Ozzy Osbourne leaves behind a legacy that deserves respect not only in the metal world, but in the music world in general.

They dealt with internal strife, drugs and health issues but nothing could keep the Beach Boys – and Brian Wilson – from the pantheon of pop music gods.

Often situated in a cloud of opaque neo-funk, the late David Sanborn’s talents could be understandably obscured. Yet, there’s no mistaking, or escaping, that tone.

The Association’s chart-topping “Cherish” was the epitome of the romantic pop ballad, but Terry Kirkman wrote far more – and far more interesting – songs.

The Parrotheads will miss the concert experiences. The rest of the world will miss Jimmy Buffett’s attitude.

Bob Dylan has played with a lot of electric guitarists. Fine players, all. One stands alone, however, in this long musical history: Robbie Robertson.

Gone now almost 20 years, Laura Branigan’s impact went far beyond ’80s-era Top 10 singles like “Gloria,” “Solitaire” and “Self Control.”

A truism of comedy is that jokes generally have short built-in life spans. Yet decades later, Bill Hicks remains almost inexhaustibly re-listenable.

Somehow already gone more than 25 years, Jeff Buckley seemed to have been born with one foot already rooted in the beyond.

Most may not put Wayne Shorter on the level of Sonny Rollins or John Coltrane, but I do. When surveying the impact he made over 50 years, it’s hard not to.