Jools Holland

Described as the best-connected man in British pop music, pianist, bandleader and presenter Jools Holland rubbed shoulders with virtually every major artist since the 1970s during a prolific and eclectic career which took in everything from anarchic teatime TV to big-band swing. A founding member of Squeeze, Holland's rollicking piano-playing style was an integral part of the new wave veterans' first three albums. But Holland's talents truly flourished when he left the group to pursue his passion for boogie-woogie, jazz and old-school R&B, most notably with a series of star-studded albums recorded with his very own Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. Holland was also a permanent fixture on U.K. television starting in the early 1980s, co-hosting the chaotic but hugely influential "The Tube" (Channel 4 1982-87) and acting as the national gatekeeper of new music on late-night institution, "Later With ... Jools Holland" (BBC 1992-).