From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:52 AM

Part 3 of "Biography: Boy George."

From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:52 AM

Part 4 of "Biography: Boy George."

From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:52 AM

Part 5 of "Biography: Boy George."

From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:52 AM

Part 6 of "Biography: Boy George."

From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:52 AM

Part 6 of "Biography: Boy George."

From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:35 AM

Two Swedish couples combined their talents to become ABBA, one of the most successful groups of the 1970s. After winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with the single “Waterloo,” they took the world by storm with their sophisticated pop music.

From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:35 AM

Cyndi Lauper forged her own path with her unique sound and one-of-a-kind look. Her video for “Girls Just Wanna have Fun” became a pop anthem, and made her a staple of the MTV generation.

From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:35 AM

After a troubled childhood, Billie Holiday discovered the Harlem jazz scene. Though she had no formal training, and her voice was limited in range, it was poignant, expressive and displayed a unique phrasing.

From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:35 AM

After a troubled childhood, Billie Holiday discovered the Harlem jazz scene. Though she had no formal training, and her voice was limited in range, it was poignant, expressive and displayed a unique phrasing.

From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:35 AM

Musical prodigy Aretha Franklin grew up in the thick of the civil rights movement. Her version of Otis Redding’s song “Respect” is the quintessential example of the soul-singer’s strong voice, rare talent and reputation as a strong woman.

From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:35 AM

Bessie Smith hit the theater circuit at the age of 18, touring in minstrel shows and cabarets. She eventually started her own revue, which showcased her distinctive voice and established Smith as one of the greatest female blues singer to ever live.

From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:35 AM

While living in London in the 1970s, Chrissie Hynde found herself in the midst of the punk revolution. She taught herself how to play guitar; formed her own band; and became one of the first powerful female leaders of a rock band.

From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:35 AM

More than any other female singer, Grace Slick symbolizes the idealism and excesses of 60s America. At one point, she even attempted to slip a dose of acid into President Richard Nixon’s tea.

From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:35 AM

Dolly Parton started singing on local radio and television programs in Tennessee when she was a child, then became sidekick to Porter Wagoner on his popular TV show. A smart businesswoman, she knew the value of her work as a songwriter.

From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:35 AM

Record executives signed Debbie Harry and her band, Blondie, to a record deal after seeing the group perform at CBGB. Harry turned the idea of the “Blonde Bombshell” on its head, and Blondie became the biggest breakout band in punk.

From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:35 AM

A member of the Jackson music dynasty, Janet Jackson’s started her career as a child actress. But Jackson soon made a career for herself in music, and her videos turned her into a music icon.

From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:35 AM

Starting out on New York City’s Lower East Side, Lady Gaga found her stage persona when she combined pop melodies and glam rock. Her career is as much about her performance as it is about her music.

From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:35 AM

Lesley Gore created the most accessible pop music of the 1960s. Her single “You Don’t Own Me” became an instant hit, and a feminist anthem.

From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:35 AM

Known as “The Mother of the Blues,” composer and performer Ma Rainey was a pioneer of the blues music genre. Rainey’s raw delivery landed her a record deal and her own show.

From: Bio on Tue, Jun 21 2011 2:35 AM

Mary J. Blige was living in a Yonkers housing project when she recorded a song at a karaoke booth in a local mall. The recording made it to the desk of music exec Sean Combs, who helped her release her first album.