Ed Ward

The blues and rock guitar player's career was put on hold when he was arrested and imprisoned for charges that may have been racially motivated. Rock historian Ed Ward reflects on some of Berry's post-prison work, which never matched his earlier success.

Rock historian Ed Ward says the term has been mis-applied, often describing bands that record labels saw as commercially viable, rather than the kind of music they played. He says that Bob Dylan pioneered the folk-rock sound; British bands like Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span helped it evolve.

The queen of New Orleans soul would have been a bigger star if she had moved to New York or Los Angeles earlier in her career, argues rock historian Ed Ward. Despite her local success, Thomas only had a few national hits. But by all accounts, she's happy now, performing in regional blues circuits and raising her four children.