What would current musicians be without the foundation set by the legendary bands and classic artists that came before them?

Vivian Scott at Epic Records spoke the truth when she said that "There would be no new school without the old school". The status of "Legendary" and "Classic" when it comes to music is reserved for the best of the best. Even with thousands of bands with great music, there are always those that stand out from the rest.

If you want to discuss timeless music, Chuck Berry is one of the best places to start. Berry's hit song "Johnny B. Goode" in 1958 is so well known that I doubt any of you read the song title without singing it or hearing it play out in your head. This came from the same decade that brought you "Hound Dog" by the King himself, Elvis Presley, and "I Walk the Line" by Johnny Cash. But don't misinterpret this as age solely defines if a song is a classic. As new generations of music are ushered in, their best artists leave their mark as well. So move forward in time and you'll find: Aretha Franklin ready to teach you a little "Respect"; Van Morrison telling you what we use to sing in "Brown Eyed Girl"; and The Who, reminding you what this time period is all about with "My Generation".

With hundreds or maybe thousands of classic songs out there, no list could do justice to the these great bands. The fact that each decade has left behind it's own legends provides that generation the ability to interpret who should be on that list. Mash-ups and songs covered by newer artist prove the ability of the current generation's ability to represent the legends that inspired them. For example DJ Danger Mouse combined artist Jay-Z's "The Black Album "with The Beatle's "The White Album" to create The Grey Album; and you've probably turned the radio up as you heard the intro to Don Henley's "Boys of Summer" only to find out that it's a covered version by The Ataris.

But don't forget, many of these bands are still alive and some of them have continued producing music. You can always pick up Guitar Hero III and battle Slash from Guns N' Roses or look up tour dates for Metallica and Sting. In the music industry, it's possible to be a living legend. Just ask The Rolling Stones what it was like to rock out with the dinosaurs when you're at their next concert.