Rick Nelson

In the '70s Nelson helped pioneer country rock. He also dissed the oldies scene with his hit "Garden Party." Due to personal problems, however, Nelson didn't record between 1977 and '81. When he did return, with Playing to Win, the handsome devil had once again reinvented himself, this time as a post-new wave roots rocker -- think Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and Hanoi Rocks all stuffed inside a yellow satin jacket. Unfortunately, this was Nelson's last album of new material before his death in 1985.