Born in Belfast in 1945, Van Morrison grew up surrounded by his father's record collection, which introduced him to American blues and jazz. He first gained international attention with the band Them before establishing a remarkable solo career. His music ranges from the restless energy of “Gloria” to the reflective beauty of “Into the Mystic” and “Coney Island.” Across decades of recording and performing, Morrison has drawn on Irish places, childhood memories, spiritual questions, and the traditions of American music to create a sound unmistakably his own.