This was covered by a famous American rock band. Any guesses?

Manfred Mann's Earth Band or something along those lines - Blinded By The Light

Exactly right although Manfred Mann's version was a cover. Any idea who wrote it and sang it first?

I've no idea, but I feel I should get a bonus point for pointing out you already asked this one. Also, there's a typo in men's.

Noted and deleted

Like Blinded by the Light, this version was also a cover. Let's see if anyone gets the original.

Covered by a famous English solo performer.

Not bad.