  Beck (Hansen) was born on July
8, 1970, as Beck David Campbell. Beck's
mother, Bibbe Hansen, is a former Andy Warhol
protegee/theater actress. Raised in Los
Angeles and occasionally in Kansas City, Beck
later moved to New York City in 1989. Beck
had dropped out of school after junior high
and started playing folk music on the streets
of L.A. In New York's clubs, Beck found and
refined his sound, and returned to California
in 1991. Beck's music has been described as
celebrating the "junk culture" of
the 1990's with influences drawn from folk,
hip-hop, psychedelic pop, and post-modern
rock. Beck's style combines and recycles all
of these elements into the music he plays,
and in doing so has found success on
alternative and pop charts.
 # 69
Singles Artist of the Year
Beck topped the
Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for 5
weeks with "Loser."
 Beck gained musical attention
with his offbeat song "Loser" from his LP, Mellow
Gold. The song became a radio and
video favorite and soon more attention was
paid toward Beck. "Loser" was originally
released on an independent label, Bongload
Records, as a 12" single and first
became a hit on underground and alternative
radio stations. Eventually, the song went Top
10 on the pop charts, and Beck agreed to sign
with Geffen Records after being assured of
artistic freedom.
Beck hit the Top 40 with "Loser."
 Beck hit the Top 10 with "Loser."
The single "Loser" was certified
gold.
Mellow
Gold was certified gold.
The video for "Loser" was nominated
for 3 MTV Video Music
Awards including Best Male Video, Best New Artist, and Best Alternative Video.
 In addition to control over his
art, Beck was allowed to continue to release
LPs on independent labels which he did with Stereopathetic
Soul Manure and One
Foot In The Grave. The LPs showcased
more of Beck's folk roots and experimental
nature.
 Beck was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance -
Male
("Loser").
In the summer, Beck showcased
his live performances by touring with
Lollapalooza.
 Mellow
Gold was certified platinum.
 # 176
Singles Artist of the Year
 Beck's next major LP, Odelay, was released to more
critical and commercial success. The LP
featured more traditional arrangements than
his previous LP, but was still regarded as
fresh and innovative. Although pop success
eluded the tracks of Odelay, the alternative scene
and video channels embraced the LP and tracks
such as "Where It's At," "The
New Pollution," "Jack Ass,"
and "Devil's Haircut."
 Odelay was produced by Beck
and the Dust Brothers, who had gained
notoriety by producing for the Beastie Boys. Odelay was also hailed as the
'Best LP of the Year' by many music critics.
Odelay was certified gold.
Beck won a MTV Video Music
Award for Best Male Video ("Where It's
At") and the video was nominated for Best Editing.
 Beck was named Artist of the
Year by Rolling
Stone and Spin.
 # 140
Singles Artist of the Year
Rock
'N Roll Hall Of Fame's 500
Songs That Shaped Rock And Roll includes "Loser."
Odelay was certified
platinum.
 Beck won 2 Grammy Awards for Best Rock Vocal Performance -
Male
("Where It's At) and Best Alternative Music
Performance (Odelay) and was nominated for
Album of the Year (Odelay).
Beck toured with the H.O.R.D.E.
Festival during the summer.
 Odelay was certified 2x
platinum.
Beck and his videos won 5 MTV Video Music
Awards including Best Male Video and Best Editing ("Devil's
Haircut"), Best Art Direction (K.K. Barrett), Best Choreography (Peggy Hickey), and Best Direction ("The New
Pollution" which Beck directed).
"The New Pollution" was also
nominated for Video of the Year and Best Alternative Video.
 Beck could be heard on the
soundtrack for A
Life Less Ordinary with
"Deadweight."
Beck performed a "country
music-blues type concert" in Los Angeles
at the El Ray Theater. "Beck Acoustic
With Friends" will include some Beck's
more well-known tunes from his own LPs and
some songs by Jimmie Rogers.
Beck's taste of country music was made more
evident at Farm Aid '97 where he performed a
Jimmie Rogers song ("Peach Pickin' Time
Down In Georgia") with Willie Nelson.
 Readers of Rolling
Stone named Beck the Best Male
Performer of the Year.
Beck could be heard singing with
Emmylou Harris on a tribute
LP to the late Gram Parsons.
Beck was nominated for an American Music
Award for Favorite
Male Rock/Pop Artist.
 Beck was nominated for a MTV Video Music
Award for Best Video from a Film
("Deadweight").
Beck's next LP, Mutations, was released and
various tracks from the LP were previewed
interchangeably at his official website.
 Mutations was certified gold.
During the year Beck won a
California Music Award for Artist of the Year
and was named Artist of the Year by Rolling
Stone.
 Beck filed a counter-suit
against Geffen Records for releasing his LP, Mutations, last year claiming it
was meant to be an indie-label release.
Beck released his next LP, Midnite
Vultures.
 MTV: 100
Greatest Videos Ever Made includes
"Loser" at # 64.
Midnite
Vultures was certified gold.
 Beck won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music
Performance (Mutations).
Beck won a Brit Award for Best
International Solo Artist.
Beck was injured at a show in
London after falling in the middle of his
concert. The injury occurred during a planned
routine that had Beck being lifted by his
bass player, but unfortunately Beck landed
hard on his guitar.
Beck performed at the Bridge
School Benefit concert held in California.
 Beck was nominated for 2 Grammy Awards including Album of the Year and Best Alternative Music
Performance (Midnite
Vultures).
Beck covered David Bowie's classic
"Diamond Dogs" for the film Moulin
Rouge.
VH1: 100
Greatest Videos includes:
# 57
- "Loser."
 Beck ranked #
70 on VH1: 100
Sexiest Artists.
Beck released his next LP - Sea
Change. Beck said of the LP tracks:
"They're honest and simple songs and
they're trying to capture a universal
experience that anybody goes through... It's
taking something sad and trying to turn it
into something that's hopeful at the
end."
 Rolling
Stone magazine critics picked Beck as
Best Male Artist and Sea
Change as Best Album.
Beck performed on Saturday
Night Live.
Beck was
nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music
Performance (Sea
Change).
 VH1: 100 Best
Songs of the Past 25 Years includes "Loser" at # 63.
Beck spent 13
months on tour and began work on his next LP
- he told Rolling
Stone, the LP will be "...pretty
aggressive. I've been working on it for a
while, but I ended up doing Sea
Change first. I've been wanting to do
a record with loud guitars for a long
time."
 Rolling Stone:
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: # 305:
Odelay, # 440:
Sea
Change.
Beck got married.
 Beck released Guero.
Beck topped the Billboard Modern
Rock Tracks chart with "E-Pro."
Beck topped the Billboard Top
Internet Albums chart with Guero.
 Sea
Change was certified gold.
The video for "E-Pro" was
nominated for a MTV Video Music
Award for Best Male Video.
 Beck performed on ReAct Now:
Music & Relief - a benefit program
shown on music video channels to raise money
for those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Guerolito was released.
 Beck was
nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album (Guero).
The video for "Hell
Yes" was nominated for a MTV Video Music
Award for Best Special Effects.
 Beck released his next LP The
Information.
Beck nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance("Nausea").
 Beck re-issued his LP Odelay with additional
remixes and b-sides.
Beck nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
("Timebomb").
 Entertainment Weekly:
100 Best Albums of the Last 25 Years included Odelay at # 17.
Beck released Modern
Guilt.
Beck topped the Billboard Top
Digital Albums chart with Modern
Guilt.
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