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80s

Black Uhuru

Black Uhuru is a Jamaican band probably best known for their hits "Shine Eye Gal", "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," "Sinsemilla," "Solidarity," and "What Is Life?". They were the first group to win a Grammy in the reggae category when it was introduced in 1985. They originally formed as 'Black Sounds Uhuru' (the Kiswahili word for freedom). The first line-up of the group was Garth Dennis, Don Carlos, and Derrick "Duckie" Simpson.

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Zero Boys

The Zero Boys were a hardcore punk quartet from Indianapolis, Indiana fronted by Paul Mahern . Other members included bassist David "Tufty" Clough, drummer Mark Cutsinger and guitarist Terry Hollywood. Their first release, Livin' in the '80s, was a 7" EP released by the band on their home-brew Z-Disc label. Their debut full length album, Vicious Circle, was released in 1982 with its distinctively ugly bright yellow cover on the local label Nimrod Records.

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Erasure

Erasure are a synthpop duo from the United Kingdom consisting of keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single Who Needs Love (Like That). Beginning in late 1986 with the release of their single Sometimes, Erasure established themselves on the British charts; albums such as The Circus, Wild!, Chorus, I Say I Say I Say, Loveboat and Nightbird demonstrated a further diversity of sound.

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NKOTBSB

In 2010 New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys joined together to form super-boyband NKOTBSB. They first performed together on the American Music Awards and have a tour coming in 2011. "Don't Turn Out the Lights" is the first single released by the super group, which went on air for the first time on Ryan Seacrest's show. The single will be released on a greatest hits collection CD in May, having 5 hits from each group. As on now, the single is available on iTunes.

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Icehouse

They were formed in 1977 as Flowers by Iva Davies (born Ivor Arthur Davies, on 22 May 1955, in Wauchope, New South Wales, Australia), who was the main creative force, and a classically trained musician; and bass player, Keith Welsh. For a number of years they also obtained the services of Bob Kretschmer, until he was replaced by young guitarist Paul Gildea. Since 1980 Icehouse has released seven albums, several compilations, and music from collaborations with other artists including dance companies.

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Front End Loader

Based in Sydney, Australia, Front End Loader are self-described as "Australia's least popular, relatively well known band". Formed in 1991 FEL have always been a difficult band to categorize. Undeniably a hard rock band, they have avoided the traditional tattoos and hair of hard rock and as musicians, they tend closer to cock or math rock without the earnestness. Front End Loader have been supported by the likes of Regurgitator, The Superjesus and Shihad plus many others. They have a reputation for ferocious live performances and not holding their collective tongue.

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Bernard Haitink

Bernard Johan Herman Haitink, CH, KBE (born 4 March 1929) is a Dutch conductor and violinist. Haitink was born in Amsterdam, the son of Willem Haitink and Anna Haitink. He studied music at the conservatoire in Amsterdam. He played the violin in orchestras before taking courses in conducting under Ferdinand Leitner in 1954 and 1955. Haitink became second conductor of the Netherlands Radio Union Orchestra in 1955.

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Simply Red

Simply Red are an English pop band, formed in the mid 1980s. Simply Red's roots originate from the notorious 1976 Sex Pistols gig at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester. Manchester art student Mick Hucknall was one of the many young music fans present (along with original members of The Fall, Joy Division, The Smiths and Buzzcocks) who was inspired to form a band after witnessing that gig. The first incarnation of the band was a punk group called The Frantic Elevators.

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Shalamar

Shalamar was the creation of Dick Griffey, the booking agent for the television R&B program Soul Train, and British R&B producer Simon Soussan. The group's first single, the 1977 Motown medley "Uptown Festival," featured a bevy of faceless studio musicians; once it became a hit, Griffey decided to form a performing group under the name Shalamar. Through Soul Train, Griffey found Jody Watley, Jeffrey Daniel, and Gerald Brown, the three vocalists that became Shalamar; Brown was quickly replaced by Howard Hewitt in 1978.

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