Biographies of 27 musicians, whose radical experimentation with sound and verse helped to shape the music of today. Accompanying compact discs contain a song by each artist.

A musical journey : from Robbie Robertson -- Chuck Berry : the father of rock and roll -- Johnny Cash : the man in black -- Aretha Franklin : the queen of soul -- The Beatles : the fab four -- Louis Armstrong : the ambassador -- Bob Marley : rebel music -- Buddy Holly : the day the music died -- Joni Mitchell : lady of the canyon -- Ray Charles : the genius -- Elvis Presley : the king -- Curtis Mayfield : super fly -- Billie Holiday : lady day -- Little Richard : the architect of rock and roll -- Hank Williams : Luke the drifter -- Frank Sinatra : chairman of the board -- Marvin Gaye : the prince of Motown -- Carole King : natural woman -- Sam Cooke : a change is gonna come -- Louis Jordan : the king of the jukebox -- The Beach Boys : good vibrations -- Ella Fitzgerald : the first lady of song -- James Brown : the hardest working man in show business -- Patsy Cline : sweet dreams -- Otis Redding : the king of soul -- Nat King Cole : Mr. Smooth -- Stevie Wonder : eighth wonder of the world -- Bob Dylan : the poet. Tracklist for the two included audio CDs: Disc One: 1. Chuck Berry: Johnny B. Goode -- 2. Johnny Cash: Get Rhythm -- 3. Aretha Franklin: I Say a Little Prayer -- 4. The Beatles: Here Comes the Sun -- 6. Bob Marley: Three Little Birds -- 5. Louis Armstrong: What a Wonderful World -- 7. Buddy Holly: Peggy Sue -- 8. Joni Mitchell: The Circle Game -- 9. Ray Charles & The Raelettes: Hit the Road Jack -- 10. Elvis Presley: Hound Dog -- 11. Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions: People Get Ready -- 12. Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra: Let's Call the Whole Thing Off. Disc Two: 1. Little Richard: Lucille -- 2. Hank Williams: Jambalaya (On the Bayou) -- 3. Frank Sinatra: Fly Me to the Moon -- 4. Marvin Gaye: I Heard It Through the Grapevine -- 6. Sam Cooke: Wonderful World -- 5. Carole King: So Far Away -- 7. Louis Jordan: Caldonia -- 8. The Beach Boys: In My Room -- 9. Ella Fitzgerald: A-Tisket, A-Tasket -- 10. James Brown: I Got You (I Feel Good) -- 11. Patsy Cline: Crazy --12. Otis Redding: That's How Strong My Love Is -- 13. Nat King Cole: It's Only a Paper Moon -- 14. Stevie Wonder: Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours -- 15. Bob Dylan: Forever Young.