Roger McGuinn

Seminal folk rock group the Byrds went through so many line-up changes it's hard to keep track; however, the one constant was frontman Roger McGuinn. Originally known as Jim McGuinn (he changed his name to Roger at the behest of his guru), the singer-songwriter/guitarist left an indelible mark on pop music by playing a key role in the merging of acoustic folk forms with electric rock and introducing a new style of guitar playing based on the 12-string version of the instrument. Though his solo material isn't held in the same regard as his work with the Byrds, it has garnered considerable critical acclaim in its own right. McGuinn continued to record and perform (solo and with various members of the Byrds) into the new millennium and is considered a rock god by any standard.