progressive pop

Franco Battiato (born 1945 in Sicily, Italy) is an Italian singer-songwriter, composer, filmmaker and painter.
He is considered one of the most original personalities in italian music from the 1970s to now. Battiato's songs are dreamy, controversial collages of images and sensations, very experimental and convoluted, rich of esoteric, philosophical and East Asian religious themes. His collaborations (from 1994 onward) with the nihilistic-cynical philosopher Manlio Sgalambro have added further depth to his apparently nonsensical lyrics...

There are at least two bands with this name: 1) A Briotish pop/rock/glam band, similar to the Bay City Rollers. 2) Flintlock is a bluegrass band from northwest Indiana. Long time friends, each of the members have played with several bands over the years. In 1997 the band Flintlock was formed. Leader Rick Carter plays guitar, does many of the vocals, and writes many of the band's original songs. Joining him are Dane Schuyler on fiddle and vocals, Jeff Bailey on bass, John Baker on banjo and vocals, and James Patton on mandolin, guitar, and vocals.

Brian was born November 12, 1943, in Brooklyn/Queens, New York City, where his first musical experience ranged from church choir at nine, to clarinet and guitar, to his first local harmony group, the Delfis. In 1959, they cut a demo record and made the rounds of New York City record labels. Finally, with much persistence, after many closed doors, Brian was signed as a solo artist to a management contract, where he cut demos for band leader Sammy Kaye's publishing company. Kapp Records heard a demo and signed Brian at age 16.