Most influential musicians/bands of all time, Poll Added

[L M S]

Who is on your list?

Here are a few of my ideas..........by no means is this a final list, nor is it possibly without fault, just an impromptu discussion starter.

Regardless of anything else.

in no particular order:

Bach
Beethoven
Elvis
Michael Jackson
Madonna
Louis Armstrong
John Lennon
Mozart
Nirvana
Pink Floyd
Jim Morrison
The Sex Pistols
Bob Marley
Led Zeppelin
The Rolling Stones
Eminem
Jimi Hendrix
Ella Fitzgerald
The Grateful Dead
Bob Dylan
Billie Holiday
Chuck Berry
U2
Freddie Mercury


I will add to this list as I think of them, these are just off the top of my head.

There has been much discussion on the topic....so.....if you have someone to add to----or to delete from the list, state your case for review by the CC community and the list shall be updated accordingly.

[ManBungalow]

Nice list.

There's only one more I would add : Freddie Mercury.

[Pedronicus]

James Brown

[L M S]

I forgot to add Bob Dylan..... how could I have forgotten that.....
Queen and James Brown are good ones.....

[PLAYER57832]

The Beatles,( not just John Lennon)
Bob Dylan
Paul Simon
Loretta Lynn
Johnny Cash

Maybe also Amy Grant (for bringing Christian Rock mainstream, popularizing it phenomenally)

I will think of a few others.

[ManBungalow]

This list is going to get insanely long....

[PLAYER57832]

Probably should put Frank Sinatra and Barbara Striesand in there, too.

Wille Nelson
Kenny Rogers
Rogers and Hammerstein.
Copeland

[L M S]

Probably should put Frank Sinatra and Barbara Striesand in there, too.

Frank yes. Barbara no.....imho.

[2dimes]

Maybe also Amy Grant (for bringing Christian Rock mainstream, popularizing it phenomenally)

Interesting, I've been subject to the opinion of quite a few "christians" that is slightly different. Not to say I agree with them, I'm kind of undecided but I would have put the man in black in that sentance instead of Ms. Grant.

[djt5483]

tupac and biggie

[Sackett58]

Jerry Lee Lewis
Elvis Presley
Louis Prima

[lozzini]

abba
the prodigy - for making d&b more mainstream
pavarotti

[Sackett58]

Jerry Lee Lewis
Elvis Presley
Louis Prima

Damn, forgot Neil Diamond

[YoursFalsey]

How do you define influential? Influenced society? Influenced music? Influenced you personally? For example, the swing/big band music played a big role in its day, but it's not really my cup of tea, so I can't pick out who from that era should be high lighted as helping form the genre...

[PLAYER57832]

Maybe also Amy Grant (for bringing Christian Rock mainstream, popularizing it phenomenally)

Interesting, I've been subject to the opinion of quite a few "christians" that is slightly different. Not to say I agree with them, I'm kind of undecided but I would have put the man in black in that sentance instead of Ms. Grant.

I am not really up on the Christian music scene right now (any music scene, for that matter), but she was really the first to "cross over". A lot of here music is sung by people who don't follow any church. But, I did put a "maybe" by here name .. lol

[PLAYER57832]

How do you define influential? Influenced society? Influenced music? Influenced you personally? For example, the swing/big band music played a big role in its day, but it's not really my cup of tea, so I can't pick out who from that era should be high lighted as helping form the genre...

Agreed, I am trying to think of some old-timer blues and blue grass folks, but all I draw a blank. I know some of their music permeats all other styles that came later, but to name anyone? I cannot.

[2dimes]

How do you define influential? Influenced society? Influenced music? Influenced you personally? For example, the swing/big band music played a big role in its day, but it's not really my cup of tea, so I can't pick out who from that era should be high lighted as helping form the genre...

I was having difficulty wording this. I think the point is probably discussion on who each individule thinks is what ever type of "influential" is important.

I am enjoying being surprised but am used to a much different list. Jaco Pastorius, James Jamerson, Jimi Hendrix etc.

I am not really up on the Christian music scene right now (any music scene, for that matter), but she was really the first to "cross over". A lot of here music is sung by people who don't follow any church. But, I did put a "maybe" by her name .. lol

I know what you mean, life with kids and aging is distracting me from what was once a part of my essence. A guy I met at "Cornerstone festival" mentioned he was going and I thought, "I don't even know a current Christian band I like."

[Strife]

Keep in mind this is my opinion:

Harry Chapin
Coltrane(Not only influenced Jazz, but he influenced my will to play Alto)
Dave Brubeck
GNR(In my opinion greatly influenced rock)
Tupac Shakur(Not really a fan, but he made his mark)
Anberlin(One of the few Christian Rock bands I like, I know they're not announced but they're signed by one)
Atreyu(Influenced the Scream/hardcore)
System of a down(I feel greatly influenced my generation)
Panic! at the Disco(influenced the emo/scene genre)
My Chemical Romance(Emo)
Hollywood Undead(Practically invented the rapcore genre, screamo and rapping)

That's just the tip of the iceberg my opinion on music goes so far... I'm not gonna waste anymore time writing hundreds of bands or something like that. Thanks for reading though.

[Pedronicus]

the prodigy - for making d&b more mainstream

f*ck off you knob jockey. d&b being more mainstream isn't what it's about. It's an underground vibe for those in the know.
And as much as i like drum n bass, It's hardly fucking earth moving the world scene of music.

if you are going to give any credit to people being the most influential in d&b, you need to start at the beginning.

"Amen, Brother" by The Winstons.

[owenshooter]

wow... that initial list is kind of funny... how can you appreciate rock n' roll if you have no idea where it came from? i understand this is musicians/bands of all time, but to leave out an entire genre that influenced most of your list that was born in the 50's and beyond is just short sighted... quick short list:

bessie smith, w.c. handy, b.b. king, t-bone walker, muddy waters, john lee hooker, lonnie johnson, ROBERT JOHNSON, son house, freddie king, blind lemon, albert king, billie holiday...

pick up a blues record sometime, you'd be shocked at how many of your favorite riffs are simply sped up blues standards...-0

[SEAsportsfan]

How about The Who? They are certainly influential to many rock bands.

[Pedronicus]

pick up a blues record sometime, you'd be shocked at how many of your favorite riffs are simply sped up blues standards...-0

exactly.
Which is why i have my avatar

[SEAsportsfan]

pick up a blues record sometime, you'd be shocked at how many of your favorite riffs are simply sped up blues standards...-0

exactly.
Which is why i have my avatar

i must agree. can't have zeppelin or the who without the blues. there's a guy who Daltrey and Townshend said influenced them...Mose Allison was his name i think.

[L M S]

wow... that initial list is kind of funny... how can you appreciate rock n' roll if you have no idea where it came from? i understand this is musicians/bands of all time, but to leave out an entire genre that influenced most of your list that was born in the 50's and beyond is just short sighted... quick short list:

bessie smith, w.c. handy, b.b. king, t-bone walker, muddy waters, john lee hooker, lonnie johnson, ROBERT JOHNSON, son house, freddie king, blind lemon, albert king, billie holiday...

pick up a blues record sometime, you'd be shocked at how many of your favorite riffs are simply sped up blues standards...-0

Owenshooter.....I completely agree with you........

This why we are putting a list together. I define influential as (but not limited to) people who helped in the creation or created a style of music; also those who's influence directly resulted in a fundamental change in the industry (this may include producers and song writers too if necessary). This definition can be influenced to change if so desired.....This list is of ALL TIME, so therein lies the difficulty. There are tons of great artists out there; but which ones are the worthy of such an honor?
Can you really put Bach, Louis Armstrong, Elvis, Eminem, Michael Jackson and Bilie Holiday on the same list?

Someone suggested Barbara Streisand and Prodigy...... while good entertainers/musicians in their own right (I hate Barbara, BTW) neither of them are qualified to even shake Bach's hand in my opinion, for example.

My original list (I clearly stated it was incomplete) was spur of the moment.
I absolutely agree that the blues had an enormous impact on ALL rock music we hear today.
I, in fact came back to the computer to add Billie Holiday and Chuck Berry to the list.

more to come I'm sure.

[radiojake]

If you are going to have Jim Morrison in that list then you have to put Ray Manzarek up there. Infact you should just change it to The Doors or Ray Manzarek. Ray wrote all the music, and Jim was often quoted saying that he hated the spotlight because he didn't deserve it. Morrisons vocals and lyrics were great, but Manzarek's music is what gave The Doors their sound.