
The stories of some of the biggest names in rock music history, from the beginning of their career to the height of their success.

The Ramones, a group of brothers from Forest Hills, Queens, help invent punk rock by mastering a simple but extremely effective sound: a combination of speedy grooves, sing-along tunes and deadpan lyrics.

Blind musician Ray Charles was a pioneer of soul music, integrating rhythm and blues, gospel, pop and country to create hits like "Unchain My Heart," "Hit the Road Jack" and "Georgia on My Mind."

Grammy-winning contemporary jazz and rock group Blood, Sweat & Tears took a hiatus from 1981-1984, but has otherwise been active since their founding in 1967.

With its rock-ribbed, austerely precise arrangements and a catalog of songs that linked American folklore to primal myths, the Band -- four Canadians and a Southerner -- makes music that is both earthy and mystical.