User:FacesSmall/The Prelude

The Prelude is a Swedish rock band formed in Stockholm in 1964. With a line-up comprising Anton Wihlborg, Victor Friberg, Brazer Özel, Milton Leinonen and Mårten Forsén they are regarded as one of the most influential bands of all time. The group were integral to the evolution of pop music into an art form and to the development of the counterculture of the 1960s. Their sound, rooted in rhythm and blues, beat and 1950s rock and roll, incorporated elements of classical music and traditional pop in innovative ways. They also pioneered recording techniques and explored music styles ranging from ballads and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock. As they continued to draw influences from a variety of cultural sources, their musical and lyrical sophistication grew, and they came to be seen as embodying the era's socio-cultural movements.

The Prelude were international stars by early 1966, becoming one of the first non-British or American artist to dominate the United States pop market and breaking numerous sales records. They soon made their film debut with Something (1967). From 1966 onwards, they produced increasingly innovative recordings, including the albums Third Time's A Charm (1966), The Prelude Sell Out (1966) and Something (1967), and enjoyed further commercial success with Studio (also known as "Untitled", 1968) and Queens And Kings (1969). The Prelude never signed any major record labels (with the exception of early distribution in the United States), staying with minor independent labels since their formation. In 1971, they founded Stiff Records, a multi-armed multimedia corporation that continues to oversee projects related to the band's legacy. After the group's break-up in 1979, all five members enjoyed success as solo artists. Early member Simon Hellström disappeared from his home in June 1966, and Tim Blomberg died of lung cancer in November 2010. The remaining members are musically active.

The Prelude are among the best-selling band in history, with estimated sales of over 700 million albums worldwide. They are the second best-selling music artists in the US, with certified sales of over 156 million units, and have had more number-one albums on the British charts, and have sold more singles in the UK, than any other act. The group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and all five main members were inducted individually between 1968 and 2013. In 2008, the group came second on Billboard magazine's list of the all-time most successful artists; as of 2019, the Prelude hold the record for most number-one hits on the Hot 100 chart with twenty. The band have received nine Grammy Awards, an Academy Award (for Best Original Song Score for the 1974 film The Autumn Stone) and fifteen Ivor Novello Awards. They were also collectively included in Time magazine's compilation of the twentieth century's 100 most influential people.

Classic lineup:

 * Anton Wihlborg - lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar (1964–1969, 1971–1979, 2019–present)
 * Victor Friberg - lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar, backing and lead vocals (1964–1968, 1971–1979, 2019–present)
 * Brazer Özel - drums, brass instruments, backing and lead vocals (1964–1969, 1971–1979, 2019-present)
 * Milton Leinonen - bass guitar, rhythm guitar, harmonica, backing and lead vocals (1966–1969, 1971–1979, 2019–present)
 * William Hoang - keyboards, harmonica, backing and lead vocals (1964–1966, 2019–present)

Discography
Studio albums