One of the very most talented figures in all of rock 'n' roll, Van Morrison is an extraordinary performer whose artistic consistency during his 30-plus-year career is virtually unmatched by any other pop artist. He is a spectacularly emotive vocalist whose influence has been felt since his early days as leader of the Irish rock group Them, and whose records--especially his 1968 masterpiece Astral Weeks--are commonly regarded by critics as among the finest of the rock era. From the '60s through the '90s, many of the most revered artists in pop--including Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, Bob Seger, and Patti Smith--have drawn inspiration from Morrison's rich recorded legacy.
