Little Richard, born Richard Wayne Penniman on December 5, 1932, in Macon, Georgia, was one of the pioneering architects of rock and roll. The third of 12 children in a large family, he grew up immersed in gospel music through Pentecostal and Baptist churches, where he sang and played piano from a young age. As a teenager, he left home around age 14, performing on the Chitlin' Circuit (Black entertainment venues) and adopting his stage name while working in medicine shows and nightclubs. His breakthrough came in 1955 at J&M Studio in New Orleans, where he recorded "Tutti Frutti" for Specialty Records. The explosive track—with its pounding piano, raspy screams, frenetic energy, and iconic "A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-boom!"—became a massive hit and helped define rock and roll. He followed with a string of classics in the mid-1950s, including "Long Tall Sally," "Rip It Up," "Lucille," "Good Golly, Miss Molly," and "Jenny, Jenny," blending rhythm and blues, gospel, and boogie-woogie into high-energy anthems that crossed racial lines and influenced countless artists. Known for his flamboyant style—pompadour hair, makeup, colorful outfits, and electrifying stage presence—he appeared in early rock films like The Girl Can't Help It (1956) and toured relentlessly. In 1957, during a tour, he experienced a spiritual crisis (including a plane scare), briefly retired from secular music to study theology, attend Bible college, and record gospel albums. He returned to rock in the early 1960s, with comebacks including live performances and hits like a 1964 version of "Bama Lama Bama Loo." His career saw ups and downs—more gospel phases, rock revivals, and occasional retirements—but he remained a dynamic live performer into later decades. He influenced generations, from The Beatles (who covered his songs and idolized him) to Prince, David Bowie, Elton John, and beyond. Little Richard was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 (as part of the inaugural class), received numerous awards for his lifetime contributions, and earned the nickname "the King and Queen of Rock and Roll" for his boundary-breaking persona and sound. He passed away on May 9, 2020, at age 87 in Tullahoma, Tennessee, from complications related to bone cancer. His legacy endures as a foundational force in popular music.

David Crosby (August 14, 1941 – January 18, 2023) was an iconic American singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose distinctive harmonies and influential work helped shape folk-rock and classic rock. Born in Los Angeles to a cinematographer father and a musically inclined mother, Crosby began his career in the early 1960s folk scene before co-founding The Byrds in 1964. The band pioneered folk-rock with hits like their 1965 cover of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" (a No. 1 single) and classics such as "Turn! Turn! Turn!" He contributed to their first five albums before leaving in 1968 amid tensions. In 1968, he formed Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash — their self-titled 1969 debut won a Grammy for Best New Artist. The group occasionally expanded to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSNY) with Neil Young, producing legendary albums like Déjà Vu (1970) and performing at major events like Woodstock. Crosby released his acclaimed solo debut If I Could Only Remember My Name in 1971 and later enjoyed a prolific late-career renaissance, releasing five albums between 2014 and 2021 (including Croz, Lighthouse, and For Free). He also formed the jazz-influenced trio CPR with his son James Raymond in the 1990s. His life was marked by significant challenges: severe drug addiction (heroin and cocaine) led to prison time in the 1980s, multiple arrests, and a life-saving liver transplant in 1994 due to hepatitis C. He battled diabetes, heart issues, and other health problems. Crosby was politically outspoken, a longtime cannabis advocate (he even launched his own brand), and fathered six children, including through sperm donation (two with Melissa Etheridge). Despite personal turbulence and sometimes strained band relationships, Crosby's angelic harmonies and songwriting left an enduring legacy — he's a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee (with The Byrds and CSN). He passed away at 81 in Santa Ynez, California, after a long illness (reportedly following a bout with COVID-19). His music continues to inspire, with tributes and tribute shows still happening years later.

Clarence White (1944–1973) was a groundbreaking American guitarist who transformed bluegrass and country rock. Born in Maine and raised in California, he rose to fame in the 1960s with the Kentucky Colonels, revolutionizing acoustic flatpicking with a powerful, melodic lead style inspired by Doc Watson. In the late 1960s, he became a top session musician, co-invented the B-Bender (StringBender) device for his Telecaster to mimic pedal steel bends, and joined The Byrds in 1968, shaping their influential country-rock sound. Tragically killed at age 29 by a drunk driver while loading equipment after a gig, White left a lasting legacy—inspiring flatpickers like Tony Rice and country-rock guitarists like Marty Stuart and Brad Paisley. He was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association Hall of Fame.