Eddie Vedder

Eddie Jerome Vedder (born Edward Louis Severson III, December 23, 1964) is an American musician who is the lead vocalist and primary lyricist for the rock band Pearl Jam. He was previously a guest vocalist for supergroup Temple of the Dog, a tribute band dedicated to singer Andrew Wood.

In 2007, Vedder released his first solo album as a soundtrack for the film Into the Wild (2007). His second album, Ukulele Songs, and a live DVD titled Water on the Road were released in 2011. His third solo album Earthling was released in 2022. In late June 2024, Vedder released a single cover of The English Beat's "Save It for Later" for the TV series The Bear.

Vedder, who is known for his baritone vocals, was ranked seventh on a list of "Best Lead Singers of All Time", based on a readers' poll compiled by Rolling Stone. In 2017, Vedder was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Pearl Jam.

Vedder was born Edward Louis Severson III on December 23, 1964, in Evanston, Illinois, to Karen Lee Vedder and Edward Louis Severson Jr. His parents divorced in 1965 when Vedder was an infant. His mother soon married Peter Mueller. Vedder was raised believing that Mueller was his biological father, and he went by the name Edward Mueller for a time. Vedder's ancestry includes Dutch, German, English, and Danish on his mother's side (Vedder) and Norwegian on his father's side (Severson).

While living in Evanston, Vedder's family fostered seven younger children in a group home. In the mid-1970s, the family, including Vedder's three younger half-brothers, moved to San Diego County, California. Vedder received a guitar from his mother on his 12th birthday, and began turning to music and surfing as a source of comfort. He especially found solace in The Who's 1973 album, Quadrophenia. He said, "When I was around 15 or 16…I was all alone—except for music." His mother and Mueller divorced when Vedder was in his late teens. His mother and brothers moved back to the Chicago area, but Vedder remained with his stepfather in California so he did not have to change schools.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.