Meet the inventors and innovators who defined American music history. A radio repairman named Leo Fender imagined a solid-body electric guitar. The inventor of 3-D glasses, Laurens Hammond, envisioned an electric organ in every home. And a German carpenter named Steinway immigrated to New York City with the dream of designing the greatest piano in the world.

From Steinway's pianos, Bob Moog's synthesizers, and C.G. Conn's band instruments to Avedis Zildjian's cymbals, William Ludwig's drums, C.F. Martin's guitars, and more, noted music writer VanHecke offers a fascinating, insider view of the personalities and perseverance that led to some of music's most important innovations - from classical to jazz to rock.