A Challenge! . . . for all you music aficionados . . .

[OneBlueSky]

The Challenge:

In your opinion, who were the five most influential recording artists of the 20th century?

influential meaning both musically and culturally , , ,

Caution #1: Just because AC/DC (or whomever) is your favorite group doesn't mean they (or he, or she) qualify . . .

Caution#2: If your selections include the likes of John Denver, the Osmonds and/or the Starland Vocal Band, you may wish to move on to a less challenging challenge . . .

I, or course, will reveal THE definitive list later on . . . (imho, of course) . . .

Have fun . . . and thanks for playing . . .

[msongs]

1. in mid to late century - chuck berry, little richard, beatles, james brown, bob dylan

early to mid century - louis armstrong, bing crosby, billie holliday, duke ellington

[OneBlueSky]

17. great choices, msongs . . .

close . . . but not quite . . .

[ZZenith]

2. John, Paul, George, Ringo and uh, hmmmmm...

Bob?

[NBachers]

4. Yup, those were my first thoughts. Leonard Bernstein comes to mind; Miles Davis and Thelonius . . .

But those were in my lifetime in the second half of the century. Sinatra was a giant; Duke Ellington; Bing Crosby was apparently one of the first mega-stars of the recording world . . .

[ZZenith]

7. A question for which there can be no answer.

How does one quantify cultural impact? I don’t see how The Beatles don’t make the list no matter how you calculate it.

Did Jimi Hendrix do more to shape the world than Miles Davis?

[Chaogirl]

14. N0

[ZZenith]

15. Hard to argue with that.

[OneBlueSky]

18. oh, sure there can be an answer . . .

many, in fact . . . there just can be no RIGHT answer . . .

except mine, of course . . . to be posted later . . .

thanks for contributing, though . . .

[ZZenith]

22. Can't hardly wait to learn the right answers!

[Squidly]

3. Tough challenge

This list could go so many ways, but as far as influential goes, which also leads to cultural this would be my list of artists/groups that I feel have had the greatest impact...and not in any particular order-

Chuck Berry
The Ramones
Bob Dylan
The Beatles
Robert Johnson

[OneBlueSky]

19. you got two from "THE definitive" list . . .

the other three ain't bad, though . . . thanks! . . .

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

5. Hmmm

Beatles
David Bowie
Prince
Queen
Michael Jackson

[OneBlueSky]

20. a late century player, I see . . . thanks! . . . n/t

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

26. I was born in 55

My very favorite bands were bands like Led Zep, Jethro Tull, Yes, Emerson Lake and Palmer, CSNY.

But my faves, I don’t think, were exactly influential, which was the question.

[Layzeebeaver]

6. Hmmm...

Robert Johnson
Elvis
Beatles
Brian Eno
Hogie Carmichael

Just an opinion...

[OneBlueSky]

21. and a good opinion it is . . . thanks for playing! . . . n/t

[peacefreak2.0]

8. Frank Sinatra

Elvis
Beatles
Dylan
Bob Marley

[OneBlueSky]

23. very good, peacefreak2.0 . . . very good indeed . . .

four out of five is impressive . . . thanks! . . .

[peacefreak2.0]

33. Marley was a throwaway.

Nice final list, btw. 😉

[Deb]

9. Benny Goodman, Elvis, The Tabernacle Choir, Winston Churchill, Disney

But I ain't no aficionado.

[OneBlueSky]

24. was the doobie good? . . . and what instrument did Churchill play? . . . thanks! :) . . . n/t

[RocRizzo55]

10. MY list:

Pete Seeger
Arlo Guthrie
Irving Berlin
Bob Dylan
The Beatles
Miles Davis
Frank Zappa

[OneBlueSky]

25. nice list, RocRizzo55 . . . you hit on several from THE list . . .

I knew Pete, though, and even he wouldn't have included himself . . . probably would have picked Woody, though . . . thanks for playing! . . .

[RocRizzo55]

32. My bad. It should have been Woody Guthrie, NOT Arlo. n/t

[Bluethroughu]

11. My humble generation x opinion

1. Woody Guthrie
2. Lead Belly
3. Billie Holiday
4. Beatles
5. David Bowie

[OneBlueSky]

27. great choices, Bluethroughu! . . . even making me re-think my "definitive" list . . .

to rephrase your tag line just a bit . . .

"All my love, peace and happiness" . . . Chambers Brothers . . . around 1970 I suspect . . .

thanks for contributing! . . .

[Bluethroughu]

35. Thank you OneBlueSky

[Drifter]

12. Frank Zappa

[OneBlueSky]

28. it's about this mud shark . . . and the Vanilla Fudge, if I recall correctly . . . thanks! . . . n/

Last edited Wed Jan 20, 2021, 05:56 AM - Edit history (1)

[The Polack MSgt]

13. Ok. From earliest to latest. American Artists only

Robert Johnson. The 29 songs he recorded are still standards today. The 1st guitar hero.

Frank Sinatra. A superstar for 3 generations. The vocalist of the century

Elvis Presley. Brought black music to white America. Changed popular culture forever

Bob Dylan. The songwriter of the century

Prince. He was all the things the previous 4 artists were.and he could dance

[OneBlueSky]

29. terrific list, MSgt! . . .

guess us Polacks have a knack for this kind of thing . . .

seriously thoughtful . . . and you hit three out of five -- though I can't argue with your other two . . . thanks! . . .

[Montauk6]

16. Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, The Temptations

[OneBlueSky]

30. very good, Montauk6! . . . got three out of five from THE definitive list! :) . . . thanks! . . .

[OneBlueSky]

31. THE definitive list! . . . (imho, of course) . . .

okay, here it is . . . THE definitive list of THE most influential recording artists of the 20th century . . . (in my most humble opinion, of course) . . .

and with thanks to all whose contributions have me re-thinking my thinking . . .

that having been said here, from earliest on, are my five choices . . .

- Louis Armstrong

- Frank Sinatra

- Elvis Presley

- Bob Dylan

- The Beatles

Ta Da! . . . thank you, thank you!! . . . don't applaud, just throw money!!! . . .

seriously, though . . . thanks to all who participated! . . . you guys (and gals) rock! . . .

and you do know your music . . .

see you round the turntable . . .

[Best_man23]

34. My Five

Robert Johnson
Elvis Presley
Dwayne Allman
Frank Sinatra
Prince