Rank These Music Icons

And please add any I didn't list. I wish we could have polls with 1,000 choices, but, well, we can't.

1 would be Elvis -- not because he was the best or most talented, but he made the breakthrough that made all else possible in rock music.

2 would be Lennon, but I don't think you can factor out McCartney and the other Beatles

3 would be Johnny Cash. To me, without Cash, you don't get to much, if any of today's country music, and his impact on Rock can't be underestimated

4 would be Elton John. He dominated mid 70s music, and made a lasting impact over 20 years. He's still a great live performer.

5 would be MJ -- from child star to pop genius to freak show and now to cultural icon -- a legend who made an enduring mark on pop music and culture

6 would be Willie Nelson, who has been, IMHO, the most enduring country legend since Cash (yes, I'll hear from the George Strait and Loretta Lynn fans).

7 would be Janis Joplin

8 would be Caruso

Others might have added:

In Jazz, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker

In Opera: Pavarotti, Joan Sutherland, Robert Merrill

In Country: George Strait, Lorretta Lynn

In Rock: Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison

In NOTA: Prince, Stevie Wonder

"made the breakthrough that made all else possible in rock music."

I'm just saying.

You are correct insfar as Elvis didn't invent any of what he did. What he did accomplish, far more succesfully than (for example) Pat Boone, was to bring what had previously been an African American medium to Euro Americans. If this breakthrough is not made, I don't know that you get Buddy Holly, the Beach Boys, the Beatles, etc.

:*

Bob may sound like he's on the losing side of a bad chest cold in 2009, but in 1966...

"Like A Rolling Stone," with the "Judas" exchange with an audience member.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqUFHEyu5hM

:toast:

He's the first musical icon that I ever became a fan of.

Without him, there would have never been Michael Jackson, as we knew him.

He literally created an entire genre of music singlehandely.

His impact on the Americam music scene was tremendous

Also

Frank Zappa
Brian Eno
Bill Nelson
Robert Fripp

:D

Paul Simon, Paul McCartney, Judy Collins, Joan Baez

In terms of vocal ability: Joplin, Elvis, Willie, Jackson, Elton, Cash, Hank, Lennon

In terms of overall musical ability, including songwriting, originality, and vague other things: Lennon, Elvis, Jackson, Willie, Elton, Hank, Joplin, Cash

In terms of showmanship: Jackson, Elvis, Elton, Lennon, Hank, Cash, Joplin, Willie

In terms of dancing ability: Jackson.

I could probably come up with other categories. I left Caruso out of there because he's just too different a genre to compare.

And if I had to add anyone, I'd throw in Freddy Mercury and Robert Plant, and probably drop Cash. I love Cash, but his recent fame transcends his ability or his impact on music. He had a clever voice, but was an average singer. I'd rank him as a top ten country male vocalist, but George Jones, Merle Haggard, Garth Brooks at his best, Waylon Jennings, and even Hank, Jr. were at least as good vocally. Jr. has other issues, but their voices are similar and I think Hank sings better. On the other hand, Hank never had to soul to do something like Hurt, nor the conscience to do something like "The Man in Black." So maybe I should have ranked social conscience as one of the categories.

What the heck: Lennon, Elton, Willie, Jackson, Elvis, Hank, Cash, Joplin. (social conscience).

Just my thoughts. If I wrote this 20 minutes from now, they might be different.

You almost have to put asterisks by both Elton John and MJ. All of MJs Jackson 5 material was written by "The Corporation" -- part of the Berry Gordy/Motown machine. Elton John is nowhere without Bernie Taupin (and later , Tim Rice collaborates on Elton's hits on The Lion King)

I always enjoy your posts in the music threads.

:hi:

:) I would propose now, but i think a courtship is in order. :rofl:

michael jackson credits jackie as one of his biggest influences....

The original Heavy Metal.

:D

"Erotica" Variations for Banned Instruments and Piano, S. 36EE

He is on the top five best selling bluegrass albums of all time.

He played the single most recognizable steel guitar riff ever for CSN Teach Your Children.

He had his own band that played the great American songbook front to back.

He also had another band that played stadiums for thirty years. The Dead didn't keep their music a secret, they played it and played it. Touring relentlessly, not like some bands. The dead played.

jerry garcia is easliy the single most recorded musician in history.

will always be my No. 1! :bounce:

To your credit, though, you did leave Springsteen and Billy Joel off the list. I can't stand the music of either.

Thing is he doesn't give a shit about rankings.