Celebrating Black History: Timeless music legends

Throughout the past four weeks, Mixmag has been celebrating the seminal music figures who have helped shape today's thriving culture. Previously, there highlights of Detroit's techno icons, women who shaped the scene, forging house pioneers. To bring the series to a close, today homage is paid to the most important, the most crucial and the most inspirational. These are the artists whose influence surpass any era or genre and whose critical sound gave to the development of every talent thereafter. These are the timeless music legends.

Known by many names, Prince Rogers Nelson was a passionate, promiscuous, unbelievably talented soul. The seven-time Grammy winner gave the world hits like 'Purple Rain', 'Let's Go Crazy' and 'Pop Life', but above all, Prince taught the masses the importance and beauty of self-expression, freedom of sexuality and the far-reaching power of music. There isn't much that can give justice to the impact of the famed musician, who tragically passed away last year, but we can all take seven minutes out of the day to appreciate one of his most iconic performances below.

Nile Rodgers is one of the most prominent guitarists and musicians in history. The New York native started as one of the lead instrumentalists touring with the Sesame Street band and played behind legends like Jay Hawkins, Aretha Franklin and Maxine Brown as a teen at the Apollo Theatre. His most iconic position was as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the fundamental disco group Chic. His has a trademark playing style and the type of undeniable funk that inhibits irresistible movement, his sound spreading widely across collaborations with every high-profile artist imaginable.