While the majority of celebrity spawn seem to use their parents’ status as an excuse to land magazine covers, party professionally or casually dabble in “music”, there are the odd instances in which rock ‘n roll offspring  step up to the plate and make their mothers and fathers proud by releasing records that are not only decent, but actually good.  Here are four of our favourite next-generation artists who have continued a legacy of good music.

Nancy Sinatra

Daughter of famed Rat Pack legend Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra epitomized the rebellious nature of the mid-1960s with her short skirts, go-go boots, big hair and penchant for catchy and iconic music.  After achieving notable success in Japan and Europe throughout the early part of the decade, she stepped into the North American spotlight after the release of the famous These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ and later, her cover of Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down), which re-surfaced in the 2000’s after its appearance in Kill Bill.

A singer and actress, Sinatra appeared in films alongside Elvis and Peter Fonda, starred in Emmy-nominated and award-winning TV specials, and went on snag her second number one hit after recording Something Stupid alongside her father in 1967.  Though she eventually stepped back from the industry to focus on motherhood, her 90s comeback saw a Playboy feature, a US tour and further recording endeavours.  Not surprising for a woman who inspired the Jimmy Van Heusen track, Nancy (With the Laughing Face) at age four.

Martha and Rufus Wainwright

Children of folk fixtures Loudon Wainwright III and the late Kate McGarrigle, Martha and Rufus Wainwright took advantage of their musical upbringing in the best way possible, launching individual careers as singer-songwriters that continued to build Canada’s reputation as a musical force.  Though born in New York, Rufus lived in Montreal with his mother following his parents’ separation, and following a tumultuous adolescence, he relocated to the US, released his debut album in the mid-90s and after a highly-publicized battle with drug addiction, came back to write, record and contribute – racking up accolades in the process, including two GLAAD awards for his role in fighting homophobia in the entertainment industry.

In the meantime, his sister Martha was honing her own path, contributing to her mother’s work and singing backup on Rufus’ albums before heading to New York where she established herself as a folk-rock phenomenon.  By the time she released I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too – the follow-up to 2005’s highly acclaimed self titled-debut – in 2008, she was featuring the likes of Pete Townshend, Donald Fegan and Garth Hudson.  Merely peers in an industry where her family name rings as royalty.

Jakob Dylan

[Ed. note: we expect at least one piece of hate mail about this choice] 90s alternative front man, folk-rock soloist and son of a rock ‘n roll icon, the notoriously private Jackob Dylan earned public and critical praise for his role in The Wallflowers, the Grammy-award winning band whose 1996 album, Bringing Down the House established the fact that the second generation artist  could easily stand on his own two feet.  Though the hype surrounding the band subsided by the mid-2000s, Dylan continued to work on The Wallflowers, but also embarked on a solo career, collaborating with various artists, contributing to TV and film soundtracks and releasing his own album, Seeing Things in 2008.  Though the record wasn’t exactly branded as groundbreaking, it received generally favourable reviews and a follow-up is slated for release later this year.  However, in all fairness, no matter how great his music is, avoiding Bob Dylan comparisons will be undoubtedly difficult.

Charlotte Gainsbourg

Daughter of the legendary singer-actress Jane Birkin and the iconic Serge Gainsbourg, actress-musician Charlotte Gainsbourg was born into a show business dynasty that includes the likes of silver screen darling Judy Campbell and screenwriter Andrew Birkin.  After making her film debut in 1984, she delved into music, recording the song Lemon Incest with her father and going on to release her first album two years later.  While she focused primarily on acting throughout the 90s and early part of the 2000s, she still maintained a musical presence, collaborating with Madonna in 2000 before releasing her long-awaited follow-up, 5:55 in 2004.

After undergoing emergency surgery for a cerebral haemorrhage following an injury in 2007, Gainsbourg released her third album, IRM, in 2009, with its lead single, Heaven Can Wait going on to be named one of SPIN magazine’s top 20 music videos of the year.  And since her track has recently been named a Starbucks’ Pick of the Week, it’s only a matter of time before more North Americans clue in to what Europeans have been aware of all along.