Rob Halford, born Robert John Arthur Halford on August 25, 1951, in Birmingham, England, is renowned as one of the most distinctive and influential vocalists in heavy metal history. He is best known as the lead singer of Judas Priest, a band that significantly shaped the genre of British Metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Halford's vocal style is characterized by his ability to switch effortlessly between a powerful growl and a piercing falsetto, which became a hallmark of Judas Priest's sound.

Halford's journey into music began in his teenage years when he sang for a local band called Hiroshima while also working as a theatrical lighting engineer. His entry into Judas Priest came about serendipitously in 1973 when members of the band overheard him singing at his home. This led to a tryout and his eventual acceptance as the band's frontman.

Under Halford's leadership, Judas Priest's music evolved into a more metallic sound, starting with their debut album, "Rocka Rolla," in 1974. The band's subsequent releases, including "Sad Wings of Destiny," "Sin After Sin," "Stained Class," "Hell Bent for Leather," and "Unleashed in the East," cemented their status as metal icons and inspired future bands like Iron Maiden and Metallica.

In the 1980s, Judas Priest achieved mainstream success with albums like "British Steel," "Point of Entry," "Screaming for Vengeance," and "Defenders of the Faith," becoming one of the world's leading metal bands. Halford's on-stage persona, complete with leather and studs, and his dramatic entrance on a Harley Davidson, became legendary.

In 1992, after nearly two decades with Judas Priest, Halford left the band. His departure marked the end of an era, but his influence on the heavy metal genre remains indelible. Halford also became an icon in the LGBTQ community after coming out publicly in 1998, further solidifying his status as a trailblazer in the music industry.