Rock Legends

3 seasons available

The stories of some of the biggest names in rock music history, from the beginning of their career to the height of their success.
Doo Wop
S12 E19

A genre of rhythm and blues music that originated in the 1940s by African American youth; vocal group harmony with an engaging melodic line and a simple beat with little or no instrumentation.

Chicago
S10 E1

The self-described "rock 'n' roll band with horns," Chicago is one of the longest-running and most successful rock groups and one of the world's best-selling groups of all time, having sold more than 100 million records.

ZZ Top
S10 E2

ZZ Top is an American rock band formed in 1969 in Groves, Texas; since 1970, the band consists of bassist and vocalist Dusty Hill, guitarist and lead vocalist Billy Gibbons, and drummer Frank Beard.

Glen Campbell
S10 E3

Country music legend Glen Campbell's hits include "Rhinestone Cowboy," "Wichita Lineman" and "By the Time I Get to Phoenix."

Journey
S10 E5

American rock band Journey forms in San Francisco in 1973, composed of former members of Santana and Frumious Bandersnatch; the band goes through several phases, with its strongest commercial success occurring between 1978 and 1987.

Diana Ross & The Supremes
S10 E6

In the late 1950s, four Detroit schoolgirls form one of the most successful female vocal groups of all time; Diana Ross, Betty McGlown, Florence Ballard, and Mary Wilson name themselves the Primettes in tribute to a local male group.

Al Green
S10 E7

Al Green is known for the hit song "Let's Stay Together," and for leaving his musical career at its height in the 1970s to become a reverend at his own church.

Marvin Gaye
S10 E8

Marvin Gaye sings in his father's church and in the Moonglows before signing with Motown; he records songs by Smokey Robinson before producing the protest album "What's Going On"; Gaye is killed in 1984 during a domestic dispute with his father.

Smokey Robinson
S10 E9

Born in Detroit in 1940, Smokey Robinson is second to only Berry Gordy in the founding of Motown; a prolific songwriter, he is credited with 4,000 songs and 37 Top 40 hits, including "The Tears of a Clown" and "The Tracks of My Tears."

Foreigner
S10 E10

English-American rock band Foreigner forms in New York City in 1976 by veteran English musician and ex-Spooky Tooth member Mick Jones, fellow Briton and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald, and American vocalist Lou Gramm.

Pat Benatar
S10 E11

Born in 1953 in Brooklyn, N.Y., singer Pat Benatar works the club scene and finds her guitarist and future husband Neil Giraldo.

Little Richard
S10 E12

Known for his flamboyant performances, Little Richard's hit songs from the mid-1950s were defining moments in the development of rock 'n' roll.

The Kinks
S8 E6

The Kinks were a key part of the 1960s British Invasion, and their early hits such as "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and All of the Night" paved the way for the next decade's hard rock.

Yardbirds
S8 E7

The pioneering blues-based combo, The Yardbirds, introduced three famous and influential guitarists of the rock era: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page; their innovations paved the way for rock, heavy metal, Southern boogie and even punk.

The Band
S8 E10

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.

The Byrds
S8 E11

The Byrds pioneer folk rock, combining traditional acoustic music with early Sixties pop; the group's signature sunny melodies, lush harmonies and ringing 12-string guitars make for some of the decade's best singles.

Patti Smith
S8 E12

An exploration of American singer-songwriter Patti Smith, her impact on the punk rock movement and her fusion of the genre with poetry.

Primal Scream
S8 E14

The history of the Scottish rock band formed in 1982 in Glasgow, the changes to their sound and the various band members.

Run DMC
S8 E15

Founded in 1981 in Queens, N.Y., Grammy-nominated hip-hop trio Run-DMC help usher in the genre's increasing popularity in the 1980s.