Curated OER
Mural to Music 2
Students make a collaborative mural drawing to music using invented sign language, music and their responses to music. They select the music to be played while they are drawing. As the music stops, students move to a new location on the...
PBS
Pbs: Biography of Dizzy Gillespie
This PBS biography about trumpeter and jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie includes photos, multiple audio features, and links within the text to other famous musicians.
American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement: Sonny Rollins
A biography of Sonny Rollins, a jazz soloist who plays tenor saxophone. He is considered to be the greatest living jazz soloist whose breadth and depth of talent seems to know no bounds. Includes a profile, videos, and a photo gallery.
Other
Old State House Museum: Biographies of Arkansas Musicians
The music and musicians of Arkansas are the focus of this exhibit. Learn about different instruments, forms of music, and people like Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty, Scott Joplin, and many more.
University of Houston
University of Houston: Biography: Franz Liszt (1811 1886)
Offers biographical information about musician and composer Franz Liszt. Includes links to samples of his works.
Other
Bobby Hackett: Accomplished Musician
Read about the life of jazz trumpeter Bobby Hackett (1915-1976 CE). This biography is divided by decade to easily follow his career.
Other
Canadian Content: Famous Musicians
Featured is a list of well known Canadian musicians with brief biographies included.
Smithsonian Institution
National Portrait Gallery: Black List Project: Charley Pride
A biography of famed country music singer Charley Pride, one of few African Americans in the industry to both perform at and be inducted to the Grand Ole Opry.
American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement: Audra Mc Donald
Biography of Audra McDonald, actress and winner of six Tony Awards.
PBS
Pbs: Jazz: Biographies: James Reese Europe
Short but informative biography of jazz musician James Reese Europe (1881-1919) from Ken Burns' PBS documentary, Jazz.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Benjamin Franklin
A brief review of the life of one of the founding fathers of the United States. Learn about the important events in the life of Ben Franklin - inventor, patriot, musician, scientist, statesman, and more. (In Spanish)
Other
Classical Composer Biographies
Contains brief biographical information about several well known classical composers including Beethoven, Mozart and Haydn.
PBS
Pbs: American Masters: Quincy Jones
PBS highlights American Masters in music and provides a thorough biography, feature essay, and career timeline on Jones.
Other
Wynton Marsalis
In addition to information on Wynton Marsalis's latest recordings, this resource contains a biography and liner notes from other recordings. Some short sound clips. Links to other sites as well.
Smithsonian Institution
National Portrait Gallery: Black List Project: Sean Combs
With this resource, students can discover the story of rapper, record producer, clothing designer, and political activist, Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs, while viewing a photo and reading a biography.
El Poder de la Palabra (The Power of the Word)
E Pd Lp: Tomas Luis De Victoria Biography (In Spanish)
This page has a brief bibliography of the Spain composer Tomas Luis de Victoria.
Other
Michael Snow Biography
Featured is Michael Snow's own autobiography. A Toronto born painter and sculptor, he is also an award winning musician, filmmaker, and photographer.
PBS
Pbs: Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns
The companion website for a documentary film about jazz is home to a storehouse of resources and unique features about the historical, cultural, and artistic significance of jazz. With a timeline of key events in the history of jazz,...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: Archives Center: Duke Ellington: Biography
A useful biographical note of Duke Ellington.
Cengage Learning
Gale: Hispanic Heritage Biographies: Gloria Estefan
Features the life of Latin pop singer, Gloria Estefan, her rise to fame and comeback from potential life threatening injuries.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Lucky Thompson
Biographical details on Lucky Thompson, an American jazz musician, one of the most distinctive and creative bop-era tenor saxophonists, who in later years played soprano saxophone as well.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Usher
Learn about the life and career of Usher, the American musician whose smooth vocals and sensual ballads helped establish him as a rhythm-and-blues superstar beginning in the late 1990s.
American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement: Esperanza Spalding
Biography of jazz musician, singer and songwriter, Esperanza Spalding.
American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement: Vince Gill
A biography of Vince Gill, a country musician who has won numerous Grammy Awards. Includes a profile, videos, and a photo gallery.