Originally the other half of The Yardbirds after Jimmy Page split the band and (briefly) stole the name before renaming his new group Led Zeppelin, Renaissance began life as a musical experiment, including using a female lead singer. They didn't really strike the right chord with the public until they replaced their original lead singer with the lovely, clear soprano of Annie Haslam. Others have drifted in and out of the orbit over the years, including a recent reunion of the band with Haslam for a couple CDs and tours. They represented a certain pastoral approach to the burgeoning prog rock movement in Britain, with lush arrangements featuring twelve string acoustic guitars and analog keyboards providing color rather than lead material. And, of course, Annie's voice.
