Beck is an American musician who has produced 12 studio albums in nearly as many genres. This eclectic, award-winning singer, songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist crosses styles from folk, funk, soul, hip hop, alternative rock, country to psychedelia.

Beck Hansen was born Bek David Campbell in Los Angeles, 46 years ago today. His father, David Campbell, is an accomplished Canadian composer, and his mother, Bibbe Hansen, is a visual artist who grew up in Andy Warhol’s Factory art scene in NYC. Beck began playing guitar at 16 and became a street musician, mostly playing blues covers, until he discovered hip hop. He dropped out of school after junior high, sat in on some college classes, and bounced through a series of menial jobs. His musical outlets were street performances, open-mikes, coffeehouses, and even buses, in NYC and LA.

Beck’s breakthrough came in 1993, when he recorded the single “Loser” for Bong Load records. It got airplay on an influential LA radio station and he was asked to come to the studio to perform it live. He played that and his song “MTV Makes Me Want to Smoke Crack”. That night he played a packed LA club filled with record company talent scouts. He’d made it. His debut album for Geffen Records was Mellow Gold and the “Loser” single was already on its way to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Beck Studio Albums:

Golden Feelings (1993)
Stereopathetic Soulmanure (1994)
Mellow Gold (1994)
One Foot in the Grave (1994)
Odelay (1996)
Mutations (1998)
Midnite Vultures (1999)
Sea Change (2002)
Guero (2005)
The Information (2006)
Modern Guilt (2008)
Morning Phase (2014)

Beck’s 12 albums have been critical and commercial successes. He’s been nominated for 16 Grammys, and won 5, including Album of the Year and Best Rock Album for Morning Phase in 2015. He’s won 6 MTV Video Music awards on 15 nominations. He’s also won 4 BRIT awards. Beck’s 13th album is due out in October, 2016.

Happy Birthday to Beck!