Motown music influences British singer Rick Astley

British singer Rick Astley says he has no illusions about being a musician or a pop star. “I count myself as a singer,” said Astley, 23. “I can get by on the guitar and keyboards to write my songs, and I’m a good drummer, but I’m not good enough to refer to myself as a totally well-rounded musician. Becoming a musician is something I’d like to become. It’s one of my long-term goals. But I’m still quite young and have time to grow into it.”

Tiffany: Teenage pop singer enjoys life as an overnight sensation

When pop singer Tiffany embarked on her first tour last year, her record company used a gimmick to promote her: It sent her to shopping malls across the country where she sang to prerecorded music. Now, with a self-titled debut album that has sold 4 million copies, along with two No. 1 singles and a Top 10 hit, the 16-year-old is performing across the country with a seasoned six-piece band.

Britons want U.S. to take the Cure – Rock group courts American audience

Wherever the band goes, other members of the Cure tend to get overshadowed by the group’s vocalist, Robert Smith, who has been called the thinking man’s pinup. Smith looks like a dark version of Boy George. But Tolhurst said that he and fellow members Simon Gallup (bass), Porl Thompson (keyboards) and Boris Williams (drums) prefer to let Smith handle most of the media work.