Paul Rodgers

Paul Bernard Rodgers (born 17 December 1949) is an English singer, songwriter and musician, best known for his success in the 1960s and 1970s as vocalist of Free and Bad Company. After stints in two less successful bands in the 1980s and early 1990s, The Firm and The Law, he became a solo artist. He has more recently toured and recorded with Queen. Rodgers has been dubbed "The Voice" by his fans due to his powerful and bluesy voice. A poll in Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 55 on its list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time". In 2011 Rodgers received the British Academy\'s Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music.\n', ' Rodgers has been cited as a significant influence on a number of notable rock singers, including Chris Cornell, David Coverdale, Sammy Hagar, John Waite, Steve Overland, Lou Gramm, Jimi Jamison, Paul Young, Bruce Dickinson, Robin McAuley, Jimmy Barnes, Richie Kotzen, Joe Bonamassa, and Ronnie Van Zant. In 1991, John Mellencamp called Rodgers "the best rock singer ever". Freddie Mercury, the original Queen vocalist, in particular liked Rodgers and his aggressive style.\n', ' Paul Bernard Rodgers was born in Middlesbrough, England. He played bass (he later moved on to vocals) in local band The Roadrunners which, just before leaving Middlesbrough for the London music scene, changed its name to The Wildflowers. Other members of this band were Micky Moody (later of Whitesnake) and Bruce Thomas (later of Elvis Costello and The Attractions).\n', '