexford

Songs written by Rexford (words) with Hart Pease Danks (music):
Silver Threads Among the Gold (1904) – see Richard Jose

Bebe Rexha

Song(s):
In the Name of Love (2016) – see Martin Garrix
Meant to Be (with Florida Georgia Line, 2017)
Me, Myself & I (2015) – see G-Eazy
I’m Good (Blue) (2022) – see David Guetta

Alvino Rey

Song(s):
Deep in the Heart of Texas (with Bill Schallen & Skeets Herfurt, 1942)

Dan Reynolds

Rock singer born 7/14/1987 in Las Vegas, NV. With Imagine Dragons.

Debbie Reynolds

Song(s):
The Aba Daba Honeymoon (with Carleton Carpenter, 1951)
Tammy (1957) z

Jody Reynolds

Song(s):
Endless Sleep (1958)

Nicole Reynolds

Song(s):
When We Meet Again (2010)

Trent Reznor

Rock singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist born 5/17/1965 in New Castle, PA. Has recorded with/as Nine Inch Nails since 1988. Also does television and film scores including The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Gone Girl.

Thomas Rhett

Song(s):
It Goes Like This (2013)
Get Me Some of That (2013)
Make Me Wanna (2014)
Crash and Burn (2015)
Die a Happy Man (2015)
T-Shirt (2016)
Star of the Show (2016)
Craving You (with Maren Morris, 2017)
Unforgettable (2017)
Marry Me (2017)
Life Changes (2017)
Sixteen (2018)
Look What God Gave Her (2019)
Remember You Young (2019)
Beer Can’t Fix (with Jon Pardi, 2019)
What’s Your Country Song (2020)
Country Again (2021)
Half of Me (with Riley Green, 2022)
Angels Don’t Have Wings (2022)

Album(s):
Life Changes (2017)
Center Point Road (2019)

Randy Rhoads

Rock guitarist born 12/6/1956 in Santa Monica, CA. Died 3/19/1982. With Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne.

Nick Rhodes

New-wave keyboardist born Nicholas James Bates on 6/8/1962 in Birmingham, England. With Duran Duran (1978-) and Arcadia (1985-86).

Rhythim Is Rhythim

Song(s):
Strings of Life (1987)

The Rhythm Boys

Bing Crosby and singing partner Al Rinker were hired in 1926 by Paul Whiteman and, along with Harry Barris they became the Rhythm Boys and gained an increasing following. The trio split from Whiteman in 1930 and helmed "I Surrender Dear" which earned Bing a CBS radio contract and launched an unsurpassed solo career.

Song(s):
Side by Side (1927) – see Paul Whiteman
Three Little Words (1930) – see Duke Ellington

Rhythm Heritage

Theme from S.W.A.T. (1975)

Damien Rice

Song(s):
The Blower's Daughter (2004)
Volcano (2005)

Album(s):
O (2003)

Sir Tim Rice

Musical theater and moive composer born Timothy Miles Bindon Rice on 11/10/1944 in Shardeloes, Buckinghamshire, England.

Songs Written with Andrew Lloyd Webber:
I Don't Know How to Love Him (from Jesus Christ Superstar, 1971) – see Yvonne Elliman
I Don't Know How to Love Him (from Jesus Christ Superstar, 1971) – see Helen Reddy
Superstar (from Jesus Christ Superstar, 1971) – see Ben Vereen
Close Every Door (from Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, 1972) – see Andrew Lloyd Webber
Don't Cry for Me Argentina (from Evita, 1976) – see Julie Covington
Don't Cry for Me Argentina (from Evita, 1996) – see Madonna

Songs Written with Elton John:
Can You Feel the Love Tonight (from The Lion King, 1994) – see Elton John
Circle of Life (from The Lion King, 1994) – see Elton John
Written in the Stars (from Aida, 1999) – see Elton John

Album(s):
Jesus Christ Superstar (studio: 1970, musical: 1971, soundtrack: 1973) – see Andrew Lloyd Webber
Evita - see Andrew Lloyd Webber; 1976, musical: 1978, soundtrack: 1996)
Aladdin (1992) – see Alan Menken
The Lion King (soundtrack: 1994, musical: 1997) – see Elton John
Aida (musical: 1999) – see Elton John

Buddy Rich

Jazz drummer and orchestral leader born Bernard Rich on 9/30/1917 in Brooklyn, NY. Died 4/2/1987. Considered by some to be the greatest drummer ever.

Charlie Rich

Country singer born Charles Allan Rich on 12/14/1932 in Colt, AR. Died 7/25/1995.

Song(s):
Lonely Weekends (1960)
Who Will the Next Fool Be? (1961)
Life’s Little Ups and Downs (1969)
Behind Closed Doors (1973)
The Most Beautiful Girl (1973)
There Won’t Be Anymore (1983)
A Very Special Love Song (1974)
I Don’t See Me in Your Eyes Anymore (1974)
I Love My Friend (1974)
She Called Me Baby (1974)
Rollin’ with the Flow (1977)
On My Knees (with Janie Fricke, 1978)

Album(s):
Behind Closed Doors (1973)
Very Special Love Songs (1974)
Original Hits and Midnight Demos (compilation, released 1985)
Don’t Put No Headstone on My Grave (1986)

Roddy Ricch

Song(s):
Ballin’ (2019) – see Mustard
The Box (2019)
High Fashion (with Mustard, 2019)
Racks in the Middle (2019) – see Nipsey Hussle
Rockstar (2020) – see DaBaby

Album(s):
Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial (2019)

The Tony Rich Project

Song(s):
Nobody Knows (1996)

Album(s):
Words (1996)

Cliff Richard

Pop singer born Harry Rodger Webb on 10/14/1940 in Lucknow, United Provinces, British India.

Song(s):
Move It (with the Drifters, 1958)
Living Doll (with the Drifters, 1959)
The Young Ones (with the Shadows, 1962)
The Next Time (with the Shadows, 1962)
Bachelor Boy (with the Shadows, 1962)
The Boys (with the Shadows, 1963)
Summer Holiday (with the Shadows, 1963)
It’s All in the Game (with the Shadows, 1963)
Congratulations (1968)
Power to All Our Friends (1973)
Devil Woman (1976)
We Don’t Talk Anymore (1979)
Carrie (1980)
Living Doll (with the Young Ones & Hank Marvin, 1986)
Mistletoe & Wine (1988)
The Millennium Prayer (1999)
Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World (2001)

Album(s):
Summer Holiday (with the Shadows, 1963)

Keith Richards

Rock guitarist and songwriter. Born 12/18/1943 in Dartford Kent, England. With the the Rolling Stones (1963-).

Song(s):
Take It So Hard (1988)

John Richbourg

Lionel Richie

Pop/R&B singer and songwriter (Kenny Rogers' "Lady") who started with the Commodores ("Three Times a Lady", "Still") before going solo. Born 6/20/1949 in Los Angeles, CA.

DMDB podcast: The Best of Lionel Richie

Song(s):
Lionel Richie/Commodores: Top 50 Songs
Machine Gun (1974) – see Commodores
Brick House (1977) – see Commodores
Easy (1977) – see Commodores
Three Times a Lady (1978) – see Commodores
Sail On (1979) – see Commodores
Still (1979) – see Commodores
Lady, You Bring Me Up (1981) – see Commodores
Lady (1980) – see Kenny Rogers
Endless Love (with Diana Ross, 1981)
Truly (1982)
You Are (1982)
All Night Long (All Night) (1983)
Hello (1983)
Stuck on You (1983)
Say You Say Me (1985)
Dancing on the Ceiling (1986)
Do It to Me (1992)

Album(s):
Can’t Slow Down (1983)
Dancing on the Ceiling (1986)
Back to Front (compilation: 1977-92, released 1992)
Tuskegee (with various artists, 2012)

Harry Richman

Song(s):
Blue Skies (1927)
Puttin’ on the Ritz (1930)

Tommy Richman

Song(s):
Million Dollar Baby (2024)

Sviatoslav Richter

Classical pianist born Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter on 3/20/1915 in Zhytomyr, Ukraine, Russia. Died 8/1/1997.

Nelson Riddle

Jazz/big band leader born 6/1/1921. Died 10/6/1985.

Song(s):
Lisbon Antigua (1955)

Ride

Song(s):
Vapour Trail (1990)

Album(s):
Nowhere (1990)
Carnival of Light (1994)

Joshua Rifkin

Album(s):
Piano Rags by Scott Joplin (1970)

Righteous Brothers

Song(s):
Little Latin Lupe Lu (1963)
You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ (1964)
Unchained Melody (1965)
Just Once in My Life (1965)
You’re My Soul and Inspiration (1966)

Right Said Fred

Song(s):
I'm Too Sexy (1991)
Deeply Dippy (1992)

Rihanna

Pop/R&B singer born 2/20/1988 in Saint Michael, Barbados. Youngest artist (age 23) in Billboard history to land 10 #1's.

Links: - official site - Facebook - Wikipedia

DMDB podcast: The Best of Rihanna, 2005-2022

Song(s):
Rihanna: Top 50 Songs
Pon De Replay (2005)
S.O.S. (Rescue Me) (2006)
Umbrella (with Jay-Z, 2007)
Don’t Stop the Music (2007)
Take a Bow (2008)
Disturbia (2008)
Live Your Life (2008) – see T.I.
Run This Town (2009) – see Jay-Z
Rude Boy (2009)
Love the Way You Lie (2010) – see Eminem
All of the Lights (2010) – see Kanye West
Only Girl in the World (2010)
What’s My Name? (with Drake, 2010)
S & M (with Britney Spears, 2010)
We Found Love (with Calvin Harris, 2011)
Diamonds (2012)
Stay (with Mikky Ekko, 2012)
Pour It Up (2012)
The Monster (2013) – see Eminem
Bad (2013) – see Wale
Can’t Remember to Forget You (2014) – see Shakira
Four Five Seconds (with Kanye West & Paul McCartney, 2015)
Bitch Better Have My Money (2015)
This Is What You Came For (2016) – see Calvin Harris
Too Good (2016) – see Drake
Work (with Drake, 2016)
Needed Me (2016)
Love on the Brain (2016)
Wild Thoughts (2017) – see DJ Khaled
Lift Me Up (2022)

Album(s):
Good Girl Gone Bad (2007)
Loud (2010)
Talk That Talk (2011)
Unapologetic (2012)
Anti (2016)

Billy Riley & His Little Green Men

Song(s):
Red Hot (1957)
Flyin’ Saucers Rock and Roll (1957)

Billy Lee Riley

Musician and producer born 10/5/1933 in Pocahontas, AR. Died 8/2/2009. With Booker T & the MG’s.

Jeannie C. Riley

Song(s):
Harper Valley P.T.A. (1968)

Teddy Riley

Song(s):
Is It Good to You (with Tammy Lucas, 1992)

Terry Riley

Album(s):
A Rainbow in Curved Air (1968)
In C (1968)

Riley-Farley Orchestra

Song(s):
The Music Goes ‘Round and ‘Round (with Mike Reilly, 1935)

LeAnn Rimes

Country singer born Margaret LeAnn Rimes on 8/28/1982 in Jackson, Mississippi.

Song(s):
Blue (1996)
One Way Ticket (Because I Can) (1996)
How Do I Live (1997)
Can't Fight the Moonlight (2000)

Album(s):
Blue (1996)
Unchained Melody: The Early Years (1997)
You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs (1997)

Blanche Ring

Song(s):
I’ve Got Rings on My Fingers (1909)
Yip-I-Addy-I-Ay! (1909)
Come, Josephine, in My Flying Machine (1911)

Al Rinker

One of the Rhythm Boys.

Song(s):
My Heart Stood Still (1928) – see Paul Whiteman

Miguel Ríos

Song(s):
A Song of Joy (Himno a la Alegria) (1970)

Minnie Riperton

Song(s):
Lovin’ You (1975)

Album(s):
Come to My Garden (1970)
Perfect Angel (1974)

The Riptides

Song(s):
Tomorrow’s Tears (1980)

Rise Against

Paul Riser

Josh Ritter

Song(s):
Getting Ready to Get Down (2015)

Tex Ritter

Country singer born Woodward Maurice Ritter on 1/12/1905 in Nashville, TN. Died ½/1974.

Song(s):
I’m Wastin’ My Tears on You (1944)
You Two Timed Me One Time Too Often (1945)
You Will Have to Pay (1945)
High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, Oh, My Darlin') (1952)

Johnny Rivers

Pop singer/songwriter born John Henry Ramistella on 11/7/1942 in New York City, NY.

Song(s):
Memphis Tennessee (1964)
The Seventh Son (1965)
Secret Agent Man (1966)
Poor Side of Town (1966)
Baby I Need Your Loving (1967)

The Rivingtons

Song(s):
Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow (1962)
The Bird’s the Word (1963)

Archie Roach

Song(s):
They Took the Children Away (1990)

Max Roach

Jazz drummer born 1/10/1924 in Pasquotank County, NC. Died 8/16/2007.

Song(s):
Joy Spring (1954) – see Clifford Brown
Driva Man (1960)

Album(s):
Jazz at Massey Hall (live, 1953) – see The Quintet
Clifford Brown and Max Roach (1954) – see Clifford Brown
We Insist! Freedom Now Suite (1960)
Featuring the Legendary Hasaan (1965)

Chappell Roan

Song(s):
Hot to Go! (2023)
Good Luck, Babe! (2024)

Hargus “Pig” Robbins

Country music session pianist. Blind since 4 because of a knife accident, learned to play piano at age seven when he attended the Nashville School for the Blind. In 1959, he played on his first of hundreds of professional recordings – George Jones' "White Lightning", his first #1 hit. Robbins went on to work with Patsy Cline, Porter Wagoner, Ray Price, Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan (on the classic Blonde on Blonde album), Connie Smith, Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, and Travis Tritt. He has played on classic hits such as Charlie Rich's "Behind Closed Doors" and Crystal Gayle's "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue." In 1976, Robbins won the CMA Instrumentalist of the Year award and in 2000 he received the CMA Musician of the Year Award. In 2007, he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. His nickname, "Pig," came from him sneaking through a fire escape at school and playing when he wasn't supposed to. Robbins' supervisor said, he got as dirty as a pig.

Marty Robbins

Country singer/songwriter and guitarist born Martin David Robinson on 9/26/1925 in Glendale, AZ. Died 12/8/1982 of heart failure. Father of Ronny Robbins. Served in the U.S. Navy from 1944-47. Hosted Western Caravan TV show in Phoenix in 1951. Joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1953. Acted in the movies Road to Nashville and Guns of a Stranger. Hosted TV's Marty Robbin's Spotlight in 1977. Died of heart failure on 12/8/1982.

Song(s):
I’ll Go on Alone (1952)
Singing the Blues (1956)
A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation (1957)
Just Married (1958)
El Paso (1959)
Don’t Worry (1961)
Devil Woman (1962)
Ruby Ann (1962)
Begging to You (1963)
Ribbon of Darkness (1965)
Tonight Carmen (1967)
I Walk Alone (1968)
Ghost Riders in the Sky (1969)
My Woman, My Woman, My Wife (1970)
El Paso City (1976)
Among My Souvenirs (1976)

Album(s):
Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs (1959)

Rob E.G.

Song(s):
55 Days at Peking (1963)

Bob Roberts

Song(s):
I May Be Crazy, But I Ain’t No Fool (1904)
Back, Back, Back to Baltimore (1904)
Ragtime Cowboy Joe (1912)

Dick Robertson

Song(s):
Embraceable You (with Red Nichols
Love for Sale (1931) – see Libby Holman
Ferry Boat Serenade (1941)

Eck Robertson

Song(s):
The Arkansas Traveler (1922)
Sallie Gooden (1922)

Robbie Robertson

Rock singer/songwriter and guitarist born Jaime Royal Robertson on 7/5/1943 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With The Band and a solo artist. Died 8/9/2023.

Song(s):
Sweet Fire of Love (with U2, 1988)

Paul Robeson

Singer, actor, and civil rights activist born 4/9/1898 in Princeton, NY. Died 1/23/1976.

Song(s):
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (1926)
Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child (1926)
Ol' Man River (1932)

Album(s):
Ballad for Americans (1940)

Don Robey

Paul Robi

R&B singer born 8/20/1931 in New Orleans, LA. Died 2/1/1989. With The Platters.

Leo Robin

The Robins

R&B/doo-wop group. Carl Gardner (lead vocals), Bobby Nunn (bass vocals). Gardner and Nunn were also in The Coasters.

Song(s):
Double Crossing Blues (1950) – see Johnny Otis
Riot in Cell Block #9 (1954)
Smokey Joe’s Café (1955)

Bobby Robinson

Album(s):
I Hear Some Blues Downstairs (1977)

Claudette Rogers Robinson

R&B singer born Claudette Annette Rogers on 6/20/1942 in New Orleans, LA. With The Miracles (1957-72, 1983). Married to Smokey Robinson from 1959-86.

Cynthia Robinson

R&B trumpeter born 1/12/1944 in Sacramento, CA. Died 11/23/2015. With Sly & the Family Stone.

David Robinson

New wave drummer born on 4/2/1949 in Maiden, MA. With The Modern Lovers (1970-73) and The Cars (1976-88, 2000, 2010-11, 2018).

Floyd Robinson

Song(s):
Makin’ Love (1959)

Smokey Robinson

R&B singer/songwriter born William Robinson, Jr. on 2/19/1940 in Detroit, Michigan. With The Miracles (1955-72, 1983) and later a solo artist. Record executive and songwriter for Motown.

Song(s):
Smokey Robinson: Top 100 Songs
Baby That’s Backatcha (1975)
Cruisin’ (1979)
Being with You (1981)

Album(s):
Where There’s Smoke… (1979)
My World: The Definitive Collection (compilation: 1960-2004, released 2005)

Sylvia Robinson

Singer, songwriter, producer, and record executive born Sylvia Vanterpool on 5/29/1935 in Harlem, New York. Was in the duo of Mickey & Sylvia, worked as an R&B solo singer, and founded Sugarhill Records where she was a record producer and songwriter for two of rap's most important songs (The Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" and Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five's "The Message"). Founded Sugar Hill Records. Nicknamed "The Mother of Hip-Hop." Died 9/29/2011.

Song(s):
Love Is Strange (1956) – see Mickey & Sylvia
Rapper's Delight (producer/songwriter, 1979) – see the Sugarhill Gang
The Message (producer/songwriter, 1982) – see Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five

Vicki Sue Robinson

Song(s):
Turn the Beat Around (1976)

Carson Robison

Song(s):
South of the Border (Down Mexico Way) (1940)

Robson & Jerome

Song(s):
Unchained Melody/The White Cliffs of Dover (1995)
I Believe/Up on the Roof (1995)

Robyn

Song(s):
Do You Know What It Takes (1997)
Dancing on My Own (2010)

Album(s):
Body Talk (2010)

Bob Rock

Rock producer born Robert Jens Rock on 4/19/1954 in Winnpeg, Manitoba, Canada. Worked with Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, and Metallica. Also a member of the Payolas ("Eyes of a Stranger") and Rock & Hyde ("Dirty Water").

Pete Rock & CL Smooth

Song(s):
They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) (1992)

Rocket from the Crypt

Album(s):
Scream, Dracula, Scream! (1995)

The Rockin’ Rebels

Song(s):
Wild Weekend (1962)

Rockwell

Song(s):
Somebody's Watching Me (with Michael Jackson, 1984)

The Rocky Fellers

Song(s):
Killer Joe (1963)

Rocky Horror Picture Show

Song(s):
The Time Warp (1973)

Gene Rodemich

Song(s):
Margie (1920)

Jimmie Rodgers

Country singer/songwriter born James Charles Rodgers on 9/8/1897 in Merdian, Mississippi. Known as "The Singing Brakeman" and "The Father of Country Music." Died 5/26/1933.

Song(s):
Blue Yodel #1 (T for Texas) (1928)
In the Jailhouse Now (1928)
Blue Yodel #9 (Standing on the Corner) (1928)
Waiting for a Train (1928)
Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8) (1930)

Album(s):
The Essential (compilation: 1997)

Jimmie Rodgers

Pop singer born James Frederick Rodgers on 9/18/1933 in Camas, WA. Died 1/18/2021.

Song(s):
Honeycomb (1957)
Just a Closer Walk with Thee (1960)
The Wreck of the "John B" (1960)

Nile Rodgers

R&B guitarist born Nile Gregory Rodgers, Jr. on 9/19/1952 in New York City, NY. Member of disco group Chic.

Song(s) co-written and/or produced by Rodgers:
Le Freak (1978) – see Chic
Good Times (1979) – see Chic
We Are Family (1979) – see Sister Sledge
Let's Dance (1983) – see David Bowie
Like a Virgin (1984) – see Madonna
Get Lucky (2013) – see Daft Punk

Paul Rodgers

Rock singer born 12/17/49 in Middlesbrough, Cleveland, England. With Free (68-73), Bad Company (73-82,99,02), The Firm (84-86), The Law (91), and Queen (2004-09).

Richard Rodgers

Musical theater songwriter born 6/28/1902 in New York City, NY. He composed over 900 songs and 43 Broadway musicals. He worked with lyricist Lorenz Hart in the 1920s and '30s and Oscar Hammerstein II in the '40s and '50s. He was the first person to win the four top American entertainment awards – an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award. He also won a Pulitzer Prize, making him and Marvin Hamlisch the only two people to do so. Died 12/30/1979.

Song(s):
Richard Rodgers: Top 50 Songs

Written with Lorenz Hart:
Lover (1933) – see Paul Whiteman
Blue Moon (1935) – see Glen Gray
There's a Small Hotel (with Maxine Grey, from On Your Toes, 1936) – see Hal Kemp
The Lady Is a Tramp (from Babes in Arms, 1937) – see Tommy Dorsey
Where or When (from Babes in Arms, 1937) – see Hal Kemp
Where or When (from Babes in Arms, 1937) – see Ray Heatherton
Falling in Love with Love (from The Boys from Syracuse, 1939) – see Frances Langford
This Can't Be Love (from The Boys from Syracuse, 1938) – see Benny Goodman
My Funny Valentine (1945) – see Hal McIntyre
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (from Pal Joey, 1950) – see Bill Snyder
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (from Pal Joey, 1950) – see Doris Day
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (from Pal Joey, 1950) – see Mel Tormé
My Funny Valentine (from Babes in Arms, 1953) – see Chet Baker
Blue Moon (1961) – see The Marcels

Written with Oscar Hammerstein II:
Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' (from Oklahoma!, 1943) – see Bing Crosby
People Will Say We're in Love (from Oklahoma!, 1943) – see Bing Crosby
Oklahoma! (from Oklahoma!, 1943) – see Alfred Drake
You'll Never Walk Alone (from Carousel, 1945) – see Frank Sinatra
If I Loved You (from Carousel, 1945) – see Perry Como
June Is Bustin' Out All Over (from Carousel, 1945) – see Hildegrade
Some Enchanted Evening (from South Pacific, 1949) – see Perry Como
Younger Than Springtime (from South Pacific, 1949) – see Billy Tabbert
Getting to Know You (from The King and I, 1951) – see Gertrude Lawrence
Shall We Dance? (from The King and I, 1951) – see Gertrude Lawrence
Hello Young Lovers (from The King and I, 1951) – see Perry Como
Getting to Know You (from The King and I, 1956) – see Marni Nixon
Shall We Dance? (from The King and I, 1956) – see Marni Nixon
Hello Young Lovers (from The King and I, 1956) – see Marni Nixon
I Enjoy Being a Girl (from Flower Drum Song, 1958)
The Sound of Music (from The Sound of Music, 1959) – see Mary Martin
Do Re Mi (from The Sound of Music, 1959) – see Mary Martin
Edelweiss (from The Sound of Music, 1959) – see Mary Martin
Climb Ev'ry Mountain (from The Sound of Music, 1959) – see Tony Bennett
My Favorite Things (from The Sound of Music, 1960) – see John Coltrane
You'll Never Walk Alone (from Carousel, 1963) – see Gerry & the Pacemakers
The Sound of Music (from The Sound of Music, 1965) – see Julie Andrews
My Favorite Things (from The Sound of Music, 1965) – see Julie Andrews
Do Re Mi (from The Sound of Music, 1965) – see Julie Andrews
Edelweiss (from The Sound of Music, 1965) – see Julie Andrews

Album(s):
On Your Toes (with Lorenz Hart, musical: 1936)
Pal Joey (with Lorenz Hart, musical: 1940, soundtrack: 1957)
Oklahoma! (with Oscar Hammerstein II, musical: 1943)
Oklahoma! (with Oscar Hammerstein II, soundtrack: 1955)
Carousel (Oscar Hammerstein II, musical: 1945, soundtrack: 1956)
South Pacific (with Oscar Hammerstein II, musical/cast album: 1949)
South Pacific (with Oscar Hammerstein II, soundtrack: 1958)
The King and I (composed with Oscar Hammerstein II, musical: 1951)
The King and I (composed with Oscar Hammerstein II, soundtrack: 1956)
Flower Drum Song (written with Oscar Hammerstein II, musical: 1958)
The Sound of Music (with Oscar Hammerstein II, cast album: 1959)
The Sound of Music (with Oscar Hammerstein II, soundtrack: 1965)
No Strings (musical: 1962)

Olivia Rodrigo

Song(s):
Drivers License (2021)
Good 4 U (2021)
Déjà Vu (2021)
Traitor (2021)
Happier (2021)
Vampire (2023)