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Neil Young
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<p>Neil Percival Young <a href="/facts/Order_of_Canada/whrUUAHI">OC</a> <a href="/facts/Order_of_Manitoba/XazT13Qf">OM</a> (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian and American singer-songwriter. After embarking on a music career in <a href="/facts/Winnipeg/zvwJ8fBz">Winnipeg</a> in the 1960s, Young moved to Los Angeles, forming the <a href="/facts/Folk_rock/Q9zErsfh">folk rock</a> group <a href="/facts/Buffalo_Springfield/xY1BRSQM">Buffalo Springfield</a>. Since the beginning of his solo career, often backed by the band <a href="/facts/Crazy_Horse_(band)/LU3SxqLQ">Crazy Horse</a>, he released critically acclaimed albums such as <i><a href="/facts/Everybody_Knows_This_Is_Nowhere/8coNRXMY">Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere</a></i> (1969), <i><a href="/facts/After_the_Gold_Rush/aFuMxGuI">After the Gold Rush</a></i> (1970), <i><a href="/facts/Harvest_(Neil_Young_album)/akCojlsE">Harvest</a></i> (1972), <i><a href="/facts/On_the_Beach_(Neil_Young_album)/Rfwg8Agy">On the Beach</a></i> (1974), and <i><a href="/facts/Rust_Never_Sleeps/jp0RNUxf">Rust Never Sleeps</a></i> (1979). He was also a part-time member of <a href="/facts/Crosby%2c_Stills%2c_Nash_%2526_Young/XBgfVTRV">Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young</a>, with whom he recorded the chart-topping 1970 album <i><a href="/facts/D%25C3%25A9j%25C3%25A0_Vu_(Crosby%2c_Stills%2c_Nash_%2526_Young_album)/3qaqGBSP">Déjà Vu</a></i>. </p><p>Young's guitar work, deeply personal lyrics and signature high <a href="/facts/Tenor/nYVSWeEI">tenor</a> singing voice define his long career. He also plays piano and harmonica on many albums, which frequently combine <a href="/facts/Folk_music/yFHpeE7k">folk</a>, <a href="/facts/Rock_music/zBM2guyQ">rock</a>, <a href="/facts/Country_music/UJM3Un98">country</a> and other musical genres. His often distorted electric guitar playing, especially with Crazy Horse, earned him the nickname "<a href="/facts/Honorific_nicknames_in_popular_music/hFc1V7E6">Godfather</a> of <a href="/facts/Grunge/X7CbpRLF">Grunge</a>" and led to his 1995 album <i><a href="/facts/Mirror_Ball_(Neil_Young_album)/HeE07hnY">Mirror Ball</a></i> with <a href="/facts/Pearl_Jam/ymASSpyb">Pearl Jam</a>. More recently, he has been backed by <a href="/facts/Lukas_Nelson_%2526_Promise_of_the_Real/JKN8hp3b">Promise of the Real</a>. </p><p>Young directed (or co-directed) films using the pseudonym "Bernard Shakey", including <i><a href="/facts/Journey_Through_the_Past_(film)/ly203Mnc">Journey Through the Past</a></i> (1973), <i>Rust Never Sleeps</i> (1979), <i><a href="/facts/Human_Highway/wwjgndt3">Human Highway</a></i> (1982), <i>Greendale</i> (2003), <i><a href="/facts/CSNY%2fD%25C3%25A9j%25C3%25A0_Vu/NEY0QzjS">CSNY/Déjà Vu</a></i> (2008), and <i>Harvest Time</i> (2022). He also contributed to the soundtracks of the films <i><a href="/facts/Philadelphia_(film)/hsD6FkdM">Philadelphia</a></i> (1993) and <i><a href="/facts/Dead_Man/KXhYIqgD">Dead Man</a></i> (1995). </p><p>Young has received multiple <a href="/facts/Grammy_Award/2bxYJjPV">Grammy</a> and <a href="/facts/Juno_Award/7GsTvmJf">Juno Awards</a>. The <a href="/facts/Rock_and_Roll_Hall_of_Fame/6hRagsTD">Rock and Roll Hall of Fame</a> has inducted him twice: in 1995 as a solo artist and in 1997 as a member of Buffalo Springfield. In 2023, <i><a href="/facts/Rolling_Stone/HhCFoJ9F">Rolling Stone</a></i> ranked Young No. 30 on its list of the "250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Young is also on <i>Rolling Stone</i>'s list of <a href="/facts/Rolling_Stone%2527s_100_Greatest_Artists_of_All_Time/7mzEHpQg">the 100 greatest musical artists</a>, and 21 of his albums and singles have been <a href="/facts/Certified_gold/zGzLFa9l">certified gold or platinum</a> in the U.S. Young was awarded the <a href="/facts/Order_of_Manitoba/XazT13Qf">Order of Manitoba</a> in 2006 and was made an Officer of the <a href="/facts/Order_of_Canada/whrUUAHI">Order of Canada</a> in 2009. </p>