Pride Month Artist Spotlights

Bringing an end to his touring career, Elton John is currently headlining in Farewell Yellow Brick Road The Final Tour. In each show of the tour, John exudes his thanks to his fans in between performances of his hit songs including Rocket Man, Crocodile Rock, and Tiny Dancer. Born in England, John showed a talent for music when he quickly learned how to play the piano. At 11 years old, he earned a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music and attended the school for five years. After obtaining a

Rock singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge grew a passion for music at the young age of eight when she learned the guitar. Neither of Etheridge’s parents were musicians; her father was a psychology teacher and her mother was a computer consultant. This didn’t deter Etheridge from pursuing music. She began writing songs at 11 years old and briefly attended the Berklee College of Music. After a year at Berklee, Etheridge dropped out and moved to Los Angeles to perform. She was discovered by Island Records in 1986 where she began writing songs

Country artist Brandi Carlile has become a six-time Grammy award winning artist after beginning her performing career by singing in bars around her hometown, Seattle, Washington. Inspired by country music, Carlile learned how to sing on her own as a young child. Carlile met the band the Fighting Machines when she was performing around Seattle. She and two members of the band, Tim and Phil Hanseroth, began their own group when the Fighting Machines disbanded. After spending time touring with the group, Carlile released her own music in 2000 by

Growing up in London and performing at open mics led Rita Ora to get noticed by Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s record label. Ora signed a deal with the label in 2009. After getting her break with Roc Nation, Ora and DJ-Fresh earned the number one spot on the U.K. charts with their collaboration, Hot Right Now, released in 2012. Ora’s debut single, R.I.P., was released by Jay-Z’s label the same year in anticipation of her first album Ora. Having topped the U.K. charts with her album, Ora was nominated at the

Grammy award winning Puerto Rican artist Ricky Martin was destined to perform as he began his music career as the lead singer of Menudo, a Latin boy band. As a young child, Martin acted in various commercials. He auditioned for a spot in Menudo three times before being accepted into the band when he was about 13 years old. After spending his teenage years with Menudo, Martin moved to New York and released his debut self-titled album in 1988. While recording music, Martin earned acting jobs in shows including Alcanzar

Singer of Careless Whisper George Michael became one of the top pop stars of his time in the U.S. and U.K. after dropping out of high school. Michael was born on June 25, 1963. Happy birthday, George! Growing up in London, Michael wrote his first song at six years old on a gramophone he found in his garage. He also spent his time listening to records his parents gave him as a young child, according to the Sun. When he suffered a head injury in his youth, Michael decided he

1960s British pop/soul singer Dusty Springfield, born as Mary O’Brien, began her music career as a part of the folk band, the Springfields.   Mary was welcomed to the existing musical duo made up of her brother, Dion O’Brien, and Tim Feild. After the siblings created their stage names, Dusty and Tom Springfield, the trio named themselves ‘the Springfields.’ In 196l, the Springfields’ first year of releasing music, they gained popularity in both the U.K. and U.S. with the singles Dear John, Breakaway, and Bambino. The band was able to release

Beginning her career by acting in Disney Channel originals, Wizards of Waverly Place and Lemonade Mouth, Hayley Kiyoko now writes music to encourage hope and positivity, especially for the LGBTQ+ community. While dancing and learning how to play the drums, Kiyoko acted in commercials as a child. Kiyoko then earned the role of ‘Stella’ in Disney’s Lemonade Mouth, released in 2011. She was also featured in productions including CSI: Siren and Warner Bros. Scooby Doo. After spending time singing in the Stunners, Kiyoko began releasing her own music in 2013.

Musical icon Freddie Mercury built a rock legacy as the lead singer of the band Queen. His birth name was Farrokh Bulsara but he changed his name to Freddie Mercury in 1970 at Queen’s first show. While he was referred to as ‘Freddie’ since he attended school in India, he was inspired to add ‘Mercury’ to his stage name by a lyric in one of Queen’s songs, My Fairy King. When his family moved to London in 1964, Mercury enrolled in the Ealing College of Art and earned a degree

New Jersian R&B singer SZA (Solána Imani Rowe) did not grow up with the dream of being an artist. In Maplewood, New Jersey, SZA was raised by her mother, an AT&T executive, and her father, a CNN executive producer. Her family was the only Black family in the suburban neighborhood she lived in. Living without her siblings, SZA found a lot of random activities to do on her own. “Sometimes I was taking up sculpture, or doing martial arts on my own, or going to the library by myself and

Mexican American artist Omar Apollo was taught how to play the guitar by his uncle after his parents gifted him the instrument when he was 12 years old. Growing up in Indiana, Apollo was interested in skateboarding and worked at the music store, Guitar Center. When he was in high school, Apollo learned how to record his own music. He gained substantial popularity online when he released Brakelights and {} [], according to All Music. After a friend lent him $30 for the Spotify registration fee, Apollo released Ugotme on

Norwegian singer-songwriter Girl in Red, also known as Marie Ulven, gained her popularity from her sincere, indie love songs. Her stage name, Girl in Red, originated from her teenage crush, according to Paper Magazine. “I was in love with my best friend, and I was at a festival and we were looking for each other in the crowd and texting, ‘Yo where are you? I’m here.’ Room in the crowd opened up, she walked into that space and it literally felt like I was in a movie. The girl happened

Pop, reggae, and acoustic-rock singer-songwriter Jason Mraz initially had the goal of pursuing a career in musical theater, according to All Music. Growing up participating in musical theater in Mechanicsville, Virginia, Mraz has always been an artist. After he graduated high school, Mraz moved to New York to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. While studying musical theater, Mraz began playing the guitar and changed his career path from musical theater to songwriting. Elektra Recording Company offered Mraz a signing deal after he attracted attention while playing in coffeehouses,

Starting her music career in 1990 by creating a band called the Wild Orchids, Stacy Ann Ferguson (known as Fergie), is now a household-name as an American singer and actress. Wild Orchid was a three-member, pop band with Fergie and her friends, Stefanie Ridel and Renee Sandstorm. In 1996, the band released their first album Wild Orchid. Their next three albums Oxygen, Fire, and Hipnotic didn’t generate much success. After enduring and overcoming a crystal methamphetamine (crystal meth) addiction, Fergie was welcomed into the hip-hip group, the Black Eyed Peas

British artist David Bowie, born as David Robert Jones in January 1947, was inspired by American music early in his life.  Jones grew a love for music during his childhood and  participated in choir at Burnt Ash Junior School. He began playing alto saxophone when he was 13 years old, and at 15, Bowie joined his first band named the Kon-Rads. Jones also played with bands named the Mannish Boys, The King Bees, The Buzz, and the Lower Third, according to Bryan Smith Music. It was not until 1967 that

From Disney channel child star, to pop singer riding a wrecking ball, to activist, the career of Miley Cyrus has been ever-evolving.  In Franklin, Tennessee, Cyrus was born as Destiny Hope Cyrus on November 23rd, 1992. During her childhood, Cyrus’ family and friends often called her “Smiley Miley.” In 2008, the singer officially changed her name to Miley. After acting in Big Fish, Cyrus auditioned and earned the lead role in the Disney Channel show Hannah Montana in 2005. Paving the way to her music career, the initial album release

Founder of his own record label, Odd Future, Tyler, the Creator is a multifaceted, Grammy award-winning artist. In Ladera Heights, California, Tyler was born as Tyler Gregory Okonma in 1991. His fascination for music ignited when he was young. Tyler decided to learn piano on his own and quickly became a proficient musician at 14 years old. In 2007, Tyler assembled the hip-hop/rap group, Odd Future, with Hodgy Beats, Jasper Dolphin, and Left Brain. In November 2008, the group released their debut album The Odd Future Tape. In 2009 and

American singer-songwriter and actress Lady Gaga was born in Yonkers, New York on March 28, 1986. Named as Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, her talent for music was revealed early in her life. At four years old, Gaga learned how to play the piano; however, she turned down her acceptance into the Julliard School at age 11. While she was a teenager, Gaga performed around New York City and attended an all-girls Catholic school. Two years into her college career at New York University, Gaga left school to pursue music on

Tony Award winning actor and singer Ben Platt grew a love for performing when he was a young child. He was born in Los Angeles, California and graduated from the Adderley School for Performing Arts after ten years of studying musical theatre. Shortly after he began studying at Columbia University, he booked his first Broadway show, The Book of Mormon, in 2012. Platt dropped out of college for the show that has since grossed nearly 700 million dollars. Playing the role of Benji Applebaum, Platt’s first movie was Pitch Perfect,

Born as Dorothy Miranda Clark, singer-songwriter Dodie initially gained attention from her social media presence. 11years ago, Dodie uploaded her first YouTube video in which she sang her original song Rain. Although most of her YouTube content revolves around music, Dodie also uploads vlogs and “behind the scenes” videos.   As one of three siblings, Clark was born in London in 1995 and adopted the nickname Dodie early in her childhood. Quickly gaining a large social media following, Dodie began to feel immense pressure from her growing audience to engage with

On October 28, 1987, Frank Ocean was born with the name Christopher Edwin Breaux. Shortly after his birth in Long Beach, California, his family moved to New Orleans. Breaux was influenced by music early in his life through his mother’s CDs and by going to the jazz clubs in New Orleans. It wasn’t until 2015 that Breaux officially changed his name to Frank Ocean, according to NME. Working various jobs to pay for studio time, Ocean started creating his own music in high school. Hurricane Katrina interrupted Ocean’s college experience

Eight-time Grammy nominee Janelle Monáe is a successful American songwriter and actress with hits including Make Me Feel, I Like That, and Primetime (feat. Miguel). The track Make Me Feel, from her album Dirty Computer, reached number nine on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs. Raised in Kansas, Monáe grew up a performer. She participated and won many talent shows and scored lead roles in multiple musicals put on at her school. Monáe also wrote plays and musicals during her time in Kansas City’s Coterie Theater Young Playwrits’. Monáe spent a

Twenty-nine-year-old musician and actor Demi Lovato is an influential artist not only because of their music but also for being an avid mental health advocate. Having been diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2011, Demi has struggled with mental issues including depression, bulimia, and addiction. In the first episode of their podcast 4d with Demi Lovato, Demi came out as non-binary. “I feel that this best represents the fluidity I feel in my gender expression and allows me to feel most authentic and true to the person I both know I

Initially attracting attention by his presence on social media, Troye Sivan is a 26-year-old multi talented artist. Sivan’s career in music started when he performed with Guy Sebastian, an Australian Idol winner, in 2006 on the show Telethon. In the year proceeding, Sivan released his first EP, Dare to Dream. In 2009, Sivan played the role of young Wolverine in the movie, Z-Men Origins: Wolverine. When he was 12, Sivan started making videos on YouTube including lifestyle vlogs, trendy challenges, and music videos. Around the time that he acquired 500,000

Getting her first recognition with her band Poplyfe on the American TV show America’s Got Talent, Kehlani Parrish is now a two-time Grammy-nominated R&B artist. Kehlani has always been an artist. When they were a child, they aspired to be a professional dancer and attend Julliard in New York: however, Kehlani decided to focus on music instead after enduring a knee injury in middle school. The album Cloud 19 was Kehlani’s first mixtape release in 2014. The year following, Kehlani released their second mixtape You Should Be Here, which was

After breaking into fame with his first hit, Old Town Road, Lil Nas X has exponentially grown in popularity. Nas is an American rapper and creates a variety of music in the genres R&B/soul, country, and hip-hop. He writes music in a unique way as he often combines these genres. As a young child, Nas dealt with his parents’ divorce. Nas first lived with his mother and grandmother at six years old when his parents separated. When Nas was ten years old, his father gained custody rights. Nas and his

Featured in the series Glee and the musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Adam Lambert is a unique American singer-songwriter and actor. At 40-years-old, Lambert is a two-time GLAAD Media Award winner. Getting his first recognition in the eighth season of American Idol, Lambert has been a performer his whole life. In high school, he was a part of choir, jazz band, and theater. In 2000, he performed at his high school graduation and sang It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday from Cooley High. Competing in American Idol

Doja Cat is a 26-year-old hip hop/pop artist. She was raised by her mother and moved from New York to OAK PARK, Calif. Doja grew up loving to dance after starting dance lessons when she turned 5 years old. She learned jazz, tap, and ballet dance but found a love for breakdancing in high school. While in high school, Doja participated in a competing poplocking troupe. Her love for dance outweighed her desire to complete school. Doja left high school during her junior year. Spending most of her time singing and rapping, Doja self-learned

Academy Award and Grammy Award winning artist Sam Smith grew a passion for music at a young age. Although Smith’s parents were non-musicians, their mother a stock banker and their father a truck driver, they were encouraged to pursue their passion for singing. Born in England, Smith was a part of numerous musical groups including a jazz band, Cantate Youth Choir, and an operatic group at Bishop’s Stortford Musical Theatre Company (BSMTC). Attention was first attracted to Smith because of their first two collaborations with the artists Disclosure and Naughty Boy. Smith worked with Disclosure