# Meat Loaf

> American singer and actor (1947–2022)

**Wikidata**: [Q152929](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q152929)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat_Loaf)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/meat-loaf

## Summary
Meat Loaf (born Marvin Lee Aday) was an American singer and actor who lived from 1947 to 2022. He is best known as a singer-songwriter, record producer, and guitarist who achieved massive success in rock, hard rock, and heavy metal music, particularly through his work with record labels such as Arista, Epic, and Virgin.

## Biography
- **Born**: September 27, 1947 (Place not specified in source material)
- **Nationality**: United States
- **Education**: University of North Texas; Lubbock Christian University
- **Known for**: Being a singer-songwriter, actor, record producer, and guitarist in the rock, hard rock, and heavy metal genres
- **Employer(s)**: Arista Records, Epic Records, MCA Inc., Polydor, Sanctuary Records, Mercury Records, Virgin Records, Motown
- **Field(s)**: Rock music, heavy metal music, hard rock, progressive rock, acting, music production

## Contributions
Meat Loaf's primary contributions were his extensive career as a recording artist and performer across multiple genres and decades.
- **Musical Career**: He worked as a singer, singer-songwriter, record producer, and guitarist from 1968 until his death in 2022.
- **Genre Work**: He contributed to the development and popularization of rock music (inception post-1948), heavy metal music (inception post-1970), hard rock (inception post-1967), and progressive rock (inception post-1967).
- **Label Collaborations**: He released music and worked with major industry entities including Arista Records (founded 1974), Epic Records (founded 1953), Virgin Records (founded 1972), Motown (founded 1959), Mercury Records (founded 1945), Polydor (founded 1913), Sanctuary Records (founded 1976), and MCA Inc. (founded 1958).
- **Awards**: He received the Grammy Award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance (established 1988).
- **Acting**: He worked as an actor in dramatic and comic productions across film, television, theatre, and radio.

## FAQs
**What was Meat Loaf's real name and when was he born?**
Meat Loaf's birth name was Marvin Lee Aday, and he was born on September 27, 1947. He passed away on January 20, 2022.

**Which educational institutions did Meat Loaf attend?**
He pursued his education at the University of North Texas, a public research university in Denton, Texas, and Lubbock Christian University, a private institution in Lubbock, Texas affiliated with the Churches of Christ.

**What record labels was Meat Loaf associated with during his career?**
His career spanned numerous major labels including Arista Records, Epic Records, Virgin Records, Motown, Mercury Records, Polydor, Sanctuary Records, and MCA Inc.

**What genres of music did Meat Loaf perform?**
He was active in rock music, heavy metal music, hard rock, and progressive rock, contributing to the evolution of these styles from the late 1960s through the 2020s.

**Did Meat Loaf work in fields other than music?**
Yes, in addition to being a singer-songwriter and record producer, he worked as an actor in film, television, theatre, and radio productions.

## Why They Matter
Meat Loaf mattered as a defining figure in American rock and roll who bridged the gap between theatrical performance and hard rock music. His work as a singer-songwriter and producer helped shape the sound of hard rock and heavy metal, genres that emerged and evolved significantly during his active career from 1968 to 2022. By collaborating with major labels like Arista, Epic, and Virgin, he helped solidify the commercial viability of these genres on a global scale. His dual career as an actor and musician demonstrated the versatility required to succeed in the entertainment industry, influencing a generation of performers who sought to combine musical prowess with dramatic storytelling. The Grammy Award he received for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance stands as a testament to his technical skill and impact on the vocal performance standards within rock music.

## Notable For
- Being an American singer and actor active from 1947 to 2022
- Receiving the Grammy Award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
- Working as a singer-songwriter, record producer, and guitarist
- Performing in rock, heavy metal, hard rock, and progressive rock genres
- Collaborating with major labels including Arista Records, Epic Records, Virgin Records, and Motown
- Attending the University of North Texas and Lubbock Christian University
- Acting in dramatic and comic productions across film, television, theatre, and radio
- Holding the name Marvin Lee Aday
- Maintaining a career span of over 50 years (1968–2022)

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Meat Loaf, born Marvin Lee Aday on September 27, 1947, was an American citizen. His educational background included attendance at the University of North Texas, a public research university located in Denton, Texas, which was founded in 1890. He also studied at Lubbock Christian University, a private, not-for-profit institution in Lubbock, Texas, founded in 1957 and affiliated with the Churches of Christ. These institutions provided the foundational education for his future career in the arts.

### Musical Career and Genres
His professional life in music began in 1968 and continued until his death in 2022. Meat Loaf was a multi-talented musician who worked as a singer, singer-songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. He was deeply involved in several major music genres. He contributed to rock music, which saw its inception around 1948. He was also a key figure in hard rock, a genre characterized by chordal guitar riffs and "big" drums that emerged around 1967. Additionally, he worked within progressive rock, which began around 1967, and heavy metal music, a genre characterized by slack-tuned instruments and unconventional tonality changes that started around 1970.

### Record Label Affiliations
Throughout his career, Meat Loaf was affiliated with a vast array of record labels, reflecting his long-standing presence in the industry.
- **Arista Records**: Founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, this American label operated until 2011 before being revived in 2018. It was an imprint of Arista Records, Inc. and part of Sony Music Entertainment.
- **Epic Records**: Established on January 1, 1953, by CBS, this label is currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment and headquartered in New York City.
- **Virgin Records**: Founded in 1972 by Richard Branson in the United Kingdom, this label became part of Universal Music Group and operated with headquarters in London and Los Angeles.
- **Motown**: Founded on January 12, 1959, by Berry Gordy in Detroit, this label originally known as Tamla Records became a subsidiary of Universal Music Group and Capitol Music Group, with its headquarters later moving to Los Angeles.
- **Mercury Records**: Founded in 1945, this American label is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group and is headquartered in New York City.
- **Polydor**: A German-British record label founded in 1913, operating as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group with headquarters in London.
- **Sanctuary Records**: A British record label founded in 1976 with headquarters in London.
- **MCA Inc.**: An American media and entertainment conglomerate founded in 1958.

### Acting and Performance
Beyond his musical achievements, Meat Loaf worked as an actor. He participated in dramatic and comic productions across various media, including film, television, theatre, and radio. This dual career path highlighted his versatility as a performer in the entertainment industry.

### Awards and Recognition
Meat Loaf's contributions to music were recognized with prestigious awards. He received the Grammy Award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance, an award established in 1988. This recognition underscored his status as a leading vocalist in the rock genre.

### Legacy and Death
Meat Loaf's work period concluded with his death on January 20, 2022. His legacy includes a vast discography and filmography that spanned over five decades. He left behind a significant impact on the rock, hard rock, and heavy metal genres, as well as the broader landscape of American entertainment. His association with numerous major record labels and his receipt of a Grammy Award cement his place as a notable figure in music history.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. [Source](https://www.dhnet.be/medias/musique/le-chanteur-americain-meat-loaf-est-decede-61ea6d5b7b50a639dc0ab5af)
3. Czech National Authority Database
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. MusicBrainz
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. BnF authorities
8. [Source](https://www.tmz.com/2022/01/21/meat-loaf-dead-dies-singer/)
9. [Meat Loaf ‘critically ill with Covid days before his death’. 2022](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/meat-loaf-critically-ill-with-covid-days-before-his-death-598bcsc6k)
10. SNAC
11. Internet Broadway Database
12. filmportal.de
13. Discogs
14. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
15. [Source](https://deadline.com/2022/01/meat-loaf-dead-bat-out-of-hell-rocky-horror-picture-show-1234917056/)
16. [Source](https://www.newsit.gr/lifestyle/pethane-o-tragoudistis-Meat-Loaf-se-ilikia-74-eton/3451365/)
17. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
18. [Source](https://www.musik-sammler.de/artist/meat-loaf)
19. CONOR.SI
20. [Source](http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/M/Meat_Loaf/2001/09/30/747680.html)
21. BBC Things
22. [Source](https://bodysize.org/fr/meat-loaf/)
23. The Guardian
24. The Movie Database
25. YouTube API
26. Cinemathèque québécoise Linked Open Data
27. [Source](https://www.podchaser.com/creators/michael-lee-aday-107aNAQzO5/appearances)