Todd Rundgren

Todd Harry Rundgren (born June 22, 1948) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and record producer known for his work across a wide range of musical styles, both as a solo artist and as a member of the band Utopia. His career is characterized by his sophisticated and often unconventional approach to music, his elaborate stage performances, and his later exploration of interactive entertainment. He also produced music videos and was an early advocate of computer technologies, including the use of the Internet for music distribution in the late 1990s.

Born in Philadelphia, Rundgren began his professional music career in the mid-1960s with the formation of the psychedelic band Nazz in 1967. He left the group two years later to launch a solo career, achieving his first US top 40 hit in 1970 with "We Gotta Get You a Woman." Among his most recognized songs are "Hello It's Me" and "I Saw the Light" from the 1972 album Something/Anything?, which are frequently played on classic rock radio, and the 1983 single "Bang the Drum All Day," commonly used in sports arenas, commercials, and movie trailers. Though less well-known, "Couldn't I Just Tell You" (1972) had a significant impact on the power pop genre. His 1973 album A Wizard, a True Star continues to influence later generations of independent musicians.

Rundgren is regarded as a pioneer in electronic music, progressive rock, music videos, computer software, and Internet-based music distribution. He staged the first interactive television concert in 1978, developed the first color graphics tablet in 1980, and produced the first interactive album, No World Order, in 1994. He was also among the first artists to gain prominence both as a performer and a producer. His notable production work includes Badfinger's Straight Up (1971), Grand Funk Railroad's We're an American Band (1973), the New York Dolls' New York Dolls (1973), Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell (1977), and XTC's Skylarking (1986).