In 1959, Mingus released the albums Mingus Ah Um, Mingus Dynasty and Blues and Roots, all of which are jazz classics.

NPR: Mingus Big Band: A Rousing, Raucous Concert

Gomez are known for sophisticated arrangements of songs that are part bright Brit-pop and part '60s psychedelia, with a dash of loops and electronic sounds and a healthy dose of American blues and roots.

NPR: Gomez: 'How We Operate'

Ranging from 1919 to 1994, the set is divided into sections on the blues, church roots, party songs, standard tunes (slow and up-tempo), jazz originals, scat-singing and novelties, though the compiler acknowledges that many of his pieces overlap their pigeonholes.

ECONOMIST: Jazz singers

Fans of American roots music such as swing, blues, and rockabilly need look no further than HighTone Recordings, distributor of Big Sandy and his Fly-Rite Boys, among others.

CNN: Where to buy music on the Web

"Doc was a legendary performer who blended his traditional Appalachian musical roots with bluegrass, country, gospel and blues to create a unique style and an expansive repertoire, " his management company, Folklore Productions, said.

BBC: Doc Watson, folk and bluegrass guitarist, dies aged 89