Another year turns, and once again we pause to honor the legacies that aren’t left behind so much as carried forward—alive in the music itself. Over the past century, American music has been shaped by rare combinations of talent, wit, wisdom, and deeply personal approaches to arrangement, rhythm, and delivery. This year we reflect on the contributions from artists and architects of sound whose work continues to resonate: voices and visionaries such as Raul Malo, Flaco Jiménez, Steve Cropper, Phil Upchurch, Jerry Butler, Brian Wilson, David Johansen, Tony Bennett, and Garth Hudson. Their influence spans genres, generations, and countless records that still speak loud and clear. With just two hours, hard choices have to be made—so this tribute begins as Part 1 of a two part reflection. We hope you’ll tune in for a thoughtful look back at the artists whose legacies defined the soundtrack of our lives.
| No. | Artist | Title | Album | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jerry Butler & The Impressions | For Your Precious Love | Pure R&B: Vol. 3- Let the Good Times Roll [Disc 1] |  |
| 2 | Deeper Roots Radio | Who We Lost 2025 Pt 1 | Deeper Roots Radio | |
| 3 | Sugar Pie DeSanto | I Want To Know | Down In The Basement | |
| 4 | Steve Cropper | Tupelo[Pt. 1] | The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles | |
| 5 | Wilson Pickett | In the Midnight Hour | Red, White & Rock Disc 2 | |
| 6 | The Turtles | It Ain't Me Babe | 20 Greatest Hits | |
| 7 | Little Anthony & The Imperials | Hurt So Bad | The Best Of Little Anthony And The I Mperials | |
| 8 | April Stevens/Nino Tempo | Deep Purple | Billboard Top Rock & Roll Hits: 1963 | |
| 9 | Deeper Roots Radio | Who We Lost 2025 Pt 1 | Deeper Roots Radio | |
| 10 | Lenny Welch | Since I Fell For You | Lifetime Of Romance: Secret Rendezvous [Disc 2] | |
| 11 | Tony Bennett | Put on a Happy Face | The Essential Tony Bennett [Columbia/Legacy] Disc 1 | |
| 12 | Connie Francis | Who's Sorry Now_ | Your Hit Parade – 1958 | |
| 13 | Peter, Paul & Mary | Puff, The Magic Dragon | Moving | |
| 14 | The Kingston Trio | Where Have All The Flowers Gone (JOE HICKERSON) | Tom Dooley And Other Folksong Hits | |
| 15 | Melba Montgomery | We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds | The Essential George Jones: The Spirit of Country Disc 1 | |
| 16 | Deeper Roots Radio | Who We Lost 2025 Pt 1 | Deeper Roots Radio | |
| 17 | Roberta Flack | The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face | Artist's Choice: Johnny Cash | |
| 18 | Marianne Faithfull | As Tears Go By | Marianne Faithfull's Greatest Hits | |
| 19 | The Youngbloods | Get Together | Get Together: The Essential Youngbloods | |
| 20 | The Standells | Dirty Water (LARRY TAMBLYN) | The Classic Sixties: 1966 | |
| 21 | The Electric Prunes | Get Me To The World On Time | Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era, Vol. 4 | |
| 22 | The Crickets | I Fought the Law | Rockin' Originals: Original Versions of Famous Songs | |
| 23 | Phil Upchurch Combo | You Can't Sit Down (Part 1 | Teen Beat, Volume 3 | |
| 24 | Deeper Roots Radio | Who We Lost 2025 Pt 1 | Deeper Roots Radio | |
| 25 | Dave "Baby" Cortez | The Happy Organ | The 50's – A Decade to Remember: Do You Wanna Dance | |
| 26 | The Beach Boys | In My Room | Classics: Selected By Brian Wilson | |
| 27 | Brian Wilson | Lay Down Burden | Imagination | |
| 28 | Barry Goldberg | Shady Hotel | Barry Goldberg | |
| 29 | The Band | Chest Fever | Music From Big Pink | |
| 30 | Brewer & Shipley | One Toke Over The Line | 70s Music Explosion | |
| 31 | Buster Poindexter | Hot Hot Hot | Buster Poindexter | |
| 32 | Tommy McLain | Before I Grow Too Old | I Ran Down Every Dream | |
| 33 | Flaco Jimenez With Toby Torres & Jose Morante | Victimas del Huracan Beulah | Bob Dylan – artist's choice | |
| 34 | Todd Snider | Alright Guy | That Was Me: The Best Of Todd Snider 1994-1998 | |
| 35 | Deeper Roots Radio | Who We Lost 2025 Pt 1 | Deeper Roots Radio | |
| 36 | The Mavericks | Moon & Stars (with Sierra Ferrell) | Moon & Stars | |
| 37 | The Mavericks | Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) | Hey! Merry Christmas! | |