Top 10 Best Musicians of the 20th Century

These are individual artists, not bands. The people you add to the list may be members of a band, though.

The Top Ten

John Lennon

John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (born John Winston Lennon, 9 October 1940-8 December 1980), was an English singer, songwriter, musician, and political activist. He rose to worldwide fame as the co-founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles, the most commercially successful band in the... read more

The leader of the biggest-selling and most successful musical act in history. The only other act with sales anything close to The Beatles is Elvis Presley, and he is, in fact, the biggest-selling solo artist of all time. Michael Jackson's total sales are only about one-third of The Beatles' and Elvis' totals, although MJ does have the biggest-selling single record, which is Thriller.

What on earth is John Lennon doing so low down? Michael Jackson is first… Bloody hell!
Lennon is the best! And always will be!

Lennon writes, plays, produces, and sings his work. He is unique due to the variety of songs and music that he has written.
Few on the list are singers only and not musicians.
Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury was a Zanzibari‑born British singer of Indian descent, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Queen. He achieved fame for his flamboyant stage persona and remarkable four-octave vocal range.... read more

Beautifully exquisite. The man was perhaps best known for his flamboyance and perceived weirdness. As the singer of one of the most memorable bands in the world and a man who cared little about what people thought of him, it is ironic that his legacy isn't the one to have bitten the dust.

Truly a unique singer, songwriter, and performer, gone too soon. He packed so much experience into a relatively short life and left an impressive legacy of hits with Queen: Seven Seas of Rhye, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Killer Queen. Freddie won two Ivor Novello Awards, dueted with opera singer Montserrat Caballé, and stole the show at Live Aid. He was a talented, versatile, and original star.
Elvis Presley

Elvis Aaron Presley was an American singer and actor, widely dubbed the "King of Rock and Roll" and regarded as a pivotal cultural icon of the 20th century. His energetic musical interpretation and provocative performance style, bridging racial music traditions in a shifting era, both fueled his fame... read more

I can't believe he's not #1 or at least in the top 3. It's hard to rate musicians who were the kings of their genres. In my opinion, it should be:
1. Elvis Presley
2. Michael Jackson
3. Johnny Cash (how the hell wasn't he even in the top 10?)
4. John Lennon
5. Stevie Wonder (don't know why he wasn't here either)
Then the rest are debatable.

Practically every person in our modern world today has heard the name Elvis. Elvis' hairdo, fashion, and even his voice have become iconic! His top songs are recognizable and known by the past three generations. His music was Classic Rock. He truly is the King of Rock 'n' Roll!
Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter. He passed away from cardiac arrest caused by acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, which was ruled a homicide. Jackson is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures... read more

Music is about reaching the soul, and damn, MJ knew how to do that. His voice and music touched my heart and soul in ways other musicians never could. The depth of songs like Stranger in Moscow, Who Is It, and Morphine goes beyond the lyrics. The mood, the feel, and especially what they make me feel is magical.

As much as I love MJ, I personally must stand with Frank Sinatra as the best singer of the 20th century.
However, from an overall musician standpoint, his dance moves and exposure surely give him an advantage. And who doesn't think he's a thriller?
Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, author, and artist who has been an influential figure in popular music and culture for more than five decades. He gained fame in the 1960s with songs that became anthems for the civil rights and anti-war movements. In 2016, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in... read more

Bruce Springsteen said it best during Bob's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when he said, The way Elvis freed your body, Bob Dylan freed your mind. People don't understand that taking shots at the rich elite really wasn't a thing until Bob Dylan started doing it all the time in his writing. Watch the video Tangled Up in Blue: Deciphering a Bob Dylan Masterpiece. It shows how Bob plays with tenses in his music, yet still is able to tell a story we can all understand. He made it okay to sing in popular music in ways that people don't, and he did it with a voice that stopped being pleasant in the mid-seventies.

Paul McCartney is famous for the Beatles. Freddie Mercury is famous for Queen. Bob Dylan is famous for Bob Dylan. He's done as much for music as those higher on the list, but did pretty much everything himself. That is why he is the greatest musician who ever lived.
Paul McCartney

Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. With John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, he gained worldwide fame as a member of the rock band The Beatles, one of the most popular and influential groups in the history of pop... read more

Paul McCartney's melodies are beautiful and heartwarming. I find that many songs of his I just like to hear them played. His best are the ones that tell a story, where you can see characters or feel an emotion that a circumstance has caused. As I listen to that sort of McCartney song, I learn the words, then I sing along. For the rest of my life, I have a song that corresponds to a certain circumstance of life. You know, like Waterfalls, Put It There, One of These Days, Somebody Who Cares, Baby's Request, Little Willow, or Follow Me.
McCartney is also very good at pop songs, entertaining songs, either heavier rock or dance songs, and rock and roll for fun. And of course, there are the songs with very personal lyrics, messages in them. Very touching, those. And he has written many anthem-like songs, peace songs, like Pipes of Peace and Tug of War. There are so many. The most fantastic thing about McCartney is that his melodies are all so different! He is really good. He has my vote.
Steve Perry

Stephen Ray "Steve" Perry (born January 22, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He rose to fame as the lead vocalist of the rock band Journey during their most successful periods from 1977 to 1987 and again from 1995 to 1998. Perry is celebrated for his soaring vocals on hits... read more

Actually, his name is spelled Stephen. Stephen Perry is an amazing singer.
He was the lead singer for Journey from 1977 to 1996. He also had two solo albums, one in 1984 and one in 1994. Not only does he have a beautiful voice, but his range is breathtaking.
Johnny Cash

John R. "Johnny" Cash (1932-2003) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, and author. He is widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century and one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with more than 90 million records sold worldwide.... read more

Wait... Johnny Cash is all the way down here?
George Harrison

George Harrison (25 February 1943-29 November 2001) was an English musician, singer, and songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Sometimes called "the quiet Beatle," Harrison embraced Indian culture and helped broaden the scope of popular music through his incorporation... read more

One of the most profound songwriters of his generation. He managed to introduce spirituality and love into his songs with true passion, which shows. Only the songs on All Things Must Pass could push him to the top 10 of the 20th century, but coupled with the rest of his career, no arguments could be raised against him.

Another Beatle. You don't really need to say much more.
Most influential band of all time.
Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Though his mainstream career lasted only about four years from 1966 to 1970, he's widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in popular music.... read more

Jimi Hendrix is obviously the greatest guitarist to have ever existed. The people who claim he is overrated are stuck in their narrow minds. Yes, some of his stuff is easy to play, but most of it is not. There's little to no repetition. Instead, there is theme and variation using unique and diverse chord progressions. To memorize the notes and play them the same way he played them is an amazing feat.
He was an insane songwriter who correlated love, psychedelics, mythology, and everyday life and struggles into his songs. He was a great singer for his sound in playing and songwriting. No one would have been fit to sing those songs other than Hendrix himself. He was a humble character, topping it off with the perfect cherry.
People have to keep in mind that in the '60s you had the Beatles, the Stones, and a bunch of Motown and folk artists who played guitar that was either just focused on melody or rhythm. Very uncommonly was it both. Jimi Hendrix just came out of the blue to England with his use of feedback, effects pedals, and the whammy bar. Playing with his teeth, tongue, and behind his back, he made these things massive, which correlated into his style.
He was like all of the Beatles wrapped up into the body of an African-American guitarist and solo songwriter. He set the standard for what rock was meant to be. He raised the bar so high it would take a miracle to have someone change the way any instrument would be looked at the way Hendrix did with the guitar.

The Newcomers

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Vangelis

Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou, known professionally as Vangelis, was a Greek composer known for his work in electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, and orchestral music. He gained international fame for composing the scores to films such as Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner. Vangelis was widely... read more
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Ray Charles

Ray Charles Robinson, professionally known as Ray Charles, was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and composer. He pioneered the genre of soul music during the 1950s by combining blues, jazz, and gospel styles. Charles won 17 Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in... read more

The Contenders

Eric Clapton

Eric Patrick Clapton is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is the only three-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of the Yardbirds and Cream. He was also a founding member of Derek and the Dominos, known for... read more

Why must everyone vote for Michael Jackson? He was terrible, and he was not the king of pop.
Eric Clapton has always been brilliant and is the king of blues rock.

Great guitarist, music writer for guitar, beautiful emotional melodic playing, great style.

If you add up all of his accomplishments, there is no comparison.
Ritchie Blackmore

Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter best known for his work with the hard rock and heavy metal bands Deep Purple and Rainbow.
In 2004, Guitar World ranked him number 16 on its list of the "100 Greatest Metal Guitarists of All Time," and in 2011, Rolling Stone... read more
Kate Bush

Catherine "Kate" Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. She gained prominence in 1978 with her debut single "Wuthering Heights," which topped the UK Singles Chart. Bush is known for her eclectic musical style and has received critical acclaim and numerous awards throughout... read more

The fact that Kate Bush is this low down is a crime. Madonna and Beyoncé are not half as influential or important as Kate Bush. Madonna isn't a talented singer, and when Auto-Tune was invented, she was using the hell out of it, but Kate Bush is authentic and does all her performances and singing by herself. She should be in the top 3, not all the way down here. What?

By far one of the most distinguished voices in British pop, who revolutionised the industry and whose work is still echoed in music today.
Roy Orbison

Roy Kelton Orbison, professionally known as Roy Orbison and nicknamed "Big O," was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and musician. He was known for his complex vocal style and hits such as "Oh, Pretty Woman." Orbison was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Absolutely the best and my all-time favorite.
David Bowie

David Robert Jones, known professionally as David Bowie (January 8, 1947 - January 10, 2016), was an English singer born in London, the son of a sales promotion officer and a housewife.
He earned praise for his experimental and creative music, winning numerous awards and gaining admiration from... read more
Tupac

Tupac Amaru Shakur, also known as 2Pac, was an American rapper and actor born on June 16, 1971, in East Harlem, New York. Tupac sold over 75 million records worldwide and has been referred to in multiple major publications such as Rolling Stone as one of the greatest music artists of all time. 2Pac was... read more

Greatest artist of the 20th century.
James Hetfield

James Alan Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963. He is an American musician, singer, and songwriter known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter for the American thrash metal band Metallica. He helped form the iconic thrash metal group in 1981 after answering... read more

Michael Jackson is so overrated. I bet you, if it was about the best-looking woman, he would come first.
People, James is the writer, rhythm guitarist, and singer.
Ville Valo

Ville Hermanni Valo is a Finnish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the lead vocalist and main songwriter of the gothic rock band HIM, which was active from 1991 to 2017. In 2023, Valo released his debut solo album Neon Noir under the moniker VV.

What can I say! The most underrated, amazingly talented singer of all time.
More people should pay attention to just how talented this man is!

Ville Valo is definitely the best. He's every bit deserving of the 20th and the 21st till the end of time.

Enchanting deep voice, great lyrics, perfect face.
He always gives his fans everything he has in his heart.
Roger Waters

George Roger Waters is an English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. He is best known as the co-founder, secondary lead vocalist, and bassist of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. Waters was also the band's principal lyricist and conceptual leader through much of its most influential... read more

He got many more responsibilities after Syd left, and he kept Pink Floyd going. How isn't he on the list either?
Neil Peart

Neil Ellwood Peart (September 12, 1952 to January 7, 2020) was a Canadian-American musician and writer best known as the drummer and primary lyricist of the rock band Rush. He received numerous awards for his musical performances, including induction into the Modern Drummer Readers Poll Hall of Fame... read more

The greatest drummer ever changed the whole drumming scene in music. Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are some of the best in power trios ever.
Vote Beatles up, by the way.
Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain (February 20, 1967 - April 5, 1994) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician, best known as the frontman of the grunge band Nirvana. Founded in 1987, Nirvana achieved global success in the early 1990s, reshaping rock music with albums like Bleach, Nevermind, and In Utero. Cobain died... read more

For a man who had a troubled life, he sure was capable of making amazing music. He will be remembered along with the rest of these men and women, whether people would like it or not.

Probably one of the best songwriters of all time. Capable of making incredible music, and should forever be remembered as a legend.

He is the best singer I know from that era. He made a very great, decade-defining song, Smells Like Teen Spirit. Kurt, you are the best.
Aretha Franklin

Aretha Louise Franklin (March 25, 1942 - August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. She began her career as a child singing gospel at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, where her father, C. L. Franklin, was minister.... read more
K.S. Chithra

Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra, often credited as K. S. Chithra or simply Chithra, is an Indian playback singer from Kerala. She also sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. Chithra has recorded over 25,000 songs in various languages and is a recipient of six National Film Awards.

She is the all-time best female singer of India. Period.
Chuck Berry

Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. He is known for songs such as "Johnny B. Goode," "Roll Over Beethoven," and "Maybellene." Berry died on March 18, 2017.

Chuck Berry was the original. There is no Elvis, there is no Clapton, there is no rock and roll without Chuck Berry, y'all.

Incredible songs and licks.
Influenced everyone.
Elton John

Sir Elton Hercules John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947, is an English singer, pianist, and composer. He has collaborated with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967 on more than 30 albums. John has sold over 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.... read more

Wow. I can't believe I had to add Elton John to this list. How insulting!
In terms of music artists of the 20th century, there's The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and then there's Elton John. Come on, people, get real!

Composer, hitmaker, singer, consummate live performer… Sir Elton John is absolutely THE BEST musician of the 20th century.

EJ at 98? Puts the entire list in question.
Muddy Waters not on the list puts the list in the trash bin. Period.