Albert Hammond Jr.

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• Genre: Indie/Alternative
• Hometown: New York

About

Though much was made of the Strokes' hereditary connection to the New York fashion world, the fact that the band's guitarist, Albert Hammond Jr., was the son of celebrated LA hitmaker Albert Hammond ("It Never Rains in Southern California," "To All the Girls I've Loved Before") probably had just as much impact on their slick sound. While Julian Casablancas was the Strokes' chief songwriter, Hammond lent a hand in writing Room on Fire's "Automatic Stop" and a handful of others that never made it to disc. After giving these songs a thorough reworking, Hammond recorded a solo debut album in 2006, Yours to Keep, which employed an A-list of white-boy pop debutantes, including Casablancas, Sean Lennon, Jody Porter (Fountains of Wayne) and Ben Kweller. Like father, like son? Hopefully.

- Nate Cavalieri