Biographies of 27 musicians, whose radical experimentation with sound and verse helped to shape the music of today.

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.