With his Les Paul, Marshall Amps and pill bottle slide, Duane developed a tone to his playing that others continue to emulate. His technique is so highly regarded that Rolling Stone placed him at number two on their list of all-time great guitarists behind only Jimi Hendrix.

A self-taught musician, Duane honed his craft in countless recording sessions backing a variety of artists including Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin and King Curtis. The Allman’s became famous for their long jams onstage with Duane’s guitar as the centerpiece. His work on the band’s live version of Blind Willie McTell’s “Statesboro Blues” and Derek and the Dominoes’ “Layla” remain the best examples of his smooth slide-playing style.

Duane Allman was one month shy of his 26th birthday when he died in a motorcycle accident in Macon, Georgia. Like Hendrix, his death left fans wondering where his great talent would have eventually taken him.

The disco era had its early beginnings in the mid-1970′s. It began with the music and soon transformed into a bona fide counter culture. The disco movement began in the African American, Latin and gay communities as a way to counter the long standing dominance of rock music. The main idea of disco music was dancing, and eventually people of all stripes learned to love to dance disco.

At the height of its popularity came the movie “Saturday Night Fever,” with a soundtrack that catapulted disco to the highest of heights. Disco became an inescapable presence in pop culture, but by 1980 people had grown weary of the scene and the shortest music fad in history faded into memory.

1. “Stairway to Heaven” (Led Zeppelin) Considered by some to be the greatest rock ‘n roll song of all time, Stairway to Heaven achieved its magnetic popularity without even being released as a single. Not to mention, the track is well over 7 minutes long, topping even “Hey Jude” in duration. The reigning most requested song of all time has a different meaning to everybody, depending on where one is in their life, which is perhaps why it is both so endearing and enduring.
2. “Born to Run” (Bruce Springsteen) The Born To Run album brought The Boss to mainstream popularity, with its namesake track serving as its biggest hit. To this day it is still Springsteen’s most recognizable tune and generally recognized as one of the greatest songs of its era.
3. “American Woman” (The Guess Who) Though younger fans may be more familiar with Lenny Kravitz 1999 cover, the original classic marks arguably the greatest success of any Canadian band on the American charts. Widely speculated as an anti-war song, as the song came out in 1970, still in the midst of the Vietnam War, lyrical interpretation is still up for debate. Bassist Jim Kale insists it was merely a commentary on the refreshing nature of returning home to see the more strait-laced Canadian girls they’d grown up with as compared to groupies that flocked to big city tours.

Bonus: “Gimme Shelter” was released in December of 1969, but the timeless Stones track saw its rise to fame in 70′s and would surely near the top of the list were it included.

1. “Like a Rolling Stone” (Bob Dylan) Though many fans think this was actually the inspiration from which The Rolling Stones took their name, the song “Rollin’ Stone” by Muddy Waters is the root from which both the British rock group and this song sprang up. Still, arguably Dylan’s greatest work, “Like a Rolling Stone” was influential in its own right, named by Rolling Stone Magazine as the greatest rock ‘n roll song of all time.
2. “Respect” (Aretha Franklin) If respect is what she was after, Franklin certainly got it with this hit. A staple of the feminist and civil rights movements, “Respect” became Franklin’s signature song, defining an extraordinary career.
3. “Hey Jude” (The Beatles) Originating from a song written by Paul McCartney to cheer up John Lennon’s son Julian after his parents’ divorce, “Hey Jules” eventually evolved into “Hey Jude,” one of the most successful singles of all time. The song is unique in that became a chart-topping hit while still topping the 7:00 minute barrier, a rare feat in any decade that should not be taken lightly.
4. “Satisfaction” (The Rolling Stones) With lyrics that insinuate both sexuality and opposition to the rampant rise of commercialism, perhaps no song better epitomizes the 1960′s than “Satisfaction.”
5. “All Along the Watchtower” (Bob Dylan/Jimi Hendrix) Though Dylan released the original song, Hendrix and his band at the time (The Jimi Hendrix Experience) recorded their own version which Dylan himself admitted was markedly improved. Sticking with Dylan’s timeless lyrics and Hendrix’s legendary performance, it’s hard to find a better cover across any genre. In fact, Dylan changed the way he played the song to include Hendrix’s changes and is on record saying when he plays the song he feels he is paying tribute to Hendrix.

1. Mack the Knife (Bobby Darin – 1959) Though the song has been around since the late 20′s and even released just a few years earlier by Louis Armstrong, the most famous version of the popular hit was brought to us by Bobby Darin. Those with the microphone will appreciate its smooth rhythm, making it relatively easy to read the words, yet still upbeat enough to throw in a little showmanship.
2. Hound Dog (Elvis Presley 1956) You quite simply can’t make any musical list from this time period without including the King. Hound Dog is the easiest Elvis tune to sing by yourself and still arguably the most enjoyable (with Heartbreak Hotel not too far behind). Bonus points to anyone who can arch the corner of their upper lip and throw in a few hip wiggles.
3. 60 Minute Man (Dominoes 1951) Though not as out there as say Clarence Carter’s “Strokin’” a few decades later, it’s still a song better sung at a karaoke bar or perhaps once all the young ones have gone to bed. 60 Minute Man gives ample opportunity for the performer to really get into it, and in the spirit of the song, take your time and have a little fun, don’t rush through your few minutes in the spot light.