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Props to Aretha Franklin: her song "Respect" introduced the term "propers" as a sign of proper respect.
The name "Schoolhouse Rock," which was a series of educational cartoons, was a play on "Jailhouse Rock," the title of an Elvis Presley song.
Jack & Diane started off as an interracial couple; Mellencamp took race references out of the song at the request of his record company.
Quincy Jones wanted to change the title of "Billie Jean" to "Not My Lover" so it wouldn't be confused with the tennis star Billie Jean King. Michael Jackson refused.
When Petula Clark reached #1 in the US with "Downtown" in 1965, she became the first female singer from England to hit #1 in the US during the Rock Era (after 1955).
Billy Joel's "My Life" was used as the theme song to the 1980 TV show Bosom Buddies, which starred a young Tom Hanks as a guy who lives in a hotel for women by dressing up as a girl.
Charlotte was established in the LA punk scene when a freaky girl named Belinda approached her wearing a garbage bag.
A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.
Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.
The 10 biggest "retirement tours" that didn't take.
She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.
Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.
