Moby

As one of the most recognized and respected artists in electronic music, Moby paved the way for the genre to be accepted as mainstream music. The New York City native began his career performing with punk and rock bands before discovering his masterful skills as a DJ. Moby entered the electronic music scene during its underground era, but quickly helped to establish the genre's presence and commercial appeal with his hit albums Play (1999) and 18 (2002). Often blending electronic with contemporary American music, Moby infused blues, gospel, and pop layers and samples to his tracks as well as his collaborations with other artists. Moby's musical touch extended beyond his own albums, and he often contributed to various hit film soundtracks including "The Saint" (1997) and "Any Given Sunday" (1999) that heavily featured dance-oriented music and artists. Critics and fans alike lauded Moby for his undeniable musical genius and business savvy, which brought a once-underground genre to the forefront of music. He remained a true pioneer of electronic music, releasing strong albums well after his period of high profile commercial success.