4 Famous Artists who are Classically Trained Musicians

Joining the ranks of the elite in the music industry for many has just been a matter of being at the right place at the right time. For others, it may have been youtube or some whacky on-stage antics that got them noticed. But for these 20 music titans, it’s all about their passion for music.

1. PSY
   Gangnam style was one of the most infectious songs of 2013 with it’s deep hooks and who could forget the dance moves that swept the nation. But for Park Jae-Sang, his journey as a professional musician started in 1996. (Wikiquote) After attending an English-language summer course and studying for one semester, Park dropped out of Boston University and applied to study at Berklee College of Music instead. During his time at Berklee, Park took core curriculum lessons in ear training, contemporary writing and music synthesis, but he soon dropped out and returned to South Korea to pursue a career as a singer, without having attained a degree from either Boston University or Berklee.In South Korea, Psy made his first appearance on Korean national television in 2000 after his dancing caught the eye of a TV producer.
2. John Mayer
   John Mayer was born  John Clayton Mayer in 1978 in Bridgeport, CT. This Fairfield, CT native dominated the airwaves with his 2001 Grammy Award Winning Album, Room for Squares but before 2001, John had attended Berklee in Boston and later had moved out of New England to Atlanta Georgia. Since then, John has shared the stage with some of the worlds most respected musicians including Eric Clapton, BB King, and Buddy Guy. Although for a short time, John was known for his off stage persona as a ladies man and wild child, this 37 year old’s dedication to his craft is one of the most respected in modern rock music.
3. Billy Squier
   William Haislip Quier was born on May 12th 1950 and grew up in Wellesey Massachusetts. Starting off as a piano player, Squire was bribed by his grandfather to keep going with piano lessons but when he discovered Eric Clapton at age 9, he grabbed the guitar and never looked back. This Berklee student went on to write one of classic rock’s most memorable arena anthems, “The Stroke” and in the mid 2000’s toured with Ringo Star. Later, rap artist Eminem would sample Squire’s “The Stroke” for the 2013 release of “Berzerk”
4. Pat Benetar
   You’ve heard it and you’ve probably sung the chorus a time or two. Hit me with your best shot, was Pat Benetar’s most successful hit song. This Brooklyn NY native and Julliard School graduate went on to write 17 Billboard chart toppers and win 4 Grammys.