Lloyd Price was an influential American R&B and rock 'n' roll singer, songwriter, and record producer. Emerging in the early 1950s, he helped shape the sound of modern popular music with his energetic style and soulful voice. Known for blending rhythm and blues with early rock elements, he was one of the first African American artists to achieve major crossover success. Price was also a savvy businessman, founding his own record label and taking control of much of his music career—a rarity at the time. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.