Jerry Garcia and Bo Diddley are among the most influential artists in American music. Unfortunately, their records didn't fare as well as their reputations.

Question One: Of the many albums (LPs) Jerry Garcia recorded, only four of them reached the top 20 on the Billboard Magazine album chart... and they were all with the Grateful Dead. What were they?

Answer: Although Jerry Garcia was one of the most prolific artists in rock 'n' roll history, the first album to hit the top 20 in Billboard Magazine was Wake of the Flood in 1973, reaching number 18. Following that were Grateful Dead From The Mars Hotel (number 16 in 1974), Blues for Allah (number 12 in 1975), and their highest charting album, In the Dark (number 6 in 1987). Ironically, this also included their biggest selling single, "Touch of Grey," an ode to aging. Strangely, their largest selling album of all time is Skeletons from the Closet, their Greatest hits collection, which only reached number 75 on the charts. Longevity has its benefits.

Question Two: Of the many records Bo Diddley recorded, only one of them reached the top 20 on the Billboard Magazine singles chart... and it was a novelty song. What was it?

Answer: Bo Diddley topped the R&B charts on Billboard Magazine his first time out with "Bo Diddley," his self-titled single. However, the only record to reach the top 20 was "Say Man," which stalled at number 20 late in 1959. As often happened in the 1950s, African-American artists were treasured by music lovers but not given the radio play to help their careers.

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