Sometimes things like music move in straight lines. (Or, you could change some wording and have a musical version of the “Sumerian Kings of Ancient times.”)
No Ma Rainey, no Bessie Smith.
No Bessie Smith, no Billie Holliday.
No Billie Holliday, no Frank Sinatra.
No Frank Sinatra, no Bob Dylan.
No Bob Dylan, no John Prine.
No John Prine, no Kacey Musgraves.