Annie Lennox

Annie Lennox shape-shifts between genres thanks to a powerhouse voice rooted in velvety soul, evocative R&B, and fiery rock ’n’ roll. Born in 1954 in Aberdeen, Scotland, she studied piano, harpsichord, and flute at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London before launching her professional music career, first as a flutist with the band Dragon’s Playground and then as lead vocalist for the throwback New Wave act The Tourists. Lennox found greater fame as one half of the ’80s synth-pop duo Eurythmics: With androgynous looks that flouted gender stereotypes and smoky vocal performances that exuded passion (“Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)”) and longing (“Here Comes the Rain Again”), she became one of New Wave’s most striking figures. In the early ’90s, Lennox went solo and continued to break sonic boundaries, with the strings-driven “Walking On Broken Glass” and the delicate ballad “Why” especially demonstrating her dynamic presence and adventurous spirit.