Culture Culture 5 min read

Music legends

Rock all night with these 10 American rockstars!

Image: Kenny Eliason

Rock music is considered by many to be the most groundbreaking genre of the 21st century. It has spawned countless iconic songs, and almost 80 years since its inception, it shows no sign of slowing down. In that sense, America has produced its fair share of iconic rockstars throughout the decades. These revolutionary musicians have helped shape the music of their time, so we decided to pay homage to 10 of the most innovative and influential American rockstars in history. With that in mind, there’s only one question left to ask: Are you ready to rock?!

1
Chuck Berry

Image: Provincial Archives of Alberta

Let’s begin with the man known as the "Father of Rock and Roll." To label Chuck Berry as a pioneer would definitively misrepresent the legacy of this amazing musician; Berry was almost solely responsible for introducing the key elements that would eventually define rock music.

Songs like "Maybellene," "Roll Over Beethoven," and "Johnny B. Goode" influenced countless musicians through the ages. Legendary artists like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones famously covered some of his songs, while Bob Dylan once defined Berry as "the Shakespeare of Rock n’ Roll."

2
Bruce Springsteen

Image: Jose Antonio Gallego Vázquez

Up next, we have a boss that anyone would love to have in their office. Bruce Springsteen is undoubtedly one of New Jersey’s favorite sons. Known as "The Boss," Springsteen has dazzled the American public since his first album in 1973, earning a myriad of awards and recognitions in the process, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Known for his insane charisma and distinctive voice, Springsteen has performed with his iconic "E Street" band since 1972. Rolling Stone magazine has described him as "the embodiment of rock and roll" and included him in its list of "100 Greatest Artists of All Time."

3
Jimi Hendrix

Image: Aditya Wardhana

Can the ‘60s be summarized by one musician? Many believe they can even summarized by one performance: Jimi Hendrix’s jaw-dropping rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock. In a way, this legendary guitarist embodies the innovation and freedom that characterize this era, but make no mistake: Hendrix’s contributions to rock and roll can’t be limited to a single decade. Suffice it to say that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame considers him to be "arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music."

Born in Seattle, Hendrix showed interest in music from an early age. He bought his first guitar at age 15 and practiced daily, imitating the styles of blues musicians like B.B. King and Howlin’ Wolf. While he sadly passed away at age 27, his legacy continues to live on in every single one of his amazing songs.

4
Elvis Presley

Image: Clem Onojeghuo

Chuck Berry might have been the "Father of Rock and Roll," but Elvis Presley was this genre’s undisputed "King." This musician’s legacy is as timeless and eternal as his songs are, earning him a well-deserved spot among America’s most beloved pop culture icons. Just think of all the countless Elvis impersonators around the world to realize how iconic Elvis’s music and style were.

Elvis received his first guitar at the age of 7. Little did anyone know that this birthday gift would be the first step in a meteoric musical career. From his amazing dance moves to his unbelievable charisma, Elvis will forever be remembered as an American icon.

5
Tom Petty

Image: Samuel Ramos

In the 1980s, when Tom Petty joined the musical supergroup "The Traveling Wilburys," he stood shoulder to shoulder with juggernauts like Bob Dylan, George Harrison, and Roy Orbison. While Petty was relatively a newcomer when he joined what many believe to be the biggest supergroup in history, time would prove that he had what it takes to become one of the most memorable rock stars in history.

According to the man himself, Petty’s love for rock 'n' roll first started when he met Elvis Presley at age 10. This love for music would eventually lead him to form his most iconic band, "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers," with which he performed for almost 40 years.

6
Jon Bon Jovi

Image: Simon Weisser

It takes talent to make your last name synonymous with rock 'n' roll, but John Francis Bongiovi Jr., better known as Jon Bon Jovi , was able to turn his last name into the name of one of the most groundbreaking bands of the ‘80s.

Born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Jon formed Bon Jovi when he was still in his teens, quickly rising to fame and becoming an undisputed rock star. While he is still very much active in music, he has also built a very successful acting career, appearing in TV shows like Sex and the City and The West Wing .

7
Jim Morrison

Image: Markus Spiske

Take it to the world of rock 'n' roll to produce a nickname like "the Lizard King" to describe one of the most emblematic vocalists of the '70s. Regardless of whether there was someone who could pull off such a strange nickname, it was Jim Morrison . In fact, this singer chose the nickname himself, as it perfectly described both his fascination with reptiles and Native American culture.

Morrison’s deep voice and magnetic persona were among the main reasons behind The Doors' rise to prominence, quickly making them the first American band to achieve eight consecutive Gold LPs. While his life was unfortunately cut short at the age of 27, his songs, poetry, and journals will forever celebrate the Lizard King’s legacy.

8
Prince

Image: DJ Johnson

Prince's first live band was called "The Revolution," and we believe that this is one of the most aptly named bands in history. After all, this Minneapolis-born musician brought forward a revolutionary and fresh take on music, fashion, and art in general. Known for his amazing falsetto voice and flamboyant persona, Prince is considered to this day one of the very best musicians in history.

You would think that such a flashy and daring musician would take a more ostentatious stage name, but Prince Rogers Nelson performed under his first name throughout his entire career. Actually, that’s not entirely true: while in the midst of a contractual dispute, he performed as " The Artist Formerly Known as Prince " for approximately a decade.

9
Steven Tyler

Image: Matt Botsford

Steven Tyler might have the nickname that every rock singer probably covets: known as "the Demon of Screamin’," Aerosmith’s frontman is recognized for his powerful voice and vast vocal range.

Tyler has been at the helm of Aerosmith since its beginning in Boston in the early ‘70s, producing such hits as "Dream On" and "Walk This Way." While the band is currently on hiatus due to Steven injuring his vocal cords, Aerosmith still hopes to return to performing soon.

10
Kurt Cobain

Image: Panos Sakalakis

The '90s introduced the world to a new take on rock music: for many, grunge was the quintessential sound of this decade, characterized by its raw and angry tone. In that sense, there’s no band that represents the '90s better than Nirvana, and this legacy is in no small part due to Kurt Cobain.

Known for his scruffy yet powerful voice, Cobain led this iconic trio since its inception in 1987. While his untimely death deprived the world of his incredible talent, his legacy still lives on in amazing songs like "Smells like Teen Spirit" and "Come as You Are."

General General 4 min read

Be on the safe side

Beware! These 12 common scams are aimed at senior citizens

Image: Kaboompics.com

For many reasons, senior adults are often targeted by scammers. Unscrupulous individuals are savvy and convincing, using tactics designed to catch people off guard. There is no shame in falling victim to one of these scams—it can happen to anyone. However, in today’s world, it is highly advisable to be aware of these schemes and familiarize yourself with them to avoid falling prey. Take a look at the following 12 scams—they could help protect you or someone you care about.

1
The Government impersonator

Image: Harold Mendoza

One of the most common scams targeting senior citizens involves fraudsters posing as a member of a government agency such as the FTC, Social Security Administration, IRS, or Medicare. The basic pitch is similar to many others: the caller claims that if the target does not pay a fee or provide personal information, they will face serious consequences.

Government agencies will never call, email, text, or message you on social media to request money or personal information . Only scammers engage in such tactics.

2
Fake Prize, Sweepstakes, and Lottery

Image: dylan nolte

Another common scam involves a call, email, or letter informing the recipient that they have won a sweepstakes, lottery, prize, or even a new car. The next part of their message is the key to uncovering the racket: the scammer will request money or personal account information to "claim" the prize . No serious company will ask for such things by telephone or email to award a prize.

3
Tech Support

Image: Simon Abrams

Technology can be intimidating to anyone who is not familiar with it, and tech support scammers know this. These individuals will attempt to convince their targets that their computer or phone has a serious issue, such as a virus.

Scammers often pressure victims into paying for unnecessary services that are not really needed or offer to do the repairs remotely if the recipient grants them access. They may use pop-up error messages, phone calls, or text messages to carry out their scheme. To protect yourself, always keep your antivirus software up to date.

4
'Grandparent' Scams

Image: Nikoline Arns

Exploiting emotional connections is a basic on any scammer’s manual and grandparents are frequent targets. Fraudsters may call and impersonate a grandchild or another close relative in distress , urgently requesting financial assistance .

If you receive such a call, hang up immediately and contact the family member directly to verify their well-being before taking any action.

5
Robocalls

Image: Jenna Anderson

Robocalls use automated phone technology to dial large numbers of households. One common scam is the "Can you hear me?" call. When the recipient responds "yes," the scammer records their voice and quickly hangs up. This recorded response can then be used as a voice signature to authorize fraudulent charges on stolen credit cards or other accounts.

6
Romance Scams

Image: Mayur Gala

Online dating and loneliness may seem like a natural match, but scammers have long exploited this opportunity. Romance scammers create elaborate fake profiles, often on social media, to take advantage of senior adults' loneliness and manipulate them for money.

They may request money for visas, medical emergencies, or travel expenses to visit the US. Since they tend to last for a long time, these types of scams can rob an older person of substantial amounts of money before realizing they’ve been deceived.

7
Business Imposter

Image: Constantin Wenning

This type of scam can take a serious financial toll on senior adults. This type of ruse involves the illegal or alleged sale of financial instruments promising low risk and guaranteed returns. The use of cryptocurrency is common in these scams, as it can be difficult to trace.

8
Pigeon Drop

Image: Alexander Mils

A pigeon drop scam occurs when a scammer offers the victim a large sum of money in exchange for a smaller upfront payment . While this should immediately raise suspicion, many people still fall for it. These scams are often carried out in person at tourist spots but can also happen frequently over the phone .

A classic example is an email claiming that the sender has inherited money from a distant relative but needs a small payment from you to transfer the funds.

9
Counterfeit Cashier's Checks

Image: Gadini

Cashier’s checks have been around for a long time and have been the subject of counterfeiters ever since. While forgeries can be highly convincing, a common red flag is being asked to deposit a check under suspicious circumstances and then return a portion of the funds to a stranger —chances are, it is a scam.

10
Travel Packages

Image: Marten Bjork

A tourist hoping for a dream vacation instead found cramped rooms and terrible accommodations that fell far short of expectations —this is not a new story.

To avoid such disappointments, travelers should always request information directly from the hotel in question and confirm which features are included in their selected package. Additionally, they should never provide credit card information unless they initiate the call or email.

11
Home Repair

Image: Jimmy Nilsson Masth

Another common scam involves criminals who appear in person and charge homeowners in advance for home improvement services they never provide . These scammers often pose as employees of utility companies.

If someone receives an unexpected visit like this, they should always call the company to verify the person's identity before allowing them inside.

12
Caregivers

Image: Ani Kolleshi

This one strikes particularly hard since caregivers are supposed to help people when they are most vulnerable. Unfortunately, sometimes, unscrupulous individuals can take advantage of the senior adults they are supposed to care for and steal their money .

Always make sure to screen anybody who will be in charge of, or around, a senior adult that requires assistance.

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