Van Morrison, born George Ivan Morrison, is a Northern Irish singer, songwriter and musician from Belfast. He first gained recognition in the 1960s with the band Them, before developing a solo career blending rock, folk, soul, blues, jazz and rhythm and blues, driven by his instantly recognizable voice and deeply personal songwriting. With albums such as Astral Weeks, Moondance and Veedon Fleece, Van Morrison became one of the most influential songwriters in British and Irish music.