Muddy Waters was the single most important artist to emerge in post-war American blues. A peerless singer, a gifted songwriter, an able guitarist, and leader of one of the strongest bands in the genre (which became a proving ground for a number of musicians who would become legends in their own right), Waters absorbed the influences of rural blues from the Deep South and moved them uptown, injecting his music with a fierce, electric energy and helping pioneer the Chicago Blues style that would come to dominate the music through the 1950s, ‘60s, and '70s. The depth of Waters' influence on rock as well as blues is almost incalculable, and remarkably, he made some of his strongest and most vital recordings in the last five years of his life.

As the youngest brother of the massively popular Gibb siblings, otherwise known as the Bee Gees, it's no wonder that Andy Gibb was a superstar in his own right. An accomplished vocalist and writer, Gibb shot to the top of the charts with his 1977 debut Flowing Rivers. Shadow Dancing, released just one year later, effortlessly confirmed his ascension to the top of the pop pedestal. Working with his brothers again, Gibb wowed audiences with his easy-on-the-ears passionate pop. He was well-suited to the era. The title track, which kicked off that year's string of hits, was nothing short of pure, smoldering disco. Written by all three of the Bee Gees (who also added backing vocals to the song), it hit the top of the charts, giving Gibb his third number one single and even more maximum exposure.